When did you first get in contact with Mustangs and then with Mustang race cars?

Pictures  Mike Sedlak/2003

I first started working on Mustangs in late 1965 when a neighbor of mine purchased a 1965 GT-350 R model from Shelby. This neighbor who would become my mentor and best friend for 37 years was a good friend of Shelby who delivered the car in person to Bill. 
That's when I met Shelby and got involved with racing as well. I was 12 years old at the time. He let me do simple things at first then moving up as my age and experience increased.

At what age were you, when the TransAm series started and what was your first contact with T/A?

As I worked with Bill he introduced me to T/A, at 13 years old, and also I read about it in the magazines of the day including Hot Rod, AutoWeek and Motor Trend. 
I then started helping out on T/A cars in 1969 when Bill and I built a 68 Mustang T/A car and started running National Level Races with it. That opened the doors to work with the Warren Tope T/A crew. I attended T/A races regularly starting in 1968 when I got my drivers license.

Who is your preferred T/A driver?

That's a hard question to answer because I admired certain qualities in many of the drivers that I was introduced to. Donahue for his analytical skills, Jones for his aggressive driving style, Revson for his politeness and style, Folmer for his just get it done attitude, Gurney for passion for American Drivers. 
All of them because they took the time to talk to a young man who wanted to know more about the cars. It was a different time and the drivers were accessible for more than a sound bite. I talked to many of the drivers for up to an hour, it was great. No autographs, just absorbing their knowledge.

How did you actually find your T/A Mustang and in which condition was it exactly?

I answered an add in Autoweek for parts and the fellow who placed the ad told me he was going to part the car out. He sent me photos and we drove 500 miles the next day and purchased the car. I was sitting in a field next to his home sunk in up to the rocker panels. The engine was blown, fenders and doors dented, parts missing but no rust. Most of all no major structural damage.

What of your modifications did prove o.k, excellent or not good?

Because the car was all there we restored the car back to way it raced in 70. All of the mods worked well so no need to change much. We are very aware of the 70 rules, I was there, so we keep the car very original.

Suspension - we added mono balls and Hiem joints as allowed. Played with spring rates and shock settings to get the car to handle the way I like. Brakes are Lincoln calipers with 12" rotors on the front and 67 Mustang calipers with 11" rotors on the rear

Tires - we use either 6.00 and 8.00 Goodyear's or 25.5/9.0 and 27.5/11.0 Hoosiers on .

Wheels - 8" Minilites or 8" American T/A 70's

Exhaust - exact copy of original flat four Bud Moore headers going into two 3" exhaust pipes per side

Carburetor - race prepped Holley 850

Instruments or interior  - six point 3" harness, original style 2 5/8" Stewart Warner black face white letter mechanical gauges. This car won a best interior design award at the "Eyes on the Classics" show in 1994.

Which advice do you have for beginners?

Focus on getting the chassis and brakes fully sorted and tuned before stepping up the horsepower. If you don't have the chassis sorted and have lots of power you will have a difficult tuning the chassis. Always playing catch up. 
Several of the best drivers told me to get all you can out of the chassis then it will be easy to drive with more power. They were right. It also make you a better driver as you learn to get the most out of the whole package rather than just "point and go" between the corners

What is your experience with the early vintage racing and as of today?

It's not about the egos. To many people today are corrupting the intent of vintage racing and are not "vintage racing" but "racing old cars". They forget the "cars are the stars" not the drivers. I have stopped going to many of the events because of the rampart cheating and the organizers inability to enforce their own rules. 
To them money talks and if you are wealthy and bring your car to all of the events you can cheat. Many of my friends and I now go to smaller events where the rules are enforced, people have fun racing the cars to experience the thrill.

What other car do you drive in race and on street?

I also have a 1968 Mustang T/A ex factory development car that ran until 75 in National level events. The 1964 Pontiac GTO "Grey Ghost" T/A car that Herb Adams built and Bob Tullius raced. 
On the street I have a 96 Impala SS and am restoring a 70 BOSS 302 street car. My wife has a 67 Dodge Dart GT, a 76 Camaro LT