Chapter 9: Today’s Motown Missile: That Was Then, This Is Now
PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
In reporting history, the images required to tell the tale will vary greatly in quality, especially by modern photographic standards. While some images in this volume are not up to those digital standards, we have included them, as we feel they are an important element in telling the story.
Acknowledgments
Any project of this magnitude is a group effort. While I can take credit for the compilation of information, it would have been impossible without help from so many others. I am humbled that I was asked to do this by the very men responsible for what happened all those years ago and can only hope I have done justice to the effort they put forth in charting new territory. As my fourth Chrysler Hemi reference volume for CarTech, this book presents an honest understanding of why the Chrysler Corporation was so committed to American motorsports such as Pro Stock drag racing through the 1970s. While the individuals below are listed in order of their involvement, it is not necessarily the order of their importance. To everyone noted, and hopefully I have not missed anyone, thank you for making Motown Missile a reality, then and now.
Two of Don Carlton’s victory trophies from 1976 and 1977 are pictured.
The last reunion of the Missile men in 2014 is shown. From left to right: Don Carlton Jr., Ted Spehar, Joe Pappas, Mike Koran, Ron Killen, Dick Oldfield, Tom Hoover, Tom Coddington, Len Bartush, and Al Adam.
The Team
Back in 2017, I was approached by members of the original team who asked if I would take on this project. To be honest, it was not a simple decision because I knew the amount of work it would entail. However, I agreed because we all wanted the story to be right. So, my sincerest thanks to Ted and Tina Spehar, Joe and Lynn Pappas, the Oldfield family (I was able to visit with Dick Oldfield just prior to his passing in 2018), and Donnie Carlton Jr. for the time they spent in interviews to get this process underway and to completion. Some sources even put up with me living in their homes on extended trips and gave me full access to all the paperwork and photos I needed. Ted and Joe in particular were very patient to read the manuscript and clarify points of importance.
Al Adam, Tom Coddington, Ron Killen, John Wehrly, Len Bartush, and Mike Koran are also part of the group that assisted to make the Missile a legend. Once again, I called upon my friend Thomas M. Hoover, the late godfather of the 426 Hemi, via our previously recorded interviews to flesh out the tale. My past interviews with Dave Koffel were added to the narrative, and insider Tom Cunningham provided insight into the Woodward Avenue street scene from his recollections as well. So, whether we actually talked during this process or not, to all of you, my sincerest thanks.
The Experts
While this project was in its early stages, a resource I learned about was Gene Yetter of New York. Gene had moderated, recorded, and transcribed several critical roundtable discussions with the team during reunions before Mr. Hoover’s passing, and he gave me permission to quote extensively from those discussions, invaluably adding to the texture of this book. Thank you, Gene. You were basically my coauthor and researcher on the Missile project.
In that same vein, veteran NHRA and former IHRA announcer Bob Frey selflessly read through and fact-checked performance references for both Don and Dick as well as other competitors, verifying racing performance numbers from his extensive library. Also supplying data in that regard were archivists Dick Gerwer and Mike Goyda, who assisted in some of the NHRA rules references I needed. Mopar Action’s editor Cliff Gromer was instrumental in providing some of the material on the 1971 car’s recent history as well.
The Shooters
In addition to the materials provided by the team itself, I called upon valued friends from my years of racing photography to help with the excitement of illustrating this era. Professional photographers Bob McClurg and Steve Reyes came through with amazing photos of both the Missiles and their competitors, as did photographer Dan Williams. Tom S. Hoover, son of Tom M. Hoover, supplied a number of Tom’s original transparencies, an effort also assisted by Ramcharger team historian Dr. Dave Rockwell. Dan Gallo Jr. and Paul’s Body Shop also provided images of the cars in modern times. Coupled with material from my own photo library, if you end up appreciating this book for the pictures, thank them. They put in the sweat equity almost 50 years ago.
The Car Owners and Friends
To Arnie Klann, Ben Donhoff/Larry Mayes, and others who became the caretakers of these immensely important artifacts over the years, I appreciate being able to see these cars and take photographs of them during the times they were on display (and Ben, for the unintentional but great wheelie shot at Columbus at the beginning of chapter 8). Mark Williams, long-time owner of the 1972 ’Cuda, was a subscriber to the original Quarter Milestones magazine I published in the 1990s, and we are glad that he was able to find a way to get that car formally preserved and subsequently cosmetically restored. The late Stewart Pomeroy, who helped me when I did a history of the Dodge Colts years ago, also gets credit for his past Missile ownership, once again with special thanks to Gene Yetter’s team interviews. To David Hakim and Dale Mathews, who were my road trip associates on some of these jaunts; again, your friendship is always appreciated. Finally, editor Wes Eisenschenk of CarTech kept me out of trouble when I failed to show up for round one on time. I appreciate it, pal!
Greatest thanks and true love to my wife, Linda, for dealing with the emotional and lifestyle upheaval that any book creation brings to life. By God’s grace, we go forward—and soon go on vacation!
Dedication
Of course, this book is dedicated to driver Don Carlton, coolest of cool science guys, a loving father and husband, and one the who gave it all for drag racing. We remember …
Race driver Don Carlton is shown. (Photo Courtesy Joe Pappas)
Foreword by Donnie Carlton
Don Carlton Jr. (left) and Ted Spehar are honored at the 2014 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Tina Spehar/Spehar Family)
The truth is, I thought my dad was just like all the other racers. During the time he drove and owned the Missile, I considered it to be normal life. It wasn’t until later that I understood what he accomplished in his career and how special the whole Missile thing really was. To be honest, what my dad’s work accomplished and demonstrated is what led to the work ethic I still have today.
My earliest memories were of the Southern-style match races my dad did before then in the best-of-three format. Right near here in Lenoir, North Carolina, we had the Hudson and Wilkesboro drag strips within a halfhour drive of our home; then, there were places such as Piedmont, Farmington, and others. He would work all week, go out and run on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, and Sunday. Then, he’d go back to work again. When Pro Stock began to get