RACE CAR BIO. NUMBER 81 CAMERO
by Mike Stein
1975 CAMARO
The car was originally purchased by Dave and Dick Stang from Howe Racing Equipment, and is a 3rd Design Howe Chassis. It was bought as a complete rolling chassis car, ready to race except for the engine.
The car was bought by the Stang brothers just prior to the 1976 racing season, primarily to compete at Elko Speedway and Raceway Park, both of which are located south of the Minneapolis/ St. Paul, Minnesota.
The car was always very competitive, and was always involved in the track championships, or close runners up, over the following years. The car also competed at other Events over the years such as October-Fest in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the Minnesota State Fair.
In 1981 the car set a new Track Record at Elko Speedway, and held the Record for 21 years. In 2002, the Record finally fell, but only after the track had been re-surfaced, and re-banked.
Dave Nobel bought the car from the Stang Brothers shortly after 1981. He said that he intended to run it on the dirt. Whether he did or not is not known.
Ken Halverson then bought the car and ran it at Elko Speedway.
In 1999, Gary Stein acquired the car from Ken. The car consisted of the Chassis and the Cage.
Gary contacted Dave Stang to let him know that he had the car. Dave volunteered to buy the Body Panels for the re-assembly of old # 81. Gary arranged to have the body fabricated on the chassis, and then asked his brother Mike to “Tin” the body, and told him that it would only take a couple of weeks.
By 2002 the Stein Brothers had added an Engine, Fire System, Fuel Cell, Wheel and Tires, Had the car painted Green and Lettered. The old car was ready for the Race Track again. Just a bit long than the few weeks, as Gary had promised Mike.
At that time, the Stein Brothers had three (3) Vintage Race Cars. It just worked out that Mike started to drive the restored Green Number 81, Dick Stang Race Car.
The Car began competing in Vintage Races with the IMCA OLD TIMERS, and also competed with other Vintage clubs at various Race Tracks and continued its winning ways at Race Tracks such as Marshfield, Wisconsin, October-Fest at La Crosse, Wisconsin, and of course at Elko Speedway. It also re-affirmed it’s winning ways running in the MIDWEST STOCK CAR CLASSIC SERIES, by placing 2nd in 2003, and 3rd in 2004.
This Race Car truly is an historic piece of Racing Culture.
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