Some AMC short track pix/history Brand "X" Javelin
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Forum Name: Autocross, circle track
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Topic: Some AMC short track pix/history Brand "X" Javelin
Posted By: amxess
Subject: Some AMC short track pix/history Brand "X" Javelin
Date Posted: Sep/18/2009 at 4:29pm
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A friend asked if I had any info on a Javelin race car called the Brand "X" that he said always won when he saw it race as a kid at the local short tracks in the midwest. I looked into it and got some nice history on the car from the owner's son Chas, and found out that it's engine went on to race in another very succesful Javelin race car. In 1974, Ed Howe of Howe Racing, who is now known as one of the best race car chassis builders around, put together a Javelin to race throughout the Midwest and Canada. Not many really raced many AMC's in this venue and I guess he wanted to show he could build a race chassis for any car and win. He bought two AMC engines from Traco, which he immediately blew up. He'd repair them and though almost always in the lead, the engines would blow again causing some of those behind to hit the wall due to the oil on the track. The other drivers soon had a saying "If you want to crash, follow the Nash!" Well, Ed had enough of the DNF's, and soon used pieces from both motors and built his own using aftermarket Chevy rods, pistons, valves and springs. The block, crank, and heads remained AMC parts. After this engine was installed, he won just about every race and the car was very well known. Unfortunately he only raced it the one year. Ed did lend it to Tom Maier who ran it for one race at the Mosport Canada Road Circuit, where he finished second only to Bobby Allison. At the end of the season, Ed sold the engine to Tom Reffner of Wisconsin, who put it in his famous "Blue Knight" Javelin which was sponsored by Super America Gas Stations, and from what I've read, this car was also very succesful. The Brand "X" car was turned into a Camaro and Chevy powered and became the "Hoosier" car. Too bad AMC didn't offer more performance parts back during this time as Ed clearly showed the AMC's could beat the best of the big three. Why AMC used Traco I have no idea, as I've not read anything good about them from the drivers who raced AMC's. Those who were succesful always ended up building their own AMC engines. Why Ed changed back to Chevy I can't say, but I'd probably guess he was discouraged at the lack of parts for a race AMC engine. Attached are photos of the Brand "X" car (the B&W photo shows one of the Traco engines blowing up). The other photos are of Tom Reffner's "Blue Knight" in which the "X" engine ended up in, and also attached a photo of the "Hoosier" Camaro. AMXESS          |
Replies:
Posted By: 69LSXAMX
Date Posted: Jan/28/2010 at 9:38pm
| awesome pictures |
Posted By: scott
Date Posted: Jan/29/2010 at 9:04am
| Those humps look just right with the giant tires! Great pics & writeup!!! Thanks for posting them. |
Posted By: Racing Ray
Date Posted: Jan/30/2010 at 8:53am
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Great story AMXess. Thanks for posting it.
Ray ------------- 
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Posted By: amxess
Date Posted: Feb/02/2010 at 5:45pm
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My friend who watched the "X" car race, said that after they got the motor straightened out, nobody else could touch it. Too bad they didn't run it a few more years, though Reffner did very well using their engine.
I love road racing/oval track racing AMC's and not much has ever been written up on these. I'll try and post something on my friend's ex IMSA AMX, which was probably the baddest AMX ever-clocked at 198 mph at 24 Hours of Daytona way back in 1980.
amxess
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Posted By: adelaida
Date Posted: Feb/18/2010 at 3:17pm
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wow! cickass pictures, man!
------------- just ignore http://situk.org.uk/ - situk signature |
Posted By: SCCAJavelin
Date Posted: Feb/22/2010 at 2:47pm
Penske had a relationship with TRACO from their Chevy days--so when they went to AMC in 1970, they had TRACO build their motors. AMC barely lost the T/A title to Ford in 1970 and beat everyone in 1971 and 72...that seems pretty successful to me. ------------- Erik B. ___/\___/\___/\___/\___/\___ Wisconsin Autocrossers, Inc. |
amxess wrote:Posted By: Javelin_GT
Date Posted: Feb/22/2010 at 3:00pm
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John Martin from the 68/69 Javelin Racing Team told me they ended up building all of their own engines even though TRACO had done some early ones. I know Penske used them in 70/71 TA and later NASCAR but I have no idea if Roy Woods did in 71/72 TA. I also know Bobby Allison ended up building his own engines for NASCAR. |
Posted By: GreggR
Date Posted: Feb/22/2010 at 7:18pm
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Hope I'm not stepping on toes, sinse I don't know who owns this site... but more "X" car photos and much more here:
http://www.americanmotorsracing.com/ - http://www.americanmotorsracing.com/
Tons of vintage pix of racing ramblers... ------------- No matter where you go, there you are... Buckaroo Banzai.'75 Hornet Hatchback |
Posted By: 401Eric
Date Posted: Dec/11/2010 at 2:53am
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The link only goes to "Go Daddy". Isn't there an "AmericanMotorsRacing.com" anymore? Regards, Eric ------------- 74 Hornet 401 "C.K.10" 74 Cop Matador 401 "Runner" 71 Javelin AMX 401 Go Pack "Sidewinder" 74 Bricklin 360 AMC powered "Presto" 85 Dodge crew cab tow truck Mopar 360 4bbl "Festus" |
Posted By: RebelYell
Date Posted: Mar/15/2012 at 6:01pm
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Did not know Ed Howe ever raced AMC's. I do know he was one to dispelled the superstition of it being bad luck to have a green race car. Great memories! ------------- http://s956.photobucket.com/user/dsheffie/media/DSCI05402_zps4c434594.jpg.html" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: stonedblue
Date Posted: Mar/20/2014 at 11:00pm
I know nothing about this car or track. Photo came from vintage racer face book page. Says 'remembering Pinecrest'.  ------------- I can build an engine, but, I can't drain oil without a mess.'04Ram,'99Plym.Van,"96Exploder,'79Dodge pickup, '71Jav. '68Jav, and '90 Gold Rush trailer |
Posted By: amxess
Date Posted: Apr/02/2014 at 4:36pm
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That car #22 raced at Pinecrest Speedway in Ontario in 74. Track closed in 76 or 77. Guy who raced it was named Ward. Only AMC listed as racing there that year. Here's a photo I found:  |
Posted By: Marzo91
Date Posted: Mar/16/2017 at 6:14pm
| Tom Reffner raced the Midwest with my dad, Marv Marzofka. Tom was at my shop last week, and we talked about the AMC engines he ran. He said the oiling was the culprit in destroying many of the AMCs. He said they would run a pan of any size dry, pumping all the oil to the top. They spent a lot of time and money getting it right. When they got it right, Tom won 67 features that year. Tied Dick Trickles best year. |
Posted By: GreggR
Date Posted: Mar/17/2017 at 5:32pm
Pinecrest Speedway... 1952 to 1976... Paved oval. http://www.yesterdaysspeedways.com/paved-ovals/pinecrest-speedway-1952-1976-3/ ------------- No matter where you go, there you are... Buckaroo Banzai.'75 Hornet Hatchback |
Posted By: GreggR
Date Posted: Mar/17/2017 at 5:34pm
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So, why is the font so small...? ------------- No matter where you go, there you are... Buckaroo Banzai.'75 Hornet Hatchback |
Posted By: amxess
Date Posted: Apr/22/2017 at 6:57pm
| Hey Marzo. I'll bet Tom has some great stories. My friend Bob Lee raced an AMX a number of years at the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. Once he went to a dry sump, all the oiling problems were solved. Fastest "American" car at 1980 12 Hours of Sebring. |
Posted By: 343sharpstick
Date Posted: May/10/2017 at 12:01pm
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We had a hot Javelin at a local dirt track (Plymouth WI) back in the 70's and early 80's. I actually found the car in a small local junk yard and have the door skin. Here as pic I found. 
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Posted By: amxess
Date Posted: May/20/2018 at 8:18pm
Just found another pix of the Brand "X" I though I'd share. For only racing the one year, allot of people remember this car. |
Posted By: White70JavelinSST
Date Posted: Oct/27/2023 at 9:58am
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Sadly Tom Reffner has passed. He was a true tribute to tenacity and sportsmanship. RIP Tom. http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/obituaries/pwix0604966" rel="nofollow - http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/obituaries/pwix0604966 ------------- 70 Javelin SST, second owner, purchased 1972 |