Knafel Tin Indian 1966 GTO vs. Running Bear 1963 Tempest Launch

This is at The Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk OH on August 8, 2010. Both these cars were originally built/prepped and driven by "Akron" Arlen Vanke. Arlen is riding in the Red Running Bear Car. The cars launch and go through first gear. Both are the ACTUAL cars not clones. The '66 GTO is built to stock specs with a .060 389 Tripower 4 spd and 4.33 gears. Running bear is set up to do more aggressive track duty with a worked 455. Back in the day Running Bear ran a Super Duty 421 to low 11's in the A/FX factory experimental class. The Tin Indian DOMINATED B and C stock running consistent mid 12's and to Arlen's recollection a best time of 12.22 at 112mph. The GTO won Stock Eliminator at the Nascar Winter Nationals in Daytona and followed that up by going 27 rounds and winning the Spring Nationals in Bristol, TN. The '66 GTO never lost a race in it's class. Norm "Sonny" Tanner is riding shotgun in the GTO. Tanner drove for Knafel Pontiac in the late 60's and early 70's. Running Bear is now owned and driven by Tim Benko. The Tin Indian is now owned by Merle Green and his son Mike Green is driving in the video.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Tin
• Indian
• 1966
• Pontiac
• GTO
• Running
• Bear
• 1963
• Tempest
• super
• duty
• Arlen
• Vanke
• Merle
• Green
• Bill
• Knafel
• Summit
• Motor
• Sports
• Park
• drag
• racing

[greensofMAandME]

I find Arlen Vanke impressive. He is just a great guy. He knows how to build motors. Research him and I think you will find that wherever he went he won. You don't hear hype about him, like Milt Schornack or Jim Wangers because he did his talking on the track, winning races. I believe Merle will have him at Norwalk again this July. Ask him how Milt and a Royal GTO failed to stage the one time they were to go up against Arlen and the Tin Indian.

[Slingudwig]

Also, I thought those Hurst wheels were too heavy to drag race with?? They actually slow the car down from what Ive read.

[greensofMAandME]

@Slingudwig Correct, the Hurst Wheels are heavy. When the car won its championships it ran on stock steel wheels and was basically plain white with more subtle black graphics. The way it is restored duplicates how it was painted up for the "Beat the Champ" promotion Knafel did later on. The car is striking and the Hurst Wheels really set it off.

[JusticeYouWant2010]

@1aauto No but I wish I had ( I was like 1 year old, when the 1966 Pontiac GTO raced ), it is pretty amazing. I did some research on Pontiacs years back and stumbled onto this car, it is impressive 27 trophies in one year. I also stumbled onto the car Running Bear, very impressive history as well. Not to many people know that Pontiac ruled race tracks with their 421 Super Duty ( 2 x Four barrels ) factory hand built race engines in 1961 to 1963. Most people know Pontiac because of the GTO.

[greensofMAandME]

@Slingudwig That does look like them!  (this is my personal sign in)

[Slingudwig]

@1aauto Thanks for the response. Im sorry to hear about Marv. Im up on their site now and I think they are making them again. Are these the ones??

8.00/8.50-14 Vintage NEW TIRE!

# Tread Width: 7.0"

# Section Width: 9.8"

# Diameter: 28.0"

# Circumference: 88.0"

# Rim Size: 6.5"

# Code: MVD-006

# Compound Type: #704

[1aauto]

@JusticeYouWant2010 Did you see the car when it was run back in the day?

[1aauto]

@Slingudwig You are correct. Merle went and visited Marv at M&H in Gardner MA. Marv remembered the tires, went pulled the molds out and made up a bunch of sets. They are M&H Racemasters 800/8.5-14. The tread patch is a shade under 7 inches wide. If you look in the June 2011 High Performance Pontiac at 12 psi they wrinkle up and grab nicely! Marv passed away in 2009. Be nice if the company that bought M&H would re-issue the racemasters.

[JusticeYouWant2010]

@JusticeYouWant2010 I have written down, 1966 Pontiac GTO , Tin Indian, 1/4 mile in 12.22 seconds @ 115 MPH !

[JusticeYouWant2010]

@JusticeYouWant2010 1966 Pontiac GTO, Tin Indian, 389 Tri Power, 3 x 2 barrel carbs, plus they used other carb combinations for different race classes.