Ray Nichels Engineering Team - Book Excerpt: Conversations With A Winner-The Ray Nichels Story

Nichels Engineering handled all of the public relations and photography, and contracted USAC to certify the Indy effort. There was only one hitch; one customer demanded motion picture footage of the attempt before he would invest in it. Nichels replied, "Sure, no problem." When he returned to Highland, however, he learned that filming the attempt would probably cost him more than he had solicited from his suppliers. But for Nichels it wasn't about the money; it was about the challenge. He and Paul Goldsmith found a small motion picture company in Detroit and purchased it outright just for the Nichels Engineering effort. (Author's note: Nichels retained the original 16 mm films, and through the efforts of LaDow Publishing and Rare Sportsfilms, Inc., [www.raresportsfilms.com] these were completely restored and converted to video and DVD in 2003.)

The PersonnelOn November 1, 1961, Nichels Engineering issued a press release announcing its intent to pursue the speed and endurance records at Indianapolis. The target date for the effort was November 16th. Two days later, on November 3rd, the company publicly announced its driver lineup for the two-car effort. It was an all-star cast that included the 1961 USAC National Stock Car Champion Paul Goldsmith, past Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward, and Len Sutton, champion midget car driver, well-respected Indy Car driver and two-time Nichels winner on the USAC stock car trail during the 1961 season. The other three drivers came from NASCAR, and they could arguably be labeled the best in the business-defending Daytona 500 winner Marvin Panch, Joe Weatherly, the driver with the most wins in NASCAR in 1961, and NASCAR star Glenn "Fireball" Roberts.

On the mechanic's side, Nichels Engineering assembled a virtual "who's who" of mechanical geniuses-Dale "Tiny" Worley, Cotton Owens, Bud Moore, Banjo Matthews and Smokey Yunick. In addition, Ray employed his Nichels Engineering championship mechanic staff of Ernie Dascenzo, Ralph Knopf, John Johnson, Don Aspy, and Terry Jones.

The PontiacsTwo brand-new Pontiacs were shipped to the Cline Avenue shop. One was a red '62 Catalina hardtop, the other a black-and-white '62 Police Enforcer post coupe (sold by Pontiac as a cruiser to law enforcement agencies across the country). The cars were to be "stock" with the only modifications performed for safety concerns. Nichels craftsmen installed a steel-moly rollbar, an aircraft-type shoulder harness and belt system, and beefed up the suspension components with Burton coil springs and Monroe shock absorbers. The steel wheels used were double-plated, spindles were high tensile alloy steel, and safety hubs (made from an aircraft alloy) were employed. In addition, 3.23:1 axle ratios were used and Super-Duty axle shafts were reworked for the safety hubs and paired with 8.00/8.20x15 Goodyear Blue Streak racing tires.

Power was provided by 389 cubic-inch Super-Duty V-8s that utilized a forged steel crankshaft, Super-Duty pistons and Pedrick piston rings. These Pontiac engines were set up with a McKellar No. 10 cam and low-restriction dual mufflers. The engine speed range was expected to be 4,800 to 5,000 rpm in Fourth gear. Both cars were equipped with four-speed synchromesh transmissions and were shifted only when going into and out of the pits. Nichels also had a revolving red light installed on the roof of the Police Enforcer, which helped identify the car during the night section of the run.

When the time came, both the Police Enforcer and the Catalina were prepped and driven over the highway for roughly 150 miles to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Following the 24-hour record run, they were driven back to the Chicago area for a USAC teardown and technical inspection.