11 replies to this topic

[Ecko]

Hello everyone, 

 

I'm back again to share, but also to look for some help dating or determining the location of these photos. Hope you enjoy! 

 

The "Plymouth Troubleshooting Contest" originated in 1949 as a local event in Los Angeles. Each school selects two auto shop students for it's team. Teams then compete in about local contests, with the winning teams earning an expense-paid trip to the national finals. 

 

 

[Ecko]

 

[10kDA]

Some were shot at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

[10kDA]

As far as dates, the American Airlines 400 Astrojet(s) in the airport ramp pics were BAC One-Elevens flown by American from 1966 to 1972.

[Ray Bell]

The car featuring most with the long-haired ones under the bonnet is a 1973 Fury...

 

The one with the heavy chromed grille surround is a 1971 or 1972 Roadrunner or Satellite.

[Collombin]

Those last three Indy pics look the wrong way round to me.

[Ray Bell]

Yes, there are some posted the wrong way around...

 

The rear view of the open-wheeler is the Andretti Brawner Ford.

[Collombin]

The rear view of the open-wheeler is the Andretti Brawner Ford.

Ah yes, so the year would seem to be 1968.

Edit - just noticed the numbers above the garages in the same pic which confirm it, Mario was #2 and we are looking at Larry Dickson's #64.

Edited by Collombin, 19 May 2024 - 22:09.

[Ecko]

As far as dates, the American Airlines 400 Astrojet(s) in the airport ramp pics were BAC One-Elevens flown by American from 1966 to 1972.

Thank you very much for narrowing it down. Had forgotten about checking for the type of plane and when it was flown.

Yes, there are some posted the wrong way around...

The rear view of the open-wheeler is the Andretti Brawner Ford.

Thank you for noticing lol! I purchased a new slide scanner and forgot which way I should be putting the slides in. Some of them were coming out in reverse (I could tell by the text on the signs or Valvoline cans) and I flipped them, others I had no clue.

Ah yes, so the year would seem to be 1968.

Edit - just noticed the numbers above the garages in the same pic which confirm it, Mario was #2 and we are looking at Larry Dickson's #64.

You all never cease to amaze how well you all can pick this stuff out. Thank you!

[Rupertlt1]

Hurst "Hemi-Under-Glass" rear-engined Plymouth Barracuda wheelstanding exhibition car.

Bob Riggle of Mansfield, Ohio, demonstrated the car pulling a "wheelie" in the parking lot of Stouffer's Indianapolis Inn.

The Indianapolis Star, Wed 19 Jun 1968, Page 33

Note distinctive lettering.

1968: 99 competing teams from 50 states. Contest awards banquet: Windsor Room, Stouffer's Indianapolis Inn.

A Sox & Martin Performance Clinic was held at Stouffer's, Tuesday 18 June 1968.

Stouffer's Restaurant (offering cocktails? This is the Indianapolis Inn, 2820 North Meridian. Hotel where Elvis stayed; the building survives).

 

1962: First national contest, State Fair Grounds, Detroit, 26th June.

1966: National finals, Detroit.

1967: Michigan State Fair Grounds, Detroit.

National Plymouth Troubleshooting Contest was held in Indianapolis, 18-20 June 1968. Said to be 20th Annual event.

"It marks the first time in seven years the finals have been held outside the Detroit area."

(A statewide contest was held at Indy, 20  April 1968.)

Also Nationals at Indianapolis, 16-18 June 1969.

Indianapolis, 15-17 June 1970.

National Plymouth Troubleshooting Contest, Indianapolis, 14-16 June 1971, sponsored by Chrysler Corp.

Los Angeles, 19-21 June 1972.

Boston, MA, 25-27 June 1973.

"The contest was first created in 1949 in Los Angeles by George Cutler..."

 

What about Piehler Pontiac? Scoreboard with 'Down'? Connection to Rochester, NY?

Monroe County Fairgrounds?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 20 May 2024 - 10:16.

[Emery0323]

The white "fuselage body" car in post #2 is a Plymouth Satellite from 1971-72.  The Roadrunners campaigned by Richard Petty in NASCAR at the time were the performance "musclecar" version, with some detail differences in the hood/body panels.

 

I don't see him in these pictures, but in the early 1970's, I can remember seeing a still photograph of Richard Petty doing the starter's honors for this event.  He flagged  the competitors to start troubleshooting the cars using a checkered flag. The contestants would run to the cars once the flagged dropped and start troubleshooting them, with troubleshooting time deciding the winners.   There was a NASCAR race at Riverside, California on June 18th, 1972, which means Petty could have been in the Los Angeles area to do the starter's honors for the 1972 competition on June 19-21, 1972.

 

 

National Plymouth Troubleshooting Contest, Indianapolis, 14-16 June 1971, sponsored by Chrysler Corp.

Los Angeles, 19-21 June 1972.

 

Edited by Emery0323, 20 May 2024 - 10:11.

[Rupertlt1]

1975: Belle Isle Park, Detroit, 16-18 June

 

Where is the Plymouth-Chrysler-International dealers shown above?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 May 2024 - 05:10.