Folks who know that I was involved with OCIR from the start, ask me about the mythical ‘roller’ starters the track was rumored to have? While they really did not work very well and were short lived, in 1967 when the track opened, it did indeed have dual lane roller starters.

OCIR Bracket Blaster: Seeing is believing; Here the starter technician prepares to ‘fire up’ a Top Fuel car during 1960’s OCIR action. A problem arose when a pair of fuelers were expected to fire up simultaneously for a round of racing. Today’s individual starting procedure is much more efficient.

OCIR Bracket Blaster: Another always colorful entry was Larry Buchanan’s Thames Panel truck with big block injected Chevrolet power. At any time, Larry could stand the little truck straight up and wow the crowd.  (Photo captured by AutoImagery)

OCIR Brackets 1969: Two of the finest do battle: Near the Champion Tower is Gary Dodd, whose 1967 Connell Chevrolet sponsored Camaro was as unique as it was fast. In the foreground is Larry ‘the Leg’ Legowski whose Classic MG ruled the brackets during the early days at the Irvine track. (Gary Densford photo)

When Pro Stock officially started in Jan., 1970, a stellar group of ‘Unlimited Super Stocks’ and Bracket Blasters came forward to try their hand at the new NHRA class; One unusual entry was the 67 Camaro driven by Westminster Ca. driver Gary Dodd. He did not seem to mind that the NHRA Rules called for cars 1968 and later, or that most of the new Pro Stock entries used manual shifted four speed transmissions.

Dodd’s car was in most respects the same as a ’68 model Camaro. His Torque-flite 3 speed transmission with a foot operated clutch was really different in Pro Stock. So was Gary’s use of an aluminum ZL-1 block. Thanks to many runs in 1969 during the OCIR Brackets, Gary was very competitive in early Pro Stock racing on the West Coast, winning several events in the process.