Bobby Allison '69 Holman Moody Grand American Mustang #49

With the recent discussion about the numbers of wins Bobby Allison has, 84 or 85, the car in the middle of the controversey is my interest. The car that Bobby drove to the Grand National win at Bowman Gray was a 1969 Mustang built by Holman Moody and owned by Melvin Joseph. I can't find any info on the car after the 1972 season. I am curious if anyone has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the car. When it was being raced through Holman Moody it was kept and maintained attheir shop by their people. Beyond that there is no trail. Any help is greatly appreciated.

You might try Lee Holman in Charlotte NC HM

Late in the '70's I built a car for Ralph Moody that was owned by Melvin Joseph, and driven by Bobby. It was raced in Delaware, and I was told that it was never beaten in competition, and that Melvin had secreted it a rural farm barn that I was told he owned.

Perhaps that is a place to look.

While working for Ralph Moody Sr., we took Ralph Juniors baby grand car, installed a turbocharged Volvo boat motor in it, along with some lightening and other 'tricks'. It got 82 miles per gallon. I know that it did, because I was the one holding the calibrated gas 'can' while riding in the passenger seat with Ralph Sr. driving. That car was sold for a ton of money and promptly disappeared from the face of the earth. Rumor has it that it was sold to an oil company, went thru Melvin, and onto a large boat and sunk out in the ocean off the coast of Delaware.

FYI, for those who don't know... Melvin Joseph is Mel Joseph of the asphalt business ( but couldn't keep asphalt on his own racetrack!)who built the Dover track - thus the Delaware connection.

For your reading pleasure from Winston Cup Scene:

Dover legend Mel Joseph passes away
Monday, May 02, 2005

Mel Joseph, a former NASCAR team owner who helped build Dover Inter-national Speedway, died April 6 at age 83.

At the time of his death, Joseph was vice president and director of auto racing at Dover. Joseph, whose construction firm helped build the track in the late 1960s, had given the command for drivers to start their engines at every Cup race since the track opened in 1969. In the mid-1990s, he presided over the project that converted the track from asphalt to concrete.

Through the years, Joseph fielded Modified cars for several drivers. He also was a team owner for two Cup races in 1971, and was involved in one of the most controversial races in the sport's history. On Aug. 6, 1971, in a Cup race at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., NASCAR faced a short field, and allowed smaller Grand American cars to enter the race. Bobby Allison won the event in a Joseph-owned Ford Mustang, yet NASCAR decreed the race had no winner. Allison has never received credit for the win.

"He was a doer, a very positive person. That made me admire him," Allison told The News Journal in Wilmington, Del. "To be his friend, that was a bonus."

An eighth-grade dropout, Joseph was a legendary figure in Delaware, turning a $300 loan from his grandmother into a multimillion dollar fortune. His other interests included horse racing and treasure hunting. In 1985, he and his crew discovered a sunken Spanish galleon in the Florida Keys with a treasure worth millions.

Wow now that is a story good stuff

You would often see Melvin walking around the pits at Dover with two highway patrolmen by his side. It would appear some what unusual until you would see him with a 5" long piece of gold that was almost 3/4" in diameter. I would imagine that it was a 'trophy' from the diving sunken treasure 'haul'.

I was the early crew chief on the Janet Guthrie car, prepared by Ralph Moody. Ralph and Melvin were great friends and it was a pain in the butt to work on the cars at Dover when Melvin came to chat with Ralph. Melvin, the highway patrol guys and their entourage would crown around the car, and you couldn't get crap done.

We had gone to do a tire test / practice at Dover a few weeks prior to the race event and Janet was accompanied by Dick Simon, her Indy car owner. After the test we went out for a seafood dinner. Dick and a lady were in the front seat, Janet and I were in the back seat. Dick was driving and we were on a narrow two lane country road, looking for the restaurant that was recommended to us, when Janet hollered at Dick that he had just missed the turnoff. Dick, a good Indy car driver said 'not to worry, I'll just turn around'.

Just then, we were crossing a wooden bridge, no wider than the road, when Dick crossed it up, backed up on the wheel and did a 180 turn while we remained on the bridge. The lady in the front seat started screaming, and I just about crapped my pants and was sweating like hell, when Janet calmly said to Dick: 'You know Dick, that a real NASCAR driver could have done that and stayed in the same lane'.

Man that is Leon! W

Great story.

Jim Reep Jr. had the following post in a discussion a bout H-M.

Dennis, I know some about the Mustang #49 too. It was one of the Mickey Thompson Bonneville cars Ford supplied to him for some record attempts. One of those cars survives in Oklahoma with a collector. HM wound up with them & Larry Wallace approached a Ford Racing Executive whose name presently escapes me, &one was given to him with component spares. Larry ran the car several times in G/A competition. John Holman kinda took it away from him & David Pearson & Bobby Allison both drove it. There is a great pic of it with Bobby @ the wheel on your G/A site on here. I believe it succumbed to a bash & bang between Bobby & Richard Petty @ Ashville/Weaverville . Its unknown where it finally wound up, I doubt it survived. Once again, I am pretty sure it was a Funderburk car, that fact being born out by research done on those cars by Dr. Craft. They had '65 Galaxie snouts & were built just like their Torino big brothers as unibody frames. Holman turned the stock street cars Thompson used into throughbred race cars.

I am not sure about Lil' Ralph's baby grand car but, we still own the '79 Capri with the Perkins engine Ralph built that was certified for 82 MPG. It went to Ohio to be certified and later they took it to Ford. They were told to leave the car and Ford would let them know if they were interested. Melvin and Ralph apparently told them they would have to pay first! The car came home and has been here ever since. We have kept it tagged and I still take it for a spin onoccassion!

Melvinwas a site contractor and developer. He wasn't actually in the asphalt business. The track's original hotmix surface lasted for 20 years. The re-pave was the problem, for whatever reason. But the rest of the story is that instead of struggling with the hotmix that kept breaking up, he bought a 65' wide concrete slip form paver and had the track converted to concrete in '95! Problem solved. That was how Melvin operated, he loved a challenge and wouldn't rest until he conquered it. The first racetrack he ever built was the Georgetown Speedway in 1949. It held NASCAR sanctioned races for years. Hisracing history goes back to the beach at Daytona. Banjo Matthews drove one of his cars to the modified race win on the beach in '55 as well as the inaugaural modified race on the superspeedway in '59. Curtis Turner also won races in his cars.

You probably went to Sambo's!

That's an interesting story I had never heard! I'm not sure about the car being taken from someone but I know Melvin bought and owned the car. H-M maintained and crewed it for him.

We actually have the old H-M invoices where they billed for the mechanic's time and parts that were replaced on the car after each race, as well as the fuel and tires!

Ken, That is not what I remember being told about that car, but it sure is a better conclusion.

I do remember the Ford part of your account, but thought I was told that Melvin ended up with it, and while there an oil company bought it and disposed of it because they did not want a big fuel mileage car any where around.

Is it possible that I could entice you to send me a photo of the car? A view from the front? Is there still a front spoiler on the car? I would LOVE to chat with you about that car for a book I am working on.

In the time that I worked for Ralph, he showed more interest in that car than anything we did while I was there. Are you in touch with Jr. at all? He, his sister and Mitzi were always very good to me. If you should see them, please mention that I was asking about them.

My email address: wildcad@comporium.net

I would be glad to get a photo. I believe there were more than one of the cars that were tested. The one we have is a stock street version of a 79 Capri. No front spoiler. I haven't spoken to Mitzi in a while but my Mother stays in regular contact. Actually, they all got together, Jr., Ann and Mitzi joined my Mother and others at a table for Bobby's induction in the Hall of Fame this past spring.

For a time while they were working on the Capri, Ralph, Mitzi and Ann actually lived at Melvin's house.

They actually raced lil Ralph's "baby grand" at the Georgetown dirt track in the "mini stock" division while they were here. They actually converted it back and ran the "baby grand" race at Dover the same year!

I was thinking about your question about the spoiler. Something told me it used to have one on it. I went out to the shop to look and there are pop rivet holes where apparently there was one at some time!

Great pics. How were you able to access the "Thompson" pic?

VERY COOL 'stuff'.

Now were gettin' some where!

My Mother just showed me a picture of the 49 car apparently at H-M under construction, dated August 1970. It's setting on jack stands and already lettered with the Joseph-Rollins names on the 1/4 panel. With 4 wheel drum brakes?! I will post as soon as I can get scanned.

Ken,

I noted in the picture of the Allison Mustang the Rollins Leasing sponsorship and remembered always seeing Rollins Leasing signage and trucks at Dover. I note in one of the Dover Motorsports SEC filings from several years back a number of Rollins family members on the Board of Directors.

What was the relationship between Rollins and Mel Joseph?

The name and age of each of our Directors and each of the nominees, his principal occupation, and the period during which he has served us as a Director are set forth below.

Names of

Nominees

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Occupation(1)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Service as

Director

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Class III (Term Expires 2008)

Denis McGlynn President and Chief Executive Officer; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. 1979 to date 59

Jeffrey W. Rollins Principal, Context Ventures Inc., LLC 1993 to date 40

Kenneth K. Chalmers Former Executive Vice President of Bank of America 2002 to date 75

Names of Directors Whose

Terms Have Not Expired

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Class I (Term Expires 2006)

Henry B. Tippie
Chairman of the Board; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Tippie Services, Inc.; Chairman of the Board, Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. 1996 to date 78

R. Randall Rollins
Chairman of the Board, Rollins, Inc.; Chairman of the Board, RPC, Inc.; Chairman of the Board, Marine Products Corporation 1996 to date 73

Patrick J. Bagley
Senior Vice PresidentFinance and Chief Financial Officer; Former Vice PresidentFinance, Treasurer and Director, Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. 1996 to date 57

Class II (Term Expires 2007)

John W. Rollins, Jr.
Former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. 1996 to date 62

Eugene W. Weaver
Former Senior Vice PresidentAdministration 1971 to date 72

Melvin L. Joseph
Vice President and Director of Auto Racing, Dover International Speedway, Inc.; President, Melvin Joseph Construction Company 1969 to date 83

That would probably a whole other discussion!! Melvin and John met in the late 40's when John had a Ford dealership in Lewes, Delaware. They became instant friends and business associates. Melvin, through his construction companies did many project for Rollins' different companies, from trucking terminals in Baton Rouge for Matlack to work at landfills in Baton Rouge, Houston and Denver for Rollins environmental!

The story Melvin always loved to tell is when the pair went to Ford's Chester truck plant to look at a new Ford truck for the construction company in the late40's. The tale was long but the clinchwas, when they sat down to meet Ford's truck sales manager to discuss the "deal". John led him to believe Melvin was buying a "fleet" of trucks when in actuality it was only going to be one! They did form a friendship with the guy though, his name was Lee Iacocca!

I think Melvin lured John into the deal at Dover, as an investor. He invested more cash than Melvin while Melvin was in charge of construction, thus John had a larger interest in the company. He has since also passsed and some of his children are on the board, as well as his brother Randall.

I tried to keep it short!!

Thank you Ken. Very interesting, enlighteningand historic stuff.

I'm glad I found you guys! it's great to be able toshare this stuff with folks!

This has been an awesome thread. Keep it up guys! This could be habit forming!!

Yes indeedy, automotive 'CSI' at its best.

I'm sorry I haven't gotten anything scanned in yet, I'm a little electronically challenged! I have found some other interesting H-M photos, such as the 1972?#41 Pepsi Torino driven by Bobby Unser at Riverside. I believe it was the last Cup car built by H-M. My grandfather bought it in the late 70's and then sold to the gentleman that restored it in South Carolina?

Ken Adams has posted these two pictures and accompanying captions on the photo site - reposting here also so those following the post will see them:

Here is the photo. I believe this is at H-M, not sure.

Here is the actual invoice fro the #49 Mustang. Note the unit #. I assume the car would have had a serial number plate with the HM-9011-GT on it?

I haven't quite figured it all out yet!

Thanks for the info. Mr. Joseph's son, Mel Jr., looked but he hasn't had any luck. I think he had leads but nothing panned out. Mel is my uncle as Mr. Joseph was my grandfather.

Yes, that is Mr. Joseph. I actually have quite a few invoices. The car did run out of H-M it looks like in 1970. There are invoicesfor hauling it to different tracks, parts, etc. Also for labor for Roger Baldwin and JP Berthellette?I'll post some of them eventually! We actually still have some David Pearson postcards left over I'll put up too.

Thank youfor posting these pictures and information! I'm very interested in this car and want to build a detailed scale model of it. I've been interested in this car for years and haven't seen much info on it. Thank you so much!

There are actually decal kits available in all the different configurations. I don't know the sources but have seen several and bought a model complete from someone once. I'll try to find that info as well.

Jim, I believe Ken posted up above a ways that the man in the photo is/was Mel Joseph, his grandfather.

Iwill get up with Bobby to see what he remembers. We still see him a couple of times a year when he comes to Dover. I was onlyreal youngwhen he drove the car and didn't realize that it ran out of his shop too. I always thought it ran out of H-M. Thanks.

I posted these to pictures, I think but not here. Still trying to figure it out!

I posted this photo on my page but not to this discussion, still figuring itall out!It's the Citrus 250 in '72, I believe.

Jim,

The first pic is Wayne Andrews in Jack StClair's #97 Mustang, I think it is at Myrtle Beach in 1972. It is the same car that is in the photo of the grid at Talladega in 1971with Red Farmer behind the wheel of the #98 and Bobby in the #49 and Dad in the #15. Jack ran the car in selected races in 1971 with Johnny Allen, Coy Blue and Red driving.

The second pic is Red Farmer and I know nothing about that car.

The third pic is Wayne Andrews in the same Jack StClair Mustang as the first pic but it is 1973 at I think Hickory. The car was sold to Tiny Lund in I think 1974. I have heard Wanda tell the story of how the car disappeared after Tiny died but I forget the details.

The picture of the Red Farmer F-97 Mustang wasin the late 70's. This was used in Bob Harmon's All Pro Series and thelater Nascar Grand American Division of the early 80's. I am not aware of this car being ofone of the Holman Moody cars.

Thanks Robin, Darrell is a great guy and has forgotten more about racing than I'll ever know. Wouldn't it be great to get him on RR. Last time I saw him I asked if he used a computer, he pointed to the office and said "There's one in there." He is someone we need to get on Racing Through History on Tuesday night, he has done a lot of racing over the years and knows a lot of people in the sport. The other folks in the picture are the owner Jack StClair and his Terry.

Now getting Darrell to use a computer would be a neat trick. I always call him to let him know when and where the different Legends events are going on. I met Darrell probably not long after that picture was made. He was driving in the Late Model Sportsman Division for Cliff Stewartwhen I met him at Metrolina. He helpedme out on a Limited Sportsman car I was working on and we have stayed friends ever since. Later I helped on his Sportsman car when he ran at Charlotte and also worked on a couple cup teams with him when he was crew chief for teams owned by Billy Hagan and Cliff Stewart.

L I K E-----------------------------------------WOW what a thread here, this has more memories than a 24 hour race . Guys keep this going--you may just recreate a real mustang yet

Here is a photograph I took of the car at Daytona in 1971. We were staying at the old Marco Polo Inn on South Atlantic Ave. This was taken in the parking lot at the hotel. I think this was taken after, and not before, the Paul Revere 250 during the July 4th week. Eddie Allison was the crew chief and was staying in the room next door to us.

Great photo!

Will, Did you see the photo of the Capri I posted?

Great photo--I sure do miss those days. I ran into Eddy Allision a few years ago he was the equiptment and shop manager for a large masonary contractor in the Atlanta prior to that he built handi-cap accessible cars and vans after he left the race shop in Hueytown in the early 80's

Jamie,

Thanks for responding. If you could get the pictures scanned and posted that would be awesome! Sad news but it's good to know.

I must ask from whom did your father buy the car and, what you fathers name is?

JLee.... welcome aboard... I trust I can speak for all of our RacersReunion members when I say we'd love to see any photos you might be able to share.

wonder if there is cars out there that get those kind of MPG numbers. No wonder the auto people get rid of them....

In the mid 70s it was in the shop at Tom Pistones sittin beside Stick Elliots channel 3 mustang

JLee,

Were you able to get any more pictures scanned? I would love to see them! I would be interestedin any info you may have on the car. If it is indeed no longer, I will probably end up building a tribute and any pics would be helpful.

If you are interested in selling the steering wheel and belts , let me know. My email is kadams@melvinjoseph.com.

I'm still hoping to see more photos of the #49. Or email me @ kadams@melvinjoseph.com. Thanks.