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Holman & Moody History Timeline
1956
NASCAR
John Holman moved from California to Charlotte, NC, to take
over the Ford racing effort in NASCAR. He had been working
for Bill Stroppe and the Western arm of Ford’s racing
effort. Holman develops special stock racing wheels, which
become the standard.Peter DePaolo Engineering raced cars driven
by Joe Weatherly, Curtis Turner, Marvin Panch, Bill Amick,
Ralph Moody, Fireball Roberts and others. The main competition
was from the Kiekhaefer Chryslers, an the battles on and off
the track were impressive. One particular point of contention
was the rumor that the Fords were cheating with locked rear
ends.
1957
NASCAR
The season started with Ford winning race after race, and
the other teams began to complain. NASCAR allowed a new Chevrolet
engine to even things up, so Ford countered with the introduction
of the supercharged 312. The AMA ban on auto racing went into
effect, so Ford and the other manufacturers withdrew sponsorship
of racing. Each of the Ford drivers were given a race car,
transporter, and some spare parts. John Holman and Ralph Moody
put what money they had into buying additional cars and equipment,
and Holman Moody was formed. Lee Holman was given the job
taking inventory of all of the spare parts. The Holman Moody
Fords won their first two races in 1957.
1958
NASCAR
Holman Moody entered two 1958 Fords at the last two races
on the beach at Daytona. The same two cars, one driven by
Curtis Turner and the other driven by Joe Weatherly, raced
to firs and third in one race and second and fourth in another.Holman
Moody began to change from a racing team to a racing factory.
In addition to building and racing their own cars, the shop
was now building cars and selling them to other teams. By
late 1958 Ford support was slowly returning to racing. This
support helped the Holman Moody team in the construction of
ten 1959 Thunderbirds. This was the first time Holman Moody
was able to get bare bodies off of the assembly lines. The
production line was stopped while Holman Moody got the bare
chassis and parts they needed to build the race cars. All
unnecessary items in the production automobile were left off.
Curtis Turner wins in a Holman Moody Ford at Champion Speedway
(3/15), Lakewood Speedway (4/13), and the Southern States
Fairgrounds (4/18).
1959
NASCAR
Holman Moody Power Products Thunderbirds are the talk of Daytona.
Johnny Beauchamp in the Holman Moody car and Lee Petty in
an Oldsmobile finish in a virtual dead heat. After three days
NASCAR officials decide Petty is the winner by inches. The
two cars averaged 135.521 mph, which made it the fastest stock
car race in history. It is slightly under the Indianapolis
500 record average speed of 135.601 mph.
1961
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars,
and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.Holman Moody
makes a number of important developments including the three
piece sway bar.Fred Lorenzen wins in a Holman Moody Ford
at Martinsville (4/19), Darlington (5/6), and Atlanta International
Raceway (7/9).
1962
Road
Racing Holman Moody enters the "Challenger" in the
12 Hours of Sebring. The "Worlds fastest Falcon"
was driven by Marvin Panch and Jocko Maggiacomo.A Holman Moody
prepared small-block AC Cobra, driven by Augie Pabst , is
one of three Cobras entered in the Nassau Speed Weeks. The
Cobra is still in the development phase, and none of the three
cars finish.NASCARHolman Moody is building engines for the
Woods Brothers #21 cars, and grinding cams for many other
NASCAR teams.Nelson Stacy wins in a Holman Moody Ford at Darlington
(5/12), Charlotte (5/27) and Martinsville (9/23).
1963
Road
Racing Holman Moody enters a small-block AC Cobra in the 12
Hours of Sebring (four more were entered by Shelby). While
the Cobras posted the fastest lap times, they lacked durability,
and the Ferraris prevailed.NASCARHolman Moody is building
engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars, and grinding cams
for many other NASCAR teams.Holman Moody makes a number of
important developments including gas cans and window nets.Dan
Gurney wins in a Holman Moody Ford at Riverside International
Raceway (1/20).Fred Lorenzen wins in a Holman Moody Ford at
Atlanta International Raceway (3/17), Charlotte Motor Speedway
(6/2), Bristol International Speedway (7/28), Asheville-Weaverville
Speedway (8/11), West Virginia International Speedway (8/18),
and Martinsville Speedway (9/22).Fireball Roberts wins in
a Holman Moody Ford at Bristol (3/31), Daytona (7/4), and
Old Bridge Stadium (7/19).
1964
NASCAR
Holman Moody develops the box steel chassis for NASCAR racing
that became the standard for all cars. They also make other
important developments including screw jacks and wheel studs.Holman
Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars,
and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.Fred Lorenzen
wins in a Holman Moody Ford at Bristol (3/22 and 7/26), Atlanta
(4/5), North Wilkesboro (4/19), Martinsville (4/26 and 9/27),
Darlington (5/9), and Charlotte (10/18).Fireball Roberts wins
in a Holman Moody Ford at Augusta International Speedway (11/17).
1965
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.Fred Lorenzen
wins in a Holman Moody Ford at Daytona (2/14), Martinsville
(4/25), and Charlotte (5/2 and 10/17).Dick Hutcherson wins
in a Holman Moody Ford at Greenville-Pickens Speedway (4/17
and 6/19), Fairgrounds Speedway (6/3), Rambi Raceway (6/24),
Smoky Mountain Raceway (8/13), Augusta International Speedway
(8/15), Dog Track Speedway (8/24), Lincoln Speedway (9/14),
and Orange Speedway (10/24).Road CarsHolman Moody takes over
production of the Intermeccanica Omega, a Ford Powered Italian
sports car. Thirty three Omegas were built. Drag RacingHolman
Moody builds 10 altered wheelbase A/FX Mustangs for the Factory
Experimental class of drag racing. Eight of the cars were
powered by 427 SOHC (single overhead cam) engines, and the
other two had 427 Hi-Risers. All of these cars ran dual 4
barrel carbs except Les Ritcheys, which had Webers. Les Ritchey
managed a 10.51 sec/134.24 mph quarter mile. Bill Lawton won
the NHRA Winter Nationals A/FX class with a 10.88 sec/129.84
quarter mile. The Wickersham Mustang with its 427 Hi-Riser,
was driven by Clester Andrews to 40 wins in 42 match races.
1966
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.Holman
Moody makes a number of important developments including fuel
cells and a fuel check valve.Fred Lorenzen wins in a Holman
Moody Ford at Martinsville (9/25) and North Carolina Motor
Speedway (10/30). Dick Hutcherson wins in a Holman Moody Ford
at Bristol (3/20), Orange Speedway (9/18), and North Wilkesboro
(10/2).
1967
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars,
and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.Holman Moody
makes a number of important developments including the chassis
frame.Fred Lorenzen wins in a Holman Moody Ford at Daytona
(2/24).Mario Andretti wins in a Holman Moody Ford at Daytona
(2/26).Can AmThe "Honker II" makes its debut.
The car was named after John Holman, who liked to use the
air horns on the eighteen wheeler transporters he drove.
The Honker II was designed by Len Bailey (from the GT
program) and built by Alan Mann Racing. Holman Moody prepared
the car and Mario Andretti drove it. The metallic purple
car was powered by a 351 Cubic inch engine (and later a
377 CID). The handling and brakes were never sorted out,
and it did not place in the two races it entered. Lee Holman
brought the restored car to the Shelby American Automobile
Club (SAAC) convention in Charlotte, NC in June, 1991.
1968
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.David
Pearson wins his second Championship with sixteen wins in
Holman Moody prepared Torinos: Bristol (3/17 and 7/21), Virginia
State Fairgrounds (3/24), North Wilkesboro (4/21), Asheville-Weaverville
Speedway (5/5 and 8/18), Darlington (5/11), Beltsville Speedway
(5/17), Langley Field Speedway (5/18 and 8/24), Middle Georgia
Speedway (6/2), Fairgrounds Speedway (7/27), Columbia Speedway
(8/8), Bowman Gray Stadium (8/10), Hickory Speedway (9/6)
and Augusta Speedway (10/5).
1969
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.David
Pearson wins his third Championship with eleven wins in Holman
Moody prepared Torino Talladegas: Daytona (2/20), North Carolina
Motor Speedway (3/9), Augusta Speedway (3/16), Richmond Fairgrounds
Speedway (4/13), Langley Field Speedway (5/17), State Fairgrounds
Speedway (6/26), New Thompson Speedway (7/10), Trenton Speedway
(7/13), Bristol (7/20), Michigan (8/17), and North Wilkesboro
(10/5).
1970
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.David
Pearson wins in a Holman Moody prepared Torino Talladega at
Darlington (5/9).
1971
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams. David
Pearson wins in a Holman Moody Ford at Daytona (2/11) and
Bristol (3/28).
1972
Ralph
Moody’s stock in Holman Moody is bought back by the
company, and he goes on to other racing teams. The company
name remains the same. In an effort to clear away old race
cars, the company has the first of a number of auctions. Holman
Moody sells all nine GTs, some Can Am cars, and some retired
stock cars to make room for new projects. NASCARHolman Moody
is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars, and grinding
cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1973
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1974
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1975
John
Holman has a heart attack and dies while testing a new truck
intercooler that he hoped to patent. NASCARHolman Moody is
building engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars, and grinding
cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1976
Holman
Moody is being run by a bank trust department. NASCARHolman
Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars,
and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1977
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1978
Lee Holman
takes over as President of Holman Moody, Inc., and injects
new life into the struggling company. His first goal was to
get back into racing, so Holman Moody began building race
cars again. They built a Mazda which raced at LeMans, and
also continued with their engine building program, which included
Can Am and NASCAR engines. NASCARHolman Moody is building
engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars, and grinding cams
for many other NASCAR teams.
1979
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1980
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars,
and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1981
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1982
The Charlotte
airport gave Holman Moody notice of their intent to condemn
the Holman Moody building in preparation for a new airport
runway. The Board of Directors chose not to fight the airport,
and thought that it would be a good time to let any of the
stockholders who wanted to cash out do so. The company held
an auction to sell off the equipment, and Lee Holman bought
much of it. Holman Moody was then going to divide the cash
from the building and equipment among the stock holders, and
the new company, Holman Automotive, Inc., would continue the
work of building race cars and engines in a new facility.
As of 1997, the Charlotte airport has not condemned the six
acre property and the two companies, Holman Moody and Holman
Automotive, continue to operate out of the same 75,000 square
foot facility. NASCARHolman Moody is building engines for
the Woods Brothers #21 cars, and grinding cams for many other
NASCAR teams.
1983
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1984
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1985
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1986
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1987
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1988
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1989
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1990
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1991
Road
Racing The first of the continued production GT MKIIs, chassis
P201, is shown in incomplete form at the Shelby American Automobile
Club convention (SAAC 16) in Charlotte, NC. An article featuring
the continued production cars and chassis P201 appears in
the November 1991 issue of "Mustang & Fords".
NASCARHolman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers
#21 cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1992
Road
Racing GT MKII chassis P201 is completed in September. This
is the first of sixteen continued production GT MKII’s
using original tooling, suppliers and components. See the
"GT Mark II" section for more production information.
NASCARHolman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers
#21 cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1993
Road
Racing GT MKII chassis P201 runs at the Jefferson 500 (Summit
Point, WV) and Targa ’66 (also at Summit Point, WV).
It also runs in the Walter Mitty Challenge (Road Atlanta,
GA) and the Lime Rock Vintage Festival (Lime Rock, CT) and
SAAC-18 (Watkins Glen, NY).NASCARHolman Moody is building
engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars, and grinding cams
for many other NASCAR teams.
1994
Road
Racing GT MKII chassis P201 runs at the Jefferson 500 (Summit
Point, WV) and Targa ’66 (also at Summit Point, WV).
It also runs in the Walter Mitty Challenge (Road Atlanta,
GA) and the GT 30th Anniversary Reunion in July of 1994
(Elkhart Lake, WI).NASCARHolman Moody is building engines
for the Woods Brothers #21 cars, and grinding cams for many
other NASCAR teams.
1995
Road
Racing GT MKII chassis P201 runs at the Jefferson 500 (Summit
Point, WV), Targa ’66 (also at Summit Point, WV), and
the Walter Mitty Challenge (Road Atlanta, GA).NASCARHolman
Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21 cars,
and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1996
NASCAR
Holman Moody is building engines for the Woods Brothers #21
cars, and grinding cams for many other NASCAR teams.
1997
Holman
Moody and Holman Automotive, continue to operate out of the
same 75,000 square foot facility next to Charlotte-Douglas
Airport. We are currently building the GT MKII, performing
mechanical restorations on other GTs and other Ford powered
race cars, building engines for the Woods Brothers NASCAR
team as well as other customers, and grinding cams for many
NASCAR teams and customers. See the list of "Services"
for a complete description of what we can do for you! Future
plans include the prospect of a Holman Moody racing museum.
Road RacingGT MKII chassis P201 will be running at SAAC-22
(Elkhart Lake, WI).
2016
I was very sorry to hear that Jack Sears, the great Galaxie driver, had died in Aug. of 2016. I last saw Gentleman Jack at Goodwood in 2015 when he was cheering on our 1964 Fairlane in the St. Mary's race that year. He could not have been happier that the Holman & Moody Fairlane had pulled a come from behind win that Saturday. Jack had driven the Holman & Moody Galaxies in Europe in 1963-- on to 2016. His races were famous and hard but he took pride in the fact that a Jag had never passed his old Galaxie on the track.
In 1996, I was at Goodwood with the GT 40 Mark IIs. When I walked around the back of a trailer I bumped into this old gentleman. He turned white with shock and said, "Honker, is that you?" I said no Honker was my dad, John Holman! He laughed and said he thought he had just bumped into the ghost of John Holman. That was the first time I recall meeting Mr. Sears. We went on to have lunch and I got to talk with him each time I went to Goodwood. I was invited to drive my NASCAR Galaxie at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June of 2016 and was very sorry to hear that Mr. Sears was not well and would not attend the event. Jack was a very nice person to know and a very good driver.
It does not seem to be enough to just say we mourn the loss these great drivers and friends. Lee Holman
2017
We note that Sir John Whitmore had passed away April 28th, 2017. He was one of the drivers I worked with in England in 1965. Sir John drive for Alan Mann Racing and seemed like a real English gentlemen. I found out that he was not the average sort when he went missing after the race at the German "ring" ended. Alan Mann called everywhere to find him but could not. Sir John had just vanished, the car was sitting just off the track in good shape, but NO Sir John.
He was found the next day when he was allowed to make a phone call from jail for help.
It seems Sir John Whitmore had been arrested.
The car he was driving stopped out on the track and he jumped the fence to take the short way back to the pits.
A GERMAN track worker saw him jump from the track into the spectator area and told him he had only a drivers pass not a
spectator pass so he would have to return to the track and walk the 13 miles around the track. After some heated words,
Sir John hit the track fool with his crash helmet which was seen by "GERMAN OFFICER #2" who quickly arrested Sir John.
Sir John Whitmore, Baronet spent the night in a German jail.
December, 2021 We are very sad to announce the passing of Mr. Jimmy Tucker.
For almost 60 years, Jimmy Tucker was a key member of the winning team at Holman & Moody. Jimmy was always willing to get the job done and to help whenever or however he could. At Le Mans, Daytona, Riverside, and many other tracks, Jimmy built winning engines and a number of the legendary Holman & Moody race cars. We will miss him greatly.
Few people built such a winning legacy in such a humble way.
For the NASCAR fans, we have one of the original Holman & Moody team cars on display in the shop, a 1963 Fireball Roberts Galaxie, and a number of Mark II GT race cars.
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