DoctorLarry Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Had the opportunity to travel with a group of MBA students to Hong Kong and Bangkok over spring break and so had some dead time to kill in a few places. I have a dormant couple of Buick projects (73 GS and 76 Century Pace Car) and someone opened a thread on Randy Ayers' site about 78 Buicks. They posted a web site that had racing pictures from several races and I found this one. The driver's name is Jim Thirkette(?) but I thought it was a gorgeous car. Anybody know about him? I read a little and saw a few other pictures, seems he was a west coast regular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorLarry Posted March 16, 2019 Author Share Posted March 16, 2019 Maybe Thirkettle, not Thirkette. Hard to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 That's not a 78. Gm went to the smaller intermediates that year. I know because I bought a 78 monte carlo. One of the worst cars I ever owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowsportwagon Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 6 minutes ago, MarkJ said: That's not a 78. Gm went to the smaller intermediates that year. I know because I bought a 78 monte carlo. One of the worst cars I ever owned. I think Larry means 78 racing season. And it is one real sharp car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorLarry Posted March 16, 2019 Author Share Posted March 16, 2019 Tim is correct. It is a 77 Buick that was being raced in 1978. Evidently there were a few drivers that went the Buick versus Olds Cutlass route. Janet Guthrie evidently was another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 They had to keep running these old bodies I guess until 81 when nascar forced them to go to the smaller more boxy gm intermidiates. a lot of people think the Gray Ghost was a 1980 olds but it was really a 77. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james460 Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 If memory serves me correct A J and Dale, in Osterland colors, ran Buicks at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorLarry Posted March 19, 2019 Author Share Posted March 19, 2019 Yes they did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowsportwagon Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 51 minutes ago, DoctorLarry said: Yes they did. Notice that Dales car has the formal Monte Carlo roofline. While the 51 car has the standard roofline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Did they just stick a Buick nose on a Monte Carlo, or was there a Buick with that formal roof? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowsportwagon Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, bbowser said: Did they just stick a Buick nose on a Monte Carlo, or was there a Buick with that formal roof? Century custom had that roof Century Special had the fastback roof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Wasn't it great, all the variety to be had back then? Now all we get are jellybeans that can't be told apart unless you see the logo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Some Info. I saw Jim race at Mesa Marin a couple of times. http://www.everret.com/SAUGUS5THIRKETTLE.html https://www.thefreelibrary.com/IT'S+THE+LAST+CHANCE+FOR+THIRKETTLE+AT+MESA+MARIN.-a0135824798 Jim Thirkettle, won five straight Mesa Marin track championships, from 1979 to 1983, in addition to two track titles at Saugus Speedway. Jim Thirkettle's racing career is legendary on the West Coast. He made his way up the NASCAR ladder and competed on the old Grand National Division, when the top stock car racers visited Ontario and Riverside. http://westcoaststockcarhalloffame.com/about-2016-inductee-jim-thirkettle/ Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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