The 1963 NHRA Winternationals (commonly known as the Winternats) were a

National Hot Rod Association The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a governing body which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorsport sanction ...

(NHRA)

drag racing Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, mos ...

event held at the Auto Club Raceway in

Pomona, California Pomona ( ) is a city in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. Pomona is located in the Pomona Valley, between the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city's population was ...

on February 17, 1963.

Events

Jack Williams' new

slingshot A slingshot or catapult is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame, with two tubes or strips made from either a natural rubber or synthetic elastic material. These are attached to the upper two ends ...

streamliner A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor " bullet trains". Less commonly, the term i ...

''Scuderia'' made her debut at this year's Winternats, in

Top Gas Top Gas (T/G) is a former NHRA drag racing professional class. Analogous to Top Fuel, Top Gas was a pro class, and allowed dragsters (T/GD) as well as bodied cars. Several noteworthy cars ran in Top Gas. One of the early streamliners, ''Scud ...

. She also won the "Best Appearing" award.

Results

Top Fuel

In the

Top Fuel Top Fuel is a type of drag racing whose dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of and finishing the runs in 3.641 second ...

Dragster (TF/D) final round,

Don Garlits Donald Glenn Garlits (born January 14, 1932) is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. Born in Tampa, Florida, Garlits is considered the father of drag racing, he is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. A pion ...

(not yet nicknamed "Big Daddy") defeated

Art Malone Arthur Malone (June 3, 1936 – March 29, 2013; Tampa, Florida) was an American race car driver who was successful in both drag racing and American open-wheel car racing, an unusual combination of skills. Career Malone is known primarily f ...

Altered

Top Gas

''Scuderia'' made her debut, recording a best pass of 8.83 seconds at with Ron Lowe at the wheel, before mechanical trouble sidelined her. The class win went to

Bob Muravez Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to: People, fictional characters, and named animals *Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters *Bob (surname) * Bob (dog), a dog that received the Dickin Medal for bravery in World War II *Bob the ...

(in the John Peters and Nye Frank-owned ''Freight Train'') over

Connie Kalitta Conrad Kalitta (born February 24, 1938) is an American businessman and former drag racing driver, nicknamed "the Bounty Hunter." Kalitta is the CEO of Kalitta Air and the owner of Kalitta Motorsports.

. ''Freight Train'' also posted both top speed (185+) and low E.T. (8.36) of the meet for gas dragsters.

Competition Eliminator

Tony Nancy defeated Jerry Hardick to win the Comp Eliminator trophy.

Middle Eliminator

Doug "Cookie" Cook claimed Middle Eliminator in his

Oldsmobile Oldsmobile (formally the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors) was a brand of American automobiles, produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it produc ...

-engined

Willys Willys (pronounced , "Willis") was a brand, brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John Willys, John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II–era Willys MB, ...

, over Jim Dunn.

Junior Eliminator

Hugh Tucker defeated

Bob Culbert Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to: People, fictional characters, and named animals *Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters *Bob (surname) *Bob (dog), a dog that received the Dickin Medal for bravery in World War II *Bob the ...

at Pomona in 1962 to win Junior Eliminator.

Little Eliminator

Charlie Smith was defeated by

Dick Bourgeois Dick, Dicks, or Dick's may refer to: Media * ''Dicks'' (album), a 2004 album by Fila Brazillia * Dicks (band), a musical group * ''Dick'' (film), a 1999 American comedy film * "Dick" (song), a 2019 song by Starboi3 featuring Doja Cat * '' D ...

in Little Eliminator.

Super Stock

Stock

In Stock Eliminator, Al Eckstrand in a 1963 Dodge defeated

Bill Shirey Bill Shirey (born February 28, 1932) is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. Career Shirey accomplished three finishes in the "top ten" ( 1970 Richmond 500, 1971 Asheville 300, and 1971 Kingsport 300) and has driven for 9588 laps - the eq ...

in a 1963

Plymouth Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...

. Ultimateracinghistory
(retrieved 3 October 2018)

Notes

{{Authority control 1963 in motorsport NHRA Winternationals 1963 in California