Hey guys just wondering if anybody out there has any video footage of "Little Joe" from the 80's or early 90's? My dad sold the car about 8 years ago, but hadn't been to the track for ten years before that. I think I was 9 years old last time I saw the car run. Thanks, Mark Busher Jr.
Can't help you, but if Doc reads this I think he will get a kick out of my comment: When you said "Little Joe," I immediately thought of a type of GE electric locomotive that was purchased by the Milwaukee Road. FWIW: They were originally built for export to the Soviets, but the deal fell through; they were re-gauged (Russia uses a 5' gauge, most of the rest of the world uses 4' 8 1/2") and sold to the Milwaukee. They were called "Little Joes" for Joseph Stalin.
The current owner(?) brought it to the rocky mtn GS club 20th anniversary show in 2008. http://gsxtra.com/albums/2008-08-30_RM_Buick_GS_R80/index001.html Tim
Based on the quote below you could likely buy the car back and get some new footage of the car in action.
I remember seeing pics of the car through out the years in the kb catalog, gsca, here, ect. But what is the history of it? Was it a cal car? Was it a drag car from day one? Always wonder about some of these old Buick drag cars. I see its a stg2 with ta headers and what looks like ta heads...or are those iron heads?
From the pictures of it at the RMGSC show it runs the offy dual quad. I think it is using the K-B stuff still but who knows. I seen it run at the 83 GSCA nationals. wicked cool. Tim
One of the Tom Rose Cars from Warren Ohio. Salvation Jane, Great Scat, Juan Mo Time, "Tom's Tinker Toy(s), Roy C Eaton & Rudy Sims Cars, Zulu 1 (ZL1 Camaro) were some of the Others. Interesting story about Tom & I think it may have Been Joe Lawton (? on Spelling) Flew out to Jim Bell's, and had to buy Luggage in order to get parts back to Warren to install on one of the cars for a "Rush Prep". At 1 point, I know Tom had 7 sets of Stage 2 Heads in the shop, but all the parts are Long Gone. JR
Gary, I believe I listed Jim's car, as the "Roy C.Eaton car". That is the car that went to Scott Coffman as the 2nd "Stage1" then ended up in the Detroit area painted Silver & had a BBC Transplant. There were 2 Rudy Sims cars, the 71, that I don't know where it went, & the 73 that Tom sold to Tim Tackach, that in now somewhere around Mid Ohio. Rudy Sims had the Warren Buick Dealership (Still in family hands I believe) after Clyde Cole released it. Cole sponsored Tom & Scat. Roy C. Eaton was a local Kendall Oil Distributor, & Sponsored the Black Car. I Think they also had the Red Kendall GT1 66 GTO, but not sure of that one. The Funny thinng, is ZULU 1. The 69 ZL1 Camaro. The car went through an Auction a short time ago, and was listed as having been "Restored." Different Engine, Different Transmission, Rebodied, But "Restored"!! I guess if You have the VIN, Body Tag & Title, you can restore Anything!!:shock: I wish we could get All of the cars together @ Norwalk & get Tom there as well. I missed talking to him the year I had Bill's Blue 70 there, as I was trying to patch a Header on the White car (the 1st White car with Green GSX Stripes, back in the early 90s) Next Weekend..... NORWALK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JR
JR Thanks for the clarification,I always referred to the 67 as a jim wilson car since he owned it for so long.Probably more than anyone else.Like me with "Scat" gary
ZULU1 was restored by Floyd Garrett and he will be the first to tell you he had to replace the body because the orig. was too far gone. He makes no bones about it. He says he would rather use GM pieces than some parts made in China. Now, the auction discription was not that forthright imo,.Not sure if you were in Scottsdale or not this year, but the plackard they had was about 7ft tall, with a lengthy discription, but it never came out and directly said this. I think it was common knowledge among those who had the funds to purchase the car though. Otherwise, I'd think there would be some pretty good legal wrangling going on when they found out. DL
I believe the car is still owned by Larry Albrecht (ACLARRY) in Atwood, KS. He purchased the car from my Dad in 2004. He drove all they way to Ravenna, OH to pick up the car with his father-in-law. All I remember was my Dad taking him for a little spin around Ravenna with me following closely (open headers, slicks, tag from Dad's GSX!). My Dad got on it a few times and when we got back to the house he didn't even want to pull it up on his trailer. That car was a handful at the track let alone on the street. I did hear he blew the motor that my Dad had built and was running 10.0's in the early 90's with. I sure wouldn't mind putting it back in the family someday seeming my Dad owned the car for about 30 years!
your dad with 'Lil Joe and me with "Thumper" had some memorable races back in the 80's,I'd love to see it back here in Ohio in the Busher family .Maybe we could line up again. gary
If you are serious about finding the car, I can put you in contact with someone that knows exactly where it is, and is in contact with the current owner on a regular basis.
Mark i have an original Hot Rod magazine article on this car plus some video footage back from I believe 1993 pulling the wheels off the ground at Bowling Green. You arent far from me, Im up on the east side of Cleveland. Come to BPG in August i could give it to you in person!
As far as the spelling of Joe Lawton, you are correct JR Willis,you can barely make out the name on the roof of the Little Joe car.It's on [was] the roof above the drip molding in 3 to 4 inch high lettering, it looks like it was buffed off years ago? Say JR, would you know, or does anybody out there have any old photos of Little Joe being raced,or trailered,in the shop, or any shot of the car.I am really interested in anything from the 1970's when it was raced by Tom Rose.Any help would be really appreciated?Thanks ! Larry
