Difference between revisions of "Dan Knapp"
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| − | == | + | == His Story == |
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| + | Dan built the 1st [[Ramchargers]] Dragster. | ||
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| + | The 64 Ramchargers dragster (with the front mounted shocks) was built by Dan Knapp. It was the first 2nd generation Hemi motored car. Knapp received the engine in the late spring of '64. He ran the car with a shorty body painted Chrysler Orange until the 64 Nats where it showed up with a nose and the candy striped paint. The 65 car was a Woody Flexi-flyer, one of only five built, I have been told. | ||
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| + | Many credit Dan to be the first to run two [[magnetos]] and 2 plugs per cylinder. | ||
| − | As a high school dropout, Dan brought a different type of resume to the | + | As a high school dropout, Dan brought a different type of resume to the Ramchargers' roundtable. Hailing from Detroit's tough Downriver area, he developed a wealth of hard-won fabrication skills from working in gas stations and the garage behind his house. By the age of 22, he had built three dragsters, including the #2 Drag News-ranked Top Gas Dragster in the country. It would be the first of three, twin-engine dragsters he and driver Don Westerdale would use to rule the Midwest, regularly defeating racers on the caliber of [[Connie Kalitta]]. |
But, late in 1962, Dan was hired to work in the now-famed Woodward Garage, where he befriended several Ramchargers while extolling the virtues of racing a dragster. His responsibilities and accomplishments included the fabrication of too many vehicles to list here, but suffice to say they involved nearly every drag, exhibition, NASCAR, and muscle car prototype produced by Chrysler during the 1960s. This would even include cars like the [[Hurst Hemi Under Glass]] and the [[Little Red Wagon]]. But, his greatest contribution undoubtedly came from rescuing a scrapped prototype [[426 Hemi]] and building a [[Top Fuel]] [[chassis]] to put around it. Having convinced Ramchargers members on the merits of folding the dragster into the team, they proceeded to introduce the 426 Hemi to Top Fuel drag racing. | But, late in 1962, Dan was hired to work in the now-famed Woodward Garage, where he befriended several Ramchargers while extolling the virtues of racing a dragster. His responsibilities and accomplishments included the fabrication of too many vehicles to list here, but suffice to say they involved nearly every drag, exhibition, NASCAR, and muscle car prototype produced by Chrysler during the 1960s. This would even include cars like the [[Hurst Hemi Under Glass]] and the [[Little Red Wagon]]. But, his greatest contribution undoubtedly came from rescuing a scrapped prototype [[426 Hemi]] and building a [[Top Fuel]] [[chassis]] to put around it. Having convinced Ramchargers members on the merits of folding the dragster into the team, they proceeded to introduce the 426 Hemi to Top Fuel drag racing. | ||
Persevering through monumental frustrations, Dan and company gradually unlocked the secrets of the 426 Top Fuel Hemi with record-setting results. Evidence of this in 1965 (its first full year of competition) was: setting track records at 93-percent of the tracks raced at, the [[NHRA]] Top Fuel National Record, and recording the first of three Low E.T. 's of the Meet at the U.S. Nationals. | Persevering through monumental frustrations, Dan and company gradually unlocked the secrets of the 426 Top Fuel Hemi with record-setting results. Evidence of this in 1965 (its first full year of competition) was: setting track records at 93-percent of the tracks raced at, the [[NHRA]] Top Fuel National Record, and recording the first of three Low E.T. 's of the Meet at the U.S. Nationals. | ||
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== [[References]] == | == [[References]] == | ||
* [https://www.motortrend.com/features/mopp-1006-the-original-ramchargers/ Ramchargers] | * [https://www.motortrend.com/features/mopp-1006-the-original-ramchargers/ Ramchargers] | ||
| − | * | + | * [https://www.allpar.com/threads/the-first-late-model-hemi-dragster-recollections-of-a-ramcharger-12.229243/ Allpar] |
| + | * [https://www.draglist.com/stories/SOD%20Jul%202000/SOD-071500.htm Draglist] | ||
== [[Magazine References]] == | == [[Magazine References]] == | ||
Latest revision as of 05:22, 8 July 2021
Dan Knapp was one of the original members of the Ramchargers drag racing team.
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Family Facts
- DOB: ??
- Place of Birth: ??
- Spouse: ??
- Children:
- ??
- ??
- DOD: 1984 (Camel chain smoker, he died of lung cancer)
- Interned: ??
His Story
Dan built the 1st Ramchargers Dragster.
The 64 Ramchargers dragster (with the front mounted shocks) was built by Dan Knapp. It was the first 2nd generation Hemi motored car. Knapp received the engine in the late spring of '64. He ran the car with a shorty body painted Chrysler Orange until the 64 Nats where it showed up with a nose and the candy striped paint. The 65 car was a Woody Flexi-flyer, one of only five built, I have been told.
Many credit Dan to be the first to run two magnetos and 2 plugs per cylinder.
As a high school dropout, Dan brought a different type of resume to the Ramchargers' roundtable. Hailing from Detroit's tough Downriver area, he developed a wealth of hard-won fabrication skills from working in gas stations and the garage behind his house. By the age of 22, he had built three dragsters, including the #2 Drag News-ranked Top Gas Dragster in the country. It would be the first of three, twin-engine dragsters he and driver Don Westerdale would use to rule the Midwest, regularly defeating racers on the caliber of Connie Kalitta.
But, late in 1962, Dan was hired to work in the now-famed Woodward Garage, where he befriended several Ramchargers while extolling the virtues of racing a dragster. His responsibilities and accomplishments included the fabrication of too many vehicles to list here, but suffice to say they involved nearly every drag, exhibition, NASCAR, and muscle car prototype produced by Chrysler during the 1960s. This would even include cars like the Hurst Hemi Under Glass and the Little Red Wagon. But, his greatest contribution undoubtedly came from rescuing a scrapped prototype 426 Hemi and building a Top Fuel chassis to put around it. Having convinced Ramchargers members on the merits of folding the dragster into the team, they proceeded to introduce the 426 Hemi to Top Fuel drag racing.
Persevering through monumental frustrations, Dan and company gradually unlocked the secrets of the 426 Top Fuel Hemi with record-setting results. Evidence of this in 1965 (its first full year of competition) was: setting track records at 93-percent of the tracks raced at, the NHRA Top Fuel National Record, and recording the first of three Low E.T. 's of the Meet at the U.S. Nationals.
References
Magazine References
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