Dick Landy
Contents
Summary
"Dandy" Dick Landy (1937-2007)
"Dandy" Dick Landy was a master showman and a major pioneer in Super Stock, Funny Car, and Pro Stock; who was known for his innovative race cars, wild wheelstands, and his trademark cigars. His nickname "Dandy" came from his neat appearance in pressed white pants and jacket and long unlit cigar clenched between his teeth.
Landy was among the drivers who popularized late-model Super Stock cars in the 1960s, campaigned the first Funny Cars in the middle of that decade, and helped establish the popularity of Pro Stock when the category was created in 1970.
Landy made a name for himself and his factory sponsor by combining the legendary Hemi with an altered wheelbase to create the first "Funny Car". The combination of horsepower and traction led to the banning of his vehicles by the NHRA; relegated to the exhibition circuit, Landy then introduced nitromethane, mechanical fuel injection, and supercharging to the equation and established the foundation for the highest tiers of modern drag racing. Landy later returned to the world of officially-sanctioned racing to participate in the formative days of the Super Stock and Pro Stock classes, and remained involved with Chrysler for the remainder of his long career.
Personal Data
- Full Name: Richard Joseph Landy
- Nickname: Dandy Dick
- DOB: 03-15-37
- Place of Birth: San Fernando, CA
- DOD: 01-11-07
- Place Interned:
- Spouse: Gean Landy
- Children:
- Richard Landy Jr.
- Danette (Landy) Satenstein
- Robert Landy
Childhood
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Education
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Important Accomplishments
- Raced one of the first funny cars in 1964
- Earned full factory sponsorship from Chrysler in 1965
- Consistently turned 9.40-second passes at 164 mph. while match racing in 1965
- Led Performance Clinics for Chrysler
- Set up a sponsorship program with Buddy Martin that allowed Super Stock drag racers to earn real money
- Won national events in the newly created NHRA Pro Stock class in 1970
- Was World Points Champion in AHRA in 1973
- Has been inducted into the Car Craft All-Star Racing Team, Hot Rod Hall of Fame and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
- Has done engine development for a number of major manufacturers, including B&M Automotive, Chrysler, Mopar Performance and Crane.
Racing By Decade
1950s
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1960s
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1970s
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Life After Driving
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Dick Landy Industries
Landy maintained his ties with drag racing through Dick Landy Industries, a research and development company in Northridge, California. DLl provided high performance parts for a number of manufacturers, including DaimlerChrysler and Mopar Performance. DLI was closed shortly after Dick Landy's death. There has been reports of the fraudulent use of Dick Landy's name and DLI, and the family maintains that while they may in the future be again involved in the automotive industry -- that the business was closed and not sold.
Epilogue
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References
- Danette (Landy) Satenstein (Daughter)
- DickLandy.com
