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INTER COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE
January 13, 1970
TO - NAME DIVISION PLANT/OFFICE
DEPT Special
_______H, P. Bruns Vehicle Development Engineering Office Highland Park
DEPT Circuit
1 - NAME DIVISION PLANT/OFFICE
W. P. Wright Racing Test Operations Space Huntsville
Activity Report for Huntsville Circuit Racing Test Operations - December 1969
A. Accomplishments During December 1969 -
The Daytona test vehicle was prepared for Riverside tests 1 December through
9 December and transported to Riverside, California, where handling, braking and
automatic transmission tests were performed 15 - 21 December 1969. The vehicle
was returned to Huntsville on 25 December and began preparation for Talladega tests
scheduled for 5-10 January 1970.
The Texas 500 race was scored by the Mobile Control Center and the Mobile
Control Center transported to Riverside for use during December tests and for the
race 18 January 1970.
The radio was installed in the race car of Bobby Allison for the Texas 500 and
used during the race. The radio was also used during tests at Riverside in December.
Dan Gurney requested the radio for use in his Plymouth race car for the Riverside
race. Richard Petty also requested the radio for his use as did Bobby Issac.
The engine from the engineering test car, the front brake drums and brake shoes
were shipped to Richard Petty for use in his race car for Riverside or Daytona.
I. Test Vehicle Operations
The Dodge Charger Daytona test car was picked up from Nichels Engi
neering 2 December and prepared for Riverside tests. Extensive rework was required
to prepare and update to latest engineering modifications. The automatic transmission
was lost in shipment from B&M so no pre-fitting to vehicle was possible prior to leaving
for Riverside tests.
The test car left Huntsville on the engineering truck Wednesday, 10 Decem
ber, and arrived in Riverside Saturday, 13 December, and was unloaded at the track.
Approximately seven hours was lost during the trip due to a clutch failure on the trans
port truck in Oklahoma.
Tests began Monday and Tuesday with the manual transmission and satis
factory base line runs were made late Tuesday and Wednesday. The first Automatic
transmission was installed starting Wednesday night and was running by Friday afternoon.
Considerable modification was required to the vehicle to accept the transmission under
poor working conditions. After failure of the first transmission a second unit was installed
Friday night and was run Saturday afternoon. The second unit also failed and a manual
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