looking for bio on Don Grotheer

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str12-340

str12-340

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In the 60s and 70s Don Grotheer raced stock, super stock and finally ProStock in a variety of Plymouth products, including being one of the original 68 Hemi Cuda racers. I'm looking for a brief biography: cars campaigned, major races/titles won etc. I've tried on the usual internet searches, but no luck. Can anybody help me out?
 
Here's his 'Cuda at the 2013 Indy Cyl. Head Show and Swap

It sat across the aisle from my 'Cuda
 

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There is/are websites just for the Super Stock cars & history. You might want to go research around them. Also look into historicla issues of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated. His name sounds familiar to me - did he ever have an earlier ('65) SS Hemi Plymouth? What area of the country was he from?
 
Don Grotheer

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

First made a name for himself, as he piloted a 1963 Belvedere 426 Max-Wedge in AA/S.

Don, a 4-Speed 'shifting-expert', was one of the few Mopar guys to campaign
a 4-Speed back then, as 90% of the Racers were running Torqueflites.

Don set the AA/S National Record back in 1964 with his 63' Belvedere.

He was also sponsored by Housh Automotive back then.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2445/3634160149_cda3d3cc8b_z.jpg?zz=1
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
Don Grotheer

Oklahoam City, Oklahoma

First made a name for himself, as he piloted a 1963 Belvedere 426 Max-Wedge in AA/S.

Don, a 4-Speed 'shifting-expert', was one of the few Mopar guys to campaign
a 4-Speed back then, as 90% of the Racers were running Torqueflites.

Don set the AA/S National Record back in 1964 with his 63' Belvedere.

He was also sponsored by Housh Automotive back then.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2445/3634160149_cda3d3cc8b_z.jpg?zz=1
Click to expand...

remmeber him well, didn`t know him personally. a friend and mentor raced max wedges and hemi`s back then, and missed a chrysler sponsorship ( they gave it to grotheer) because my friend had a teenage son, and chrysler didn`t want to interfere w/ his education-like drag racing would. "this is what chyrsler told him!????????" grotheer was good, but wasn`t Ronnie Sox good .
 
Don is still around and is, as most of the vintage racers a great guy to talk to.Maybe try to contact him for a personal interview ?
 
I think Don lives in Tulsa now.Sometimes he comes down to Van Buren Ar. to visit another Mopar great Jim Hale.I met him there once pretty cool.I reminisced with him especially about the time when Dyno Don backed into him in burnout box at Orange County raceway.He came back all racer taped up.I was standing in staging lanes watching.I was 17 then and 62 now.Thanks Kevin.
 
He pulls his 68 SS to shows using the same exact open car trailer he bought new in 68 with the car!!! No fancy car hauler :glasses7:

I met him and his wife a few times here in MN at the Mopar show, nicest people ever!!!

Oh, and BTW....those carb covers with the "Plymouth heart" on them...his wife made those for him to keep the dirt and debris out while the car was not being raced!
 
Don Grotheer

1966

Don struck a deal with Edmond's Chrysler-Plymouth out of
Edmond, Oklahoma.

Don campainged a 1966 Belvedere I {2-Door Sedan} with
a '426 Street Hemi' and 4-Speed.

Don was the 'Top Dog' in NHRA's Division 4 {South Central Division},
and was routinely running the A/Stock Belvedere in the 11.90's.

The Belvedere I {#3640 lbs.} was a 'rocket'.

Only {156} 1966 Belvedere I - 2-Door Sedans were built with
the 426 Street Hemi, and only {79} were 4-Speeds.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=HN.608042055267191004&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0
 
Don Grotheer

Don took out Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins at the 1966 NHRA Winternationals.

A/Stock Class Championship

1966 Belvedere I Sedan '426 Street Hemi'
vs.
1966 Chevy II Nova SS {327/350 HP 'L-79'}
 
Kevin D. said:
I think Don lives in Tulsa now.Sometimes he comes down to Van Buren Ar. to visit another Mopar great Jim Hale.I met him there once pretty cool.I reminisced with him especially about the time when Dyno Don backed into him in burnout box at Orange County raceway.He came back all racer taped up.I was standing in staging lanes watching.I was 17 then and 62 now.Thanks Kevin.
Click to expand...

why would he move to tulsa, when he had a huge cattle ranch up around okc somewhere ?
he was very a good mopar racer!
 
Keep it comin' guys. I'll compile whatever I get and then post it at the end. Grotheer was at Chryslers at Carlisle this last year with his six pack roadrunner and was great to talk to. Found a photo of his 1970 Cuda at the detroit car expo that year and got him to sign it.
 

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That 6BBL Runner is cool, seen it here a few years ago next to his Cuda....it's even cooler cause it's unrestored! Also another note, Don told me that car 6BBL car was NEVER raced but used only as a promotion at the tracks and performance clinics :glasses7:
 
I took this pic :glasses7:
 

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Thanks again for the information and pictures. I have info now on the following cars that Don campaigned:
1963 Belvedere Max Wedge - Stock
1966 Bevedere 2dr post street hemi/ 4 speed - Stock
1968 Hemi Cuda - Super Stock
1969 1/2 Road Runner Clinic Car
1971 Cuda - Pro Stock
1971 b-body - B Modified Production

The two cars that I haven't found info on yet is a Duster in a grainy photo posted below - I can't even tell what year

& a Plymouth Arrow that seems to be running Pro Stock (1977?)

Anybody know anything about these?

View attachment mhKgFq-Sm2yUy88jIUCHNMw.jpg

View attachment DonGrotheer-vi.jpg

View attachment 6546632-DonGrotheer6pinto.jpg
 
68 Springnats
SS Eliminator
Ron Sox
67 Plymouth GTX (SS/D)
426 Street Hemi
11.20 @ 126.5
def
Don Grotheer (Cuda BO29) (SS/B )

3e308730-24a3-4cca-b852-7983515bd015.jpg


69 Winters
Super Stock Elim.
Don Grotheer
Plymouth BO29 Barracuda
426 Race Hemi
10.73
def
Jerry Harvey (Ford Mustang SCJ)


69 Winters
SS/BA Winner
Don Grotheer
Plymouth BO29 Barracuda

 
Thank you for this additional info! Can't believe that I posted this 6 years ago. I made a framed piece for my garage with photos of Don and Don's cars, including a couple that he signed when I saw him at Carlisle that year (2014). I will update the text that I made for it with this information and update the poster sized wall piece.
 
str12-340 said:
Thank you for this additional info! Can't believe that I posted this 6 years ago. I made a framed piece for my garage with photos of Don and Don's cars, including a couple that he signed when I saw him at Carlisle that year (2014). I will update the text that I made for it with this information and update the poster sized wall piece.
Click to expand...

Also , he sure screwed a friend of mine on a pro stock hemi engine back in the day > I saw it in person !
 
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