Hay Hauler Resurrection

[NicksTrix]

if i recall the story right, jim venable wasn't able to get any factory support so he decided to use an old truck he had out back. it happened to be the 66. all to make his point. the rest is history.
i don't think there is anything in the rule book that would require one to use a curent production model vs an older unit.

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[cedave]

I recall at the start of the '88' Fireworks 250 at about 3 miles after they left Barstow College we watched most of the class ones go by, including Ivan in the toyota, then you could here this healthy sounding V8 approaching. As the hay-hauler went by, me and some other race fans were asking each other "who the hell was that guy in that old skool ford, man he's already passed some class one cars". One voice from the HUGE croud that was watching at this set of jumps yelled out "thats Robby F'n Gordan Man". Anyways, that was my first experience witnessing Robby going faster than anyone else on the course. That was the start of the change from buggies being faster than the trucks. Of course, not all the class 8 drivers could muster up the excitment that Robby could.

[Old School 8]

if i recall the story right, jim venable wasn't able to get any factory support so he decided to use an old truck he had out back.

As I understand the Hayhauler story. The class 8 rules back then, said that you had to use the same frame as the year, body, and make. Jon Nelson was asked by Venable, (who by the way, had very deep pockets) to build him a class 8. They did not pick the 66 Ford just because someone had one laying around on a farm. The reason Nelson and Nelson picked that particular year and make was the frame design. Nelson and Nelson were no backyard fabricators. They knew the frame "as delivered from the factory", was the limiting factor in a class 8. So they set out to find the truck with the most favorable frame, to base a winning class 8 on.

Most truck frames at the time were similiar in the front, other than if they use A-arm, or I-beam. The rear of the frame was the ticket for the 66 Ford. Most truck frames are considered "Ladder type". and the name, pretty much sums up what that means. Only in the 66 Ford era, Ford engineers desided to put a big "hump" in the rear frame rails to allow more up-travel, and that is the MAIN advantage the 66 Ford had, over all other class 8 trucks. The other benifit of that particular model truck, was the front I-beams. At the time there were usually 10 Ford class 8's to every one Chevy or Dodge, with the idea at the time of the I-beam being stronger and more reliable.

And as a interesting side note. When Robby Gordon began to get noticed winning in the 1966 Hay-hauler, Ford got interested, but said, "We want you to build a current body-style Ford truck, if you want us to give you money" That was the end of the Hay-hauler's competive days.

[NicksTrix]

well there you have it. thanks for sharing. i've never heard that side of it.
now let's see some pictures!

[Beat98TJ]

i don't think there is anything in the rule book that would require one to use a curent production model vs an older unit.

I have heard of manufacturers cash payback only going back a certain number of years. Often times only them most recent or two body styles are allowed. Once I worked with a 7S truck that needed a front clip update to be eligible for Ford $.

[NicksTrix]

I have heard of manufacturers cash payback only going back a certain number of years. Often times only them most recent or two body styles are allowed. Once I worked with a 7S truck that needed a front clip update to be eligible for Ford $.

that makes sense, but only from a contingency standpoint. you can totally see a manufacture is trying to selling current models, not something they don't produce any longer.

[j10-401]

It goes back to the old saying "win on sunday sell on monday". ford wants current vehicles racing if they are going to be paying. Thats why a stock full could get alot of factory backing.

[JRod]

Bump.

Were any photos of the resto ever located?...

[Total Loss]

As I understand the Hayhauler story. The class 8 rules back then, said that you had to use the same frame as the year, body, and make. Jon Nelson was asked by Venable, (who by the way, had very deep pockets) to build him a class 8. They did not pick the 66 Ford just because someone had one laying around on a farm. The reason Nelson and Nelson picked that particular year and make was the frame design. Nelson and Nelson were no backyard fabricators. They knew the frame "as delivered from the factory", was the limiting factor in a class 8. So they set out to find the truck with the most favorable frame, to base a winning class 8 on.

Most truck frames at the time were similiar in the front, other than if they use A-arm, or I-beam. The rear of the frame was the ticket for the 66 Ford. Most truck frames are considered "Ladder type". and the name, pretty much sums up what that means. Only in the 66 Ford era, Ford engineers desided to put a big "hump" in the rear frame rails to allow more up-travel, and that is the MAIN advantage the 66 Ford had, over all other class 8 trucks. The other benifit of that particular model truck, was the front I-beams. At the time there were usually 10 Ford class 8's to every one Chevy or Dodge, with the idea at the time of the I-beam being stronger and more reliable.

And as a interesting side note. When Robby Gordon began to get noticed winning in the 1966 Hay-hauler, Ford got interested, but said, "We want you to build a current body-style Ford truck, if you want us to give you money" That was the end of the Hay-hauler's competive days.

Didn't they also use a 68-72 chevy as a base for- I think-Larry Raglands cl 8 to use coils in the rear?

Any more pics?

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Any Pics Yet???