Racing History – The Manufacturers – Mercury Part II

There was another dry spell which lasted until 1963 when Mercury took one Grand National NASCAR race using the 427 c.i.d for the first time.  The followed that up with 5 wins the next year as well as a good showing at the drag strip with the Comet Boss 427 Dragster:

Comet at the Drags

1965 was a tragic year. Billy Wade (1963 Rookie of the Year) is killed during a tire test at Daytona, he was part of the Bud Moore Mercury team and had become the first driver to win four NASCAR Grand National events in a row.    Mercury ended the year with only 1 Grand National win, however, Fords and Mercurys took the top 13 positions, while Chrysler sat out that season over the new rules that were meant to eliminate the use of some of its engines.

The 1966 highlight was the selection of the Cyclone GT was the Official Pace Car for that years Indy 500.

Cyclone GT 1966 Indy 500 Pace Car

More coming up

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

mercury comet

Large and small saloon cars will top show

Franco Scribante will be out in his Ford Mustang GT350, as will rally ace Leeroy Poulter in the Ford Thunderbolt, Hennie Groenewald (Plymouth Fury), Jonathan du Toit (Chev Nova) and Carel Pienaar (Mercury Comet). Also able to fight for podium places