Original Super Stock HEMI Dart LO23
Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine View attachment 1714984137
The LO23 list starting from the northeast and following.
'13' of the LO23 Hemi Darts went through Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago
13) Jones Colonial Dodge
Pittsford, New York
SS/BA (Automatic)
Number 13 on the list is the Chuck Comella Dart, also shown in abodyjoe's #48 post. Chuck bought it off the lot with a hurt engine, and negotiated the warranty repair off the price of the car, and financed it through Chrysler Credit. He then went through the engine himself before taking it racing.
Chuck still owns the Dart, but has given the driving over to his son Steve, who was born several years after the Dart was built. They run the Dart in SS Eliminator, and run a Barracuda in Hemi shootout and challenges. The Barracuda is not a BO29 car, and runs a stick for the 70 pound weight break.
After semi-retirement from racing, the Comellas are pretty active, running several events. In 2017, they lost in the semifinal at the Summernationals at Englishtown when Steve spun the tires, but they won at the IHRA Empire Nationals in August. They also won the Hemi Challenge at the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove just last month, albeit in the Barracuda.
Is this the last original owner LO23 or BO29 car being actively raced?
South Butler, NY Jackson's Dragway, circa 1969. From Chuck's collection.
Indy 1971. Chuck with the sprayer. From Chuck's collection.
Indy 1990. Chuck in the middle, from his collection.
2017 Empire Nationals. Steve in the white T-shirt, Chuck in the Black.
2017 Dutch Classic Hemi Challenge.
Chuck and Steve