The Going Thing

Almost there!

Earl — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:40:16 +0000

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while but I am just putting the finishing touches on the Fairlane and have some new photos. Everything is done but making shims for the rocker stands and finishing the headers. I did find an NOS grille so that was the last expensive item left to buy.

John Downings 427 “RESPECT” Fairlane

Earl — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:25:23 +0000

I came across this photo of the Fairlane recently which was taken sometime after July 1967. I believe it was taken at Island Dragway in New Jersey.

The Golden age of Super Stock

Earl — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:44:03 +0000

Growing up in the 60s was a wonderful thing for my older Brother Glen and myself. Our Dad was sales manager at the local Ford dealer and we spent almost every weekend at the Dragstrip. Dad would take new cars and race them in pure stock class and was very successful. We saw the Altered Wheelbase cars come of age and Gassers were wild and unpredictable but there was one class of racing that will forever be our favorite, Super Stock.I wanted to do a website to honor one of the most awesome Super Stock cars we had ever seen during the late 60s and so here it is.

In 2003 I purchased a book written by Larry Davis called Super Stock: Drag Racing the Family Sedan and it is an excellent book dedicated specifically to that class. It is very well illustrated and documented. The Fairlane on page 185 getting its doors blown off by the Hemi Belvedere (see it here) is the car to which this site is dedicated. I contacted Larry and he sent me a copy of that print in full color. With his permission it is posted on this site and I owe him a debt of gratitude.

I also bought Charles Morris’ book Total Performers: Ford Drag Racing in the 1960s and I have to say there has never been a book that gives the inside story on Ford only racers and their cars like this book does.

Charles recently released another book titled Factory Lightweights: Detroits Drag Racing Specials of the 60’s. This book covers all makes but it is quite evident that Charles is a Ford Guy! 2 of John Downings’ cars are featured in this book along with the NHRA National Record certificate where John set a new SS/B National Record at 11.42 in May of 1967.

I want to thank the many members of the Ford FE Engine Forum of which I have been a member since its inception. It has been a wealth of information and not a day goes by that I do not visit it at least a half dozen times.

I look forward to any comments that you may have and plan on updating periodically.

Sincerely, Earl Hayes

Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Looking Forward!

Earl — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:40:32 +0000

I have a few things to finish up on the Fairlane to have it ready to race this next spring. This has been a year that I will not soon forget! It seems like when things are starting to come together…..Whammo!!! All sorts of things happen. I will be adding some new photos over the next week or so of the finished engine compartment.

New letters for the Fairlane!

Earl — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 06:10:56 +0000

The Fairlane has been re-lettered DOWNING & RYAN and looks quite nice. I have had a real problem getting it lettered and have to replace the roof pillar letters SS/C because they are the wrong size. That has been the story of this loooooong term project but atleast now I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel.

After 8 months I finally received my instrument bezel!! I should have the full interior in by the 29th and am still searching for a scratch free back glass. Stay tuned for more up coming news!