THIS ARTICLE IS COPIED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 1968 ISSUE OF "SUPER STOCK AND DRAG ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE"

TOP 10 SUPER STOCK CARS BY MIKE DOHERTY

HAYDEN PROFFITT'S 409

The 1962 Chevy Belair hardtop is one of the all-time favorite super stocks and this one of Hayden Proffitts was one of the most successful!

(Editors note: Commencing with this instalment, SS&DI presents the top ten Super Stock Cars in the history of drag racing. in this excursion, through ten years of the sports history, we'll be presenting ten of the finest cars and drivers, of course, the category has produced, based on their wins, elapsed times and speeds, and over all popularity, relative to the time and the conditions under which they raced. The ten cars have been chosen after months of research and investigation by SS&DI staff and by the series author, Mike Doherty, who is a recognized authority and one of the sportsfew real historians)

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    HIS M/T PONTIACS HAD OUTPOWERED EVERYTHING IN SIGHT, BUT WHEN THE SUBSIDY FLOW FROM THE FACTORY TO MICKEY THOMPSON WAS TURNED OFF IN 1962, HAYDEN PROFFITT TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE HORSES AND WOUND UP FIELDING ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING SUPER STOCKS OF ALL TIME.

     THE 34-YEAR-OLD WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA VETERAN, ALREADY ONE OF THE FEW NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SUPER STOCK STARS, ENLISTED THE SPONSORSHIP OF CARROLL CONE'S CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP OF NEARBY ANAHEIM, AND THE TALENT OF BILL THOMAS TO HELP PREPARE WHAT HAYDEN FIGURED TO BE THE REAL COMER OF '62. THAT 409 BEL AIRE HARDTOP WAS TO BECOME NATIONAL STOCK ELIMINATOR CHAMPION ONLY SHORT MONTHS LATER.

     THE 409'S, BY THEN FACTORY RATED AT 409 HORSEPOWER, WERE ESTABLISHED AS "WINNERS" BY DON NICHOLSON AND DAVE STRICKLER ON OPPOSITE COASTS, YET HAYDEN FELT HIS OWN TECHNIQUES COULD PRODUCE AN EVEN QUICKER VERSION. NUMBER 612 WAS QUICK ALRIGHT. IN FACT IT RANG UP THE FIRST RECOGNIZED 11-SECOND CHEVROLET TIMES IN OCTOBER, AND BUILT UP A FIERCE REPUTATION BEFORE THAT HISTORIC BREAKTHROUGH.

     HIS STRONG 421 PONTIAC HAD SET A LOFTY 12.52-SECOND, 112MPH GOAL FOR HAYDEN TO BEAT, WINNING THE '62 NHRA WINTERNATIONALS SS/S CLASS, SO HE EMPLOYED METICULOUS PREPARATION BEYOND THE PATIENCE OF ALL BUT A HANDFUL OF PROS IN ORDER TO INSURE SUCCESS IN THE CHEVY.

     CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT, A FIELD IN WHICH PROFFITT'S METHODS WERE CONSIDERED ALMOST GODLIKE, WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THOMAS' SPECIALTY SHOP WHERE ALL THE PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT AND MANY OF CHEVROLETS LATEST SUPER OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE. FRONT END WORK INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE STOCK SHOCK ABSORBERS WITH WELL-WORN LOOSE VERSIONS TO ALLOW EASY UP-DOWN FRONT END TRAVEL, AND INSTALLATION OF STIFF NINE PASSENGER STATION WAGON COIL SPRINGS TO RAISE THE BODY NHRA'S MAXIMUM 2 INCHES. THE STABILIZER BAR JOINTS WERE FREED TO ANY RESTRICTION IN FRONT END TRAVEL.

     HAYDEN'S SERIOUS STUDY OF CHASSIS REACTION UNDER DRAG-STRIP ACCELERATION HAD ALREADY PROVEN PROFITABLE, IF UNIQUELY DETAILED, SO HE MADE IMPORTANT REVISIONS IN THE REAR. ONE COIL WAS CUT FROM THE RIGHT SPRING TO COMPENSATE FOR THE BODY REACTION TO POWER THAT RAISED THE LEFT FRONT AND LOWERED THE RIGHT REAR. HE WOULD RESULT IN EVEN WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION OFF THE LINE, IDENTICAL TIRE MARKS PROVED HIM RIGHT.

     CHEVROLET INCORPORATED A "TRACTION BAR" ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL AND RATHER THAN MOUNT SPECIAL T-BARS ,HAYDEN MATCHEDTHE FACTORY SETUPWITH AN EQUALIZING LEFT SIDE UNIT. REAR WHEELS WERE CAREFULLY WIDENED TO 7 INCHES BY THOMAS. PROVIDING MAXIMUM TREAD WIDTH OF THE SPECIALLY REQUESTED CASLER RECAP CHEATER SLICKS ON M&H CASINGS.

     OTHER MINUTE DETAILS WHICH MADE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WIN AND LOOSE INCLUDED CAREFUL BALANCING OF THE HUB, WHEEL, AND TIRE ASSEMBLIES- "WORTH AT LEAST A HALF-MILE PER HOUR"- BACKING OFF BRAKE ADJUSTMENTS, AND USE OF LIGHT 5OW OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION TO REDUCE DRAG AND FRICTION. HE PUMPED AS MUCH AIR PRESSURE INTO THE TIRES (60 LBS. IN  FRONT, 40-45 REAR) AS FEASABLE TO REDUCE ROLLING RESISTANCE.    

     THIS DEDICATION WAS CARRIED THROUGH THE REST OF THE WORLD-BEATING BEL AIRE AS WELL THE ENGINE WAS DISMANTELED AND REBUILT THE WAY NASCAR GRAND STOCKS ARE PREPARED - A LUXURY OF TIME, TALENT, AND MONEY VERY FEW DRAG RACERS COULD AFFORD.

     BORED OUT A LEGAL .060-INCH MAXIMUM PER CYLINDER, THE 409 ON STRONG NEW INNARDS. COMPRESSION WAS BROUGHT TO THE 11.5-1 LIMIT BY MACHINING EXACTLY 66.5 CC BLOCK CAPACITY, AND 10.3CC IN THE HEADS. EPOXY PLUGED THE MANIFOLD HEAT PASSAGES IN LIEU OF THE PRESENT DAY GASKETS.

     THE PRODUCTION ENGINE WAS A POTENT IMPROVEMENT OVER 1961'S ORIGINAL 409, WITH DUAL FOUR-BARRELS, ALUMINUM INTAKE , HEADS WITH LARGE 2.20 IN. INTAKE, 1.73" EXHAUST VALVES, AND HOT CAM GIVING 409 HORSEPOWER AT 6000 RPM AND A MID YEAR SERVICE PACKAGE COMPRISED OF RACING CAM, VALVE SPRINGS ETC. , COMBINED WITH S&S HEADERS, REWORKED DISTRIBUTOR, AND PROFFITT-THOMAS TREATMENT PUT IT ON TOP OF THE  SS/S CONTINGENT.  

     HAYDEN  PLACED A GREAT EMPHASIS ON DENSITY METER READINGS AND CONSEQUENT CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENTS AT THE STRIP, CREDITING THIS ATTENTION WITH MUCH OF HIS CONSISTENT TOP PERFORMANCE  RATHER THAN TUNE IT BY GUESS , HE INSERTED BASIC .104 FRONT CARB JETS(UP FROM STOCK .101) AND.073 REAR (UP FROM .063) THEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES DURING A DAY DEPENDING ON AIR DENSITY FLUCTUATION. FEW RACERS WOULD GO TO SUCH LENGTHS IN SEARCH OF MERE HUNDREDS OF E.T SECONDS. AT LEAST NOT IN THE DAYS BEFORE TODAYS BIG S/S PRIZE LOOT.

     ONE OF THEMOST INTERESTING EARMARKS OF THE FAMED 409 WAS IT'S ALUMINUM FOIL WRAPPER AND CLOTHESPINS ON THE FUEL LINE. " I STARTED WITH THE REFLECTIVE FOIL TO KEEP ENGINE HEAT FROM THE GAS LINE, THEN ADDED THE WOODEN CLOTHESPINS TO ABSORB ANY HEAT THAT DID GET TO THE LINE", HAYDEN RECALLS. THIS CONCERN OVER GAS TEMPERATURE ( IMPORTANT TO THE INTAKE DENDITY AND THEREFORE TO ENGINE POWER) WAS NOT WIDELY ACCEPTED UNTIL A YEAR OR MORE LATER WHEN FUEL PUMP ICE PACKS CAME ALONG.

     HE WAS ALSO CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT OIL AND ENGINE TEMPERATURES, PREFFERING TO RACE AT 140-160 DEGREES, EXPLANING, "I LOSE NEARLY .05 SECONDS AND 1/2 MILE PER HOUR WHEN THE NEEDLE PASSES 160 BEFORE I REACH THE STARTING LINE." COOL OPERATION WAS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE IN THE CONTINUOUS STYLE OF ELEMINATIONS, AND WAS THE OBJECT OF FRANTIC UNDER HOOD ICE AND WATER APPLICATION THAT CHARACTERIZED EACH RUN.

     CHEVY 612 TOOK UP WHERE THE PONTIAC LEFT OFF, CLOCKING TIMES THAT WERE OFTEN DISMISSED BY CRITICS AS ILLEGAL UNTIL A TEN-DAY TRIP TO THE NHRA NATIONALS ON WHICH IT WAS TORN DOWN FOR INSPECTION 6 TIMES! TWO OF HAYDEN'S MAJOR WINS- DETROIT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STOCK ELIMINATOR TITLE, AND THE NATIONALS VICTORY- WERE GOOD REASONS FOR THE TEARDOWNS. THE TOUGHEST STOCKS, THE BIGGEST NAMES FELL BEFORE PROFFITT'S HIGH-WINDER, AND INSPECTORS VERIFIED IT NHRA LEGAL. 3650 POUNDS, 4.56 REAR END, 2.20 LOW GEAR FOUR-SPEED WITH SPECIALLY STRENGTHENED HURST LINKAGE, HAYS' CLUTCH, GAS IN THE TANK AND LOW 12-SECOND TIMES.

     HAYDEN'S HOUR OF GLORY AT INDIANAPOLIS WAS NOT COMPLETE WITH BIG NUMBERS, FOR THE STRIP WAS SLIPPERY, BUT EMERGING FROM 95 HOT STOCKERS WAS SUFFICIENT PROOF OF OTHER RECENT PERFORMANCES. HIS 12.83-113.92 POWER EDGED THE RAMCHARGERS' DODGE FOR TOP HONORS. HIS BEST RESULTS OF 12.63-114 RESULTED FROM CAREFUL CLUTCH-THROTTLE FEATHERING AS LATE AS SECOND GEAR.

IRONICALLY, HE LOST THE NATIONALS SS/S CLASS TO DAVE STRICKLER'S " OLD RELIABLE" CHEVY, THE SAME CAR THAT HAYDEN BEAT FOR THE WINTERNATIONALS CLASS TITLE AND LOST TO IN THE POMONA ELIMINATIONS. ONE OF HIS FEW DRIVING ERRORS SPOILED A 12.83 E.T. AND STRICKLER WON AT INDY IN 12.97.

     WHEN THE QUICKEST FIFTY SUPER STOCK QUALIFIERS MET IN THE ONLY STOCK ELIMINATOR RACE THAT ATTRACTS ALL TOP COMPETITORS IN STRICTLY LEGAL MACHINERY, CHEVROLET AND MOPARS WERE FAVORED. PROFFITT GOT REVENGE ON STRICKLER AND TOP SPEED (114.94) STOCKER BILL "MAVERICK" GOLDEN'S DODGE, DICK BRANNONS SURPRISING FORD, AL ECKSTRAND, AND OTHERS FELL DESPITE TOP PERFORMANCE.

     JIM THORNTON TOOK THE RAMCHARGERS' 413 SS/SA TO THE FINAL AGAINST THE CHEVY BEFORE 40,000 CHEEERING FANS. HAYDEN'S INFINATE PREPARATION AND EXPERIANCE PAID OFF AT (THE) MEETAS HE GAINED A SLIGHT EDGE OFF THE LINE, BLASTED POWER SHIFTS AT 6200, AND LED THE AUTOMATIC ACROSS THE LINE.

     NATIONALS CHAMP OR NO, THE 409 NEEDED ANOTHER SHOT IN THE ARM TO KEEP UP A WINNING PACE DURING WEEKLY MATCH RACES, AND CHEVYS SECOND SERVICE PACKAGE OPTION WAS WELL TIMED. NEW CYLINDER HEADS, INTAKE MANIFOLD, PISTONS THAT PUSHED THE COMPRESSION TO 12.5-1, AND ANOTHER CAM WITH WILD .511" LIFT WERE INSTALLED  UNDER THE THOUGHTFUL FACTORY RERATING OF ONLY 425 HORSEPOWER.

     NEXT CAME THE ALUMINUM HOOD AND FRONT FENDERS THAT PARED OFF NEARLY 100 POUNDS, AND THE 11 SECOND BARRIER WAS BROKEN ON OCTOBER 28 WHEN, AFTER A MONTH LONG SERIES OF 12.0 TIMES HAYDEN HIT 11.96-118.99 TO WIN THE HALF MOON BAY (CALIF.) CHAMPIONSHIPS.