 |
 |
Gary’s a native of the New York metro area, Cambria Heights, Queens, to be exact. Even before his formal education (accounting and business management at Hofstra University and Pace College), he joined the family business, (now) the appliance, electronic, and computer giant P.C. Richard & Son, as a warehouse worker and a delivery hand. He moved on, got to the inside and became office manager at 24. He implemented systems procedures for accounting, payroll, and inventory ops. In ’78, he introduced computerization to the business with an IBM System 34. He went on to expand the scope of the company as well as the trading area from 11 showrooms in 1980 to 50 superstores in 2007. The main complex in Farmingdale, Long Island, spans oh, about a million square feet.
All of this is to say that CEO Richard can indulge his passion endlessly and often, but even before he had it all, he was engaged in furthering the sport of drag racing on his own terms. When most people were clinging to the Bowtie brand, as a hobby racer he steadfastly stayed with his first love Pontiac. His cars included ’57, ’58, and 61 Ponchos that competed in Stock and Super Stock. The pinnacle ride, though, was a ’62 421/405 lightweight Super-Duty Catalina that he raced under factory auspice. From 1968-78, he owned and operated fabled West Hampton Dragstrip under the NHRA banner. In the late ‘60s, P.C. Richard & Son sponsored the record-holding Stokes and Ferrara I/SA ’57 Chevy sedan delivery. These days, rather than funding drag racers, he reciprocates to the whole as a corporate sponsor of Old Bridge Township Raceway Park’s Night of Thrills, times nine.
Though his Super Stock and Comp Eliminator bombers are founded on tube-chassis foundations, they maintain Cobalt sheetmetal, massaged as it must be to accommodate the wheels, chassis and drivetrain. B&B Race Cars (bbracecars.com, Hohenwald, TN) built them both.
 |
 |
Gary’s battle plan was thus: “I wanted to build two Cobalts from the bottom up in order to get all the latest improvements and technology under one roof. I took delivery of the Super Stock car last February. It took B&B four months to build it and finish it off. B&B’s Scott Brown was responsible for the [House of Colors] paint as well as graphic design. My crew chief Paul Iaconis ran the fuel lines, plumbing, and the wiring. The Comp car arrived in Farmingdale in June and was nearly identical to the S/S Cobalt insofar as chassis preparation goes.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Both Chevys were equipped with a Ford 9-inch housing narrowed 18 inches and equipped with Mark Williams axles and third members. Gear ratios are 4.30 (S/S) and 6.00:1 (Comp). Their suspensions work with Santuff struts in front and coil/over shock absorbers out back. B&B transferred the Cobalt rack steering to the racecars and attached Mark Williams spindles and mounted disc brakes at both ends. Rolling stock for the S/S car is composed of forged Weld Alumastar rims, 3.5-inch in front with Hoosier Drag Fronts, 12-inch M/T rims, and Hoosier 33.0./14.5-15 drive tires. The Comp Cobalt uses the same combo up front and 15x12 Alumastars with Hoosier 14.0/32.0-15LT slicks.