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Photo ID # I12.31.12_021_BUT_FLM_0073_1
Car #: #21
Driver (s) : Oliver Butler
Location: Flemington Speedway
Date: 1973
Photographer: Ace Lane Jr.
Photo provided by: Fred Menschner
Comments: Comments:    For anyone that is fan of short track racing around these parts, who went to places like East Windsor and Flemington in the early 70's, there weren't too many cars that fit the definition of "cool" as well as this one did...  And not only did it look cool, it ran great, and also had quite a history.

The car pictured above was actually kind of a "retread" and I mean that with respect.  It was "built" in 1972 out of the parts from the coupe that Ray Neary had won features in earlier in the decade (including an aggressive streak at Harmony where he'd win the first race of the decade, and a bunch more in that same year.  That car (the one that Ray drove in 1970) was made with parts from a former Dave Piscopo owned/Al Tasnady driven #39.  I am pretty sure that the 1970 car was re-built by Fred Menschner (who was probably in his early 20's as a MODIFIED CAR OWNER AND CHIEF MECHANIC), and Ray Neary, with Wally Marks "supervising and advising!" 

That coupe was fast as heck, and Ray and Fred did a helluva job up against the superteams of Deasey, Norcia, etc...  Think about it... Young Fred, up against guys that had been at the racing game for longer than he had been alive... and yet there he was, rolling his creation right up alongside of theirs and yup, that cool looking #21 did more than just look good... It was ALWAYS competitive.

So once they thought they were done with the coupe, Fred and Ray built a sedan for the 1971 season....  but could never find the magic that they had with the old coupe described above.  So you guessed it...  Just like some of us might be with "an old girlfriend"...., they started thinking about the "old days" and before you knew it, they got that 1970 coupe (rich with the Piscopo/Tas/Marks history, along with the feature wins) and built a new frame, front end and engine for it... The also used the rear, the old coupe body and built a new cage, and had it lettered by Tom Backes (the same artist that lettered many Trenton/Morrisville cars from back in the day including the Piscopo #39 and the George Taylor #93.

The car was finished late in the 72 season and Ray Neary drove it in a few races. Then in early 1973, Ray decided to step away from racing to focus on his business and the coupe was once again "rebuilt"... this time with power steering added, and injectors and with Oliver Butler behind the wheel.  Ollie (an owner's dream as he was always very, very competitive, and yet had one of the most smooth driving styles and had an obvious appreciation for equipment) would go on to score feature event wins in this car with Fred as the Owner and Chief Mechanic... with the same coupe body (along with maybe a few other parts) that Tas drove at Trenton, and Ray had won with at Harmony!

It will always be a Vault favorite.  I hope that someday, somebody will consider making a vintage replica of it.  I'm pretty sure that it's a 36 Chevy body on 1954 Chevy frame rails.  With those downtubes and the injectors sticking up through the hood, it's just too cool to forget about....
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Comment:

12.31.12

Tim Weber

Hey Joe - Somehow I remember Ray slamming this car (maybe a throttle stuck) head on into the first turn crossover gate (right where we used to sit) pretty much full bore and head on, only to get out of the car laughing.  We were sure he shook something loose in his head.  It seemed the car was back in a few weeks, not sure what they had to replace.  It must have been in 1970 or 71.  Thanks for reading; I wonder if anyone else remembers.

12.31.12 3Wide Not sure Tim, but maybe Fred or Ray will get a chance to check in and let us know for sure.  I do remember Ray having a hard crash in the June Campbell "Harley #1" in the first turn (I think) at Flemington in the early 70's. 
01.02.13 Fred Menschner Joe, About those comments Jim Weber  posted about Ray crashing the car, that was the Campbell's #1 that Ray crashed, not the #21.. Yes the #21 coupe was a 36 Chevy body with 54 Chevy frame rails with a 427 Chevy big block and a Franklin quick change rear, Chevy 4speed trans, and a Ford Econline van front axle.  It also had a Chevy power steering box and pump. I had a 40 gal baffled fuel tank built, because it needed 35 gals of alcohol to run a 30 lap race with cautions laps...
01.02.13 3Wide Ok guys... there you go - There's the ingredients needed to build one super cool looking/running vintage car.  I'll bet if we press him, Fred might even be able to come up with the paint codes for the silver and the red!  Hey Fred, if somebody builds it, can we count on you to get the injectors dialed in?
01.02.13 Fred Menschner

Great...Sure I'll set-up the injectors...lol

01.02.13 Mark Yaple

I agree with Joe about the 21 being one of the coolest modifieds ever with Fred Menschner being one of the best mechanics and nicest guys in racing.

01.05.13 Charlie Miller

WOW! Great story, after seeing the coach on page #102 and the story behind it vs the coupe. Here’s the rest of the story, plus photos of the infamous coupe. The clincher is Fred’s comments on the whole deal, THAT is why I love this great Web-site. Keep up the good work Joe.

01.05.13 Steve Kresge

Is this the same car that was in the crash with Art Lawshe at Nazareth National in the short chute I was young back then. I just know it was a horrible crash and it took a while to get Art out of his car.

01.08.13 3Wide The car that was in the crash at Nazareth National had this same body, but was a totally different frame.  Ray said that he was getting around Nazareth National pretty well and as he was about to lift to get into the corner, Art went by on the outside with what sounded like the throttle still down.  Art then hit the wall and bounced back out into the groove.  I don't know the details from there, but I know that the faster you go, the quicker things happen and the more severe.
01.08.13 Rob Johnson

Growing up on Main St. in Yardely Boro, being lucky enough to be outside to see this car beiing towed through town to Flemington on a saturday  afternoon was a real thrill !! Coolest modified ever, just wish they still looked this way and were still racing on Saturday nights at Flemington; great history on this car, love it, thanks again . Rob Johnson DC

01.08.13 3Wide More historical info on this particular coupe body...  I'm told that before this body was painted white and run by Al Tasnady (Piscopo #39) that it is actually the original body the was from the yellow #327 that I think was owned by Walt Donald (?) that then became the first Piscopo #39.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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