HAYDEN PROFFITT No. 612 Contest

[Phil Reed]

Well it's been about a week now and no one has gotten the correct answer to the significance of the number 612 on all of Hayden's race cars. We had guesses of birthdays, license numbers, etc. It doesn't have anything to do with "numbers" as we would expect.

Clue #1......think BUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck...an autographed picture of Hayden in his 62 is the grand prize!!!

:rolleyes:

Phil

[409z28]

612 mosquito repellant!

[Phil Reed]

We have a winner!!!!! 409z28 is absolutely correct!!!!

There is a published picture of Hayden's red 1962 Belair where the car is all lettered up but the big space on the doors are blank. There is someone with a car club jacket standing in front of the car. About the time that this picture was taken, the people from the 612 Mesquito Repellent Co. approached Hayden and gave him $1000 to help sponsor his car for 1962. He was so grateful that he continued to use that number his whole career. He did not use that number on his jet cars. When I asked Hayden about the number, I had no clue that this is where it originated.

So 409z28, email me your address and I'll get your autographed picture mailed to you. By the way.....do you really have a 409 in aZ28???????!!!!!!! It's gotta be a ride!!!!!!

Phil Reed

[409z28]

No,, Just a 62SS 409car and a 67 z28 302 car

[tmracing62]

Now 409z28, don't be so modest. Your cars make big boys drool.

Phil -

Not to take away from the value of Hayden's stuff that you have already awarded, but do you think he'd be interested in autographing pictures and other stuff for those of us that would be interested?

:bow :bow :bow 612 SS/S

He could earn a little spare cash for fishin' (dynamite ain't cheap) and we could have something that really means something to us.

- Michael

[Phil Reed]

Michael:

I'm sure Hayden would do something. I'm posting a copy of the photo I have. But I have soooooo few copies left and we can't find the negative!! This was Hayden at Indy Super Chevy in 1988 when he was inducted in Super Chevy Hall of Fame.

When I was with Hayden 2 weeks ago, he did get a confirmation letter....he will be in York, PA next summer for some type of reunion. He will be there for 2 days to sign autographs. I'll get the info and post it here later. That way all persons back east can make plans to go see him.

As far as 409z28........I really think a dual 4 409 in a 67 Camaro would be a killer ride!!!!!!!! There was a guy in Jefferson City, MO about 18 tears ago that had a white 60 Corvette with a 63 425HP 409 in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man it was a tight fit!!! I wanted a ride but didn't get one.:( :(

Hope my picture comes through.

Phil

[Loafer409]

409 in a Vette...here ya go...

http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/vetteart.html

besure to click the link at the bottom of the page, more about this vette...09

[jim_ss409]

I think GM missed the boat by not installing the 409 in the 63 to 65 Corvettes. It would have fit just as well as the later big block. Could you imagine how fast Z11 powered vettes would have been, and how valuable they would be today.

[oil4kids]

Supposedly, Zora Duntov never wanted a 409 in the C2 Corvette(second generation 63-67) and wanted to keep it a fuel injected small block- so Zora designed the engine bay not to accept the wider 409, however because of the success of the early Mark IV nascar engines , the 1965 C2 got the 425 hp 396 and there was no looking back.

bigger photo at

http://lubedealer.com/oil4kids/409blockspecs.jpg


Mark

[Phil Reed]

On the subject of Zora...At Indy Super Chevy in 1988 or 1989, Tom and Linda Jacobson brought Zora, and his wife Effie, to my swap meet space so I would meet Zora. They spent about 30 minutes in my booth under the tent. When everyone recognized who they were.....it was just like bees on honey with all the people gathered around. That eveing, I was prividleged to go to dinner with Tom & Linda and Zora & Effie.
ATTENTION 348-409 CLUB MEMBERS......I asked Zora what he felt was his greatest achievement. He said of all the things that he designed, he was the proudest of his design of the "1962 327 FENDER FLAGS AND 409 SCRIPT!!!!!! I kid you not...that was his answer!!! I couldn't believe it!!! Now I know he knew, from our conversation that evening, I was real heavy into 409's but I felt like his answer was completely honest!! Not the fuel injection stuff, or the Duntov 30-30 cam.....but the flags and 409 scripts!!!
Now I'm not one into getting pictures, but Doug Marion came through the restaurant and took a picture of Tom and Zora and I setting at the table. That photo is still on my office wall at the shop!!! It was quite an accomplishment for a poor ole country farm boy from Kansas, to be seated with Mr. Corvette for an eveving!!! My scanner is broken or I would post the picture.
At that time, Effie's daily driver was an LS5 Chevelle!!!!

Phil

[Tom Kochtanek]

Phil, you've come up with yet another gem!

Flags and numbers -- after all those accomplishments. I would have thought it would relate to his 1955-6 Sebring accomplishments, when he hit 150 at Daytona (I think I got the year right).

Hey, we should get Doug Marion out here, he's a midwest fella. Wonder if he will be in Odessa, MO this weekend? I plan on being there. Hope to see you and several others (TomO and Roy tripower) there as well as the Shaffer brothers :)

Cheers,
TomK

[Phil Reed]

No, Doug won't be here this weekend. I got an email from him today asking me to check everything out for him.

It's hard for him, and expensive too, to travel this far for only a single event. He comes out about once a year to shoot cars.

Phil

[CarlK60]

Originally posted by Phil Reed
At that time, Effie's daily driver was an LS5 Chevelle!!!!

That car is still around, and owned by a guy who posts on www.chevelles.com Cant remember his name though.

CK

[oil4kids]

that white Chevelle was restored by Mike LaEnvi and Paul Tracy of Tracy Performance--from what i had heard, many of Zoras collectables were lifted from his house when he passed away
including a lamp shade with the famous Duntov Cam imprinted on it

[Phil Reed]

That's sad...to think of how improtant Zora was, not only to Chevrolet, but to all automobile enthusiasts, to have his remains treated that way. It sould be in a museum somewhere.

[Z-11Guy]

Hey Guys,

Why Did Hayden Letter The '63 Z-11 Impala # 621?? Anyone know what color that Car Was? Ember Or Palomar Red?. I constantly think about that car,Thanks.

[droptop62]

Michael:

I'm sure Hayden would do something. I'm posting a copy of the photo I have. But I have soooooo few copies left and we can't find the negative!!
Phil

Phil,
I can help you out with the photo.
If you would like I can scan one your photos and give you an electronic file on disk that could be brought to any photo lab to have more copies made. I have made my career out of scanning and retouching photos. I work for a large printing company and would be able to use the professional equipment at the shop for your reproduction.
Contact me if you think I can help you out.

Todd