Car Features: Robert Harrison and “SNOOPY” his 1966 Chevrolet Nova

The RacingJunk Editors

21 Dec 2020

Click Here to Begin Slideshow Another vehicle from the No Shows No Problem Car Show that we fell in love with was this '66 Nova with a fun paint job that could throw down some wheelies. We recently caught up with Robert and asked him to get a little background on his ride. I bought it in 1975 as a roller, run-down race car. After installing my 283 engine and 4 speed and Dana rear, this car became instantly FAST! I started winning class and setting NHRA records in 1978. It ran 11.30's at 116 MPH back then; now it runs 10.20's at 126 MPH with a 3 speed automatic! We have gained 100 horsepower over those years; It now makes 520 HP. (That's 300 HP more than it was rated at from the factory in 1966 !). We build our engines 100% in house, including cylinder heads. I believe we now have the most powerful 283 Super Stock engines that exist. (Lot of tricks in that $30,000 plus 283). Years ago we replaced the Dana with a Strange 12-Bolt Chevy. AND: Where we used to run 13" bias ply slicks, we now run 10.5" Radials! Pat Kroninbiter (PK Race Cars in Ohio) installed the chromemoly roll cage. It still has ladder bars. Wheelie bars may be in the future. The beautiful paint (Dupont "HOT HUES") was applied by Jim DeFew of Benton, Kentucky. He has won several of Dupont's "TOP GUN" awards and did a painting for Elvis Presley! The original bench seat was re-covered by Mike Quinn of "Derby City". If you go to Youtube and search Bob Harrison/Snoopy, you can see a video of me running at the 1978 NHRA Sportsnationals at Bowling Green, Kentucky, where I was runner-up to Bobby Warren. I wrecked the car at Memphis in the spring of 2007 (the day after setting the NHRA national record) and had to TOTALLY rebuild it! I finally retired from driving after the 2010 NHRA US Nationals, and now my 2 sons (Jimmy and Robbie) take turns at the wheel, with my daughters Rindy and Sara as cheerleaders. I am pretty much retired, but I still build and sell 4GC Rochester carburetors for racing. (I built the one that is FAST on SNOOPY). AND: I still live in Albion, Illinois, where I ran a garage/machine shop for 40 years (As Smoky Yunick would say: "Best Damn Garage in Town") We would like to thank Robert for sharing his bad ass Nova with us! Click Here to Begin Slideshow

Car Features: Robert Harrison and "SNOOPY" his 1966 Chevrolet Nova — Click Here to Begin Slideshow Another vehicle from the No Shows No Problem Car Show that we fell in love with was this '66 Nova with a fun paint job that could throw down some wheelies. We recently caught up with Robert and asked him to get a little background on his ride. I bought it in 1975 as a roller, run-down race car. After installing my 283 engine and 4 speed and Dana rear, this car became instantly FAST! I started winning class and setting NHRA records in 1978. It ran 11.30's at 116 MPH back then; now it runs 10.20's at 126 MPH with a 3 speed automatic! We have gained 100 horsepower over those years; It now makes 520 HP. (That's 300 HP more than it was rated at from the factory in 1966 !). We build our engines 100% in house, including cylinder heads. I believe we now have the most powerful 283 Super Stock engines that exist. (Lot of tricks in that $30,000 plus 283). Years ago we replaced the Dana with a Strange 12-Bolt Chevy. AND: Where we used to run 13" bias ply slicks, we now run 10.5" Radials! Pat Kroninbiter (PK Race Cars in Ohio) installed the chromemoly roll cage. It still has ladder bars. Wheelie bars may be in the future. The beautiful paint (Dupont "HOT HUES") was applied by Jim DeFew of Benton, Kentucky. He has won several of Dupont's "TOP GUN" awards and did a painting for Elvis Presley! The original bench seat was re-covered by Mike Quinn of "Derby City". If you go to Youtube and search Bob Harrison/Snoopy, you can see a video of me running at the 1978 NHRA Sportsnationals at Bowling Green, Kentucky, where I was runner-up to Bobby Warren. I wrecked the car at Memphis in the spring of 2007 (the day after setting the NHRA national record) and had to TOTALLY rebuild it! I finally retired from driving after the 2010 NHRA US Nationals, and now my 2 sons (Jimmy and Robbie) take turns at the wheel, with my daughters Rindy and Sara as cheerleaders. I am pretty much retired, but I still build and sell 4GC Rochester carburetors for racing. (I built the one that is FAST on SNOOPY). AND: I still live in Albion, Illinois, where I ran a garage/machine shop for 40 years (As Smoky Yunick would say: "Best Damn Garage in Town") We would like to thank Robert for sharing his bad ass Nova with us! Click Here to Begin Slideshow

1 / 6

Exit mobile version