A question for Brian Wilson

[pwd72s]

A question for Brian Wilson...tell me again how a 327 Fuel in injected sting ray, with at most 365 horsepower, could beat one of these in the quarter, considering the Mopar was also a lighter car?

I guess the answer is that it's Brian Wilson's song, so he could make the race turn out however he wanted it.

[red 928]

note that it was actually a dart in the song, not a savoy.

[red 928]

May 14, 2015
#1
An update on “SHUTDOWN”

Since 2013 was the 50th anniversary of the release of this Beach Boys hit, it’s time to shed some light on the history behind the song.

“Shutdown” was inspired by an actual race, held on a road in the oil fields of San Pedro, California.
One of my past co-workers went to Hawthorne High School with Al Jardine and Brian & Dennis Wilson of Beach Boys fame.
Al and Brian went with Don, (my co-worker) to San Pedro to race.
This was late ‘62, as the song was recorded January 5, ‘63. A ‘62 Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge went up against a ‘63 Corvette Stingray, which very likely was Dennis Wilson’s car. (‘63 fuel-injected 4-speed Stingray) -see the album cover of “Shutdown Vol. 2".

AT THE TOP OF EACH GEAR, THE MAX WEDGE WAS POPPING & BACKFIRING. THE PROBLEM WAS LATER TRACED TO A CRACKED COIL TOWER.
Brian wrote a song about the race, and as they say “the rest is history”. I hope this bit of real history puts to rest any doubt about a Max Wedge’s “Ram Induction” proven ability to move down the quarter-mile quicker than a Corvette with a “fuel-injected engine sittin’ under the hood” and “My Stingray is light the slicks are starting to spin, but the 413’s really diggin’ in” (sounds like a holeshot for the Dodge!!)
So, when your Chevy friends heckle you about the MOPAR that got “shutdown”, tell them the real story.
Note: song lyrics in "quotes”
P.S.-The next week there was a re-match between the Max Wedge & the ‘Vette. With a new ignition coil, the Max Wedge beat the ‘Vette by 2 car-lengths.

I just wanted to set the record straight by revealing historic facts that somehow have been omitted from American musical culture. Based on a personal account from an eyewitness (Don, my co-worker), the BBC documentary “Dennis Wilson, The Real Beach Boy” and the Beach Boys website.
www.thebeachboys.com

Bryan Harris

https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/threads/an-update-on-the-beach-boys-song-shutdown.314895/

[pwd72s]

Thanks Red, never saw that before...No doubt which car was the better chick magnet, probably why Dennis Wilson went for the Stingray. On the other hand, the Mopar had a back seat.

[HobieMarty]

Yeah, he went for the flashy sports car, but Jan and Dean got it right with the "Little Old Lady from Pasadena", she drove a Super Stock Dodge!!! Mopar Baby!!!

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[Superman]

Those Wedges were/are very quick.

[Dantilla]

Power to weight ratio is important, but a quick change of rear end gears may change the outcome.

[speeder]

When it comes to racing, everything is important. Power/weight, gearing, traction, power band, etc.

This is not to even mention driver skill. You could switch drivers in a lot of races and the opposite car would win. Then car prep/tuning. I remember a thread I started a while back about Grumpy Jenkins and someone told a story about a friend owning a ‘62 fuely Corvette that originally belonged to Grumpy and it was scary fast.

Not trying to take anything away from the Mopars but sometimes there is more to the story.

[Dixie]

Ugly Mopar, or sexy Corvette, which would I rather be seen in?

... The answer is always Corvette.

[Tobra]

Had a friend with '62 Savoy with a cross ram max wedge

I don't know what gears it had, but it would lift the front tires off the line. He got kicked out of Sacramento Raceway a couple of times for going too quick without a roll cage.

Did they paint all of them white?

[Baz]

Per the thread title:

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by Baz

Per the thread title:

Nah, it's this.

[speeder]

Brian Wilson is an unmitigated genius. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing him conduct the LA Philharmonic orchestra perform Pet Sounds in its entirety under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl. ❤️ 🎵

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Had a friend with '62 Savoy with a cross ram max wedge

I don't know what gears it had, but it would lift the front tires off the line. He got kicked out of Sacramento Raceway a couple of times for going too quick without a roll cage.

Did they paint all of them white?

He must have been running 9’s, 10 seconds is generally the cutoff for roll cages at NHRA drag strips.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by speeder

Brian Wilson is an unmitigated genius. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing him conduct the LA Philharmonic orchestra perform Pet Sounds in its entirety under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl. ❤️ 🎵

Bingo! Belongs near the top of musical geniuses...despite being nearly deaf in one ear.
I recall reading that The Beatles, after hearing "good vibrations", wondered how the hell they could top it.

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Bingo! Belongs near the top of musical geniuses...despite being nearly deaf in one ear.

I recall reading that The Beatles, after hearing "good vibrations", wondered how the hell they could top it.

I always liked the music at the beginning and mid section of "Wouldn't it be Nice" and I have no idea why it has always been a "pet sound" to me. Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray, it might come true...


https://youtu.be/BJlWKziPUEQ?si=_15f6HpOiJIHJ2hZ

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[pwd72s]

Marty, wish I'd clicked earlier...yes, a good illustration of Brian Wilson's genius.. thanks!