John Ash from Elysburg, Pa. has restored the former Bojangles sponsored Cale Yarborough 1993-1997 Ford team car. The Thunderbird is a labor of love and is a fine example of proper restoration of a former NASCAR raced stock car. (John Ash Photo)
Former owner Cale Yarborough, a three-time (1976-77-78) NASCAR Winston Cup champion, signed the shifter plate for owner John Ash, adding a final touch of authenticity to his beautiful Yarborough Bojangles Thunderbird. (John Ash Photo)
John Ash from Elysburg, Pa. has restored the former Bojangles sponsored Cale Yarborough 1993-1997 Ford team car. Pictured is the engine. The Thunderbird is a labor of love and is a fine example of proper restoration of a former NASCAR raced stock car. (John Ash Photo)
I’ve had several letters recently on the ownership of vintage race cars, including NASCAR stock cars. Considering these vehicles carry with them a spectacular driver and owner history, I’d like to share with my readers the following letter which sums up my opinion that when properly restored, these vehicles are worth monies invested and will be worth more in the future. Here we go!
Q: Hi Greg, I’m sending you this letter and photos about my love of vintage racing cars and my original Cale Yarborough Motorsports No. 98 Bojangles Thunderbird.
Since growing up in my father’s garage and body shop, I have always been passionate about restoring cars. Heck, I learned how to do pin stripping and lettering at the age of 12 just to be around racecars.
I recently fulfilled a lifelong goal of owning and racing my own vintage racecar. Previously and far back in 1999 I had located and purchased what probably was one of the most famous NHRA Funny Cars of all time – the Revell “Jungle Jim” Liberman’s Vega nitro funny car. My father and I started restoring the car when “Big Daddy” Don Garlits found out we had the car. After several weeks of talking we struck a deal for “Big Daddy” to purchase and then finish the car. Today, Jungle Jim’s famous funny car sits where it rightfully belongs – in the Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Fla.
Ever since dad and I parted with Jungle’s Vega, I’ve had the itch for my own vintage racecar. I have been fortunate enough to work on and restore many unique cars throughout my life with my father. From a factory Porsche 904 racecar, 1955 Gullwing Mercedes, (Ford 351) Pantera to countless national award winning Shelby and Boss Mustangs, I’ve been very involved.
I acquired the Cale Yarborough car a little over a year ago and although the car was complete minus engine, transmission and shocks, it still took a while to track down the right period correct Ford 358-inch V8 engine and transmission. However, with the help of local ARCA driver Brian Kaltreider, we finished the road course set-up at 3 a.m. in the morning of Aug. 1, 2014 and just in time for the SVRA (Sports Car Vintage Racing Association) event at Pocono Raceway.
Then with help of Steve Fox, (noted sports car racer and co-manager of the Pocono Stock Car Racing Experience driving school), I shook the car down on the first day of event practice. The day was going great and I was getting very comfortable in the car when on the last lap of practice there was an issue with the left rear brake hose. This problem forced me to “find a tire barrier” at the end of the front stretch and I bent up the front nose.
It’s a unique feeling at the end of the long front straightaway to brake late and turn into the corner and you have a rock hard brake pedal and you’re not slowing down. With the help of Bill Rhine of Rhine Built of Denver, N.C., we hung a new nose and hood on the car and I’m now ready to go for 2015 SVRA events. We plans are to run five to six races throughout N.Y., N.J., Pa., Va. and Ohio along with several motorsports exhibits.
My original Yarborough Thunderbird was driven by Derrick Cope with the Bojangles sponsorship. The car was retired from competition when the team lost Bojangles sponsorship (at the beginning of 1994) and original team member Butch Jones bought the car. He raced it until 1999 winning a Watkins Glen event and then stored the car until I purchased it from him last year.
Ninety percent of the original pieces are still on the car stamped “CY2” (Cale Yarborough 2). Since most of these cars found their way into the hands of owners from different forms of racing, finding a CY2 car in such great original shape was like opening a racing time capsule. The best part is I talked with Cale at length and then sent him the shifter plate, which he autographed. That was a nice finishing touch to this awesome car.
I can’t end without mentioning Rob Brown, a co-worker of mine, who has been a huge help and an important part of getting the Bojangles Thunderbird back together. Thanks much Greg. John Ash, Elysburg, Pa.
A: John, thank you so much for sharing your interesting story. You have a great piece of history and a fine representation of what vintage racing and race car restoration is. I’ll see you at one of the SVRA events in 2015, God willing.
(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto columnist who welcomes reader input on collector cars, old-time motorsports or auto nostalgia at 116 Main St., Towanda, Pa. 18848 or email at greg@gregzyla.com)
