BILOXI DRAGWAY RESULTS FEB. 6, 1966

Ronnie Sox vs Bobby Wood. February 6, 1966 Biloxi, MS
(Photos, Bubba Cummins)

Ronnie Sox and Bobby Wood Put on Fabulous Show at Biloxi

By Charles Meek (From DRAG NEWS)

BILOXI, MISS., Feb. 6th -- Beautiful weather greeted the largest crowd of racers and spectators to ever attend a racing event at Biloxi Dragway and they saw the most even matched match race ever in this area. Bobby Woods' blown Chevelle arrived first and was immediately swarmed over by the Chevy-starved fans. Bobby's Chevelle is sponsored by Wood Chevrolet in Birmingham and is really a beautiful car. Meanwhile, racers were coming through classification in greater numbers than ever before. Two-hundred and forty-five cars were finally classed. Then the red, white and blue truck and trailer, with the Sox & Martin racing team banner displayed prominently, came pulling in the gate, their brand new 2,000 pound Barracuda on the truck and the familiar Paper Tiger Plymouth on the little trailer towed behind. Now, the stage was set. Bobby Wood had beaten Hubert Platt the week before, could he do the same to Ronnie Sox?

Orban Thornton NHRA Nationals winning B/S Corvette was on hand today pulling some real good 12.50 ET's. That's not but two-tenths below the national record. Orban Thornton's little '57 'vette was really flying. S.T. Cooper was on hand with his national record holding D/Stocker '57 Chevy turning in the 12.20 bracket. S.T. made it all the way to the Stock Eliminator run-off only to see the little blue Corvette go by on the big end for the win. Round one of the match race and everyone at the track crowded the fences. The big fuel burning Plymouth made two passes through the rosin and the big Chevelle fired off, the cars were staged and everyone was on their toes, at the green Ronnie Sox pulled one of his famous hole shots and pulled tow car lengths on the line. The torque-flyte equipped Chevelle was off in pursuit, halfway thru second gear. Woods got crossed up on the track when the horsepower proved to be too much Sox went through dor the win at 10.14 ET. Second round was THE RACE. The cars were staged, Sox pulled a little out of the hole, the Chevelle was on his back bumper. All the way down the track the Chevelle was pulling back and they crossed the finish side by side with only the win lights being able to call Woods the winner at 9.41 at 142.40 mph. The Chevy fans went wild! Both cars pulled back down the track and they really got an ovation. Now, it was one for Sox and one of Woods. Third and final round it was do or die for both cars. Buddy & Ronnie really looked their lane over looking for the best possible traction. Buddy spread the rosin while the Woods team waited. They didn't use any gold dust. Finally, all was ready, the cars were staged, the lights flashed to green and Sox again got the lead with the Chevelle off in hot pursuit. Woods again drifted sideways having handling problems. But at the finish it was the Chevelle again at 10.03 141 mph. He had beaten Sox. After they came back to the pits Ronnie Sox reported on the final run the Hemi-Mill's oil pressure had dropped to 20 pounds. and he had to back off to avoid destruction of the big Hemi. In all fairness to Bobby Woods, when they get the traction and handling problem all worked out they will be a consistent 9.20 car. The horsepower this 'Semi-Hemi' from Wood Chevrolet puts out is tremendous. In the gasser ranks Joe Teuton's little '40 Willys truck handled all competition with ease winning Gas Eliminator and Top Dog Eliminator. When Orban Thorntons' Corvette broke a fuel line.

Sources: Drag News, Copyright BiloxiDragway.com