Great interview...i got to meet Dan at there Dawsonville Shop in 87...great people and pulled for them....my daddy was a huge Elliot team fan....this was before they won the million...he noticed how good and reliable there Ford engines were versus the others...and got good fuel miliage...he always said..watch them...they are coming...he was a Ford man....sadly daddy was dying with colon cancer...at young age of 55...he was a Korean War vet...and Electrican and Hvac trade....one of my fond moment was we listen to the 83 November race at Riverside...and listen to Bill winning his very first Nascar race...daddy ery weak got to hear it and smiled broadly....he passed Dec 2 1983...and longtime friend..had a weath made with Bill car.still have the photo...
I never knew the Elliott's dad had a Torino at Talladega in '70. Great stuff Rick. Those Elliott boys did it the old fashion way. It was amazing to watch their rise to the top. Hope you've got some more of Dan's interview coming .
The Elliott family team was my favorite. To watch them win, especially on the super speedways was the greatest! Racing in these times is just not the same, there's something missing. Too much sameness and control. But, a great interview!
It was great to see a small team with a small budget go out and kick butt. That’s what NASCAR is missing. No underdogs . The only way this can happen again is for Teams to have a salary cap for drivers, equipment and crews then talent would mean more than money.
Another great podcast Steve keep up the good work the Elliott family was one of my favorite teams of all times back in the eighties and nineties I am so glad that you talked to Dan and get to know him and let us know more about the Elliott family have a good one and God bless my friend
Bill had to make the best decision for his career at that point. He was losing his sponsor and no big Ford teams offered a ride. The final three full-time seasons from 2001-2003 prove that he made the correct decision.
He flat had no competion at tslledega an daytona that year he made up 2 laps under green won his twin 125 by 38 seconds an lapped the entire feild except 2 place .greg sacks got lucky an won the fire cracker 400 but only cause bill had to pit an sacks didnt.its posable had mas ar had the schedule it does todsy in 85 with 8 more races an all but elminatedd short ttacks bill could have won 20 races.whats lost in bills amazing 85 season is it was the shortest season in nascar history
@@brianbooher7318Bill had a fuel pick-up issue in the '85 Firecracker and only picked up 19 gallons of fuel when everyone else had the whole 22 gallon capacity. But Bill was still a second or more faster than anyone else.
Great interview ! It seems Dan VERY tactfully sidestepped the question of why Bill became the team driver. My uneducated guess would be that Ernie didn't have keen eyesight (wore glasses) , Bill was next oldest & had a ton of desire, Dan alluded to going to college & being youngest, in most households means like it or not, you (Dan) WILL go to college (and take over the Ford place that was all but bankrupted by the racing venture). It almost sounds like going with Melling Racing was Dan's best hope.
Sigh.... Is anyone ever going to ask any of these guys about the '85 season and the Widmer heads? How they were five MPH faster than everyone else?????
Larry Widmer is still going, at MAST cylinder heads, I believe. Larry did the heads, and according to Rusty Glidden, Bob, did the intake manifold. The reason ,for all this accoding to Rusty Glidden, was to help bring Ernie up to date, on the latest thinking.
@@johnsalvaterra3116 In the 1986 Hot Rod Magazine article, The Soft Head (the second article), both Ernie Elliott and Bob Glidden denied using Endyn heads. With Glidden using some very colorful language. I never heard a retraction from either.
Yes, Bob certainly did not want the Endyn heads talked about. Rusty did say, that he thought, his father tested with them. In the Boss 429 days, Darin Morgan was employed by Bob, maybe Darin could have some info on this.
Great interview...i got to meet Dan at there Dawsonville Shop in 87...great people and pulled for them....my daddy was a huge Elliot team fan....this was before they won the million...he noticed how good and reliable there Ford engines were versus the others...and got good fuel miliage...he always said..watch them...they are coming...he was a Ford man....sadly daddy was dying with colon cancer...at young age of 55...he was a Korean War vet...and Electrican and Hvac trade....one of my fond moment was we listen to the 83 November race at Riverside...and listen to Bill winning his very first Nascar race...daddy ery weak got to hear it and smiled broadly....he passed Dec 2 1983...and longtime friend..had a weath made with Bill car.still have the photo...
I never knew the Elliott's dad had a Torino at Talladega in '70. Great stuff Rick. Those Elliott boys did it the old fashion way. It was amazing to watch their rise to the top. Hope you've got some more of Dan's interview coming .
Love the elliotts and fords
Them Elliott boys went to Winston cup and flat out worked and out ran them good ol boys from the Carolinas !
Coo coo cool
The Elliott family team was my favorite. To watch them win, especially on the super speedways was the greatest! Racing in these times is just not the same, there's something missing. Too much sameness and control. But, a great interview!
NASCAR is trying to have a 40 car IROC series, and it takes away from the racing.
Great interview with Dan! I didn't realize that the Elliot's racing history went back this far. More Dan Elliot please please!!
It was great to see a small team with a small budget go out and kick butt. That’s what NASCAR is missing. No underdogs . The only way this can happen again is for Teams to have a salary cap for drivers, equipment and crews then talent would mean more than money.
The Elliott family was my favorite. Great people down to earth.
Bill did the driving, Ernie built the motors and Dan did Transmissions
Dan Elliott Crew Member Melling Racing From The 80s And Early 90s Thanks For Uploading Rick And Steve
Such a wonderful family, from George down to Chase, they come from good stock!
#9 x 2 👍 🇺🇸
Another great podcast Steve keep up the good work the Elliott family was one of my favorite teams of all times back in the eighties and nineties I am so glad that you talked to Dan and get to know him and let us know more about the Elliott family have a good one and God bless my friend
Love the Elliott 's I'm from Ga an hour to Dawsonville great interview Dan and Ernie don't give many interviews
Great interview! Hope there is a part 2. There's a lot more to this story.
Dan an ernie shpuld be in hall of fame
Awesome Family and team. They worked there buts off to do what they did.
I met Dan, his wife, and his son and daughter when they ran Gresham Motorsports Park, the local racetrack. They are very nice down to earth people.
My brother attended North Georgia and was commissioned a 2nd LT in the Army for a 22year career.
How could you not admire and respect the Elliot's name in racing?? They were defining of good work ethic and
Daddy rolled in his grave when Bill started running Dodges, and is really spinning now that Chase is with Hendrick.
Bill had to make the best decision for his career at that point. He was losing his sponsor and no big Ford teams offered a ride. The final three full-time seasons from 2001-2003 prove that he made the correct decision.
I don't know someone can tell me but I think ole bill made up 2 laps on the field under green.
@@jeffcoomer8680 yep, Dega 1985. Loose oil line I believe, 2 laps under green ! Awesome Bill was Hauling the Mail that day !!! 🤣🤣🤣
He flat had no competion at tslledega an daytona that year he made up 2 laps under green won his twin 125 by 38 seconds an lapped the entire feild except 2 place .greg sacks got lucky an won the fire cracker 400 but only cause bill had to pit an sacks didnt.its posable had mas ar had the schedule it does todsy in 85 with 8 more races an all but elminatedd short ttacks bill could have won 20 races.whats lost in bills amazing 85 season is it was the shortest season in nascar history
Yep I was there
@@brianbooher7318Bill had a fuel pick-up issue in the '85 Firecracker and only picked up 19 gallons of fuel when everyone else had the whole 22 gallon capacity. But Bill was still a second or more faster than anyone else.
Great content Rick, I wish I could give this 100 likes!
I wish you could, too!
Bill's middle brother.
Its amazing seeing the shop they built those Fast Fords in. Modern Body shops have bigger buildings.
Is that a Shelby Cobra to Dan’s left ????? ❤❤❤
The Elliotts were tough for years.
Great interview ! It seems Dan VERY tactfully sidestepped the question of why Bill became the team driver. My uneducated guess would be that Ernie didn't have keen eyesight (wore glasses) , Bill was next oldest & had a ton of desire, Dan alluded to going to college & being youngest, in most households means like it or not, you (Dan) WILL go to college (and take over the Ford place that was all but bankrupted by the racing venture). It almost sounds like going with Melling Racing was Dan's best hope.
Actually, Dan is the middle son and Bill is the youngest.
@@adamtereska8734 Haha...There goes my ol' 61 year old memory. Thanks for the correction.
I heard they call him the Mad Scientist. 😅
My Favorite Racing Family 🏁
Sigh.... Is anyone ever going to ask any of these guys about the '85 season and the Widmer heads? How they were five MPH faster than everyone else?????
What kind of heads? Windsor?
@@davescott686 Larry Widmer. Search, the "Soft Head."
Larry Widmer is still going, at MAST cylinder heads, I believe. Larry did the heads, and according to Rusty Glidden, Bob, did the intake manifold. The reason ,for all this accoding to Rusty Glidden, was to help bring Ernie up to date, on the latest thinking.
@@johnsalvaterra3116 In the 1986 Hot Rod Magazine article, The Soft Head (the second article), both Ernie Elliott and Bob Glidden denied using Endyn heads. With Glidden using some very colorful language. I never heard a retraction from either.
Yes, Bob certainly did not want the Endyn heads talked about. Rusty did say, that he thought, his father tested with them. In the Boss 429 days, Darin Morgan was employed by Bob, maybe Darin could have some info on this.
I wonder if Mr. Dan remembers a man by the name of Garry Dingler.