Going For A Ride In Richard Petty's Superbird

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto) 10/26/2015 at 09:00 • Filed to: None

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I got to ride in Richard Petty’s Superbird on the Atlanta Motor Speedway a few days ago. And, I have video to prove it.

This past weekend was the 45th Anniversary Aero Warriors meet in Alabama, dedicated to the Dodge Charger Daytonas, Plymouth Superbirds, and the cars they raced against. The day preceding the festivities, a few of the event’s attendees were invited to the Atlanta Motor Speedway to run their wings a little faster than one might advise on the public roadways. And, it would just be cool since this track is one that these cars raced at in 1970. Both Atlanta races in 1970 were won by wings. The second was won by Petty in his Superbird.

I was there taking photos and hoping to bum a ride with someone when I met Todd Werner. He owns one of Richard Petty’s Superbirds from back in the day. After we conversed for a while, he noted that his passenger side floor board had not been spoken for yet. Was I interested in going for a ride?

I had my still camera as well as a GoPro with me but didn’t have a whole lot of time to prepare. So I improvised. I won’t describe the video any more than this: It’s like a Vin Diesel movie. It’s got no script and no acting but it does have a ton of fast cars and a lot of noise.

Meanwhile, I have a book coming out on the winged cars early next year. Stay tuned for updates, as they say.

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(That is not me driving in the top photo. I took that pic after I got out.)

Coty > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:04

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Posted right after my drifting post. Thunder=stolen.

But no this is awesome.

SteveLehto > Coty 10/26/2015 at 09:04

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Oppositelock is a JUNGLE!

Thanks!

LongbowMkII > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:14

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So was the wing functional?

*flamesuit on*

$kaycog > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:15

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How cool to ride in Richard Petty’s Superbird! The EPA once owned a Superbird.

http://jalopnik.com/5880259/1970-p…

SteveLehto > LongbowMkII 10/26/2015 at 09:17

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It’s a good question. The flames are for those who answer it wrong.

SteveLehto > $kaycog 10/26/2015 at 09:18

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Even cooler - it was prepped by Ray Nichels.

Illegal Machine > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:19

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MOPAR OR NO CAR!!

Falutin Free > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:19

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I want to ride in this

DemonRum > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:20

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Unrelated story time, everybody! My girlfriend is also a lawyer and was recently handed a lemon law case. I suggested she email Lehto as he seemed like a helpful guy. Well, not only did he talk with her on the phone for quite some time, he also offered to look through her file and give her his opinion of the case. Very kind, and much appreciated. Thanks, Steve!

Mark Jacob > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:21

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Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:23

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There was a wing car meet in Alabama? How do I always miss these things.

LongbowMkII > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:24

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wingless superbird. (bonus: MkI supra)

PS9 > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:24

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Alternate title;

“Your weekend sucked more than mine, and I have video to prove it.”

vondon302 > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:24

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Well that was waaay cooler than going to Talladega like I thought you were.

SirRaoulDuke > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:25

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That is about as badass as it gets. Lucky you!

T off the New > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:25

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Well that’s pretty awesome.

Signed,

-Jealousy.

Pending Approval > LongbowMkII 10/26/2015 at 09:25

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It gives the illusion of speed.

Pending Approval > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:27

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Daaaaaaang

SteveLehto > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 10/26/2015 at 09:32

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You must not be following me on the twitter (All the kids are using it these days).

SteveLehto > PS9 10/26/2015 at 09:33

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I was going to use one like that but thought it was a bit much.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:34

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Correct. I’ve never bothered to get a twitter.

SteveLehto > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 10/26/2015 at 09:36

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I posted a whole host of pics from the trip in fairly real-time. There were several events over the four days and hundreds of cool cars. I’ll be posting more in the near future. I just wanted to get this up first.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:37

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Awesome.

Blze001 > LongbowMkII 10/26/2015 at 09:41

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I love me some Superbird wings, but it kinda looks slick without one.

Blze001 > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:42

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Words cannot begin to describe how badly I want one of these. Too bad I don’t have enough sellable organs in my body to even consider affording one.

SteveLehto > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 10/26/2015 at 09:44

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There were a LOT of winged cars there. This is just a slice.

Zoom > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:48

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You did WHAT ??!!

What’s next for you, Steve?

Racing Baker’s Daytona??

Daholysmoke.......

Stef Schrader > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:50

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Man, that car sounds cool. Love the big wings.

ZardozSpeakstoYou > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 09:55

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Lets all remember though in 1969 David Pearson won the championship in a Ford Torino battling those winged Daytonas. I sure miss the days when NASCAR was more about the cars than the drivers; Ford vs Mopar ect with the occasional oddball AMC car thrown in. The first RWD Taurus coupe killed it for me. Finally, those cars 45 years ago were just as fast as they are running today.

SteveLehto > ZardozSpeakstoYou 10/26/2015 at 09:57

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The wings didn’t race until the Fall of 1969. 1970, the one full year they raced? Isaac won the National Championship.

the 1969 Dodge Charger Guy > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 10:41

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Well I’m envious—actually get a ride in a B-body that’s aerodynamic, but the King’s car to boot. No, make that envious to the tenth power.

Max > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 10:48

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That car is just mean.

Yeah, I hate you Steve.

Whitesmoke > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 12:08

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Cool vid Steve. Wish I would’ve known about this event - would have drove myself down out of the North Ga mountains to Hampton to see it.

Okie-in-TX CTS-V Wagon > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 10/26/2015 at 12:12

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I’ve refused to adhere to something that uses the root word “twit”, but more and more it looks like I might have to conform just to keep up with my few interests.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 12:24

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God those cars look so good in race trim. Saw a few pictures over the weekend from that event, never seen that many winged cars in one place in my life.

Britt > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 12:33

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I will look forward to the release of that Book!

MQ-9 > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 13:25

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Ah yes, back in the day when stock car racing involved stock looking cars...

Ladymopar > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 13:46

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I’m totally jealous, I have to give kuddos to those guys, banking in a cross wind OMG.

I”m happy you did this, fun right!?! Thanks for the video, I couldn’t make it :(

Roeby1 > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 14:45

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its sounds impressive just dawdling around, just imagine it in full chat on a hot lap!

SteveLehto > Roeby1 10/26/2015 at 14:55

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I really wish I’d had the time to mic that properly. This sound is just off the camera’s built-in mic. Still, it sounds okay here. And yes, do that for a few hours at full speed . . .

RedWhine > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 14:57

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I know this is a Mopar thread. But that Torino Talladega that was rolling around next to you... Mmmm....

Andrew's Ennui > DemonRum 10/26/2015 at 15:09

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That’s awesome, he comes across as a genuinely good dude in his posts... definitely a credit to his profession.

Vincent Davidson > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 16:04

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That’s really cool.

Just Cars for Joe Bryant > SteveLehto 10/26/2015 at 16:14

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It’s too bad NASCAR got involved and eventually banned the wing cars. Because the battle between Mopar and Mercury (and I am sure Ford) was about to get legendary:

SteveLehto > Just Cars for Joe Bryant 10/26/2015 at 16:54

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I saw a couple of those this weekend as well.

Tohru > Mark Jacob 10/26/2015 at 21:21

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Mark Jacob > Tohru 10/27/2015 at 08:59

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Huh, I did not know that. On this edition of Today I Learned , I discover that I’ve been using a word wrong my whole life.

Braking-Dad > SteveLehto 10/27/2015 at 09:29

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I would love to see NASCAR [and it will never happen] go back to “throwback to the 60’s and 70’s” body styles for an entire season to trigger some fan nostalgia. It would be easy to do given that they don’t used real bodies any more. Toyota would raise a stink, but who gives a flying fadoo? Too bad Mopar is gone. Would work in CASCAR as Mopar is main force in that series.

Ever seen Pro Mods race? The retro Ford, Chevy’s and Mopars look fantastic! Would love to see the Aero wars repeated as NASCAR wasn’t televised up north back in that era.

Telecaster1959 > SteveLehto 10/27/2015 at 13:04

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Awesome! The Winged Warriors reunions are incredible.

I got to attend two when I had my Superbird, and we got to do the parade lap on the racetrack both times. Hats off to Tim Welborn and the guys at Winged Warriors for everything they’ve done!

Just Cars for Joe Bryant > SteveLehto 10/27/2015 at 14:36

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Gotta love it when the manufacturers were really allowed to innovate for NASCAR.