Rebel Rouser 502
Summary
Emphasizing perhaps the ultimate in teamwork, the Rebel Rouser 1964 Dodge Polara was built and continues to be maintained by The Tech Team, students in the automotive program at Linn State Technical College of Missouri.
Owners and Sponsor
Owned by Jimmy Brandon of Bland, Missouri / major sponsor Linn State Technical College
Driver
Also an instructor at Linn State, Jimmy Brandon, 50, has been drag racing since 1974, including Nostalgia Super Stock, “since there was such a thing,” he said. Brandon attended the first meeting that founded the original Midwest Nostalgia Super Stock Association, now known as Nostalgia Super Stocks Inc.
History
A long-time race car, the Rebel Rouser was run as the Bob Blair Blitzkreig in the 1960’s. Brandon purchased the car in North Carolina and The Tech Team did the NSS build in 1992. The vehicle has been featured in several national publications, including National Dragster (March 1996), Chrysler Power (November 1997), High Performance Mopar (July 1999) and Tomorrow’s Technician (February 2002).
Technical
The vehicle was built for NSS completely in the school shop, including roll cage and paint. “Nothing was done out of house,” said Brandon.
500 cubic inches based on a high deck Chrysler 440 wedge iron block / Mopar Performance Max Wedge cylinder heads / uses an original 1964 factory cross-ram intake manifold / Chet Herbert roller cam / Ross pistons, 12:1 compression ratio / Bill Miller aluminum rods / 4.15 stroker crank / Chrysler 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission / Model J converter / 9 ¾ Dana rear member / 4.11 ratio
Performance
For ¼-mile, consistently runs on NSS/B 10.50 index at 125 mph / for 1/8-mile, 6.60 at 104 mph / all-time best, 10.30 at 130 mph
Results/Achievements
MAR Nostalgia Drags Hot Rod class B champion three consecutive years 1995-97 / MAR Manufacturers Cup 1996 champion / NSCA class B champion 1999 / Monster Mopar NSS Nationals, several class wins / “We’ve been in the money rounds but we’re still looking for the big one,” said Brandon.