SMOKEY YUNICK (Reverse Gear)

Smokey Yunick may well be one of the most important and creative thinkers in NASCAR history by maximizing the the rules that weren't stated in the rulebook.

[Tommy_Mac]

Smokey built a supercharger by building vanes around the clutch assembly, sealed the bellhousing and contoured it to fit tightly to the vanes. By directing the airflow into the firewall plenum that most teams connected the air filter assembly to, he had boost. Evidently the inspectors rarely checked the clutch. BTW- he also came up with using a smaller clutch/flywheel to lower the engine and trans lower in the chassis. Better CG. Smokey tried to get aircraft fuel bladders to be used in place of steel fuel tanks, before Fireball died. NASCAR wouldn't do it. Fireball would not have died, if they had listened. That's why he left NASCAR. All in his book. Smokey was self-taught Engineer, and a GENIUS !

[flyinbrianz]

The fact that Smokey is not in the NASCAR HOF is a travesty! He was an absolute genius. Everything I learned about racing I learned from him. Get politics out of racing and put Smokey in the HOF!!!

[allanpolk]

Smokey use to write articles for Popular Mechanics Magazine back in the day.
One of his articles was how he built a Chevy 302 small block that put out an actual 535 HP
naturally aspirated. That was in 1970, and to get that kind of
true power out of a small block was just unheard of.
He started with a Z28 block and line bored the main journal 10 thousandths to put in a heavier main bearing.
He used 12.5 to 1 TRW shot peened pistons, 1962 Corvette fuel heads, ported and polished. Crane 200 mph
rockers, over sized diameter lift rods, solid lifters. He used a stock 327 crank and rods, and Grant chrome moly rings.
For a cam he used the optional
Z28 cam that had like a .413 lift and 346 degree duration.
INSANE DURATION.
He stated in the article that though the lift was not much the duration made up the difference. He said that he preferred the shorter lift to put less strain on the valve train.
He topped it all off with the then just introduced Weiand dual high ram manifold, two
650cfm Holley double pumpers, a Judson vertex magneto for fire power and Stahl headers.
It’s dyno numbers were 535 HP, 510 ft lbs torque.
Crazy numbers back then without fuel injection.
The engine would rev to 9, 200 RPM and had a power band from 3, 500 to 8, 000.
Crazy numbers on an engine built by a crazy good mechanic.

[lawrenceburchett]

Nice to hear about Smokey. When I got to Daytona in the early 80ts, I lived about 500 yds from his shop .It was by a Publix food store . He was still working on cars at the shop and we used to walk by, and say hello sometimes ask a question, while he was walking his Great Danes. He was a first-rate wrench and a nice man. I was glad to have met him.

[danpatterson]

I'm not sure I'd call Yunick a self-taught engineer, he was something more- a natural whose approach to problem-solving had not been channeled by formal training, who questioned convention and saw opportunity where others did not think to look. A rare individual.

[ronbros]

i knew Smokey as a friend, we talked many times (i lived in DAYTONA at the time), and i know things that never will be revealed!
i'm 87 yrs old now !

[mikeg]

Smokey was truly a genius and defined the words critical thinking

[johnrambo]

So we all need to petition to get Smokey into the hall of fame

[catjudo]

People like Smokey Yunick don't * need * halls of fame to be the real deal. They are already legend based on amazing and substantial deeds alone.

[ronjohnson]

Read Smokey's autobiography. The man was into so much more than racing.

[TIMEtoRIDE]

I met Smokey briefly at the Stock Car Trade Show in Daytona years ago. I asked him if the Fiero was "real" It's on display in Ocala and it made 250 HP on all 4 CYL and got 50 MPG-where a stock Fiero makes less than 100 and maybe 30 MPG.
The 7/8 car was an Oldsmobile. The Chevelle had a twin car built "stock" to compare the profile of the "race car" to, so they were BOTH tweaked. Pure Genius !
You had to run a factory fuel pump, so Smokey built a tiny scoop that funneled pressurized air into the fuel tank, giving the car an extra 2 PSI added to the stock 6 PSI fuel pressure.
An earlier trick was to put the Generator in front of the radiator and have a little propeller spin it at speed. No rule against that.
Also - drilling tiny and well placed holes that squirt a bit of oil on the timing chain, cam gear and the underneath of the pistons. This keeps critical parts cool and well oiled at 8, 200 RPM

[Rooster]

I have always admired people like Smokey. Without them we would still be using horses.
NASCAR, is now nothing but a BIG Billboard for some product.

[ConcussedGaming]

It's not cheating if its not a rule. Number 1 rule in racing.

[stoveboltlvr]

Sounds like he offended the " good ole boys" club. He was way smarter than them and they didn't like that!.

[ryale]

Smokey deserves a kick ass movie based on his life...

[JohnAdams-xcyk]

He was one of the best mechanical engineer there was, he had a complete engine in his shop that was run by a 100 hp electric motor, when he did port work on heads he put them on the motor ran it and then recorded the out put

[jasonbickford]

Smokey was a genius...he didnt cheat he just found loop holes and figured out what was written between the lines!

[terrysweitzer]

I had the privilege of meeting him at his shop in Daytona in March of 1994! I was a young guy at the time, and had a book he had written, and had put his advice to pretty good use!!! I was bold, and somewhat fearless. I actually looked him up in the phone book, called his house, and his wife answered the phone! I asked if this was smokies house, and she affirmed it was! She put him on the phone, and i asked directly if I could meet him! He said that he was home for lunch, but would be back at the shop at 2:00. I was there with bells on!!! He probably spent a half hour talking to me!!!
This left an impression on me that lasts even today! I miss real men who no matter what their stature, took time to engage normal people like we mattered too!!!

His motto was, "if the rule book doesn't say you can't, you have to assume you can"!!!

Thats not cheating!!!

[mysaculik]

Smokey was a “phone friend” of my grandfather before the internet. Amazing guy with amazing stories. I encourage all Smoke fans to read his autobiography as well as listen to Dinner With Racers podcast where his daughter is first driving suit still has a huge Smokey’s Best Damn Garage In Town patch across the back.

[hydroy]

There is something missing in all of this, Mr. Yunick was a very nice guy when you got to know him. When I met him in Daytona at his shop, I had a in, Yep, my 130 pound female Great Dane ( Samatha ) was all OVER him ( Dogs can tell good people ) at his daughters pet store next door to his best damn gauge in town . Smokey sold me a very rare 389 Pontiac Super Duty short block I still have in my 68 Firebird Convertible today. My car with his motor has been kicked out of every drag strip in FLORIDA ! as they don't allow street cars to run 10s in the quarter mile ! with out hacking up the car with ten tons of safely equipment. Thanks Smokey.