Mike and Linda Moehnke's 1966 Chevelle SS 396 -- I purchased a 1955 Chevy hardtop shortly after I got out of high school (1962). I had always wanted a '55 or '56 and finally got one. When the Chevelle was introduced in 1964, I looked at them and decided "That was the car for me!!!!" I was attending Oregon State University though, and didn't have money to buy a new car, so I had to get by with the 55. I got married in the spring of 1965, and that fall the SS 396 was in the showrooms. I drove on and fell in love again. My wife and I agreed that we would cut back other places and order one. I looked through the "option" book and ordered what I thought I needed and could afford, and about six weeks later, took delivery on December 10, 1965. If I had known then what I know now, I would have ordered more options and found some way to pay for them. As it was, I ordered the baby 396 with 325 horsepower, 4-speed, 331 posi, bucket seats, console, push-button radio with rear speaker, and the heavy duty suspension package. $2912, including license and title fees!!! This was our driver and we did enjoy it a lot. While in high school, I drove a 1950 Chevy "fastback." My school was in a rural area with not much traffic and many of us would drag race during our lunch period and after school. There were a couple of quarter-mile strips marked off on the highways. I always enjoyed that even though the car was not fast at all. So, of course, I had to see how good the SS would do in the quarter. First time to a race was at McMinnville Drag Strip. The car ran a low 15 second elapsed time at around 92 mph. Of course I got beat eventually, but the car that beat me won the class. I figured I could do better so I went again the next week at Woodburn Drag Strip. I won that time!!! I was hooked big time. We raced almost every weekend during that summer and the next summer as well. We raced in a class called "pure stock." No modifications. Lots of fun!!! After much "tuning" and learning how to drive the car, it ran a best 13.87 at 102.85 mph. After the 1967 season, I decided I wanted to go faster so I pulled the engine, did some head work, added headers, 4:56 gears and slicks. Lots more work, had to tow the car to the track, change tires, remove the tow bar, and then reverse the process to go home. The car ran little faster but not a lot. Best of 13.62 at 104.2 mph. Not much faster than pure stock but lots more exciting, 7 psi in the rear tires and open exhaust. WOW!!! Soon started having kids and the car got parked. It has lived in a garage all of its life so that was a good thing. In 1973, I moved to a new house where it now gets to live in a heated garage. In 1983 for my 40th birthday, we got it out of mothballs and went to Woodburn for the "Oldies but Goodies" race. I won my class!! Imagine the excitement. Since then it has been out occasionally for car shows, a pass down the strip once in a whole, or just for a drive. The car only has about 45,000 miles on it and has the original paint and interior. During 2006, I decided to get rid of the 4:56 gears and fender well headers to make it a little more street worthy for cruise-ins, and car shows. I removed the engine, did more headwork, new cam, headers, and some taller gears. Hope to see you either on the road or at the shows. -- Mike and Linda Moehnke