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Ontario 1972

Article courtesy of SEMA

Sox & Martin, Hurst & Vaughn
By Drew Hardin



Two of the most significant teams in automotive performance are featured in this 1967 photo. Ronnie Sox (far right) and Buddy Martin (far left) need no introduction to drag racing fans. The pair were a dominant and highly visible force in the Super Stock and Pro Stock ranks during the late '60s and early '70s, thanks to Martin's knack for promotion and Sox's driving skills, which included an uncanny ability to row a four-speed.

Standing next to Martin is George Hurst, whose numerous contributions to our industry range from the shifters bearing his name to the Jaws of Life rescue tool. A year before this photo was taken, Hurst met a young beauty queen named Linda Vaughn (seen here perched delicately on the hood of a GTX). Hurst hired her to represent his company as Miss Hurst Golden Shifter, and in doing so created a larger-than-life icon who remains a vibrant presence in racing and the aftermarket.

This photo was taken at a turning point in the Sox & Martin team’s racing career, when the design of flip-top Funny Cars progressed away from the stock-bodied cars that formed their roots. Chrysler moved the team back to the Super Stock class in 1967 so that their racing successes would better dovetail with the cars for sale in Plymouth showrooms. As part of the promotional effort, Sox & Martin Drag Racing Clinics toured dealerships across the country to offer racing advice to their fans, with Hurst and Vaughn also taking part in the clinics.