Magazine Articles about my Dad, Chuck Finders and the cars he Raced Built and Owned.

This sections is all about the history of race cars Dad built, raced and or modified (His and his customers)... these articles cover a period of time from 1962 through 2012. Articles are still being published that include many of some "Famous" Chuck Finders Race Cars & some "Not" so famous cars... This is just the "Trade Rag History" of these cars! Hope you enjoy this section as covered by Photographers and Writers of the day.

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As Stated above this is just a magazine collection of the "History" if you will, of cars raced built and modified by my dad. These articles give a snap shot directly into the day when these guys raced and show how these cars really looked ran and evolved.

Single click on the "Thumbnail" then single click on the picture when it opens for an increased view of the page.

March, 2012... Feature spread on my Dad Chuck Finders.

This Feature Article was a great Honor to see, a friend told me about this series done once a year, so I decided to submit photo's and Information about my dad and thought "What the heck", lets see what Happens?

This is the article that was published, To say the least I was shocked to see this much This was Pretty Cool!

September, 2010... Hot Rod Deluxe Article.

This article tells the Story of the "Gasser Wars", A-Lot of guys are covered in these ad's you can definitely see the Trash Talking going on, It was just a part of the times.

March 2003... Drag Racer Magazine feature Article on the "Outlaw Gasser Circuit".

November, 1968... Another Feature spread on a car Built by Chuck Finders.

This Magazine Features "Three" Cars Built by Chuck Finders, When I can confirm the third one I will share it, but the Cover Car the Mike Mitchell "Hippie Car" was also a car built by Chuck Finders.

The Ron Bizio Truck Originally built by my dad "Chuck Finders Race Cars" I met Steve Pluger aka S&R Race Cars as the article states as the Builder of this truck (More than one person worked on this truck through the years) at the 2011 March Meet. A Hero of mine but we really didn't get a chance to talk about this truck, he even stopped mid sentence and said "Isn't your Mom's name Carolynn" We laughed because he obviously remembered her and then he said "you were only this tall when I saw you last" "1966" I was just a Kid. That was Pretty Cool!

May, 1967... The 2nd Bloomin Bullet Atricle!

New article’s (well old one's) pop up from time to time as I am doing research on a car’s built by my dad. I think of this as knida funny, when I discovered this car and asked my dad about it He did not even remember it! (I asked him about it around 4 years ago). My dad's Love affair with the Willys was always first in his mind; it was really more like an addiction! I know his first love was a 33 Willys, then an Anglia, a Topolino, and then a Panel Wagon. "You Know Kind of like Blonde’s Brunette's and Red Heads". He Loved them all.

April, 1967... Bloomin Bullet Atricle

Here is a Second article on a Car built By Chuck Finders in the same April 67 magazine. Debueted at Lions in Jan of 67, Starnge thing though, It's Not a Willys... Chuck worked on other cars besides his favorite Car, this car was built around the same time frame as KS Pittmans second 33 Willys.

April, 1967... Fantasia Article

The story here to me is rather comical, Some guys trying something new and innovative and it does not work, if you undrstand "Bump Steer" it's even more interesting, I can't imagine running a car that consistentely did what it was designed to do, and not changing it after the first run to something convntional that worked, "Two Thumbs up to these innovators for trying".

February, 1967... Cal Automotive Body Molds

The First 1933 Willys Fiberglass Body, By Cal Automotive. My dad ended up buying these Molds and continued building bodies on into the 90's the Molds were then ruined by an un-experienced guy who stole the molds from my dad, I saw them in 1996 and was trying to get possession of the molds but they were completely ruined, My dad got so discouraged he Stopped building cars for a while!

September, 1965... Another Feature spread on a car that belonged to my dad.

My Dad made a "Hand Shake" deal on this car and, nicely put the deal wasn't honored. My dad lost his interest in this car!

August, 1965... First Customer Car Photographed.

This is the "First Color" of the Hamberis & Mitchell 33 Willys coupe, this was taken somewhere after the 65 Winternationals, Ted Brown's name is below my dad's.

June, 1965... 1965 Winternationals Coverage

Shot on Sunday's Final Elimination's rounds.

March, 1965... This is the Centerfold for the March Issue of Drag Racing Magazine.

I guess, this must have been my birthday present when I turned 5 in March of 65. This is the first photo of one of my dads cars I remember as a kid.

February, 1965... Hawaii Trip

In December of 64, Chuck was taken to Hawaii with the Altizer Finders Kibler "Traveler" for an exhibition event to promote Drag Racing on the Island.

February, 1965... This ad ran for a few months and was in a few different magazines put out by B&M Automotive.

The Gasser Wars!

My dad was in the thick of it as well, this I would say is the most Recognized ad... although he was in several different ads I would say this one and a KS Pittman ad comparing my dad and KS against each other were probably my dads favorite ones. I remember he pulled this one out of a wallet once back about 10 years ago, and unfolded it, and showed it to me, I'm guessing he carried it because it was a notable ad, "Dad beating SWC with his car a formerly painted to match SWC car" the Original "Dark Horse" and all the hype of the time, It proved his little Willys did Set and Hold both ends of the record for some time!

January, 1965... A Repeat Victory for Chuck Finders. (1964 NHRA Grand Finale West Cost at Half Moon Bay)

More National Exposure and an article on the 64 Season year end Grand Finale in the East and the West, This Car just looks plain Beautiful no matter what photo I see of it, It's like a Playboy centerfold no matter how you look at this car it's always "Photogenic" This is the first photo opportunity after the "Dark horse" is painted in the "Traveler" colors!

July, 1964... Small shot of the SWC and Chuck Finders "Dark Horse" Willys, there were a few side shots like this one.

The Original "Dark Horse" 33 Coupe and an article on the UDRA's first Major meet at Lions Drag Strip. This article also covers the Final Meeting to end all discussion on who was King of the strip during the A/G wars! This is the meeting between Big John Mazmanian and Stone Woods Cook. I still think it's pretty Cool... "My Dad gets Magazine coverage as well"

March 29, 1964... This Cover shot in National Dragster shows a shot at "Lions Drag Strip" the article talks about "Tim Woods" converting over to Hemi Power. This is I think, is the first "Full Page cover shot" of one of my Dad's cars.

This story supports some of the History of the various "Partnerships" between my dad and different teams. He partnered with SWC to help meet "Booking" commitments while they were working out the bugs with the Hemi Power. The Photo is actually my Dad's car with the "Olds" Engine in it that Tim is referring to as "OutDated"! Apparently both cars were at the races that weekend but the Original "Dark Horse" 33 Coupe made the cover. Cool!

December, 1963... Another Victory for Chuck Finders. (1963 NHRA Grand Finale West Coast at Half Moon Bay)

This Article covers the 1963 Grand Finale Drags held across the country. A new Speed Record is set by Chuck Finders and another Event Win in A/G. New HHRA Record MPH 129.87

May, 1963... A second Magazine Photo Op. from the 1963 Winternationals

Just more exposure and national coverage, 1963 Winternationals.

May, 1963... With building more cars comes more opportunity's for Magazine coverage.

Included in the May Car Craft Magazine, is coverage of the 1963 Winternationals. This is another sample of the history of "Partnerships" between my dad and different racers. He partnered with Dwight Watson and Bob Casper and fielded this Cobalt Blue 39 Willys Truck at the 1963 Winternationals.

Sept, 1962... Dad made the front cover of "Car Craft" Magazine in the Hirshfield Automotive 35 Willys Coupe. (a small shot, but hey it's a cover non the less).