Des Taylor

'87 Mercury Cougar

It's great to see that veteran (only half the age), stalwart racer man Dyno Des Taylor competing in American Super Stock.

He has been contending 1970 Chevy Nova with a 470 ci Jeff Bull big block Chevy, an Als Glide trans braked Powerglide, JW Convertor, a narrowed Ford 9" rearend, Strange shafts and spool with Richmond 4.11 gears, ladderbars with Koni coilover shocks to help get it all to the ground. The chassis retains its original front clip with Moroso front springs and Summit adjustable shocks, it's backhalved with a 12-point CDS rollcage.Following one rather challenging pass, Des has been working on a new pair of underpants, a longer grub screw, camber, caster and kingpin inclination, Ackerman angle and tracking, just as soon as he finds his tape measure. 

That was Des's previous ride, then he got the hot seat for a ride with yet more punch: a Mopar-shaped envelope, although the engine is a Chevy, it was Martin Green's Mopar Murder Plymouth Duster. After that, unable to find sponsorship for the Nova, Des is racing an '87 Cougar. So weird, it's almost cool, Des will be modifying it with a crushed velvet interior and a chainlink steering wheel. We presume.

Picture: 1998 European Finals, Mark Flavell and Des won the 8.90 National Super Comp Championship, at Santa Pod Raceway; Team Flavell & Taylor getting the taste of victory.