The Herberts have not. Chet still operates Herbert Cams on 1935 Manchester
Ave., in Anaheim, and Doug’s thriving parts business is alive and well
in Cherryville, N.C. Doris runs a consumer marketing service out of
her home in Huntington Beach, Calif., where she makes contact with people
who evaluate food and service at restaurants like the El Torito, Johnny
Rockets and others.
"I’m still involved in engineering and design. In 1995, I
designed a four-valve engine based on a 500-cid Cadillac. Put over
two years into it. I took it to the Winston Finals in Pomona and I
think it was Cloy Fitzgerald [NHRA] who saw it and expressed his admiration.
However, Graham Light didn’t approve. He told me that NHRA had changed
the rules on the 5" bore center, that 4.9 was new the limit,
Chevys and Chryslers were both 4.8. I was pretty angry about that,
but I figured, ‘What the hell? I’ll build a new motor.’ It’s a two-valve,
4.9 bore center Ford engine. Right now, Ralph and Spike Gorr are working
with it in a Top Fuel dragster and Billy Williams has got one in his
Alcohol Funny Car."
— Chet Herbert (1999)
"I’m pumped about the new season. Our car has run as quick
as a 4.55 at 320-mph and we’ve got a good crew. Snap-On Tools will
be with us for three more years, so I think that in one of those seasons
we might, I hope, get close to an NHRA World Championship. Of course,
there are a lot of tough guys out there. I may or may not be tough,
but I certainly am determined."
— Doug Herbert
(1999)
"I look back on it all and I think I built something important.
And I think some people agree after all, I and Chet were inducted
into Don Garlits’ Hall of Fame in 1993 and that was very gratifying.
The people behind the scenes like Alberta Pennington, Cheryl Deigal,
Pat Kolb, and others who I’ve forgotten for the moment, were all big
helps in what was a very busy but fun time. Drag racing doesn’t look
as much fun now. The dollars are too big, everybody’s sort of on edge
and take things too seriously. Back when I was in it, I could socialize
and be friends with the Don Garlits’ and Chris Karamesines’. I don’t
know if that kind of camaraderie is there now. I’m older now and really
have no desire to go to the races. It’s all out of my system. I do
however follow some of my old friends, Connie Kalitta, Eddie Hill,
Prudhomme, and, of course, my nephew, Doug."
— Doris Herbert
(1999)
page 5 of 5
Copyright 1999-2001,
Drag Racing Online and Racing Net Source
