[sdbob]

I remember talking to him afterwards. I knew he was legal. Because that's the way he was,he wanted to be exact in his machine work and assembly. I just was there and talked to Donna very gracious in this time. Still has the copper color 68 and the first RA II 68 Firebird produced. (As far as protesting I always felt that someone that is cheating and gets beat feels the car that beat them must be cheating.) I watched Jim at the track and at his garage.He put the time in to make his car fast.

[gtobird]

Clearly Jim was a class act all the way. He was kind enough to reply to my messages even though I'm way out of his league in the Pontiac world. The world needs more people like him......

Old Joe

[Gach]

I was blown away how he was beating guys in List you put up. In video they did a interview with Jim, I had been out of racing for while. You know..House, wife and kids, just getting back into it. When I heard him say Ram Air 11 heads, I’m like your kidding me. Only because I had a out of box set I had bought from Leader Automotive. He definitely put Pontiac’s back on the map. Guess what I built 400 ci with Ram air 11 heads.

[Tellyshavilli]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

They had preliminary inspections everyone had to pass in order to compete at those events.

However, another part of Mino being such a really big deal - the icing on the cake - on 2 different occasions during those days (Musclecar Drags) he was protested enough that they required tear-down inspections on his engine.
Believe it was required to pull one head and take measurements on head particulars and bore/stroke particulars.

He passed the inspections
426-427-429-440-454-455 boys were all going

Pontiac fans were like - KA-BOOM get u summa that !
Off-hand i can't recall anyone else having to do that in those events during that time period.

He was THE MAN
Built them, drove them, and beat them all
Good Gracious it was just extraordinary

Thanks for the memories Mr.Mino

Worth repeating And here’s a picture of Jim and Truman at MCACN a couple years ago

[Brewster]

Great guy and always enjoyed conversations with him. God bless and prayers to his family and friends.

[Jim Moshier]

So sorry to see this news. May he RIP!

[Ram4king]

"A life well lived " period! R I P sir.

[TCSGTO]

Not only would his cars pass an inspection, he used factory GM parts in his engines. Pistons, rods, cam, valves, valve springs, etc.

I remember him running low,low 12’s @ 110+ back in the 90’s like that, F70-14 redlines and all. Drove the Mopar and Stage 1 guys nuts.

Always a gentleman and class act, even when guys would get obnoxious and accuse him of cheating.

[keith k]

Sad to hear.
I didn't attend any of those muscle car events way back when, but read the stories about them in MCR, etc.
It was always "Which is quicker... Stage 1 or Hemi?", and then Jim and his RAII Bird show up and kicked sand on them. Made me feel a little bit prouder of the "regular" '67 Firebird 400 I drove back in those days.
RIP Jim, and thanks for your many contributions to the Pontiac hobby and legend.

[1970ls5]

Having grown up in Pittsburgh in the late 50's I also remember Jim at P.I.D. in the 60's and years later at Norwalk for the Pontiac event, I loved that he could give up as many as 55 cubic inches and still kick butt!

I put a nice note up on Yellow Bullet about Jim's passing, R.I.P. Jim, you will be missed! Dave

[unruhjonny]

I heard about this on facebook;
Mr Mino was one of two people I had hoped to meet one day...

Actually both of these guys are people I had hoped to meet one day...

[Brad Pringle]

Oh That sucks

Jim always treated me well.

RIP Jim

[John Eiseman]

Another great loss to the Pontiac community. I spoke.with Jim last spring about a Quadrajet rebuild. He said he was too busy with building his own to do another but that he would keep me in mind. Years ago called him and we spoke at length about Ram Air II blocks ,heads and associated parts. He was more than willing to share his knowledge and get me straight on what I had.
Condolences and prayers sent.to his family.

[65madgoat]

In memory of Jim:



https://www.mecum.com/lots/561970/19...rd-ram-air-ii/