Little Hoss becomes Mighty Mouse

[1stGenFan]

Around the mid 1990's, when I found Little Hoss, I spoke with Herb Fox that day. I realized it was possibly the Fred Gibb Chevrolet racecar when discussing the car with Rick Heckler, whom I purchased the car from. Rick advertised the car in the then National Camaro Clubs monthly magazine, which had the story of the #1 ZL1 in it ironically. Rick told me some track friends had been called by someone connected to an Illinois Chevrolet dealer, about 6 weeks previously, asking about his car. That caused me to get out my book authored by John Hooper, titled "The 1969 Camaro Reference Book", published in 1991. I remembered the story of Little Hoss, with color pictures, as I owned another 1967 Z28 at the time, and always thought that whoever found Little Hoss, would be a very fortunate person, if it still existed. I have been enamored with the history of the 1967 Z28 since obtaining my first copy of Jerry MacNeish's book "The Definitive 1967-1968 Camaro Z/28 Fact Book", published in 1990. I called on the car initially with no intention on buying it, but to see if Rick had registered the car with Jerry MacNeish, whom I had previously become acquainted with regarding my 1st 1967 Z28.

After I got off the phone with Rick, I called information, to see if i could get Herb Fox's phone number. He still lived in LaHarpe, and they had his number. I called Herb, introduced myself to him, telling him it was not a prank call, and he agreed to stay on the line with me. Herb Fox had an incredible memory, as when I asked who he sold the car to, he with no hesitation stated, "I sold it to Lloyd Kirchoff". Rick Heckler shared with me the name on the 1968 Illinois title during our initial discussion, it was Lloyd Kirchoff. Herb was excited that his car still was around, and I told him I was going to buy it, which I did as soon as we ended our call, with a quick call back to Rick Heckler. Rick did not want the car, even though I told him about its previous history with Gibb Chevrolet. He thought as long as I was excited about the car, I should be the one to restore it as Little Hoss.

Soon after I called Lloyd Kirchoff, I can't remember how I found him, as he lived in Tennessee, but he was also excited his car was still around. (Remember, this was pre-internet). He shared with me how he had won the 1971 "Stock Eliminator" title at the Spring Nationals at Bristol, and I should share that with Herb Fox, which I did. You see, Fred and Herb had tried to win at Bristol in 1968, but came up short, even though they had set a World Record there. Lloyd shared his story of owning Little Hoss for 10 years, during the time of 1968-1978. He indicated he set 22 additonal World Records with his car, which he named "Mighty Mouse".

He lived in Texas during the mid 1970's, and said the car was one of the top money winning cars in the state of Texas. This was with the original engine, the 302 race prepared for Fred by Dick Harrell, in September 1967. Lloyd had rebuilt the engine several times, and raced in several categories, including with an automatic, and even with a 2-barrel carb! I have attached several pages of news clippings Lloyd shared with me, and photos showing the car when he owned it. He repainted the car in 1975 and removed the vinyl roof. He shared how he was a welder by trade, and had back halved the car around 1973, as that was typical of racecars back in that time period.

Lloyd sold Mighty Mouse in 1978, and sold the car without the engine, as the new buyer was going to install a big block and wanted nothing to do with the 302. Lloyd told me he sold the engine to Ronnie Burrows, in Texas. I was able to reach out to Ronnie who was the owner of a Texas track at the time. We spoke at length about what happened to the engine. When I introduced myself, he said he remembered Lloyd's car, and the engine, as it was quite the competitor at the tracks. Ronnie told me he installed the engine in the ugliest altered at the track, and in the early 1980's blew it up. He destroyed the block, as a broken aluminum rod had gone through the side of the block, and had even broken the crank, going over 10,000 rpm! Lloyd also shared with me how he had sold the crossram intake when he sold the car, to a guy in the New England area for $400, who had placed an ad in the NHRA publication looking for a crossram manifold.

I hope you enjoy this post about what happened to Little Hoss after it was sold by Gibb Chevrolet. It appears most of the clippings are from the early 1970's, they are the only ones shared by Lloyd, I do not know if he is still around, although I did get to meet Rick Heckler when I sold Little Hoss in 2007 at the Mecum Auction event. He was excited to see his old racecar again. When I purchased Little Hoss, it looked exactly as the last picture of this post, few changes were made since 1978. There were 2 owners between Lloyd and Rick, however, I never was able to reach out to them.

[chevyman0429]

Whats the car look like today )

[1stGenFan]

Originally Posted by chevyman0429

Whats the car look like today )

Here is a photo progression of Mighty Mouse returning to Little Hoss, from 1997-2000. The roll bar and back half modifications made by Lloyd were left untouched when I owned the car. I installed an NOS 302 1967 shortblock and GM crossram. I had a hard time deciding on how to restore Little Hoss and chose to restore it as it was when it ended its career with Fred and Helen Gibb. Helen told me it looked as good as when they ran the car, when I unveiled the car in 2000 at the 2nd Fred Gibb Memorial Car Show, in LaHarpe.

Those who were around in the early 2000's watched me run Little Hoss at the Wentsville and St. Louis SuperCar reunions. I was able to run against Ken BarnHart at Wentsville. We both threw fan belts together! I was also able to run at KCIR in 2005 before the track was closed. In 2003 I was invited to the 50th anniversary of the World Series of Drag Racing, held at Cordova. Herb won Stock Eliminator at Cordova in 1968. He said that was his biggest win in Little Hoss. The last picture is from that win. It's hard to believe it has been 30 years since I found Little Hoss.

[copo-2]

In the clipping shown about Lloyd Kirchoff winning the IHRA Spring Nationals. We were there at the same event in Bristol, Tn and pitted next to "Mighty Mouse," not realizing that it was the well known former "Lil Hoss?" This incident lead to an interesting discussion later at the Fred Gibb show in LaHarpe. This is where I was made aware of the connection between Mighty Mouse & Lil Hoss.

Thanks for sharing the life's history of a winning and record setting 67 Z-28 Camaro.

[dykstra]

Too cool! I love stories like this! Thanks again for posting.

[Pro Stock John]

Thanks for sharing, glad the car is still around.

[Hawkeye]

I believe this Camaro is currently under restoration. I believe it will be accurately restored as Little Hoss. I think I was told this at MCACN, but a lot happened at MCACN so don't hold me to it.

[1967Z28]

Lots of great history with the car, Ken. You sent me a large envelope of the history many years back but it is nice of you to share it all here. I do love Royal Plum so I'm excited to hear it is going back to that but the red and black looks nice as well and I understand why you opted to go that direction with it.

[1stGenFan]

Originally Posted by 1967Z28

Lots of great history with the car, Ken. You sent me a large envelope of the history many years back but it is nice of you to share it all here. I do love Royal Plum so I'm excited to hear it is going back to that but the red and black looks nice as well and I understand why you opted to go that direction with it.

I agree, I also just love the 1 year only Royal Plum for the 1967 Camaro line. It was a near impossible decision to make, and I mulled over the decision for months, actually, a couple of years. When I was able to obtain an original GM crossram for the car, (which in 1998 was near impossible) I realized it would need to be painted the Cardinal Red, with black vinyl top as Fred had repainted the car in late 1967. Many do not know, but the car ran with the crossram after the Bristol Spring Nationals in June of 1968 until the end of the season. Jerry MacNeish in kidding, liked to remind me his 1968 Old Reliable ran with a 4 barrel making similar times in the 1/4 as Little Hoss had with a crossram.

I had discussions with Helen Gibb and Herb Fox before making the decision, and they were both pleased with the choice I made in 1999. I always wanted to see Little Hoss as it appeared during its initial race year, but I could only have it one way or the other. It has appeared as it was when it completed its Championship season of 1968. No one questioned the fact Little Hoss ran with a crossram, because Helen gifted me the original shipping documents from Chevrolet for the crossram, (that remain with the car) which was shipped in May of 1968, as well as pictures of the engine compartment. When raced in 1967, it was with the stock 4 barrel intake system, which it will have when the current restoration is completed.

I am sure the current restoration will bring Little Hoss to a state of perfection that I only envisioned when I owned it. I repainted Little Hoss, I did not "restore" it. Dana Mecum's comment to me when he first saw Little Hoss was "It's not restored, and because of that fact, it's certainly the car you claim it to be!" That and all the original paper and documentation from Helen Gibb indeed confirmed it was the one and only Little Hoss. I cannot wait to see the car again when it has its next debut.

[dykstra]

Originally Posted by 1stGenFan

I agree, I also just love the 1 year only Royal Plum for the 1967 Camaro line. It was a near impossible decision to make, and I mulled over the decision for months, actually, a couple of years. When I was able to obtain an original GM crossram for the car, (which in 1998 was near impossible) I realized it would need to be painted the Cardinal Red, with black vinyl top as Fred had repainted the car in late 1967. Many do not know, but the car ran with the crossram after the Bristol Spring Nationals in June of 1968 until the end of the season. Jerry MacNeish in kidding, liked to remind me his 1968 Old Reliable ran with a 4 barrel making similar times in the 1/4 as Little Hoss had with a crossram.

I had discussions with Helen Gibb and Herb Fox before making the decision, and they were both pleased with the choice I made in 1999. I always wanted to see Little Hoss as it appeared during its initial race year, but I could only have it one way or the other. It has appeared as it was when it completed its Championship season of 1968. No one questioned the fact Little Hoss ran with a crossram, because Helen gifted me the original shipping documents from Chevrolet for the crossram, (that remain with the car) which was shipped in May of 1968, as well as pictures of the engine compartment. When raced in 1967, it was with the stock 4 barrel intake system, which it will have when the current restoration is completed.

I am sure the current restoration will bring Little Hoss to a state of perfection that I only envisioned when I owned it. I repainted Little Hoss, I did not "restore" it. Dana Mecum's comment to me when he first saw Little Hoss was "It's not restored, and because of that fact, it's certainly the car you claim it to be!" That and all the original paper and documentation from Helen Gibb indeed confirmed it was the one and only Little Hoss. I cannot wait to see the car again when it has its next debut.

Is that Ray’s COPO Gibb Nova on the right?