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1965 Plymouth Barracuda — Goldfish

December 2014 Mopar of the Month

We first featured the story of the restoration of Goldfish in July 2007.

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, unrestored fender

We now encore with a congratulatory revisit.

Follow along below about the travels of Goldfish during the 2014 car show season!


Bruce writes: the 2014 Goldfish campaign was very successful. 1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH and Bruce Lindstrom

The first Goldfish event of 2014 was the Atwood Early Rod Run in Atwood, Kansas on May 16-18. The car won the “Coors Business Sponsorship Award.” The significance of this show was that I was given the car by Bill Beamgard from Atwood in 1999. [Editor’s Note: See 2007 link, above.]

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH in Atwood, Kansas

Next, I took the Barracuda to the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, July 11-13, 2014, where the Plymouth won a “Celebrity Choice Award.”. (Many thanks to Ed Buczeskie, Carlisle Event Manager, for his extraordinary assistance in making the Carlisle trip enjoyable, logistics wise!)

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH Celebrity Choice Award Plaque in Carlisle 1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH at Carlisle

At Carlisle, all of us1 Golden Commandos were “Celebrity Judges” and we all got to speak, along with all the Ramchargers at the unveiling of the 2015 Challenger Hellcat and the 50th Anniversary of the Hemi and the Barracuda, and 100th Anniversary of Dodge birthday celebration. We also got to speak at a few Seminars. The Plymouth was located in a covered tent area where we all got to sign a few autographs.

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, signature signing in Carllisle

Also at Carlisle, Geoff Stunkard and Tim Costello both did photoshoots of the car for future publication. [Editor’s Note: See below.]

On the way home from Carlisle I decided to stop by Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis to get a few pictures where the Goldfish won it all back in 1965. When I stopped out front to see if I could get a few pictures under the sign out front, Randy Simpson (Track Manager) and Bruce, a Track Inspector, would have none of that.

They allowed me into the park to untrailer the car and drive up the starting line to take some great pics. It was so awesome to sit in this car on this track. I hope to return in 2015 for the U.S. National’s 50th anniversary of the Barracuda’s F/S Championship and E.T. Record.

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, in Indianapolis Lucas Oil Raceway
1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, in Indianapolis Lucas Oil Raceway   1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, in Indianapolis Lucas Oil Raceway

The following weekend I was at home for the Kearney Cruise Nights July 19-20 and the Drag Races. I got to drive the Plymouth on a 1/4 mile track for the first time ever and for the Barracuda it had been over 45 years. (Thanks to Al at Kearney Raceway Park.) I was able to pull the Barracuda’s front wheels off the ground but my quickest time was 14.239, not as good as I had hoped: but I am still learning how to drive this car.

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, in the MONA, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney ,Nebraska; the lot is reserved for dragsters during the Kearney Cruise Nights car Show and shine. 1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, at KRP
A Cartech Book by Doug Boyce titled Quarter Mile Warriors, Then and Now was released on August 15, 2014. The book has a feature on the Goldfish. Quarter Mile Warriors, Then and Now Goldfish thumbnail fair use Quarter Mile Warriors, Then and Now book cover

August 13-18 found us in Detroit for the Woodward Dream Cruise. I was fortunate enough to stay with Troy Simonsen and Cec Simonsen,(the original engine builder for the car). We did some community church work while I was there and we got to work on the Plymouth to get it ready for the dragstrip on Sunday. on Thursday Troy and I were interviewed by Chris for the Romeo Observer Newspaper. The front page article came out the next week. We went to Woodward Avenue and I got to drive the Barracuda in the cruise. Amazing! Over a million people were there Saturday.

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, at 2014 Woodward dream cruise

On Sunday we took the car to the UBLY Dragstrip where the Commandos first ran their cars in 1962. Kevin and Dennis Janowiak, the father and son that run the family-owned track, treated us great and both Troy and I drove the car. We ran 7-8 runs and it was great to see Troy drive the Plymouth again; (he drove the Mopar before John Dallafior did when they first ran the Plymouth).

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, at UBLY

The following weekend I took the Plymouth to where my sons live for the Gas Capitol Rod Run and Show in Hugoton, Kansas. We got to drive around town and had a great car club cookout after the show. The Plymouth won the “Longest Distance Award” and $200.

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, at Gas Capitol Rod Run

In November, the Tim Costello photoshoot in Carlise came together with an interview I gave to Mopar Collector’s Guide.
The Mopar is on the front cover of the November, 2014 issue.

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, on cover of Mopar Collector’s Guide

Special thanks to Ken Dallafior (son of the original Goldfishdriver John Dallafior) and all the Golden Commandos; Bruce’s Auto Body for wiring, interior, bodywork and paint; Chris Miller Signs for the graphics; Bruce’s transmissions and Roper’s Radiators, all of Kearney, Nebraska for all the help in making this restoration possible.

Thank you for including me on your website.

I have had great year with a great car and am looking forward to more exciting adventures and trips in 2015. I can’t express in words how fortunate I was to have come across this car and how I am truly blessed to have been given this mission with this Historic drag race car.

1965 Plymouth Barracuda, GOLDFISH, on drag strip
Ready for next year!

Contact Bruce: contact Bruce

NOTE: Bruce is seeking sponsors to help with financing his 2015 campaign. Any help is appreciated!
Goldfish Golden Commando shirts and hats are also available.


Thanks Bruce!

Thanks for getting a piece of Mopar history back on the road for people to enjoy!
And, of course, for having fun with the Barracuda at the same time.  smile!

Gary H.

1 [Editor’s note re: “At Carlisle, all of us Golden Commandos...” The remaining members of the Golden Commandos voted to make Bruce a member of the Golden Commandos team. They appreciated Bruce’s comradeship and the passion and devotion Bruce brought to the Barracuda’s restoration and display.]


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