Chrysler farewells 'father' of the 426 Hemi
Tom Hoover, the man who developed Chrysler's famous drag-winning V8, has diedThe world of Mopar is in mourning following the death on of 85-year-old Tom Hoover on April 30.
Renowned for the part he played in the development of the 426 CID Hemi V8 for Chrysler in the 1960s, Hoover was a trained physicist who joined Chrysler and requalified as an automotive engineer.
The 426, which notched up 50 years in 2014, was a popular choice for drag racing after it had been banned from oval tracks by NASCAR, and was a stronger engine than the larger 440CID V8. Its first motor sport appearance was at the 1964 Daytona 500, in Richard Petty's
Plymouth. For the engine's first outing, Petty won the race – and lapped the rest of the field.
NASCAR banned the engine the following year, at which point Hoover, in the capacity of Chrysler's racing program coordinator, turned his team's attention to drag racing. The 426 continues to power cars up the quarter mile even today.
"Tom was the true technical engineer driving the details of the original 426 HEMI design, preparing it for the success on the street and in racing to this day," says Bob Lee, who heads powertrain development for FCA in North America and is global coordinator for powertrains. "He was one of the best ever."
Hoover helped establish the Ramchargers, a group of maverick engineers within Chrysler, all sharing a passion for drag racing. His interest in the sport led him to help develop Pro Stock and Funny Car classes.
Hoover also developed a "Hyper Pak" performance option for the 225CID Slant 6 that powered not only American Plymouth Valiants, but also Chrysler Valiants in Australia – right up to the introduction of the VH model in 1972.
His legacy lives on at Chrysler in the form of the Tom Hoover Sportsman Challenge Award, an annual award presented to the driver who wins the most point while driving one of the company's products in the National Hot Rod Association's Sportsman Class.
"Tom Hoover was an exceptional human being and an engineering genius that always wanted to go faster. Today, at Mopar, we continue to live and honor Tom's vision. He'll be missed," says Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar Brand Service, Parts and Customer Care.
Picture of Dodge Charger with 426 Hemi courtesy of Stephen Foskett/Wikimedia Commons
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