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Building an award-winning car is not only time consuming, it is also costly, especially if you don’t have sponsors. However, there are still some individuals out there that make their mark on the auto world without being lavished with free or cheap parts from sponsoring companies. Those are exactly the type of people RideTech likes to recognize with their Renegade Award and the owner of the ‘68 Dart that won the honor this year is certainly deserving of the title.
The Renegade Award is given out by RideTech to an individual who doesn’t necessarily have the best looking or fastest autocross car, but rather has taken the time to educate themselves on how to significantly improve the performance of their vehicle and execute those improvements while remaining “unsponsored.” Renegade Award winners merely play with their cars because they love to, not for huge payouts and thus deserve recognition for their efforts.
Earlier this month, the third ever Renegade Award went to Tommy Wisdom and his DTM Racing-modified ‘68 Dodge Dart named Sally. We first caught word of the car’s build on Pro-Touring.com, where Dan Weishaar of DTM (also the owner of the ‘68 Hotchkis Road Runner), laid out the plans for the car and kept us up to date on the build’s progress.
After giving into the temptation to buy a project car about two years ago, Wisdom tracked down the ’68 Dart with the help of Weishaar.
To start converting the car from a drag racer to the autocross competitor and daily driver Wisdom wanted, Wilwood front binders, a Moser 8.75-inch rear end with locker and an MSD Ignition system were added to the car immediately. A full Hotchkis Total Vehicle System (TVS) suspension system came next, as well as some “Sally” decaling.
With the third annual Run to the Coast (RTTC) event March 10th through the 12th as a goal, DTM Racing pushed to fit the Dart with a new interior with cluster work from Redline Gauge Works, a full manual TF727 Transmission, replated bumpers, some updated wiring and NewGen wheels. The car also got its floor patched, as well as some radiator and fan work done.
Once at the event, Sally made a lasting impression on RideTech, earning Wisdom the Renegade Award. But that’s far from the last thing you’ll see from the sponsor-less Dart.
DTM Racing still has to fit the car with a new rear sway bar since the Hotchkis one didn’t fit properly, and convert the steering over to a 8:1 Quick Ratio setup. After that, Wisdom plans to take the car to many autocross and show events, including Moparty on the Strip in Las Vegas, the Spring NMCA/NMRA Hotchkis Autocross in Fontana, California and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.
Congratulations goes out to Wisdom for his award and to Weishaar for his part in creating the award-winning Dart. We look forward to seeing the car out at events in the near future.
