John & Sandy Elliot – Chatham, ON

For more than three years, the Sandy Elliot Drag Racing Team was the envy of Super Stock racing in the U.S. and Canada. In 1968, Elliot’s son, John became the first Canadian to win an NHRA Stock Class. In 1970, Barrie Poole (who began working with Sandy in 1965) was the first Canadian to win a National Eliminator title. By 1971, both cars had competed in 17 NHRA Nationals, and made the finals 16 times, in which they won three National titles, snagged two runner-up spots, made 12 semi-finals, and set nine national records. Sandy Elliot earned the title of Super Stock Crew Chief of the Year and was named as Car Craft Magazine’s All Star Drag Racing Team in 1971.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1968
  • John was the first Canadian to win a Stock Class at an NHRA National Meet by winning the A Stock Automatic Class at the 1968 Winter Nationals in Pomona, California. John was also the first Canadian to win a Stock Divisional Title by winning the 1968 NHRA 3 Stock Title
• 1970
  • Barrie became the first Canadian to claim an NHRA National Eliminator title by winning the Super Stock Eliminator at the 1970 Winter Nationals in Pomona, California. He also became the first Canadian to win an NHRA Spring Nationals Eliminator, and the second Canadian to win a National Eliminator (the 1970 Spring nationals Super Stock Eliminator in Dallas, Texas).  He won two Canadian Nationals, one in Sanair, Québec and one in Windsor, Ontario.  Barrie and John were named “Super Stock Drivers of the Year” by Super Stock Magazine
• 1971
  • Barrie won the NHRA Super Stock Eliminator Title at Pomona, California.  Sandy was the first Canadian to be included in Car Craft Magazine’s All Star Racing Team when he was honoured as Super Stock Crew Chief from 1969 to 1971. The team won three NHRA Super Stock Nationals (the first Canadians to win one), was runner-up at two NERA Nationals, made twelve NHRA National semi-finals, won two NHRA Canadian Nationals, participated in two Popular Hot Rod Magazine meets, set nine NHRA National records and led the NHRA Division three points series, three years in a row

• Others who assisted the team
  • Wayne Huber
  • Ralph Wilkins
  • Louis Rivait
  • Doug Houle
  • Bruce Inwood
  • Jim Edmondson
  • John Smith

• February 20th, 1999

The team of “Border Bandits” was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame