Slant six Valiants in the USA also wrote a winning chapter in Mopar speedway history, which many Aussies would be unaware of. When Chrysler, Ford and GM launched new six cylinder ‘compact’ models in the US for the 1960 model year (Valiant, Falcon and Corvair), they created so much interest that NASCAR supremo Bill France invited them to compete in two races during Daytona ‘Speed Week’ in the build-up to the annual Daytona 500 for full-size V8 stock cars. Although Ford and Chevrolet hastily put together some optional performance equipment for the Falcon and Corvair, their combined efforts seemed lame compared to what Chrysler Corp did to ensure its new Valiant would whip everyone at Daytona. It offered a package of performance engine parts called the ‘Hyper-Pak’ option (see engine bay shot below), with its most noticeable feature being a special cast-aluminium inlet manifold with extremely long runners topped by a Carter AFP four-barrel carburettor. It had power - and particularly torque - to burn. The first race was held on Daytona’s infield road course and the new Valiants obliterated the competition, claiming the first seven places in a show of arrogant superiority. In the second race held on the high-speed 4.0-km banked tri-oval, the new Valiants finished 1-2-3 at a cracking average speed of more than 123mph (198 km/h). The Falcons and Corvairs were small dots in Mopar mirrors all day. NASCAR continued to host races for the six-cylinder compacts in 1961, but with Detroit’s focus on full-size Grand National stock car competition, the compact class soon ran out of steam and quietly disappeared from the racing calendar.