The Knafel "Tin Indians" helped shape Pontiac's performance image through a long line of racecars.

Over an 11-year period and a longer string of victories.

As a personal friend of Pontiac General Managers Elliott M. "Pete" Estes and John Z. DeLorean, Bill Knafel was one of a few Pontiac dealers across the country,

chosen to act as a "backdoor outlet" for racing activities.

GM was officially out of racing, but the automaker did help a few select dealers and privateer racers on a "don't tell anyone" basis.

Knafel Pontiac fielded the most successful stock class drag racing effort of the era.

Setting more stock class records than any other General Motors, Ford or Chrysler drag racing team.

Those were the kind of results that a success-oriented enterprise like the "Tin Indians" were capable of.

And the full factory-sponsored teams just couldn't keep up.

After more than a decade of racing successes, the Knafel Pontiac drag racing swan song was the setting of three different AHRA national records.

With Norm "Sonny" Tanner behind the wheel of the '70 "Tin Indian" Judge.

The changing of carburetors (2-barrel, 4-barrel and Tri-Power) between rounds made the Goat legal in three different classes.

Over its one-year career, the Judge competed mostly in AHRA's GT-2 and GT-3, and F2 FA classes.

Its best pass was an 11.61 at 119 mph in GT-2 class trim.

Among other wins on its way to the national championship, it also garnered two major victories.

Including the 1970 Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, and Pro Am Nationals in Rockingham, North Carolina.