June 5th was the Muscle Car Challenge at Thunder Valley in Noble OK. Haven't raced in years, I was very nervous never having this car on the track and also only owning for a month....and on top of it all - Chevy 350 powered. I entered the Factory Muscle class hoping I could run the 14.00-14.99 index.
We got 2 qualifying runs. My first pass out: 60' time 2.35 and 1/4 14.55@97.6 Stall to 1000 (have an RV converter), shifting at about 5700, shifting into 3rd near the end of the track - Geez. Second pass I tried to stall high as possible (maybe 1600?), screwed up slipping the brakes and rolled through with an .002 light, 2.75 60' and 14.95@98.3mph shifting at 6k (better mph). So, not a great start considering next round is elimination........
First elimination: dialed 14.50 (praying I could run it), 2.34 60', 14.52@98.6mph, shifting at 6k. Great run and I won. Yeah!
Second round: dialed 14.50, 2.34 60', 14.55@98.1mph, won. Pretty consistent!
3rd round: dialed 14.50, I had a .058 light to his .019, 2.34 60' again, ran 14.497@98.2mph to his 14.26 run on a 14.25 dial. Lost but this was one hell of a race. We were nose to nose at the end. So I took 3rd place out of 10 cars in the "factory muscle" class. BTW, this car was a 70 cuda convertible with 360 crate motor and 3.90 gears. Drove the car to OKC from Ennis TX area. Originally, 6pack shaker scoop car (which was offered with the car when he purchased in 1992 for extra $1500 and he declined - dummy). Can we say BIG BUCKS now! Most people thinks he nuts for putting such a high dollar car on the strip and interstate. We had a good talk after the race. Can't wait to race him again.
The thing about my car and the pathetically slow 60' times it that it totally fakes out the other cars. They jump 2-3 car lengths ahead of me out of the hole thinking they got me and that little Chevy is just getting wound up. I would pass them at the end. he he - I kinda like this sneaky car!! Hmmm, thinking about what it might be like to hit 150hp shot of NOS in 2nd gear........
I'm pretty sure if I went from my 28" tires to 26" and installed at least a 2500 rpm converter and got my 60' times into the low 2's, I could get in the 13's. My old 64 GTO with the 4 spd and 400 could run 2.10 60' and that was spinning skinny tires through the 60'. Ran mid 14's in that car too.
Here is the web site for the Muscle car challenge: WWW.TMCCC.ORG
Pretty neat group of people.