NMRAPaul
08-12-2006, 08:43 PM
By Jason and Paul
Getting to the track at 9am and finishing the last round of qualifying just before 11pm makes for a very long day, but the payoff for today’s late start was some very good air and fast ET’s. Here’s what was going on behind the numbers:
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satzoop.jpgToday’s “Reach for the Sky” award goes to ProCharger EFI Renegade racer Zoop Zellonis, who hung ‘em high in the second round when his front suspension limiters broke and let the car transfer just a little more weight than he’d normally prefer.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/sathanlon.jpgThe fastest-ever qualified field in NMRA Edelbrock Hot Street assembled on the dragstrip here at Atco Raceway. Bob Hanlon, running his 363-inch stick-equipped combination, topped the ladder with an insane 8.80 at 152.92 mph. With six of nine qualifiers in the eight-second zone, and all nine qualifiers running faster than 9.11, everybody was going for broke in the final session except Mike Curcio, who hosed a lifter in his engine in the first session. Look out tomorrow for the cream to rise to the top!
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satjim.jpgWe’re not sure exactly what Jim from Modified Mustangs was trying to accomplish here, and frankly, by this point we have learned not to ask.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satpowell.jpgSSO cars shed blower belts all the time, but we usually don’t capture it as it happens, as we did here with A.J. Powell.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satwilson.jpgThe sale and acquisition of Gene Hindman’s former championship-winning Tremec Pure Street combination is complete. Jimmy Wilson had purchased the drivetrain prior to the 2006 season, but as the season wore on, found that the chassis he had installed it into was not working properly. After some negotiation, and some late nights thrashing to swap everything over, Florida resident Wilson purchased Hindman’s chassis as well. Wilson is currently qualified seventh here in Atco with a 10.65 at 127 mph.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satscrewdriver.jpgFrom the “things that fall out of racecars” folder comes this screwdriver, modeled by our own Jason Reiss.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satbanana.jpgSpeaking of Reiss, for the very first time ever, an NMRA staffer’s project vehicle has made a pass down the quarter mile in an NMRA class. The Bionic Banana, Jason’s long-suffering 2V 4.6 ‘99 GT, is being driven this weekend in Vortech Modular Muscle by tuner Matt Hill. As the class is not a heads-up class, but run in an Open Comp format, Hill has elected to leave the street tune in the car. The Banana’s slushbox is usually shifted at 7000 RPM in the quest for better ET’s, but Hill has it set up this weekend to shift at only 6200, slowing down the ET but hopefully prolonging the longevity of the stock 2V short-block. Hill finished qualifying in the 14th spot in a 23-car field. Reiss says, “I’ll be happy if he makes it through the weekend and doesn’t break anything.”
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satfrog.jpgOn the property this weekend is none other than former Hot Street star Ed “The Flyin’ Frog” Kowalczyk. Frog is helping out Anthony DiSomma in Pro 5.0, and is in the process of building a brand new car. Coast Chassis in Jamesburg, New Jersey is responsible for the creation, and Frog is planning to run both Outlaw 10.5 and select Pro 5.0 races once it is complete.
That’s it for today’s Bits from the Pits. We’re gonna finish getting packed up here for the night and head back to the barn, but we’ll be back tomorrow bright and early for Eliminations Day here at Atco.
Getting to the track at 9am and finishing the last round of qualifying just before 11pm makes for a very long day, but the payoff for today’s late start was some very good air and fast ET’s. Here’s what was going on behind the numbers:
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satzoop.jpgToday’s “Reach for the Sky” award goes to ProCharger EFI Renegade racer Zoop Zellonis, who hung ‘em high in the second round when his front suspension limiters broke and let the car transfer just a little more weight than he’d normally prefer.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/sathanlon.jpgThe fastest-ever qualified field in NMRA Edelbrock Hot Street assembled on the dragstrip here at Atco Raceway. Bob Hanlon, running his 363-inch stick-equipped combination, topped the ladder with an insane 8.80 at 152.92 mph. With six of nine qualifiers in the eight-second zone, and all nine qualifiers running faster than 9.11, everybody was going for broke in the final session except Mike Curcio, who hosed a lifter in his engine in the first session. Look out tomorrow for the cream to rise to the top!
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satjim.jpgWe’re not sure exactly what Jim from Modified Mustangs was trying to accomplish here, and frankly, by this point we have learned not to ask.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satpowell.jpgSSO cars shed blower belts all the time, but we usually don’t capture it as it happens, as we did here with A.J. Powell.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satwilson.jpgThe sale and acquisition of Gene Hindman’s former championship-winning Tremec Pure Street combination is complete. Jimmy Wilson had purchased the drivetrain prior to the 2006 season, but as the season wore on, found that the chassis he had installed it into was not working properly. After some negotiation, and some late nights thrashing to swap everything over, Florida resident Wilson purchased Hindman’s chassis as well. Wilson is currently qualified seventh here in Atco with a 10.65 at 127 mph.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satscrewdriver.jpgFrom the “things that fall out of racecars” folder comes this screwdriver, modeled by our own Jason Reiss.
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satbanana.jpgSpeaking of Reiss, for the very first time ever, an NMRA staffer’s project vehicle has made a pass down the quarter mile in an NMRA class. The Bionic Banana, Jason’s long-suffering 2V 4.6 ‘99 GT, is being driven this weekend in Vortech Modular Muscle by tuner Matt Hill. As the class is not a heads-up class, but run in an Open Comp format, Hill has elected to leave the street tune in the car. The Banana’s slushbox is usually shifted at 7000 RPM in the quest for better ET’s, but Hill has it set up this weekend to shift at only 6200, slowing down the ET but hopefully prolonging the longevity of the stock 2V short-block. Hill finished qualifying in the 14th spot in a 23-car field. Reiss says, “I’ll be happy if he makes it through the weekend and doesn’t break anything.”
http://promediapub.com/filehost/files/3/atco/satfrog.jpgOn the property this weekend is none other than former Hot Street star Ed “The Flyin’ Frog” Kowalczyk. Frog is helping out Anthony DiSomma in Pro 5.0, and is in the process of building a brand new car. Coast Chassis in Jamesburg, New Jersey is responsible for the creation, and Frog is planning to run both Outlaw 10.5 and select Pro 5.0 races once it is complete.
That’s it for today’s Bits from the Pits. We’re gonna finish getting packed up here for the night and head back to the barn, but we’ll be back tomorrow bright and early for Eliminations Day here at Atco.