Ford Nirvana at the Pennsylvania Dutch Classic
By Joe Grippo
Photography by the author
Of the many categories in sanctioned drag racing, Stock and Super Stock are among the most challenging. Strict rules, by today’s standards, limit modifications making it a real challenge to find performance and quick elapsed times. Going quick in Stock or Super Stock takes an understanding of engine and suspension tuning, and good weather doesn’t hurt either. Perhaps that’s why racers flock to Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania for the NHRA Dutch Classic each fall.
“The Dutch,” as the regulars call it, is part of the NHRA Division 1 National Open series, where sportsman racers are the stars. Being of the blue oval persuasion, of course our attention was drawn to the FoMoCo products in attendance. Naturally, Mustangs were the dominant Ford model on the grounds of the Grove.
No less than three classic Shelby Mustangs were doing battle against all the Camaros and Mopars. All with 428 Cobra Jets and automatics, they were getting it done while dragging the bumper out past the Christmas Tree. What a show! A couple of modern-day Cobra Jets with their supercharged power plants just blistered the quarter-mile in the low 8s at 160-plus mph.
Of course, Fox Body Mustangs were in the house with a Super Stock GT big-block Thunderbird and the gorgeous Mercury Capri of Nick Scardelli. The Ford Class racers are a hardy bunch; this was proven out by some of the longer distance tows to the Dutch. Chris Whitney, a recent west coast transplant to North Carolina, brought his 427 Fairlane, while Lance Line hauled his stick-shift Mustang from Minnesota and Thomas Sundstrom came in from Sweden to run in the notoriously quick conditions at the Dutch Classic. Ford power was everywhere with Windsors, Clevelands, FEs, 385s and Coyotes, too.
By Joe Grippo
Photography by the author
Of the many categories in sanctioned drag racing, Stock and Super Stock are among the most challenging. Strict rules, by today’s standards, limit modifications making it a real challenge to find performance and quick elapsed times. Going quick in Stock or Super Stock takes an understanding of engine and suspension tuning, and good weather doesn’t hurt either. Perhaps that’s why racers flock to Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania for the NHRA Dutch Classic each fall.
“The Dutch,” as the regulars call it, is part of the NHRA Division 1 National Open series, where sportsman racers are the stars. Being of the blue oval persuasion, of course our attention was drawn to the FoMoCo products in attendance. Naturally, Mustangs were the dominant Ford model on the grounds of the Grove.
No less than three classic Shelby Mustangs were doing battle against all the Camaros and Mopars. All with 428 Cobra Jets and automatics, they were getting it done while dragging the bumper out past the Christmas Tree. What a show! A couple of modern-day Cobra Jets with their supercharged power plants just blistered the quarter-mile in the low 8s at 160-plus mph.
Of course, Fox Body Mustangs were in the house with a Super Stock GT big-block Thunderbird and the gorgeous Mercury Capri of Nick Scardelli. The Ford Class racers are a hardy bunch; this was proven out by some of the longer distance tows to the Dutch. Chris Whitney, a recent west coast transplant to North Carolina, brought his 427 Fairlane, while Lance Line hauled his stick-shift Mustang from Minnesota and Thomas Sundstrom came in from Sweden to run in the notoriously quick conditions at the Dutch Classic. Ford power was everywhere with Windsors, Clevelands, FEs, 385s and Coyotes, too.
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