Nothing like waiting till the last minute

**altoona** · 10-26-2008, 01:48 PM

I sitting here reading all these posts from people who got new best times in the cool fall air and figured I'd add mine. Way back in the old days I used to go racing every chance I got, but when the local track closed (Peterson) at the end of the '78 season I got out of it.

So 30 years later I started back into it. Can you say rusty driver? I made a total of 140 passes at BSD this season and it didn't start out too pretty. The first pass on the first day back at it netted me a blistering 16.05 @ 85 mph. I was on street tires and got pretty much sideways in each of the first three gears then thought the 1000' mark was the finish line and hit the brakes too early. After getting that out of the way I settled down for a best that day of 13.6 @ 111. When I came home that day I said that I intended to get into the 11's by the end of the season.

Next trip down I had some drag radials on the car and dropped my best time to a 12.7 @ 112 mph. I didn't change much on the car as the year wore on, I think most of my improvement after that was the nut behind the wheel learning to drive better. The times slowly but surely fell. I went to 10 T&T sessions and established a new best every time. On October 5 I ran a 12.09 @ 116 so I could just about smell the 11's from there.

Last Saturday the 18th we headed down to the Beaver for what would be the last time this year. First pass was 12.2, second pass 12.1, and then finally on the third pass 11.957 @ 117.09. I was able to back it up with another 11.9 and several 12.0's. I was so happy! Even I was starting to wonder if I'd be able to hit my goal this year.

I know the car has a lot more in it and the biggest hold up right now is that the suspension is all stone stock, so it doesn't hook very good. I intend to address that issue over the winter so I can set a new goal for myself next year. If I can run consistent mid 11's I'll be happy with that since I really want to concentrate my efforts on bracket racing next year. I figure this year was just practice.

**2001GTTT** · 10-26-2008, 01:50 PM

congrats! that car hauls!

**03 OW SVT** · 10-26-2008, 02:00 PM

Good story and Congrats

I'm shooting for mid 11's now also. I'm hoping to get it next wk. with the cool air

**Troll** · 10-26-2008, 02:15 PM

WOW 140 passes?

Good times.

**White5.0** · 10-26-2008, 04:19 PM

good job! whats done to your car??

**altoona** · 10-26-2008, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

WOW 140 passes?

Good times.

I like to get my money's worth! When I go to the test and tunes I usually make 15 passes before calling it a day. One thing I like about the Beaver is the T&T's are never real crowded and you can run as much as you want.

It was nice to get through the year with no major breakage. I was a little worried about the T5 holding up. I don't power shift it since I know that will kill them, and it worked great all year. Only had one missed shift, when the T-handle came loose.

**altoona** · 10-26-2008, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by White5.0

good job! whats done to your car??

It's a mild 393 with a too small cam and Pro Comp heads which aren't doing me any favors. It's street legal but has been lightened some. It weighs 2950 without me in it. The main thing it needs now is some suspension, as it's all stock. I have the mph for mid 11's, I just need to get it to hook.

I wanted something reliable, with decent power and not have to wind it out too far. Nothing on the motor broke all year and it runs the best times when shifted at 5500, so it does what I wanted. I'm hoping it will last for years of frequent drag strip abuse.

I have a stock T5 and 8.8 with 3.73's, and a full no cat exhaust system.

It's nothing fancy, but I sure do have fun with it.

**White5.0** · 10-26-2008, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by altoona

It's a mild 393 with a too small cam and Pro Comp heads which aren't doing me any favors. It's street legal but has been lightened some. It weighs 2950 without me in it. The main thing it needs now is some suspension, as it's all stock. I have the mph for mid 11's, I just need to get it to hook.

I wanted something reliable, with decent power and not have to wind it out too far. Nothing on the motor broke all year and it runs the best times when shifted at 5500, so it does what I wanted. I'm hoping it will last for years of frequent drag strip abuse.

I have a stock T5 and 8.8 with 3.73's, and a full no cat exhaust system.

It's nothing fancy, but I sure do have fun with it.

sounds like a really fun car you got there. seems like its reliable with all those passes!

**Martin0660** · 10-26-2008, 04:54 PM

Nice to see you got your 11 :D

If your planning rear suspension, look into Baseline suspension and talk to Kevin. Put his street launch upper (or the other if you don't drive much) along with what he recomends for lowers / springs and hang on :D He usually wants ride height adjustable lowers and something like 4 cylinder springs in the rear. On mine I have his uppers, CHE lowers, and Eibach launch springs, real simple and hooks well.

Bob Myers

**no1fordgirl** · 10-26-2008, 10:49 PM

Congratulations, Mike! I know you've had a great year and lots of fun.

**CobraII** · 10-28-2008, 01:12 PM

That's way cool, congratualtions. Nice mph for the ET, that will make it harder for people to judge you up top bracket racing. Good luck with your plans over the winter. If you join BSD's points next year, bracket finals will be at PRP again.