Live from the Auto Meter Northern Class Nationals II

[Mike Delahanty]

Quick update on the schedule. The main events scheduled for Sunday will be run first today. The combo will follow. Stay tuned for more. Time for Q3 right now.

[Rick Angles]

Stock is in the lanes and ready to start the day... 60 degrees and sunshine.. Forecast is low 80's and sun all day.. Will be a great day..

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by Steve Stasko

Those are short rams. They don't have the valley casting separating the ports all the way to the carb. Only the long rams had that.

Exactly. This was Chrysler's work at ram induction for racing in 1960-61 prior to the familiar one piece ram RB manifold introduced in 1962. The 'Sonoramic" engines were first introduced with 30" intake runners which gave a boost in torque and horsepower between 1800 and 3600 rpm and was effective on the street. The long runners inhibited engine breathing in higher rpm levels much like the Chevy TPI engines experience with their long intake runners, so the manifold were modified to remove the wall between the adjacent ports and reduce the port length to 15". These "short ram" manifolds were used in some 1961 engines and the NHRA tech bulletin for 1961 identifies the difference between the ram manifolds (30" runners) and short ram manifolds (15" runners) in the inductions description. Interestingly, both sets of manifolds were produced with the same casting numbers, so the tech people would have to know the visual difference.

Here is a write up about the history and development of the early ram engines. Long and wordy, but interesting history. http://www.allpar.com/mopar/sonoramic.html

[Michael Beard]

Schedule update: Run order change to STK, N/SS, SS to alleviate congestion at scales/fuel check.

The Main Events will be run to completion today to allow people to get an early start on travel tomorrow. Thank you so much for all those racers and sponsors who put their heart and soul into this event. If there is enough interest, we can run the Combo race after 2nd or 3rd of the main event, and run it concurrent with the Main Event.

[Dwight Southerland]

Jack McCarthy is always whining about being at such a disadvantage in U/SA against "the Cadillac" and others, but it looks like his -1.443 qualifying shot was better than what "the Cadillac" did at Brainerd at -1.414. What's the deal, Jack? Sounds like a Brer Rabbit whine to me. . .


Just sayin'.

[Bob Shaw]

The Cadillac was 1.71 under the IHRA index.

[Mike Delahanty]

It's so cool that old Stockers never die. You D1 veterans will remember Richie DiCola Chevelle that was passed on to "Pittsburgh Jim" Henderson after being raced by Dave McConnell
. This is Jims son Scott who is now driving the car.



Those that I spoke with like idea of getting the racing done today. Hats off to Michael and his Loose Rocker Team for thinking of your customer.

Another one of my Milan Dragway Class Racer colleagues Bill Foder - aka The Crow (note the arms) and also the Professor.

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by Bob Shaw

The Cadillac was 1.71 under the IHRA index.

I know; I was just stirring the pot for a little fun!

[Mike Delahanty]

Who doesn't love 66-67 Novas? There a a number of Stockers here starting with Craig Sauerbaugh's Crate Motor Stick car from western Michigan




Along with his U.S. Nationals Winning Camaro. Dave Walther "plays" with this F/S Nova that is a joy to watch go down the track.



Bill Sempsrott has his 283 Stick Nova here.



And the lone auto Nova belongs to Dick Kincade

[Mike Delahanty]

We are on track to start eliminations between noon and 1:00. I have heard that you can monitor the action on 1320go.