Consolidating Classes

Michael Beard · 11-30-2010, 09:59 PM

Yep, 11th in NHRA Div. 1 in 1999, my first full season. Missed the Top 10 by 1 round, if I recall. I didn't get a full slate of races in, as I skipped Lebanon Valley knowing that I wouldn't run the index, and I couldn't return to the Atco make-up date after winning first round (just like this year). Had a semi at Cecil County, and a semi at the Dutch my second race out, in '98.

Looking back on the logbooks now, the car was horrible back then, simply because it wouldn't repeat 60's... we had a 6" tire on it and way too much air. Since we went to the 8" tire and dropped the air pressure, it's become a killer little piece! This year, it won a 7-round bracket race and a Race of Champions, Semi'd at two S/SS Combo races, won the Perfectly Strange Award at Atco, and consistently gone rounds at all the other races. My wife drove it a couple times this year (first time she's EVER raced), and whacked a track champ her very first round of eliminations in her career.

Bill O'Connor was always good for going rounds, as was Mark Poole. Polhill had a great outing at Indy this year! Billy Nees had two or three finals this year bracket racing the Turbo Sunbird (BF/S)

I've got some Mickey Thompson ET Fronts on the way to replace the heavy back tires. Been having a lot of fun tinkering with the car!

GarysZ24 · 12-01-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Yep, 11th in NHRA Div. 1 in 1999, my first full season. Missed the Top 10 by 1 round, if I recall. I didn't get a full slate of races in, as I skipped Lebanon Valley knowing that I wouldn't run the index, and I couldn't return to the Atco make-up date after winning first round (just like this year). Had a semi at Cecil County, and a semi at the Dutch my second race out, in '98.

Looking back on the logbooks now, the car was horrible back then, simply because it wouldn't repeat 60's... we had a 6" tire on it and way too much air. Since we went to the 8" tire and dropped the air pressure, it's become a killer little piece! This year, it won a 7-round bracket race and a Race of Champions, Semi'd at two S/SS Combo races, won the Perfectly Strange Award at Atco, and consistently gone rounds at all the other races. My wife drove it a couple times this year (first time she's EVER raced), and whacked a track champ her very first round of eliminations in her career.

Bill O'Connor was always good for going rounds, as was Mark Poole. Polhill had a great outing at Indy this year! Billy Nees had two or three finals this year bracket racing the Turbo Sunbird (BF/S)

I've got some Mickey Thompson ET Fronts on the way to replace the heavy back tires. Been having a lot of fun tinkering with the car!

That's pretty awesome Michael man, and keeps me energized in knowing that one of us 15-20 fwd stocker racers will reach those levels in the coming years...I know if I get my hands on the dough to pursue such marks as those you've accomplished, much less Marks (lone for fwd'ers) national event win, and that guy who won the divisional the year before, I'm going for it!

I'm rooting for all fwd'ers in 2011, and of course...ME LOL!!!

Michael Beard · 12-01-2010, 04:27 PM

Tim Griffith won a boatload in a Cavalier in IHRA. He split the season between the Cavalier and driving Donna Koopman's giant wagon, and missed the World Championship by a thin margin.

GarysZ24 · 12-01-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Tim Griffith won a boatload in a Cavalier in IHRA. He split the season between the Cavalier and driving Donna Koopman's giant wagon, and missed the World Championship by a thin margin.

Now that's what I like to hear/read Michael...fwd'ers who've made their pressence felt against the norm! Was he racing Cavalier's back in '86? I spoke of this in an old thread from last year...I remember seeing a Cavalier (exactly like mine), but with the original burgundy red paint (that mine used to have), in an ESPN covered IHRA stock final...was that him? Seeing that car was my primary motivation in wanting one for me as a stocker, because every car I've ever had success with racing was against the norm (in one way or another)! If you have any pictures of his car, could you pm them to me, that would be nice to see? Thanks Michael!!!

Michael Beard · 12-01-2010, 07:14 PM

Nope, 2002. He won three Pro-Ams with it. He won so much with it that a bunch of people put up the money to have him torn down. Got tossed for a completely stock, out-of-the-box cylinder head that had a part number that wasn't in the Guide (which was later verified as a correct part # that had just been omitted from the Guide for whatever reason... too little, too late. He owned up as his fault as he should've checked and not taken parts books for granted.) Good 1/8th mile car, never fell out of a tree in the 1/4, hence the wagon rent-a-ride. He later sold it to Terry Dye, who eventually sold it back to him. Tim still bracket races it on rare occasions. Tidbit o' trivia, he was the 2000 NHRA Sportsman ET National Champion, driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee.

GarysZ24 · 12-01-2010, 08:28 PM

Darn, but that's a nice looking car too! Thanks for the cool photo also!!!

art leong · 12-01-2010, 09:25 PM

I think we FWD guys have hijacked this thread enough. I'm starting a new thread.
Please post pics there.
Thanks
Artie

View Poll Results: Opinions on consolidating classes
Combine Sticks and Automatics	33	14.73%
Spread Weight Breaks (i.e., .5 for upper classes, .75 for some, then to 1.00 lb breaks)	22	9.82%
Both of the above	36	16.07%
LEAVE IT ALONE!	133	59.38%
Voters: 224. You may not vote on this poll

11-30-2010, 09:59 PM	#1
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Consolidating Classes Yep, 11th in NHRA Div. 1 in 1999, my first full season. Missed the Top 10 by 1 round, if I recall. I didn't get a full slate of races in, as I skipped Lebanon Valley knowing that I wouldn't run the index, and I couldn't return to the Atco make-up date after winning first round (just like this year). Had a semi at Cecil County, and a semi at the Dutch my second race out, in '98. Looking back on the logbooks now, the car was horrible back then, simply because it wouldn't repeat 60's... we had a 6" tire on it and way too much air. Since we went to the 8" tire and dropped the air pressure, it's become a killer little piece! This year, it won a 7-round bracket race and a Race of Champions, Semi'd at two S/SS Combo races, won the Perfectly Strange Award at Atco, and consistently gone rounds at all the other races. My wife drove it a couple times this year (first time she's EVER raced), and whacked a track champ her very first round of eliminations in her career. Bill O'Connor was always good for going rounds, as was Mark Poole. Polhill had a great outing at Indy this year! Billy Nees had two or three finals this year bracket racing the Turbo Sunbird (BF/S) I've got some Mickey Thompson ET Fronts on the way to replace the heavy back tires. Been having a lot of fun tinkering with the car! __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

12-01-2010, 04:27 PM	#3
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Consolidating Classes Tim Griffith won a boatload in a Cavalier in IHRA. He split the season between the Cavalier and driving Donna Koopman's giant wagon, and missed the World Championship by a thin margin. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

12-01-2010, 07:14 PM	#5
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Consolidating Classes Nope, 2002. He won three Pro-Ams with it. He won so much with it that a bunch of people put up the money to have him torn down. Got tossed for a completely stock, out-of-the-box cylinder head that had a part number that wasn't in the Guide (which was later verified as a correct part # that had just been omitted from the Guide for whatever reason... too little, too late. He owned up as his fault as he should've checked and not taken parts books for granted.) Good 1/8th mile car, never fell out of a tree in the 1/4, hence the wagon rent-a-ride. He later sold it to Terry Dye, who eventually sold it back to him. Tim still bracket races it on rare occasions. Tidbit o' trivia, he was the 2000 NHRA Sportsman ET National Champion, driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

12-01-2010, 08:28 PM	#6
GarysZ24 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tempe, Az. Posts: 1,284 Likes: 950 Liked 256 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Consolidating Classes Darn, but that's a nice looking car too! Thanks for the cool photo also!!! __________________ Gary Hampton '86 Z24,173 V6 CF/S #5824 (#78 in 2021)

12-01-2010, 09:25 PM	#7
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Consolidating Classes I think we FWD guys have hijacked this thread enough. I'm starting a new thread. Please post pics there. Thanks Artie __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

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