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First impression after two sessions of qualifying was that these 11 participants looked tough. I mean tough as in Ron Muenks’ cruel-looking unlettered black rider (ala “The Lord of the Rings”) ’59 Corvette, which logged the low qualifying number of 4.216, 172.36. Tough as in Aaron Hodges’ second-best 4.243, 173.58 in the comparatively speaking hot Hodges & Olson ’63 Corvette which came after rendering one of his back up guys to hood ornament status after a particularly wild opening burnout.

After that, eight more felonious looking rides on down to the fairly less frightening “bubble” qualifier of Dan Wilson in his kinda Sheldon Gecker-looking ’79 Dodge Charger at 4.923, 143.02.

The eliminations were all right. Two singles developed in the opening round when Muenks drew a 4.222 bye and Jason Hamstra’s 4.257 in a ’63 Corvette proved unneeded when Randy Eakins Mustang broke, but things did improve. The highlight of the frame was registered by the crew-chasing Wilson, who set low ET and top speed of the meet in a 4.194, 174.30 to 5.02, 139.72 spanking of Wilson.