SCSS STREET CAR SHOOTOUT RESULTS - 7/5/2005

W: Derrick Roeslein, Fenton, MO; 2002 346 Camaro, 0.071, 11.037/121.96

RU: Brian Jones, Springfield, IL; 1992 351 Mustang, 0.222, 11.999/124.29

One week after his well-known pewter 2002 Z28 appeared in its fourth final round, Derrick Roeslein scored his second career win in the SCSS Street Car Shootout Series title at Gateway International Raceway. In an event filled with bizarre twists and rampant breakage, Roeslein capped the evening with a timeslip even more important than the SCSS trophy.

The weather finally cooperated with decent conditions which, coupled with great traction, allowed several personal-best performances and no less than 10 first-time qualifiers. The corrected elevation during the program ranged from 2400 feet above sea level at the start of timed trials to only 1450 feet during the final rounds. The track surface temperature was actually 15 degrees warmer than the 73-degree air temps at the end of the race.

Roeslein's 346-cubic inch Camaro had been pursuing a 10-second timeslip throughout the 2005 season after a best of 11.28/119 during 2004. More than a dozen runs under 11.1 seconds in recent weeks culminated in a string of low 11.0s, (and two 11.03s), when the Fenton, MO, racer used last Friday night's Wise Speed Shop Challenge series expressly to hit the 10-second zone. When Roeslein's first timed trial resulted in an 11.10/120.60 in the worst atmospheric conditions of the meet, it seemed that the 10s might finally be attainable.

The 13th event of the 2005 SCSS series was filled with surprises, however. The quickest run of timed trials went to SCSS veteran Bill Scholl's wild 1966 AC Cobra roadster with a 10.73/123.84 effort. However, most Tuesday night regulars are aware that Scholl's job requires him to leave the track before 9:00 PM which keeps the St. Louisan from being a factor in the actual championship match.

The earliest qualifying leader was Springfield, IL, driver Brian Jones, whose virtually silent twin-turbocharged 351 Mustang hit a tire-spinning runs of 11.95/122.28, 11.83/121.86 and 11.70/122.51 within the first 16 minutes of the official session. Fireman Greg Boschert's white '66 Mustang then hit 11.49 at 122.02 mph to steal the lead, followed by a tremendous 10.95/124.13 by Tim Ryan's Decatur, IL, '67 Camaro. Jones returned to clock an 11.33/124.80 with his turbo Ford, but Roeslein took over the second slot, (based on School's impending departure), with an 11.05/121.26. Only three minutes after Roeslein's pass, 2004 SCSS event winner Lance Dudley pulled to the starting line with his revamped small block-powered '71 Chevelle and ended the qualifying argument with a great 10.37 at 126.80 mph. That run also proved to be the beginning of the most confusing SCSS race ever.

"I felt it nose-over a bit before the finish line," noted Dudley after his blue Chevy's first run, "and I knew the 126-mph speed was way down from normal. I checked the plugs after the run and found one with the electrode completely burned off and I knew I was done for the night. Most likely, it burned a piston when I sprayed it." After that, Dudley resigned himself to crewmember duties in attempting to get friend Rick Brewer's '80 Malibu qualified in the Super 16 field.

Only a few minutes later, Tim Ryan's Camaro ended up sideways in the water box when the Line-Loc froze the left front brake caliper, requiring most of the GIR starting line crew to remove it from the burnout area. Next, Kevin Kolkmeyer's event-winning 2002 Z28 destroyed its rear end upon launching, followed by New Yorker Steven Bilken (driving local friend Mark McMahan's 1970 Corvette) experiencing a major electrical disaster on a burnout. At one point, all three cars were parked around the burnout box in various stages of inspection or repair!