OLD RACE CARS ARE FAN FAVORITES

Words and photos by Ian Tocher

Whenever the Hillside Oil Pro Nostalgia racers come to the line at an NMCA/NSCA Super Series Power Festival, all attention turns to the track. There's just something about witnessing a pair of nearly two-ton classics square off that invokes memories -- even for people who didn't see them the first time around. And with an eight-second run within reach, they're no slouches in the quarter-mile. Simply put, these cars haul ass!

Paul Adams, a trucking company owner from Barboursville, WV, was the 1994-96-97 NMCA Pro Nostalgia champion. His 1966 flamed Fairlane has been a race car since 1969.

At the recently completed NMCA/NSCA event at Atlanta Dragway, three-time former class champion Paul Adams explained the class is based on the old NHRA Super Stock series. The current division, he said, is limited to pre-1969 bodies and the car must be equipped with a big-block engine based on an originally available powerplant for the particular model.

For instance, all pre-65 Chevys carry a 409 derivative, with the FE 427 the base engine for most Ford products, while the 426 Hemi is the engine of choice for most Mopar entries. All engines can be bored and stroked, but since the class is based on a cubic inches vs. weight rule, more cubes equals more weight. Also, the original big-block rule excludes most of the early "pony cars" from the class, such as Mustangs and Camaros, Adams added. Furthermore, no blowers, turbos, or nitrous assists are allowed, and driver aids are limited to a two-step and a line-lock.

In Atlanta, Adams won the Pro Nostalgia final from the postponed season opener in Florida with a holeshot over Jim McKenzie. He posted a 9.176 secs at 146.59-mph pass, while McKenzie went quicker and faster at 9.165 secs and 148.04 mph. Adams made it to the final round again the next day for the Atlanta portion of the event, but his 9.141/146.59 combo fell to a stellar 9.056-secs effort at 147.07 mph by Brian Booze.

Looks more like 1962 than 2002! Brian Booze (near lane) won the last two Pro Nostalgia season championships with this 1962 Galaxie 500. He picked up his first win of the 2002 season with "Pale Rider" on Mar. 17, at Atlanta Dragway.

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