| |
“240” LARRY OR CHEVYS RULE
Close behind came Larry Gotelli (6.08), whose father-son tuning team
of Pete and Fritz Kaiser was second to none in the horsepower department.
An opening shot of 236.69 mph was bettered by Gotelli’s subsequent
speed of 240.60 - believed to be the fastest number ever recorded by
a front-mounted Chevrolet engine. Rick McGee (6.14), Rance McDaniel
(6.15), points-leader Bill Alexander (6.17), Lance Osborn (6.22), Jack
Harris (6.30), and Kenosha, Wisconsin, commuter Neil Bisciglia (6.31)
rounded out a show that attracted 22 contestants from as far away as
North Carolina, in the case of Roger Lechtenberg (see photo at beginning
of story). Bisciglia’s “soft” last-ditch effort marked
the first time that the popular Cheesehead has been able to put John
Blanchard’s beautiful Uyehara car in the Top Eight. Now that this
talented duo has finally exterminated its new-team bugs, “Nitro
John” is ready to up the horsepower, and “Nitro Neil”
is ready to rock.
 |
| Pro Supercharged low qualifier, Steve Woods |
ALKY HAULERS, PERSONAL BESTS
The same combination of cool air and cold surface that caused the long,
skinny cars to spin their 12-inch spec slicks proved nothing less than
ideal for the methanol-burning Pro Supercharged contingent. Ignoring
intermittent drizzles and dire forecasts, one of the largest qualifying
crowds ever to witness a Sears Point nostalgia show was rewarded with
the swiftest series of runs ever made by these vintage “gassers.”
The second session saw veteran Steve Woods produce unprecedented personal
numbers of 6.87 / 203.43 with the steel-bodied 1948 Ford Prefect that
he started racing in 1962. No less satisfying for Steve was a prior
ride beside the high-tech, swing-arm Stingray of arch-rival Ronnie Nunes:
Woods’ 6.912 / 199.57 and Ron’s near-identical 6.913 / 199.46
added up to the quickest, closest side-by-side performances in class
history.
 |
| Mike Leonard, P / S |
Personal bests were contributed by Howard Anderson’s ‘38
Chevy (6.89); Steve Wood’s ‘53 Studebaker (6.91); Mike Leonard’s
‘68 Chevelle (6.96) and Gary Reinero’s ‘48 Austin (6.96)
(see photo at beginning of story). Brett Williamson (7.04), driving
the Mallicoat brothers’ freshly painted Barracuda, and Rick Souza’s
bubbletop Impala (7.38) filled the final two positions.
 |
| Low qualifier, Bob Murphy |
The quickest and tightest Nostalgia One (7.50 index) program ever saw
Bob Murphy’s Radio Flyer slingshot grab the pole in 7.51 seconds,
then slap a 7.58-7.57 holeshot onto past-points-champion Dave Rosenberg
in the first and only round of eliminations. Another former champ, Brendan
Murry, made news by entering dissimilar slingshots into Nostalgia One
and Top Fuel Eliminators. His first full pass in the new (ex-Alicia
Stirling) Top Fueler saw Murry clock a 6.56 (205.99) that wound up 17th
overall, or first alternate for the consolation program. Had eliminations
been run, Brendan would’ve replaced Gerry Steiner’s piston-burning
fueler in the “B” show - becoming the first racer in memory
to simultaneously race different diggers in two professional Goodguys
categories.
GOODBYE GOODGUYS?
The five-race Goodguys series commences July 29-30 with the fifth -
and final - West Coast Hot Rod Happenin’ at Pomona. Sadly, the
L.A. has elected not to renew the Goodguys’ lease for 2001, reportedly
due to noise concerns. (One wild rumor has it that the Goodguys show
was bumped in favor of an NHRA midsummer national event planned for
Pomona next year - at night!) Watch for complete coverage of this and
every Goodguys event on Drag Racing Online.
|
