Post by Mike Stark on May 11, 2005 7:09:36 GMT -5
Noise, smoke, power, and speed. That was the scene at Wabash Valley Dragway for the first VFN Fiberglass street shootout on May 7th . Several street legal rides descended on the little town of Terre Haute Indiana to duke it out on the 1/8 mile for the claim of top dog. In the end, it was the winners of the three classes that stood tall.
The weather was perfect for racing. Moderate temps and a well prepped VP sprayed track would make for some impressive performances. When first round of qualifying rolled around there was no mistaking that this was going to be a wild show. Promax - Fun Street was the first down the track at the VFN shootout. It places a 6.50 index on all of the cars. While this is considered an entry level class is has some of the most competitive side by side racing of the three. Bill Frye and his beautiful ’57 Chevy qualified number 1 with a 5.54. He was followed closely by John Doswell’s Nova and his 6.62 effort. With ten other cars on the list these two would have their work cut out for them. Several tight rounds led up to the final. We saw Brian Wilson break out in round two with a 6.499, advancing Doug Keen to the semi finals. Jim Landis had trans brake trouble and didn’t activate the tree. In the end it was Doswell and Frye with Doswell keeping his 6.60 in front of Frye's 6.63.
The next class to roll onto the sticky surface of Wabash Valley was M&M Engines - True Street. This class consists of extremely high horsepower cars on stock suspension and ten inch tires. The rule parity is second to none. Round two of eliminations gave us a blower car, a nitrous car, and a naturally aspirated car all within 5 hundredths of a second. Qualifying times were equally impressive. Kevin Neal streaked to the number one spot in his Chevy powered Mustang with a 5.64. Jason Rueckert and his big inch blower car followed closely with a 5.69. Class sponsor, Tim Linder, of M&M Engines gave the next best time with his non power adder car. Tim blasted a 5.87 which was just slightly ahead of Steve Hoch and his Hot Rod Magazine PGD’s contender Corvette. Mike Stark with the only small block, and Brett Heidgerken’s Chevelle rounded out the field. The crew at Wabash really did it’s job prepping the track. Hoch broke an axle, Stark burned up a trans, and Tim Linder rode a bumper dragging 330’ wheelie after having run a 5.54 on motor only. The last two standing were Rueckert and Neal. As they staged Rueckert’s Cutlass bumped out of the beams and was unable to restage. As the green flashed it was all Neal and his Mustang with a 5.58.
Let’s get Phreaky. No that’s not a typo. Our next class is so wild it has to be spelled that way. Harland Sharp - Phreak Street is an outlaw class. Very few rules and very fast cars make it one of the most exciting to watch. Some of the nicest cars in the Midwest rolled through the gates to put on a good show for the crowd. Qualifying brought us some wild passes in the low fives. Rex Wilson had to drive though some tire shake issues which nearly put him into the wall. Rob Keller rode a few big wheel stands in the process. In the end it was Randy Brown and his Chevelle with a 5.35 in as the top qualifier. Matt Madsen was close behind with a 5.38 in his Camaro and all of the other cars were in the fives as well. First round brought Brown and Wilson to the line with Brown on top 5.12 to Wilson‘s 5.16. Madsen beat the Mustang of Matt Burgess and Jason Hart bested Rob Keller in a close match. Three cars in the semis gave Brown a bye and placed old friends Madsen and Hart together. Madsen advanced to the final with Brown who shook the tires in the round before. The two staged and the yellow lights flashed, it was Brown out front with a 5.04 just edging Madsen’s 5.18 at the line.
The VFN shootout is one of the smoothest running event’s of it’s type. The racers and fans agree that it’s a show not to be missed. Thanks to VFN Fiberglass, Harland Sharp, M&M Engines, and Promax Carbs for all their support in making this event a huge success. We’ll see you next month for another exciting episode! Stay on top of all of the action at www.streetshootout.com
The weather was perfect for racing. Moderate temps and a well prepped VP sprayed track would make for some impressive performances. When first round of qualifying rolled around there was no mistaking that this was going to be a wild show. Promax - Fun Street was the first down the track at the VFN shootout. It places a 6.50 index on all of the cars. While this is considered an entry level class is has some of the most competitive side by side racing of the three. Bill Frye and his beautiful ’57 Chevy qualified number 1 with a 5.54. He was followed closely by John Doswell’s Nova and his 6.62 effort. With ten other cars on the list these two would have their work cut out for them. Several tight rounds led up to the final. We saw Brian Wilson break out in round two with a 6.499, advancing Doug Keen to the semi finals. Jim Landis had trans brake trouble and didn’t activate the tree. In the end it was Doswell and Frye with Doswell keeping his 6.60 in front of Frye's 6.63.
The next class to roll onto the sticky surface of Wabash Valley was M&M Engines - True Street. This class consists of extremely high horsepower cars on stock suspension and ten inch tires. The rule parity is second to none. Round two of eliminations gave us a blower car, a nitrous car, and a naturally aspirated car all within 5 hundredths of a second. Qualifying times were equally impressive. Kevin Neal streaked to the number one spot in his Chevy powered Mustang with a 5.64. Jason Rueckert and his big inch blower car followed closely with a 5.69. Class sponsor, Tim Linder, of M&M Engines gave the next best time with his non power adder car. Tim blasted a 5.87 which was just slightly ahead of Steve Hoch and his Hot Rod Magazine PGD’s contender Corvette. Mike Stark with the only small block, and Brett Heidgerken’s Chevelle rounded out the field. The crew at Wabash really did it’s job prepping the track. Hoch broke an axle, Stark burned up a trans, and Tim Linder rode a bumper dragging 330’ wheelie after having run a 5.54 on motor only. The last two standing were Rueckert and Neal. As they staged Rueckert’s Cutlass bumped out of the beams and was unable to restage. As the green flashed it was all Neal and his Mustang with a 5.58.
Let’s get Phreaky. No that’s not a typo. Our next class is so wild it has to be spelled that way. Harland Sharp - Phreak Street is an outlaw class. Very few rules and very fast cars make it one of the most exciting to watch. Some of the nicest cars in the Midwest rolled through the gates to put on a good show for the crowd. Qualifying brought us some wild passes in the low fives. Rex Wilson had to drive though some tire shake issues which nearly put him into the wall. Rob Keller rode a few big wheel stands in the process. In the end it was Randy Brown and his Chevelle with a 5.35 in as the top qualifier. Matt Madsen was close behind with a 5.38 in his Camaro and all of the other cars were in the fives as well. First round brought Brown and Wilson to the line with Brown on top 5.12 to Wilson‘s 5.16. Madsen beat the Mustang of Matt Burgess and Jason Hart bested Rob Keller in a close match. Three cars in the semis gave Brown a bye and placed old friends Madsen and Hart together. Madsen advanced to the final with Brown who shook the tires in the round before. The two staged and the yellow lights flashed, it was Brown out front with a 5.04 just edging Madsen’s 5.18 at the line.
The VFN shootout is one of the smoothest running event’s of it’s type. The racers and fans agree that it’s a show not to be missed. Thanks to VFN Fiberglass, Harland Sharp, M&M Engines, and Promax Carbs for all their support in making this event a huge success. We’ll see you next month for another exciting episode! Stay on top of all of the action at www.streetshootout.com