Re: Royal and Motion
The test [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
Running in A/Stock Formula 2
(N. Y. National Speedway classifica-
tion), our GTO was badly outclassed
by such formidable competitors as
375-hp 396-cube Camaros and 375-hp
Z-16 Chevelles. With friend Joel
Kimmelman handling track relations
( since promoted from friend to pit crew
chief), Joel Rosen twisting the wrencheS
and yours truly doing the driving, the
car did amazingly weIl on its first out-
ing. Royal's driving instructions were
to idle off the line at 1100-1200 rpm
because of the 1500-rpm stall speed
converter and punch it,shifting out be-
fore the hood-mounted tach reached
the 5000-rpm marker .
Temperatures at the track ran in the
60's and the Goodyears pumped to
approximately 30 psi did a respectable
job. The first two runs of the day were
made per Royal instructions and the
time slips read 14.19-no mph, 13.87-
94, and 13.60-107 respectively. AlI
shifts were thrown at 5400 rpm which
seemed to be a little too much, as
valves started floating at about that
point. Two more runs were made
with everything left as is, except that
the engine was torque-loaded on the
line at 1400 rpm and the car driven
out real hard with shifts thrown short
at 5000-5200 rpm. The final two passes
netted us 13.59-no mph and 13.40-
108 time slips, which we thought
was just unreal for a streetstocker
running 3.90 gears and a stock hydraulic
lifter camshaft. By playing it super
sharp on the lights, we managed to put
down a whole flock of machines, in-
cluding a 375-hp Camaro, but eventu-
ally fell prey to a 12.80-second-112
mph Z-16 Chevelle.
We made a few more passes after the
trophy runs but were not able to better
the 13.40-108 time slip. The roughest
part of the day was convincing the
crowds that the car was an auto trans
model and not a manual. The Royal
reworked Turbo-Hydro bangs off pow-
er shifts like a manual box because of
a reworked valve body, increased line
pressures and some super-secret re-
placement parts. It's available from
Royal Pontiac on special order .
AlI runs were made with the air
cleaner assembly in place and with a
fresh set of Champion J-10- Y plugs.
No oil was consumed during the day's
running. The pipes were bolted up to
the Doug headers and we drove 50
miles back home. No trophy, but satis-
faction plus! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]
By M L Schorr.
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