Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race

[Chevy454]

M:

I hope I didn't sound "testy" in any above statements above...it's hard to transmit "tone" on a bulletin board, which makes discussion sometimes tricky. But anyway, like I said above, a '68 is a twin to a '69, so it is a minor "problem" if their are '68s running those "shiny" heads. How did Neal's weekend turn out? I remember watching, but for the life of me, I can't remember if he or Simpson won! I know they pair you up by et's, but wouldn't be cool if they could line you up against a different make, also? Simpson's COPO cars had to run each other last year...he drove all those miles just to race his own car! But, that's part of it I guess.

Also, here is a link to the PSMCDR for future reference: http://www.geocities.com/psmcdr/

As far as the 'Vette issue goes, just stayed tuned...it's on it's way...

[Edited by Chevy454 (09-25-2000 at 12:50 PM).]

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Tom/Rob;
No offense on the L89 discussion, I only know their background because I asked the same questions that you guys are asking! It is a difficult subject, if GM offered L89's in '69 then why couldn't they be offered in '68? This is the problem that confronts the race organizers, how do they separate these kinds of cars from the pack when they don't have the time or knowledge to pick them apart? The line was drawn specifically on the '68 L89 Novas (and Camaros, had one shown up), that had a TH400. This is because it is known that GM did not offer a solid lifter/TH400 combo until the Gibb cars.

The race is a premier event, and is a ton of fun. The competitiveness still causes owners to 'overprep' their cars, good thing there is no money to win!! It is not just the Chevy's; I know that the Buick cars are 'different', I watched as Chamberlain (12.57 @ 109mph in '98)changed his rear tires to sticky meats out in the back of the pits!! They asked him to change them back, but how many owners do this stuff after tech. and don't get caught? Everbody knows that Karakashian's Super Bee was an NHRA record holder in the early '80s, and Joe Mino's Firebird is a prep car, and the SuperCharged Studee is actually 'over-the-counter' built, and the 440 6-Pak, plum crazy cuda convertible and '69 T/A convertible were clones, and.....you get the point!! There is no way for the organizer's to police this event, and make everyone happy. Maybe two classes is the way to go, but how do they decide which class your car should be in? I wouldn't want to be the judge.

Most of the guys I have spoken with agree that the great equalizer is the tires, because the races are won and lost in the first 60 feet, and at the tree. I believe that the cars that have gotten trailered had siginificant mod's done to the springs, bushings ect. and were rightfully denied. I know that if you slip past the tech's, and your hood shoots to the stars at the launch and never comes down till you pull your foot out of it, they will ask that you not bring that car back the following year.

Bottom line for me is that I think they do a great job at this event. 95% of the cars are truly stock, but it only takes 5% to turn this thing against itself. The event has really grown, and it is hard to catch those 5%. I can't wait to take my car there, and hope that I can tree one them!!

Marlin

[sYc]

Marlin; I agree, it is THE premeir event for factory stock racing, as Dan and Bob put in a lot of long hours to make this a fun event. We hope to attend many more with all of our Yenkos. But, it is kind of discouraging when Rob in our Yenko is out ran by the Studdee you mention. We do not mind getting beat, as they were a lot of legal cars there that were faster then us, but I would just like to see everyone play by the same rules. I hope you get to attend the 2001 event with your car and have a great time, but lets have this same conversation after you take a rare, original musclecar to the event and go up against some of the questionable cars. Watch out for that Studdee, it is LOUD and runs well. Good luck and good racing, and yes, good luck at the tree. Tom

[GMH454]

You guys are SO lucky. Problem with all racing is rules. Cheating has always been part of motor racing, still is. I think you have to be happy that you are a classic enthusiast first racer second and not the other way around.
Easy to say from here not sure how I'd be coming second to the studdie though.
Couple of editing notes on past comments, L-88s have air cleaners, they are built into the bonnets, and that famous road test of the L-72 Vette is suspicious as Duntov was on hand, seen in the photos. Car probably built in R & D not the factory. 12s with 3.36
not bad if you can do it.

[GMH454]

You guys are SO lucky.(if i bring a car I have to boat it not trailer it) Problem with all racing is rules. Cheating has always been part of motor racing, still is. I think you have to be happy that you are a classic enthusiast first racer second and not the other way around.
I honestly think a lot of people are happy to see clones go hard at it, but also appreciate the chance to see real cars.
Easy to say from here not sure how I'd be coming second to the studdie though.
Couple of editing notes on past comments, L-88s have air cleaners, they are built into the bonnets, and that famous road test of the L-72 Vette is suspicious as Duntov was on hand, seen in the photos. Car probably built in R & D not the factory. 12s with 3.36
not bad if you can do it.

[JoeC]

on the subject of 1969 Corvette gear ratios;
was the RPO ZQ9 available on the dealer order blank like on the 1969 Camaro? The Camaro order blank has a box for the RPO ZQ9 and under that a space thats says " Special ratio, see power team chart & write ratio below". Then if you look up a L78 Camaro in the power team chart you can select up to a 4:10 ratio. I believe this was factory installed not dealer installed. This RPO ZQ9, if available on the Corvette, can help build a good drag car.

[Rowdy Rat]

Joe,

I'm afraid that I don't have a 1969 Corvette standard order form close by, but if I remember correctly, the form is very similar to the standard Camaro form you are referring to. The code ZQ9 that you mention is most likely the standard rear axle available with a given engine/transmission combination (the ZQ code was used to designate standard equipment - for the 1969 Corvette ZQ3 was the base 350/300 engine, ZQ4 was the standard black vinyl interior, etc.). Any deviations from the standard gear ratio would be noted on the order form.

Available rear axle ratios for the 1969 Corvette ranged from 2.73 to 4.56 to 1, although not all gear ratios were available for a given engine. The solid lifter big blocks equipped with manual transmissions typically received the widest range available; for an L-71 or L-89 car with an M-21, this would include a 3.36 (economy), 3.55 (standard), 3.70 (performance), and 4.11 (special). The L-88 or ZL-1 Corvettes with M-22s would have all of the previously mentioned ratios available plus the 4.56 (special). For the L-71/L-89/L-88/ZL-1 cars backed by the M-40 automatic, the gear ratios were cosiderablly restricted (much more so than with the L-72/L-78 cars in the rest of the Chevrolet line up). Available ratios included a 2.73 (economy), 3.08 (standard), and a 3.36 (performance).

The high performance automatic transmission Corvettes are quite rare; I believe the general figure quoted for the solid lifter 1969 M-40 cars is 255 L-71s and L-89s plus an additional 17 installed in L-88s. I'm not sure that the automatic car would be the best choice for a completely stock drag car due to the relatively tall rear axle ratio you'd be stuck with. Hot Rod tested an L-88/M-40 convertible back in 1969 and turned a respectable 13.5 @ 111 or so, but even they complained about the 3.36 rear. Of course, if the rules allow ANY rear axle ratio available, then you just might have something!

Hope this information helps.

Regards,

Stan