Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

LOL !

I always hesitate to bring up his name. Whenever it's mentioned, there are usually a lot of guys chiming in with some real negative comments, especially on the Pontiac sites.

But, I've never had any dealings with him. So, since you brought it up, I'll mention it. Ya'll correct me on any info I get wrong in these Pontiac threads, please.

OK, I THINK his 3rd gen Bird used a 400 Pontiac engine. He won his GT/DA class at the US Nats, in 2004.

While scanning his website, I ran across this.

"...On that note it's important to point out that Roy McKinney was the VERY first NHRA Super Stocker running in a GT class of Super Stock with a 400 cubic inch engine to run in the nines back in 1997. Roy deserves that mention. He's one very smart NHRA racer. You may remember his 1968 Firebird in the CompCams ad almost straight up at Indy. Got to find that picture and put it up..."

Well, so far, I don't have pic of that GT car. But, I did find a pic of their red '68 Bird.

Anyhow, Bruce bought the 3rd gen Hatari GT car, from Phil Monteith. Here's what's posted about it in his site.

"...Hatari...Their old car is campaigned by Bruce on the west coast in Division Seven as time and money allows.
08/08/09 PontiacEngines.com Bruce built a new engine for the '82 bird, as the car came minus engine/trans/converter. Bruce will move the car to GT/DA using a 1968 GTO 400 rated by NHRA at315 hp. The GT / Super Stock classes allow any engine from any year, within the same marque. All NHRA cars are weighed after each run...

Bruce went to the 2002 NHRA Phoenix Nationals where he drove the car to his first class win. His first NHRA "Wally." Bruce lost the coin toss and had to race both cars in his class. He beat many time national event champion Mark Faul in the first round. Then put a holeshot on the quicker Earl Snow owned small block powered black '87 Firebird for the win. Best ET to that date - 10.05 Best mph - 131.98 Best sixty foot - 1.29. Very impressive for just his third year racing NHRA Super Stock. Bruce built the engine of course.

May 25th, 2002 - New National N.H.R.A. eighth mile record set by Bruce. 6.45 at 101 mph. Still standing today - 04/21/03. Bruce is considering a tattoo..."N.H.R.A. Super Stock Record Holder" Ha! (not)

BRUCE DID IT AGAIN!! 2003 CHECKERS/SHUCKS/KRAGEN CLASS WINNER!!

Also - Went to the third round at the Las Vegas Nationals 2003 - won $300 clams.

Beat Bob Mazzolini - the Mopar guru. Was a very cool time.

Oh, yeah, Also - won Indy in 2004. (I won Indy!) How cool. Bruce won Indy..."

He was indeed the GT/DA class winner at the AZ race, in '02.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

The next year he moved down to GT/EA, because Don Kennedy was in GT/DA, which he won. I assume Bruce won GT/EA because he was the only car in his class. In round 1, he appeared to be running in the auto combo class, since there were no other cars in his class. Only the 1st round of SS class elims are posted.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop

Each class winner is listed, even if they were the only car in their class. If I'm wrong on this, somebody correct it.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop

At the 2004 US Nats, he qualified #92, with a .967 under, 9.833.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

In the class final, a quicker car slowed for some reason, giving Bruce the win. But hey, a win's a win. He turned a 9.829 in the class final.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

So, he's listed as the GT/DA class winner at the 2004 US Nats.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

So, whether anybody likes him or not, he IS a US Nats class winner. And he did it with Pontiac power !

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

I thought he ran the 428 engine at Indy, but I could be mistaken....

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Sorry I missed that post or I wouldnt have posted it

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

We'll look a lot deeper into the GT cars, later.

We looked at quite a few '74 Birds. Right now, I can't think of a single '75 or '76 SS Bird. But, there have been quite a few '77 & '78 SS Birds.

The quickest '77 I've ever heard of is now raced by Mike Morgan. And it uses the low compression 350 engine, with 6X heads. He gives credit to Parsons & Myers for the engine's power. They have built some quick Pontiac engines, for Stock & SS.

I know Mike won his class at Indy one year. And, Bill Rink & Mike got winner/RU in class there. An all Pontiac 350 powered SS class final is really cool to me. :cool:

Anyhow, I'll look up some of his best results, & post 'em.

For the cars quick enuff to make the field, Indy is a good measure of a car's performance. So, lets look at what Mike has done there.

In 2015, he ran .920 under, for the #41 position. He was higher on the list than Bill Rink, Peter Biondo, & Scott Burton.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2015#indextop

He was also RU in SS/MA. Bill Rink won SS/LA.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2015#indextop

In 2016, he went 1.006 under, for the #47 position.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2016#indextop

He also won the SS/MA class.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2016#indextop

In 2017, he went 1.098 under, for #23 position. Had a good shot at the class win, but left .006 too soon in the 1st round.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2017#indextop

In 2018, he went 1.233 under, for #11 position. 10.617 is pretty quick for a 350 Pontiac.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop

For class, he had the field covered.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop

BUT, in the final, against Bill Rink, he played it a little too safe, cut a REALLY bad light, & lost.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop

In 2019, he slowed a little, but still went 1.126 under, for #22 position.

Left too soon in the class final & had to settle for RU to Bill Rink, again.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2019#indextop

Read somewhere that he'd turned some 10.40's. Will see if I can find that info.

OK, in the 3rd round of this race, he ran a 10.414, to beat Bill Rink's 10.555, in a heads-up SS/LA 3rd round match-up.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop

Don't know what his best ET has been. But 10.40's from a low CR Pontiac 350, in a legal weight '77 Bird, sounds pretty darn good, to me !

These 2 Pontiac 350 powered cars are very competitive.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Sal originally built that car in a tiny one car garage in Bridgeport, Ct. Did the chassis himself. He was a sharp dude, who put together a Chevy powered Top Fuel dragster for himself, before the Super Stocker.
MJ

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Are you talkin about Sal Biondo, OR ?

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Sal Piacentini. Some guy named Phillip Monteith was his friend and might have had some influence on the project :D

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

OK, from what I've recently found online, The Ken Shawver '78 SS Bird may have been the most competitive Pontiac SS Bird, over a long period of time.

Don't know how many wins it had. But it won class at Indy, many times. Monte Howard was the driver for some of those years.

I mentioned some of this earlier. But I think this car deserves a closer look. Maybe some of you guys can post about races you know that the car won.

So, Ken made the Indy field in '98, '99, & 2000. But he was in the lower half of the field. Didn't see him on the list in '01. But, in '02, he'd apparently come up with more power. He was #38, @ 1.014 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

In '03 he was 1.089 under for spot #14.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop

In '04, he was #25 @ 1.102 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

He was also the SS/LA winner.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

AND, how 'bout this. In '05, he was #1 qualifier at Indy ! Let that sink in ! A 1978 Pontiac powered Firebird was the #1 qualifier at Indy. WOW !

He was 1.254 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

And of course, he won his class.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

In '06 he was #4 @ 1.192 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop

Won SS/KA, again.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop

In '07, Monte Howard was driving. he was #29 @ 1.118 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop

Got the SS/KA win.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop

In '08, Monte was #24 @ 1.100 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop

In '09 he was #92 @ 1.075 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop

In both '08 & '09 there were 2 quicker cars in his class. But here's a quote fro this year's 1st round loss:

"Big, long wheelstand for Howard. Hodge runs him down on the big end."

In 2010, he was #95, @ only .765 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop

But he won SS/KA.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop

In 2011, he was #98 @ .718 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2011#indextop

In 2012, he was #103 @ .794 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop

So, over a 15 year period, the car made the field at almost every US Nats, had 5 class wins, and was #1 qualifier once.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop

Until this thread, I'd never even heard of this car. Now, it MAY end up being on the top of my list, as the #1 hall of fame SS Pontiac. Hey, I'm glad I came ! :)

Of course, there are other cars to consider. But if this car won lots of races & qualified near the top of lots of qualifying lists, it may be #1. Peter Biondo was a very good driver, & won lots of races. But, the Shawver/Howard car ran for a long time. May still be running. Don't know. Also don't know if it qualified at Indy before 1998.

So, I'd like you guys to help me dig up all the info you can on this car. Lets try to give it the recognition it deserves.

The pic below is what I have for Monte Howard. If this is not the car I've been talkin about in this post, somebody let me know.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Same car Jack Good has it now still running div3