S/g 1983

Michael Pliska · 07-30-2009, 01:22 PM

I personally would like to keep the 0.400 & no deep, but that's because I can red light without a problem. Not sure if I'm still as quick, but I used to race a mid-high 11-second street Vega in a heads-up class, and I could red light from shallow stage off a foot brake.

I started bracket racing in 1983, and S/G really appealed to me. I built my S/G car in 1988 when I was 20 years old (for about $9k total investment, much of which was from winning races with the street Vega), and managed to go rounds at a lot of divisional and national events.

Many people say that we would have fewer competitors if we did not have the timers, but that video mentioned having over 100 entries in S/G in 1983!

Regards,

Ed Fernandez · 07-30-2009, 02:52 PM

From the posts so far it seems the biggest hurdle is current super racers reluctance to take out the electronics.Also what to do with the over kill of a 6000ci BBC.I think T/S-T/D guys would be interested in them.

Michael Pliska · 07-30-2009, 03:53 PM

I guess that is one of the reasons I wouldn't mind going back, I have minimal electronics (a home-made delay box I built in 1991, don't even have an ignition amplifier). I'm also only running a 481" motor, which will probably be lucky to break 145 mph.

MEMORIES · 07-31-2009, 04:09 AM

I "grew up" with Johnny Labbous at my local track in the seventies. I remember when he got his first Omni 024. He was a killer driver in brackets and heads-up classes. Here's a couple of photos.

Wayne.

Nitro Joe Jackson · 07-31-2009, 01:32 PM

I posted this on the Super board, but since you guys was talking deep staging here you go......

Here is a shot of the 1981 Spring Nationals finals of SG, both my father and Kurt Neighbours had Lenco and if you look close Dad already had the top bulb out. We won the event.

Scotty D · 07-31-2009, 03:42 PM

this is great,how many cars went from modified to super gas.funny joe that you posted that picture because kurt still has that car with a lenco in it and races with the umtr as well as in the video the first set of cars from gainesville was a mustang 2 driven by john hoebel that has a monza with a lenco in it and also races with the umtr.

supergas565 · 07-31-2009, 04:36 PM

I think it would be cool to go back to simpler days, but if you think spectators are going to line up to watch 135mph cars race when now they are used to watching the pro's at 200+ - 300+ I believe you are sadly mistaken.....I for one enjoy running 9.90 @ 165+

Anyone notice that these types of threads have only recently started popping up since NHRA raised its $$$$ and the economy has been in the chitter......???????

Rick Blake

Mopar Steve · 07-31-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEMORIES

I "grew up" with Johnny Labbous at my local track in the seventies. I remember when he got his first Omni 024. He was a killer driver in brackets and heads-up classes. Here's a couple of photos.

Wayne.

Those are pics of the original McCandless Omni that Johnny got. This is the car that was re-bodied into a Laser. It was either the third or fourth car that Herb built.

Johnny's other Omni has the grille openings closed off. He preferred the McCandless car though.

Also, I was told a lot less than 12 cars from McCandless Performance. More were built from the original jig at Fabrication Inc.

Larry Munk · 08-01-2009, 06:24 AM

I owned one of the origional West Coast Pro Gas cars. It won the Winter Nats the first time for Pro Gas. Ron Williams raced it forever and Bob Tietz borrowed it for the Winters. When I got the car the simplicity of the operation was a lesson some today could use. 2 wheel trailer a timing light and some lead was all you needed to go race. Throttle stops and trans brakes screwed the class. I got out before all the electronics BS took the brains out of the helmet. Back then at the local track you were treated like a small time hero. And yes a Pro Gas show would even bring a crowd to lowley Roadrunner Dragway in Albuquerque New Mexico.
Super Gas as it's run today is on it's death bed. Who gives a rats patoot if your running 160 when your putting the crowd to sleep on the starting line.

CBS · 08-01-2009, 06:31 AM

Hey Ed....when was the last time you drove a 9.90 170 super gas car...I bet you hated it....Its really a pretty fun ride...The old days are gone....and you have play under the current rules....whatever they may be....

Rock Haas

07-30-2009, 01:22 PM	#1
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: S/g 1983 I personally would like to keep the 0.400 & no deep, but that's because I can red light without a problem. Not sure if I'm still as quick, but I used to race a mid-high 11-second street Vega in a heads-up class, and I could red light from shallow stage off a foot brake. I started bracket racing in 1983, and S/G really appealed to me. I built my S/G car in 1988 when I was 20 years old (for about $9k total investment, much of which was from winning races with the street Vega), and managed to go rounds at a lot of divisional and national events. Many people say that we would have fewer competitors if we did not have the timers, but that video mentioned having over 100 entries in S/G in 1983! Regards, __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G

07-30-2009, 02:52 PM	#2
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: S/g 1983 From the posts so far it seems the biggest hurdle is current super racers reluctance to take out the electronics.Also what to do with the over kill of a 6000ci BBC.I think T/S-T/D guys would be interested in them. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

07-30-2009, 03:53 PM	#3
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: S/g 1983 I guess that is one of the reasons I wouldn't mind going back, I have minimal electronics (a home-made delay box I built in 1991, don't even have an ignition amplifier). I'm also only running a 481" motor, which will probably be lucky to break 145 mph. __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G

07-31-2009, 04:09 AM	#4
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: S/g 1983 I "grew up" with Johnny Labbous at my local track in the seventies. I remember when he got his first Omni 024. He was a killer driver in brackets and heads-up classes. Here's a couple of photos. Wayne.

07-31-2009, 01:32 PM	#5
Nitro Joe Jackson VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Loudonville, Ohio or where ever the Nitro Lounge is parked Posts: 2,293 Likes: 58 Liked 67 Times in 19 Posts	Re: S/g 1983 I posted this on the Super board, but since you guys was talking deep staging here you go...... Here is a shot of the 1981 Spring Nationals finals of SG, both my father and Kurt Neighbours had Lenco and if you look close Dad already had the top bulb out. We won the event. __________________ Nitro Joe Jackson STK 3431 nitrojoe@neo.rr.com

07-31-2009, 03:42 PM	#6
Scotty D Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: S/g 1983 this is great,how many cars went from modified to super gas.funny joe that you posted that picture because kurt still has that car with a lenco in it and races with the umtr as well as in the video the first set of cars from gainesville was a mustang 2 driven by john hoebel that has a monza with a lenco in it and also races with the umtr.

07-31-2009, 04:36 PM	#7
supergas565 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 18 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: S/g 1983 I think it would be cool to go back to simpler days, but if you think spectators are going to line up to watch 135mph cars race when now they are used to watching the pro's at 200+ - 300+ I believe you are sadly mistaken.....I for one enjoy running 9.90 @ 165+ Anyone notice that these types of threads have only recently started popping up since NHRA raised its $$$$ and the economy has been in the chitter......??????? Rick Blake

08-01-2009, 06:24 AM	#9
Larry Munk Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 135 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: S/g 1983 I owned one of the origional West Coast Pro Gas cars. It won the Winter Nats the first time for Pro Gas. Ron Williams raced it forever and Bob Tietz borrowed it for the Winters. When I got the car the simplicity of the operation was a lesson some today could use. 2 wheel trailer a timing light and some lead was all you needed to go race. Throttle stops and trans brakes screwed the class. I got out before all the electronics BS took the brains out of the helmet. Back then at the local track you were treated like a small time hero. And yes a Pro Gas show would even bring a crowd to lowley Roadrunner Dragway in Albuquerque New Mexico. Super Gas as it's run today is on it's death bed. Who gives a rats patoot if your running 160 when your putting the crowd to sleep on the starting line.

08-01-2009, 06:31 AM	#10
CBS VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Commerce, Mi Posts: 1,387 Likes: 1 Liked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: S/g 1983 Hey Ed....when was the last time you drove a 9.90 170 super gas car...I bet you hated it....Its really a pretty fun ride...The old days are gone....and you have play under the current rules....whatever they may be.... Rock Haas

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