Consolidating Classes

Michael Beard · 11-30-2010, 09:59 PM

Yep, 11th in NHRA Div. 1 in 1999, my first full season. Missed the Top 10 by 1 round, if I recall. I didn't get a full slate of races in, as I skipped Lebanon Valley knowing that I wouldn't run the index, and I couldn't return to the Atco make-up date after winning first round (just like this year). Had a semi at Cecil County, and a semi at the Dutch my second race out, in '98.

Looking back on the logbooks now, the car was horrible back then, simply because it wouldn't repeat 60's... we had a 6" tire on it and way too much air. Since we went to the 8" tire and dropped the air pressure, it's become a killer little piece! This year, it won a 7-round bracket race and a Race of Champions, Semi'd at two S/SS Combo races, won the Perfectly Strange Award at Atco, and consistently gone rounds at all the other races. My wife drove it a couple times this year (first time she's EVER raced), and whacked a track champ her very first round of eliminations in her career.

Bill O'Connor was always good for going rounds, as was Mark Poole. Polhill had a great outing at Indy this year! Billy Nees had two or three finals this year bracket racing the Turbo Sunbird (BF/S)

I've got some Mickey Thompson ET Fronts on the way to replace the heavy back tires. Been having a lot of fun tinkering with the car!

View Poll Results: Opinions on consolidating classes
Combine Sticks and Automatics	33	14.73%
Spread Weight Breaks (i.e., .5 for upper classes, .75 for some, then to 1.00 lb breaks)	22	9.82%
Both of the above	36	16.07%
LEAVE IT ALONE!	133	59.38%
Voters: 224. You may not vote on this poll

11-30-2010, 09:59 PM	#11
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Consolidating Classes Yep, 11th in NHRA Div. 1 in 1999, my first full season. Missed the Top 10 by 1 round, if I recall. I didn't get a full slate of races in, as I skipped Lebanon Valley knowing that I wouldn't run the index, and I couldn't return to the Atco make-up date after winning first round (just like this year). Had a semi at Cecil County, and a semi at the Dutch my second race out, in '98. Looking back on the logbooks now, the car was horrible back then, simply because it wouldn't repeat 60's... we had a 6" tire on it and way too much air. Since we went to the 8" tire and dropped the air pressure, it's become a killer little piece! This year, it won a 7-round bracket race and a Race of Champions, Semi'd at two S/SS Combo races, won the Perfectly Strange Award at Atco, and consistently gone rounds at all the other races. My wife drove it a couple times this year (first time she's EVER raced), and whacked a track champ her very first round of eliminations in her career. Bill O'Connor was always good for going rounds, as was Mark Poole. Polhill had a great outing at Indy this year! Billy Nees had two or three finals this year bracket racing the Turbo Sunbird (BF/S) I've got some Mickey Thompson ET Fronts on the way to replace the heavy back tires. Been having a lot of fun tinkering with the car! __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS