First Car to the Strip

[Mike Bassin]

Made my first pass at 75-80 Dragway in June / 1962, had my drivers license two weeks, took my moms '62 Dodge Polara 361 4 barrel car and ran 16.70's @85 mph, spun like mad. The car felt faster on the street. Won C/SA trophy, only one other car entered, hid the trophy, many years later, maybe 20 or so I told her about racing her Dodge, she wasn't thrilled about it after all that time. Can't understand it! Oh, had the trophy for years, ex tossed it back in the '80's I guess.

[joe huestis]

Turned 16 Oct. 9, ‘71 and had my drivers’ license by Nov.14 a little over a Month later. That weekend drove my wagon to Dover to spectate before track shut down for the winter. ‘57 Chevy 210 wagon, 283-4v, 3 speed. Dover Drag Strip, Wingdale, N.Y. 1972. Ran 16.49 @ 83 mph. Had JCPenny slicks with no posi. Have 8mm film with smoke coming off RR slick leaving line. Forever hooked ! By springtime 1974 was running stock eliminator with my ‘69 Camaro, “Annie’s Song I”.

[GUMP]

Bone stock 1979 Trans Am 403 automatic sometime in the late eighties at Moroso. Memory says it ran mid 15's.

[6130]

Originally Posted by GUMP

Bone stock 1979 Trans Am 403 automatic sometime in the late eighties at Moroso. Memory says it ran mid 15's.

I remember racing against stock 1979 Trans Ams with the RPO L80 Oldsmobile 403 engine and the required automatic transmission. They weighed about 3,700 pounds, and with the 175hp small block engine wheezing through a single pellet converter, a 3-speed automatic, and 3.23 rear gears, it should come as no surprise that they were no quicker than mid-17s.

Car & Driver tested the more powerful 200hp Pontiac 400 "T/A 6.6" Trans Am 2 years earlier, and it ran a best of 16.9 at 82 mph.

I think all of our cars her faster in our memory, if we don't keep the time slips.

[BillK]

Bought my 71 Chevelle new in Aug 71. Put about 600 miles on it at home in the DC area then drove to Boston to visit cousins. They were going to NED so I naturally went along. Car ran mid 15's on E-78 Uniroyals. I still have the time cards and the car. Thinking about trying to figure out a way to go back to Epping for a 50 year "reunion" this Sept if the Covid thing doesn't screw things up.

[my69396]

Stationed at Ft. Benning, bought a 1967 Fairlane GT 390 4 sp in 1971 went to the drag strip across the river in Alabama seems like it ran 14.7 leaving in 1st or 2nd. As they say the hook was set.

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by 6130

Yes, I remember 1968, to include the tires.

He said it was bone stock, and it was back when he was 16- he doesn't sound like he was 16 recently...

The engine and trans was stock. The car did have some G-60 tires on the back and traction bars so that probably helped the suspension. It did hook good. 16 was a long time ago.

After I blew up the 302 I put a 289 in the car. At that time it had headers. 650 holley, dual point distributor bigger camshaft and an edelbrock intake. Also had a 410 gear in the rear. If I remember correctly it ran 12.90 with those mods. Broke the 8 inch rear that day and put a 9 inch in it after that.

[jmcarter]

Since we are limited to “strip” outings (the 1966 unofficial outings on Husbands Road in Paducah Ky probably don’t qualify) my first track excursion was with a 68 SS Chevelle (bone stock 396/325) in 1980 at Bremerton. Ran 15.20’s and won $20, we had to catch the Bremerton ferry to get back home and have a pic of my four year old son sleeping while sharing the back seat with one of the cheater slicks. Good memories.

[6130]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

The engine and trans was stock. The car did have some G-60 tires on the back and traction bars so that probably helped the suspension. It did hook good. 16 was a long time ago.

Makes more sense...

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by 6130

I remember racing against stock 1979 Trans Ams with the RPO L80 Olds.......

.........I think all of our cars her faster in our memory, if we don't keep the time slips.

The car definitely ran in the 15's. I was bummed that it was that slow. I find it interesting that you chose to take issue with this.

There was a 1989 T/A there running high twelves on one occasion too. Why not Google up some stuff on that one......