True Street competitors got...
True Street competitors got the chance of a lifetime when the driving portion of the event was held on the NASCAR oval at the Auto Club Speedway. Seeing upwards of 60 cars on the banking was amazing.
Despite a rich history chock-full of car culture, in recent years California has lacked a serious gear-jammin’, all-encompassing, sanctioned event that enthusiasts could really get behind. This all changed when the NMRA and the NMCA combined to create the first West Coast Shootout at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California.
Like Batman and Robin, or Starsky and Hutch, only the NMRA and NMCA could whip up such an amazing event packed full of fabulous Fords and other Brand-X vehicles. Attendance was strong as enthusiasts enjoyed eight classes of drag racing, including True Street, the Hotchkis autocross course, Baer Brakes Speed-Stop-Challenge, a packed vendor row, and the ever-popular show-and-shine area full of serious iron. In other words, there was something for everyone.
This was the first time in years an event of this kind ventured into the Golden State, and the Auto Club Dragway proved to be the right venue, as the strip bit hard despite the grueling temperatures. “In spite of the serious heat, the attendance was strong and the racing was solid,” says Auto Club Dragway Manager Mark Dawson. “I’m looking forward to next year already.”
The NMRA and NMCA used an abbreviated class structure during this non-points event, but there was no shortage of Blue Oval performance. The Mickey Thompson Extreme Drag Radial number one qualifying spot was taken by Sandi Wold with a 7.74 at 187.47 pass in her beautiful ’00 Mustang GT. Wold’s New Edge lit the strip with a boosted 4.6 combo stuffed inside a sleeper exterior accentuated by blacked-out rims and a Washington license plate that read: GTBOOST. Wold would make the final round only to foul out for not tripping the forward beam while trying to light the turbo.
Centerforce Hot Street saw a pair of fast Mustangs face each other in the finals. In the end, Daniel Bott II piloted his ultra-clean SN-95 to victory over Anthony Valentino in his Fox coupe with a winning run of 8.399 at 162.66 mph to Valentino’s 8.455 at 160.38 mph.
The ever-popular Ford Racing Performance Parts Mustang Madness class concluded with Scott Dool and his tubbed-out ’90 GT chasing down Cal Gordon in his four-eyed LX for the victory. Gordon nabbed the win with an impressive wheels-up 9.295 at 145.19 mph pass.
Another highlight was Tremec True Street. Over 60 contestants set forth into the popular class, but there was a twist—True Street also included the special Racer’s Against Street Racing (RASR) Media and Manufacturers class, which joined the traditional competition to name the fastest hot shoe from the industry. Our fearless leader, Evan Smith, piloted the Boss 302 of Tracey Keller to the RASR 13-second title with a three-run average of 13.087.
True Street competitors had the rare opportunity of cruising the 2.0-mile, banked NASCAR oval at the Auto Club Speedway for the driving portion of the event. To say the experience was amazing would be an understatement. The competitors shared in this sentiment with full-throttle blasts and ear-to-ear grins around the famed track.
After hot-lapping the oval, the drivers flooded the lanes and got down to business with fender-to-fender racing. The True Streeters came back for action on Sunday for some bracket action, and although a Ford didn’t win the overall title, Norm Knox and his ’11 Mustang GT made it to the semifinal round with a high 11-second e.t. Knox also went on to win the 13-second class (different from the RASR portion of the event). Holding it down in the 14-second category, Jason LaFrenz steered his ’93 Fox-body coupe to victory, while Gregory Anderson in his ’07 V-6 Mustang claimed the 15-second title.
After a great weekend full of solid competition and serious camaraderie, it was fitting that class winners were bestowed with the prestigious NHRA Wally Award, a magnificent trophy named after Wally Parks, the founder of the NHRA. Few can lay claim to winning an actual Wally Award, and the gracious move on behalf of the event promoters put the proverbial icing on the cake.
So if you’re west of the Mississippi next July, make plans to stop by Fontana—you won’t be disappointed.
Sandi Wold's New Edge GT took...
Sandi Wold's New Edge GT took the number one qualifying position in the Mickey Thompson Extreme Drag Radial class with a blistering 7.74 at 187.47 mph pass, thanks to an Accufab 4.6 modular motor fed by a 91mm turbo that's hooked to a Powerglide. Wold made the finals but was timed out while trying to light the turbo.
Daniel Bott II (far lane)...
Daniel Bott II (far lane) lit up the Centerforce Hot Street class with an 8.399 at 162.66 mph in his '98 Mustang GT to earn him the winner's spot. The 440ci Kuntz & Co. engine under the hood was ground-pounding, to say the least.
Charlie Harmon (left) of the...
Charlie Harmon (left) of the NMRA/NMCA got the rare chance to watch his son, Chaz, compete on track. The younger Harmon ran in True Street and in the West Coast Shootout with his '09 GT.
Although Steve Porcho didn't...
Although Steve Porcho didn't have the best of luck with his bolt-on '11 Mustang GT/CS with a best pass of 12.14, it was pure delight watching him wheel the new Pony out of the hole.
Daniel Marciano's tubbed-out,...
Daniel Marciano's tubbed-out, 351-powered GT ran low 10s all day as he piloted the car in several classes, including Mustang Madness and Open Comp. Here Marciano throws a wheels-up launch against Dale Sweitzer and his 12-second '89 Mustang GT.
Full bolt-ons and some light...
Full bolt-ons and some light suspension work on his '11 GT helped Norm Knox make the semifinal round, where he redlighted on his way to an 11.89 at 113.27 mph. Knox was the highest finishing Ford in the Tremec True Street class, and also managed to take home the 13-second title with an average of 13.154.
Practice makes perfect, and...
Practice makes perfect, and Jason LaFrenz can thank his dozens of test passes on Friday for helping him earn the 14-second title in True Street. LaFrenz shifted his way to an average of 14.07 in his '93 Mustang coupe.
John Marquardt had the lone...
John Marquardt had the lone Lightning at the event, and his '02 clicked off consistent low 12s, while making two tons of truck look light as a feather.
This clean '88 LX coupe ran...
This clean '88 LX coupe ran mid-10s with Kelly Davis from Rancho Cucamonga, California, behind the wheel. Davis' 351-powered coupe also happens to sport a super-rare 1K Smoke Grey paint code that looks great with the big 'n' littles.
John and Brandon Lahey made...
John and Brandon Lahey made the 3,000-mile trek from Calgary, Canada, to compete in the True Street class in John's '07 Shelby GT500. Although traction was limited for them, John managed a 10.83 pass at 131 mph during qualifying. If that's not enough, they averaged 20 mpg on the trip with a 3.6LC Kenne Bell blower and a host of other go-fast bits.
It's not often you see a T-Bird...
It's not often you see a T-Bird tearing up the strip, especially one like Montey LeFrenz's 347-powered '86 model that stood out in the sea of traditional drag cars. With deep 12s in the bag, this big bird has some wings.
Adam Matthews piloted his...
Adam Matthews piloted his corner-carving '11 Mustang GT to a best pass of 12.13 in the RASR True Street event, and cruised the Auto Club Speedway with the windows up and the A/C blowing--you have to love modern muscle.
Scott Dool in his murdered-out...
Scott Dool in his murdered-out '90 Mustang GT passed Cal Gordon in his '86 LX on the big end to win Mustang Madness with a 9.29 pass on a 9.28 dial-in. Dool's 351-powered GT was as clean as it was fast.
The Baer Brakes Speed-Stop-Challenge...
The Baer Brakes Speed-Stop-Challenge required that competitors accelerate as quickly as possible and then stop within a given amount of space. This modified Ford GT snapped off serious acceleration and looked like it was dropping a boat anchor out the window when the middle pedal was pushed.
John McGann from our sister...
John McGann from our sister publication, Car Craft, had his Panther project eating up the autocross.
The car show featured tons...
The car show featured tons of serious muscle, and Daniel Velarde's '10 Mustang GT didn't disappoint with its custom paint, Vossen wheels, a slammed stance, and a Paxton blower under the carbon-fiber hood.