|
|
2012 NMRA in Bradenton - Long-haul ScuffleSpring Break Shootout From the August, 2012 issue of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords By Marc Christ Photography by Team MM&FF
|
|
Every year, the NMRA's season opener at Bradenton Motorsports Park brings out big numbers for Tremec True Street. The class, presented by MM&FF, consists of street-legal, registered, and insured Mustangs (and other Fords). After making a 30-mile cruise, competitors cool down in the staging lanes before making three back-to-back runs down the dragstrip. It appeals to a wide range of people, and averages range from 8.0s to high-teens. This year, 96 cars (and trucks) made the trip to Bradenton for the pursuit of one of the seven class plaques, the 6-foot-tall winner's trophy, or a spot in the top 16 and an invite back for Sunday's MM&FF Spring Break Shootout. Whatever the reason, True Street is always a blast, and no other event in the series compares to Bradenton. This year was different for us, as our True Street project car Repeat Offender was making its debut. We wanted it to run last year, but it just wasn't in the cards. Since Steve Baur (who owns the car) was under the weather, we recruited Tony Gonyon of TunersInc to be our wheelman. He was happy to drive for us, and his years of experience helped us iron out the bugs on Friday before the competition on Saturday. Tremec Transmission's True Street competition, presented by MM&FF, was held on Saturday. After managing a busy tech-in all morning, True Street director Gene Bergstrom led the pre-cruise drivers' meeting in the pit area. All 96 competitors were in attendance, and lined up for the cruise shortly thereafter. The 30-mile cruise through the Manatee County countryside claimed only a few victims, and 88 cars made at least one pass. A total of 73 made all three back-to-back passes, and in the end, Randy Seward of Almogordo, New Mexico, reigned victorious with an 8.93 average. Randy drove his coupe over 1,800 miles from his home, accentuating his victory. Chris Lancaster of Bonaire, Georgia, claimed the runner-up prize with a 9.00 average, saving some for Sunday's Spring Break Shootout class. Eight-second-capable Mike Jovanis of Wall, New Jersey, took home the 9-second plaque after a slower-than-usual third pass yielded him a 9.05 average. Close behind were Tim Oswalt and Julio Don, both with averages within 0.2 of Seward's 8.93. Deneen Segura of Fort Myers, Florida, averaged 10.01 for the 10-second win. Her husband, Chris, was there supporting her, but his nitrous-fed LX hatch wasn't ready in time for the race. The 11-second plaque went to Burt Greiner of Plantation, Florida, with an 11.00 average. Brent Nelson from Cape Coral, Florida, averaged 12.15, which was good enough for the 12-second win. The '91 Mustang wheeled by Jerry Casale of Holiday, Florida, averaged 13.09 for the 13-second prize. The winner of the 14-second plaque was Mike Idol of Sanford, Florida, with a 14.05 average, and Chris Parisi of Jacksonville, Florida, averaged an amazing 15.000 for the 15-second win. Some folks come out on Saturday just to enjoy running True Street. Others just want to win a plaque. But with the allure of an $800 prize, a 6-foot trophy, and a Baer Brakes sponsorship worth $2,500, others just want to make the top 16. Being part of this elite group earns you an invite back on Sunday for the MM&FF Spring Break Shootout presented by Baer Brakes. This Quick 16 format class is a heads-up sportsman-ladder competition, with a 0.400 pro-Tree and cool-downs between rounds, and regularly yields the quickest runs in True Street competition. This is where the quickest car doesn't always win and everyone goes for broke. This year was no exception. From Round 1, it was clear that Chris Lancaster had turned up the boost on his turbocharged Four-Valve '66 coupe. He took out Nick Blankenship with an 8.25 at 172.61 mph to Blankenship's 9.26. After averaging 10s on Saturday, SBS veteran Tony Whetstone ran a 9.88 in Round 1, but was nudged out by Blair Brannock's 9.60 at 176 mph. Andrew Juhl defeated Peter Delpino with a 9.30 to Delpino's 9.48. Seward, Greiner, Jovanis, Oswalt, and Bob Walsh also advanced to Round 2. Seward's 8.73 easily defeated Greiner's 10.66, and Oswalt's 9.12 at 139 was enough to eliminate Walsh. Jovanis defeated Brannock, and Lancaster schooled Juhl. In the semi-finals, the four quickest cars from Saturday were left. Since Lancaster had cranked up the wick, Oswalt's 8.62 just wasn't enough for the Georgia boy's 8.04. And in the tightest matchup of the shootout, Jovanis got out in front of Seward by cutting an 0.086 light to Seward's 0.196. Seward's 8.820 wasn't enough to make up for sleeping at the tree, and Jovanis' 8.840 sent him to the final to face Lancaster. Jovanis tried his handiwork at the Tree again, leaving 0.257 second sooner than Lancaster. But it wouldn't be enough for the win. Lancaster crossed the finish line in 8.06 seconds, overtaking Jovanis (8.52) on the way. If you remember, Lancaster was in Bradenton last year but cracked his block during Friday's testing. We'll call this a sweet comeback, and look forward to seeing him and his super-slick '66 Mustang at other NMRA events this season.  True Street director Gene...  True Street director Gene Bergstrom addresses the 96 True Street competitors during Saturday’s pre-cruise meeting.  Holiday, Florida's Jerry Casele...  Holiday, Florida's Jerry Casele averaged 13.09 during True Street competition, earning him the 13-second victory.  Though SBS veteran Chris Segura...  Though SBS veteran Chris Segura didn't make it to compete this year, his son Chris averaged 14.42 in True Street with this clean '93 LX.  This '12 GT owned by Chris...  This '12 GT owned by Chris Holmes of North Port, Florida, averaged 11.02 in True Street.  Though he bought it for his...  Though he bought it for his wife, Chris Hansen averaged 13.92 in her '12 Boss Laguna Seca.  Bob Walsh averaged 10.45 in...  Bob Walsh averaged 10.45 in True Street—good enough for a nod to return for the Shootout. Walsh made it to Round 2, but was defeated by Tim Oswalt.  Randy Seward leans into Blair...  Randy Seward leans into Blair Brannock's window between rounds of True Street. Both would make the SBS on Sunday.  Nearly 100 cars lined up in...  Nearly 100 cars lined up in preparation for the 30-mile cruise.  The clean coupe of Javier...  The clean coupe of Javier Leiva was a highly anticipated competitor but only made one pass (9.39) in competition.  Christina Domasky holds the...  Christina Domasky holds the keys to a rental car. We don't know why, because the '11 GT that she and Daniel Augustine are sitting in is definitely not a rental. Augustine averaged 13.44 in True Street competition.  Scott Boda of Valdosta, Georgia,...  Scott Boda of Valdosta, Georgia, wheeled Steeda’s ’11 Sport Edition to an average of 11.33.  A special thanks goes out...  A special thanks goes out to Tony and Sherry Gonyon. Tony wheeled our Repeat Offender to an 11.50 average in TS competition. Check back next month for a full report on how it went and a wrap-up of the project.  A special thanks goes out...  A special thanks goes out to Tony and Sherry Gonyon. Tony wheeled our Repeat Offender to an 11.50 average in TS competition. Check back next month for a full report on how it went and a wrap-up of the project.  Jeff Smith of Orlando, Florida,...  Jeff Smith of Orlando, Florida, averaged 12.71 with his Competition Orange '04 Cobra.  Brannock, Seward, and Jovanis...  Brannock, Seward, and Jovanis (left to right) discuss Sunday's Spring Break Shootout following the True Street results ceremony.  Mike Jovanis defeated Deneen...  Mike Jovanis defeated Deneen Segura (near lane) in Round 1. Jovanis faced Chris Lancaster in the Final but lost.  Randy Seward took the True...  Randy Seward took the True Street win with an 8.93 average. He is a one-man show, driving his car over 1,800 miles from his home in New Mexico to Bradenton, and wrenching on it himself as needed.
| Randy Seward | Alamogordo, NM | 8.93 | Winner |
| Chris Lancaster | Bonaire, GA | 9.00 | Runner-Up |
| Mike Jovanis | Wall, NJ | 9.05 | 9-Sec. Winner |
| Tim Oswalt | Lake View, AL | 9.11 | |
| Julio Don | Tampa, FL | 9.12 | |
| Andrew Juhl | Deltona, FL | 9.61 | |
| Blair Brannock | New Port Richey, FL | 9.74 | |
| Jack Young | Perry, GA | 9.75 | |
| Ryan Herringdine | Middleburg, FL | 9.77 | |
| Nick Blankenship | Stockbridge, GA | 9.98 | |
| Deneen Segura | Fort Myers, FL | 10.01 | 10-Sec. Winner |
| Sean Kelley | Virginia Beach, VA | 10.03 | |
| Mike Lohmeyer | Safety Harbor, FL | 10.12 | |
| Peter Delpino | Miami Lakes, FL | 10.25 | |
| Tony Whetstone | Tallahassee, FL | 10.42 | |
| Bob Walsh | Bradenton, FL | 10.45 | |
| Steve Buscema | Largo, FL | 10.71 | |
| Burt Greiner | Plantation, FL | 11.00 | 11-Sec. Winner |
| Chris Holmes | North Port, FL | 11.02 | |
| Ryan Moran | Yukon, PA | 11.12 | |
| Herman Hernandez | Dunedin, FL | 11.15 | |
| Rick Kaknes | Winter Garden, FL | 11.22 | |
| Scott Boda | Valdosta, FL | 11.33 | |
| Johnny Lightning | New Providence, PA | 11.45 | |
| Scott Leville | Clermont, FL | 11.48 | |
| Brent Nelson | Cape Coral, FL | 12.15 | 12-Sec. Winner |
| Jerry Casale | Holiday, FL | 13.09 | 13-Sec. Winner |
| Mike Idol | Sanford, FL | 14.05 | 14-Sec. Winner |
| Chris Parisi | Jacksonville, FL | 15.00 | 15-Sec. Winner |
 Blair Brannock (near lane)...  Blair Brannock (near lane) takes out Tony Whetstone during Round 1 of the Spring Break Shootout. Brannock went on to Round 2, where he was taken out by Mike Jovanis.  Randy Seward took the True...  Randy Seward took the True Street win with an 8.93 average. He is a one-man show, driving his car over 1,800 miles from his home in New Mexico to Bradenton, and wrenching on it himself as needed.  Tim Oswalt cranked it up for...  Tim Oswalt cranked it up for the SBS on Sunday. Here, he drove around Sean Kelley (far lane) to win the round. Oswalt lost in the semifinals to Lancaster.  Randy Seward (near lane) gets...  Randy Seward (near lane) gets way out in front of Burt Greiner in Round 2 of the Spring Break Shootout. Seward would face Jovanis in the semifinal and lose due to a slow reaction time.  Lancaster and his crew pose...  Lancaster and his crew pose with Editor Smith in the winners' circle.  Chris Lancaster (near lane)...  Chris Lancaster (near lane) dominated the Spring Break Shootout with an 8.25, 8.07, and 8.04, and an 8.06 in the final to defeat Jovanis.
|
|
|