It isn't a secret that this Mustang has a turbocharged engine that rests between the framerails. Merkel Racing Engines (Hauppauge, New York) created it, and displacement checks in at 362 ci. An RDI aluminum 8.2-inch-deck engine block is the basis for the horsepower. The usual internals like a billet crankshaft (LA Enterprises), Oliver billet rods, and Ross pistons fill up the RDI chunk of aluminum. Up top, a set of Edelbrock Victor cylinder heads and a Reichard Racing intake manifold are responsible for moving air into the engine. A custom Turbo People-grind camshaft controls the Jesel valvetrain. The only cam spec Manny admitted to was that it was a solid roller camshaft.
Turbonetics is responsible for building the NMRA-legal 91mm turbocharger. The peanut gallery said that size turbo couldn't run mid sevens, but Buginga & Co. proved them wrong. For WFC competition, a larger 94mm turbo is utilized, and that jumps the horsepower output by 250 or so. A Dynamic Racing Transmission Powerglide is employed, as is a Neil Chance torque converter. Torque converter stall speed and slippage are two key factors in turbo cars. It took several different designs to find what worked and what didn't in this combination.
Da crew--from left to right: Jen Buginga, Manny Buginga, Job Spetter Jr., and Chase Spetter. Manny's best friend and crew guy Pat Speer was unavailable at the time of the photo. Pat's the guy who gets the dirtiest at the events thrashing on Manny's race car and keeping it in seven-second form.
Electronics play a big part in keeping the 10.5-inch tires glued to the track, and Manny has quite a collection of goodies. The major control systems in the car are a DFI Gen 7 ECM, an MSD ignition, and a Turbo People seven-stage boost controller. Job oversees each system and keeps the information closely guarded. The team spent a lot of time testing in Florida and on chassis dynos during the '05 preseason to make sure everything was dialed in properly. Their idea of setting up the ECM program and boost controller is to test in bad, good, and great environments. An Auto Meter data logger gathers information from 34 different sensors. Armed with that info, Manny and Job know how to change their tune-ups in all weather and track conditions. "Job can work miracles on bad tracks," Manny says.
The coupe hasn't always provided a 7-second rush for Manny. The car spent most of its life on the street, dating back to the mid '90s. "I drove this car in high school when I met my wife, Jen," Manny says. Evolution took him from 10-second times with a supercharged engine to 9-second runs in drag radial competition. Things got serious when he ran in the 8s, and he finally went on to the 7-second zone that he has comfortably hung out in over the past few years.
In 2005 alone, that coupe delivered Manny to five victories, one runner-up, and a quintet of UPR Top Qualifying awards in NMRA competition. The WFC Pro Street Outlaw title was just icing on the cake. With credentials like that, it's no wonder Toyo Tires signed Manny to a multiyear sponsorship deal. The relationship has helped push Toyo's drag racing tire development forward. Both groups spent 2005 testing various compounds and styles of tires. This past winter, Toyo released a new line of drag racing tires in various sizes.
As of this writing, testing for 2006 is underway, and Manny has his sights on defending the SSO title in NMRA competition. A new engine program has been in the works at Merkel Racing Engines, and there are grumblings of a new 383ci engine with Yates heads. With a field full of supercharged, turbocharged, and nitrous-injected competitors eyeing the 7.50 zone, this team will be working hard to stay ahead of the competition in 2006.
Modern Auto Body is credited with the red, white, and blue paint job. A Skinny Kid Race Cars wing keeps the 10.5-inch tires planted at high speeds. | 
Job Spetter Jr. (left) gets ready to dive into the passenger side after the burnout. He usually makes last-minute adjustments on the laptop (connected to the DFI Gen 7 ECM) before Manny heads down track. Job will also turn on the Auto Meter data logger that will record 34 sensors placed throughout the car. | 
DMC Racing is responsible for building this beast. It features stock framerails that have been notched in the back for tire clearance. A set of custom ladder bars help plant the Toyo Tires 28x10.5-inch slicks. This winter, Skinny Kid Race Cars was tapped for a custom 9-inch housing (filled with Strange Engineering parts), a new front K-member assembly, and a few chassis adjustments. |