I was wondering if maybe someone here can enlighten me if possible. I recieved a phone call from a guy who said in the "Buick news letter" (I`m guessing GSCA??) they had some info about the Hemi vs Buick shoot-out and because he didn`t have it in front of him he was going off memory on what he was telling me so I could be completely wrong, i hope. There was one thing he said that has been eating at me for the past few days and I was wondering if maybe somebody could e-mail me the article or post it here. According to him the article accuses me of running an illegal Mopar Hemi Mega Block. I`ll tell ya after 5/6 years of running in the FAST class and spending every spare minute I can working on my cars and spending every spare dime I could trying to make more power from these engines following the FAST guidelines.. That just seems like such a dang smack in the face if it`s true. Really I didn`t know Jim all that well, but I know Wayne Nelson and his family very well, I have nothing but respect for Wayne and to say I tried to take something away from him and his family by blatantly cheating is an insult. This Hot Rod race was between 3 guy`s and we all gave our word, a gentlemans agreement we would follow the FAST rules with the exception of slicks. I did and there`s no way I`m gonna risk getting caught "cheating" on such a blatant violation and discount everything I`ve ever done with these cars.
There is an article about the race in the GSXtra. You might give Richard Lasseter a call. He will probably be happy to send you a text of it. I personally didn't have any interest in any of it, and didn't even know the race had been run, or honestly care about the outcome. I still don't, and part of the reason is the usual BS from either side that doesn't win. The excuses didn't cut it on the street, and still don't, FWIW. Dan
Quoted from the GSXtra...."Rumor has it from the owner's neighbor that this car is equipped with a $45,000 Super Stock engine owned by a member of Moparts.com complete with a disguised moPar Mega-Block, big compression, big 4/7 swap roller cam, 500 cubic inches, sewer sized porting, a pair of $4,500 Carters and the factory HEMI cast iron headers to round out the package. Add that to a 3,400-pound road Runner leaving at 5000 RPM with transbrake and you have one very potent package for sure." I think that's what you are asking about.....
Dave I would like to thank you for setting up the race against a 455 Buick. I recall it was the Buick that ran aluminum heads, and there was never any question about your car conforming to FAST rules.Your Hemi won by alot. It was very impressive. I congradulate you. Its very hard to find a Hemi car to race, and you offered yours up. Us Buick guys have the very highest regards, thanks, and wishes for you! Thanks, Jim
Thanks guy`s.. Maybe i can clear up a few things. ENGINE: *Stock Mopar replacement block .060 over (4.310) *4.25 crank *496 cubes *No trans brake used, the trans did not have a trans brake in it. * True the carbs were $4500, BUT!!! A set of stock HEMI carbs needing to be rebuilt cost between $2500 & $3500 just for the carbs alone. *Weight of the Road Runner was 3741lbs with me in it. (190lbs). *4/7 swap cam, True and very legal on all FAST vehicles. *big compression?? any compression ratio is legal in FAST for any make. *Porting of the stock heads is indeed 100% FAST legal for any make. *If you already have a complete Hemi I can build this exact engine for 13K with-out labor. Expensive but you can`t argue with the power.:Smarty: *Moparts member Pete Skalba is the owner of the engine. That`s the truth.
DAMN neighbors givin' out the secrets ........ If the Buick guys believe THAT, then they deserve to get their asses handed to 'em ....
I pointed this out here on the board when the subject of cheating came up and got my ass reamed by all kinds of people who said otherwise. funny thing is i was right. God Job Dave, your car is awesome
I wasn't one of those guys! Hey dave. When are we going to see your old Challenger run at F.A.S.T.? Tell those guys to throw a T/A hood on that car will you! Patrick
Talk about spilling the beans, you're actually saying that you weigh 190 pounds? Wow big boy, you need to see Jenny Craig! If you could peel off 50 pounds of momma's home cookin', you'd really be competitive. Of course that's just one man's opinion, can I have my NOS kit back now?:laugh:
I guess it has finally come down to who can cheat the least! Barry Bonds taking steroids is not cheating as bad as Sammy Sousa corking his bat or vice versa. Lets face it all these fast guys are hollowing out batteries and whatever they can come up with. They are all great cars. Enough all ready. Anyone want a foot race? I'll beat any of you Mopar guys.:spank: :bla:
I agree with Dan K's view. I could care less about the Buick/Hemi thing anymore. The senario goes like this---Which ever sides wins gloats while the other side cries foul and every year or so they trade places and do it again. Both camps are guilty of too much BS. I am not talking about individual people who actually race their own cars but the clubs who uses their newsletters to spread the BS after the race is over. It wasn't fair to cast doubt about Dave in a club publication without giving him a chance to rebut the charges. The Hemi camp is guilty of the same tactics too. Buick people and Non-Buick people alike will be turned off more by the excuses after loosing the race than loosing the meaningless race in the first place. The same is true for fans of any other make of car. And if someone would cheat at a race like this I have some advice.....get a life. I hope winning that way isn't the most important thing in there life. If it is life officially sucks for them. Honestly the only race I get worked up about is the race I happen to be involved in. I am kinda shocked that any GS or Hemi owners still volunteer to race after all the slandering that goes on afterwards, deserved or not. The truth is in factory stock(not stock appearing!!!) form the two cars are equally matched regardless of options, gears, weight, aerodynamics, act of god, ect. Race them 10 times and you will get a 5-5 or 6-4 split. In stock appearing it seems like most of the time it's the guy who spends the most money while being a good driver wins. Hell the big blocks from all the American manufactures are very close in true power and performance. It's a matter of who is the better driver is or who gets traction first usually will win. Nothing has changed in the last 35+ years. If I had enuff money I would have a small warehouse full of Detroit iron with a few cars from all the big three. Car clubs are like religions, most use moderation and common sense while others are too blind and fantical for their own good. They give all the car brands a black eye because of their complaining and brow beating. I am sure I offended someone and thats just too bad. If some guy wants to spend/waste/blow 100K+ to win a match race for only bragging rights for his/her club or car choice knock yourself out. My money like most other peoples here probably comes harder than others and personally I would rather spend mine on other stuff anyway. BTW... It will be Mopar Mania at the June 23rd Somernites Cruise in Somerset KY. I took my '07 Mustang GT to Mustang May yesterday and had a blast. All makes are always welcome but each month a different type of car make is spotlighted and parked in a seperate area from the rest and June is for the Mopars of all years. There are usually at least 1200+ cars there each month. I wish some Buicks would come. I have only seen a few Skylarks, several GNs, and one GSX clone that wasn't cloned very good.
