Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!)

[William C.]

Re: Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!)

A few years ago (about 15) Carl Strohm and I wrote an article for the "Restorer" comparing published performance from magazine articles of the '60s on Corvette road tests. More recently, my '65 FI car in NCRS trim (7.75 tires, stock exhaust) has run 14.0 1/4 mile times without difficulty.

[Loren L.]

There are far too many Corvette owners

who do NOT know the pleasure/satisfaction of three power shifts in a solid lifter Corvette - and I speak of those who now OWN such a car. It is a rush......the caution is believing the figures that some of the old magazines AND the cars they tested...SoCal car nuts used to be able to get a preview of the new Corvettes in late July/August by going to Bill Thomas's garage where the car that would be presented to Hot Rod/Motor
Trend, et al was being "tweaked"...not as quick as those in the hands of the fulltime drag racer such as Don Gist, but quick enough. I seem to recall some of Gist's time in his '62 in the 12's......!

[Terry M.]

Re: Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!) *TL*

Richard,
There have been several articles in The Restorer about speed trials of Corvettes and other performance cars. In addition to Bill & Carl's story there was one that comes to mind about "Smiles per Mile" or a similar title. In addition, both Road & Track and Motor Trend have reprints of their Corvette road tests in compilation form. I believe the NCRS bookstore sells one or both of them.

[Terry M.]

Re: Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!) *TL*

Mike,
I think we are the losers too because we can't go down to our favorite car store and buy the kind of car we want. I can't blame it all on RN and government regulations. Some of the responsibility has to rest with marketing decisions by the car manufacturers.

[Duke W.]

Re: Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!)

High powered cars of yore suffered tremendously from lack or traction. Too bad they didn't publish 60 foot times back then. A good driver in good track conditions can run a 2.0 second 60 foot time in a new Z06 on the OE tires. With the OE tires from the sixties there's no way a car could get close to a 2.0 60 foot time. Up to 2.5 was probably more typical.

The best comparisons are to subract the 0-20 or 0-40 times from the 0-80 times to yield the traction independent 20-80 or 40-80 times For most owners 20-80 or 40-80 is a lot more meaningful and representative of the real world (like a freeway on ramp) than 0-60 or the quarter mile.

Duke

[John H.]

Re: Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!)

Try THIS for a "visceral sensation" - most fun you can have with your shoes on!

[Chas Kingston]

Re: Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!)

What did you turn, John?

Geezer

[Doug Flaten]

Watch Out, I think Geezer may One-Up Your

visceral sensation with a Blue Flame

[Chas Kingston]

[Mike M.]

Re: There are far too many Corvette owners

i have a 57 283 hp duntov'd vet that externally appears stock and it turns 13.1 with cooker 6.70's--but then again tweaking and cheating aren't synomous. speed and cheating are. mike

[Donny Brass]

Re: There are far too many Corvette owners

There was another C1 with 283 4x2 running 13.2 on coker tires at last years Pure Stack Drags.

The best Pure Stock time for a midyear is a 1966 427/450 convert with a 12.78 and a 1.87 60' time.

The fastest Corvette so far is actually the quickest Pure Stock racer to date, a 1969 L-88 clone with a 11.99 @ 118 mph on a Wide Oval bias ply.

I am sure his 60' times were also in the 1.9 range.

[John H.]

Re: Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!)

Ten runs over two days - low 8.10's @175; renewed my NHRA Dragster License (the old one expired in 1962 after I sold my AA/FD)

[John H.]

Re: Small block Bench Racing (just for fun!)

More pics and text from the 2-day licensing school at the link below.




Dragster Licensing School Photos