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1966 Pontiac GTO - The Learning Curve

A now-retired high school principal keeps the competition in check with her 10-second GTO, but not before getting some tough lessons
By Jesse L. F. Freeman, III
1966 Pontiac GTO Front Lifted Up Driver Side Front View
The money shot! Pictures do... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Front Lifted Up Driver Side Front View
The money shot! Pictures do not do this launch justice. Unsuspecting spectators are treated to a hard launch that looks down right painful to the '66's 3,350-pound chassis.
1966 Pontiac GTO Hood Open Engine View
The only creature comforts... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Hood Open Engine View
The only creature comforts you'll find under this glass hood is the monster 462 Pontiac engine. We can only guess its current power output after the original 525-rwhp setup broke the stock crankshaft. Wedged between the carb and intake is a tapered 1-inch Wilson Manifold aluminum spacer. And that Q-jet. . .how many 10.23 e.t. racers have you seen running a Q-jet lately?
1966 Pontiac GTO Window Rolled Down Driver Side View
In 2001 at Jacksonville, North... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Window Rolled Down Driver Side View
In 2001 at Jacksonville, North Carolina, Ava accomplished her fastest quarter-mile of 10.23 seconds at 129 mph. Her average is in low 10.40s at 126 mph. Her fastest 60-foot time is 1.32 seconds. Tommy (shown here with Ava at Norwalk) plays double-duty as husband and crew chief.
1966 Pontiac GTO Hood Open Engine View
You won't see anything exotic... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Hood Open Engine View
You won't see anything exotic here, just basic straightforward race engine building: MSD ignition, Edelbrock heads, intake, and Q-Jet on top, headers on the sides, and an electric water pump up front, no power accessories. What you don't see is block filler within the '68 400 block to withstand the rigors of racing.
1966 Pontiac GTO Custom Interior Driver Side Interior View
The addition of a 12-point... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Custom Interior Driver Side Interior View
The addition of a 12-point rollcage not only provides for Ava's safety should the unfortunate occur, but it does wonders in stiffening the entire body and assisting the custom rear suspension in transferring the power through to the ground. Durham, North Carolina's own Powells Auto Upholstery did the interior.
1966 Pontiac GTO Red Body Passenger Side Front View
Ava can't say enough about... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Red Body Passenger Side Front View
Ava can't say enough about her GTO, "I drive her with a passion, and she is decidedly feminine because she likes to be primped, right down to having her tire letters repainted just like I use nail polish on my fingernails. This winter she will be repainted while her engine and transmission are being refreshed and upgraded. I'm ready to race her faster, but not on 9-inch tires. Her chassis will be notched to accommodate a 10.5-inch slick. I will get a transbrake and engine upgrades to put me in the high 9s. I look forward to a still greater challenge!"
1966 Pontiac GTO Red Hood Driver Side Front Headlight View
Around her hometown of Wendel,... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Red Hood Driver Side Front Headlight View
Around her hometown of Wendel, North Carolina, school may be over for this retired principal but Ava won't think twice about putting you in check on the track. When her mother is asked about her racing, Mom simply says that Ava was always a daredevil and a tomboy. After recalling her many antics on skateboards as a teenager, and her escapades on 4 wheelers on the farm where she lives, Ava agrees.
1966 Pontiac GTO Suspension Underside View
Front and center is an aluminum... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Suspension Underside View
Front and center is an aluminum TA Performance differential girdle and cover. Tom installed Metco's billet aluminum upper control arms and axle housing extension tabs, then added South Side Machine's lower control arms. Tommy built an adjustable 4-link setup and modified a Chassissworks antisway bar kit to help evenly hook both rear tires for incredible wheelies.
1966 Pontiac GTO Suspension Underside View
Although a bit dark in the... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Suspension Underside View
Although a bit dark in the pictures, you can make out what was left of a shortened Chassisworks antisway bar welded to the frame's crossmember. Inside the stationary tube is a mount for an inner tube that rotates and bolts to end bushings connected to the Metco axle tabs via 2 spherical rod end links (the lower one is adjustable). Notice the standard issue drum brakes.
1966 Pontiac GTO Burning Out Driver Side Rear View
A picture is worth a thousand... 
   
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1966 Pontiac GTO Burning Out Driver Side Rear View
A picture is worth a thousand words, here are 37 from Ava, "I love so many things about my GTO, but most of all I love the deep throated sound of the engine and the unbridled power. Her body design is terrific, bold and bodacious, not to mention, RED!" Ava, Tommy, and their GTO were also honored with the HPP Editor's Choice award in the race car category at the 2003 Ames Performance Pontiac Tri-Power Nats in Norwalk, Ohio.

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