"Honey, I think I can do that." Famous words spoken by Ava Thompson to her husband, Tommy, after he had made a quarter-mile run in his 455-powered '68 GTO. After one pass at North Carolina's Fayetteville Motorsports drag strip, Ava was hooked. Unfortunately a problem existed for her, "He loves his '68 hardtop, and it really made him nervous for me to drive it." The solution? Find a GTO to call her own.
In November, 2000, Tommy found a '66 GTO from Indiana in "horrible condition" needing a complete restoration." Because the teal-under-black vinyl GTO was so rusty in the roof--among other places--an "intense restoration" commenced using a lot of Year One and Ames parts. In Clayton, North Carolina, USA Auto Body painted the red hardtop PPG Vermillion Red. After adding fiberglass bumpers and an OPG glass hood, the couple was racing by June 2001.
Ava's first time at the track behind the stout 400-powered (525 rwhp) GTO is best described in her own words. "The first time I drove the GTO after watching the engine builder and my husband make test runs, I did nothing right, and it scared me to death. It was nothing like the '68 GTO street car I had been driving. I got out of the car, cried for a while, and got no sympathy from anyone, so I clenched my teeth, got back in the Pontiac and tried again and again and again! As I improved in my handling of the car, it made me angry that my husband Tommy, and John West, the engine builder, could still drive it faster than I could. With great determination, I pulled out all the stops, and now I am pleased to say I have mastered my Pontiac. I can get everything the GTO has to give and can drive it faster and do higher wheel stands than the 2 dudes who maintain it, Tommy and John. They concede that I have made her truly mine!"
Don't think for a minute that Ava is only a point-and-click racer as she can roll with the punches and handle whatever the risks drag racing throws her way. She has and will push her red GTO hard, stressing parts to the limit if necessary to get the win light--just as anybody else should be prepared to do when venturing onto the track. Weak rod bearings and ring gears have learned harsh lessons by standing in Ava's path to victory.
Her experiences paid off when she became a finalist during her first ever participation in the NMCA event at Maple Grove Raceway in 2001. However, the true test of her driving skills occurred October 2002, in Bristol, Tennessee. Ava describes the disaster, "My confidence was growing and my skills were improving when I broke the stock crankshaft victoriously crossing the finish line at 120 mph. As the engine block was disintegrating and 8 quarts of synthetic oil were spilling onto the track, the Pontiac instantly filled with smoke so thick I could not see through the windshield. The vibration was so bad I could barely hold onto the steering wheel and my glasses fell onto my lap. Finding my location on the track through the driver's side glass, steering the car out of the lane, and gradually and gently applying the brakes, I finally managed to stop it without skidding in my own oil.
Tommy didn't allow me any margin for doubt. He fixed the engine with an aftermarket Eagle stroker crankshaft that picked up the e.t. by over a half second, and insisted I get right back in the seat. With great trepidation, I did and turned a 10.23 quarter-mile at Coastal Plains Dragway in Jacksonville, North Carolina."
Now that you know its capabilities, let's talk about the setup of this GTO. Tommy and John West of John West Auto Service (Raleigh, North Carolina) school us on their special formula for this '66 warrior. Take one 400 block of not-so-special 2-bolt '68 GTO vintage, pour in some block filler, then bore (4.150 inch) and stroke it (4.25 inch Eagle crank) for a total 460 ci. Fit the block with Ross forged aluminum, flat-top pistons wrapped in Total-Seal rings on Eagle 6.8-inch rods with Clevite bearings. Install a custom Comp Cams featuring a 278/292-degree duration at .050 with .630/.630 lift installed at 112 intake centerline. Add a set of matching Comp Cams stick roller tappets. Then port, polish and match a set of 87cc Edelbrock heads. Harland Sharp forged aluminum 1.50:1 roller rockers take direction from the cam via chrome-moly pushrods. Bolt on a Performer RPM intake and an 850-cfm Q-Jet carb on top for proper induction and on the exhaust side, install Hedman 2-inch primary diameter race Hedders with 3-1/2-inch collectors and turn out pipes. Tommy claims the Edelbrock Q-Jet has stock .073 jets and AX metering rods that haven't been touched since putting it on.
Down under, a Melling oil pump resides in an 8-quart Moroso stamped-steel oil pan with an Indian Adventures crank scraper and homemade windage tray. Rounding out the combination are a Mallory Comp 250 fuel pump, MSD ignition set (distributor, Blaster II coil, and 8.5mm wires), and Autolite #3923 spark plugs gapped at .045. Total timing advance is 36 degrees at 3,000 rpm and keeping the "Red Hot & Rollin'" GTO (Ava and Tommy's nickname) from getting too hot are a Meziere 25-gpm electric water pump and a Be-Cool electric fan and aluminum radiator. John West freshens the engine after each racing season.
ATI prepared a Turbo 350 transmission with its own brand flexplate and an 8-inch converter with a stall speed of 4,500. Tommy added a Cheetah shifter and B&M transmission cooler. A chrome-moly driveshaft by Fleetpride (Raleigh, North Carolina) twists back to a '70 A-body 12-bolt housing with Moser axles, spool, and 4.56 Richmond Pro gears. Mike's Transmission (Garner, North Carolina) checks the tranny twice a year.
As the big horsepower Goat is only as quick as its suspension will allow the power to be transmitted to the ground, these ol' boys did their homework and got the rear suspension setup down to a science--allowing Ava to do some jaw-dropping and wheel-pulling launches. Because it sees as much airtime as a playground flagpole, the front suspension was left to do its primary unassisted steering duties with the use of stock components--save fully adjustable QA1 shocks.
Moog springs and stock replacement shocks are the only bit of standard hardware you'll see in back. Beyond that, Tommy installed Metco's billet aluminum upper control arm kit and added South Side Machine's lower control arms. At this point things get a little bit tricky as Tommy fabricated a rear stabilizer bar. Bringing all of this Pontiac excitement to a halt are 11-inch solid Wilwood brake rotors up front and standard drums in the rear, all behind Weld Pro Star wheels (15x6-inch front/15x8-inch rear) on Goodyears (28-inch front and 9x30 slicks rear).
Inside the cockpit at the line with Ava is described as so, "I launch at 1,600-1,800 rpm and shift at 6,000. We are around 7,000 rpm through the traps with a 7,200 rpm chip on the engine."
"I also love the reaction of spectators and fellow racers when they see an 'older' woman is driving the GTO. It is always, 'Were you driving that car?' Once folks get over the shock of my age and gender, they are most accepting. Tommy and I have made some wonderful racing friends, and we are dedicated to the sport."
Having retired in spring of 2002, Ava, 53 years young, reflects on her passion for racing, "The fact of the matter is boy toys are the most fun! I love anything with wheels and the faster the wheels turn, the better! My peers thought I was nuts and couldn't reconcile my professional and social life with my racing. Occasionally, I see kids (now grown up) that were students in my English classes or students in the schools where I was principal. They are usually hesitant to approach me because of their disbelief, but when they finally come over to speak with me, they always begin with, "Mrs. Thompson is that really you driving that car?" I just absolutely love it.
 The money shot! Pictures do...  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. |
 The only creature comforts...  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? |
 In 2001 at Jacksonville, North...  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. |
 You won't see anything exotic...  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. |
 The addition of a 12-point...  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. |
 Ava can't say enough about...  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!" |
 Around her hometown of Wendel,...  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. |
 Front and center is an aluminum...  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. |
 Although a bit dark in the...  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. |
 A picture is worth a thousand...  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. |