Pontiac Funny Car Sets New MPH Record
Remember Joe and Scott Robert's Pontiac-powered Funny Car that set the national record for quickest Pontiac with a 6.599 e.t. at Virginia Motorsports Park on November 22, 2009 (HPP Tribal News, May '09)? The car now has a '97 Firebird body and set another record: quickest mph for Pontiac-powered race cars at Pontiac Heaven on April 4, 2009.
The S&W Top Alcohol Funny Car Chassis is home to a 475ci Pontiac engine featuring an IA II block with a 4.00-inch stroke billet crank, a 4.350-inch bore, Tiger heads, and and Enderle mechanical fuel-injection system. Power is transferred through a Lencodrive two-speed transmission with a Coan 10-inch bolt-together converter, a Mark Williams 9.5-inch modular rear with aluminum center section, and 4.10 gears.
Here’s the information
from its timeslip: |
| MPH | 213.7 |
| 60-ft | 1.03 |
| Reaction | 0.415 |
| E.T. | 6.59 |
Artist Loves Pontiac Carburetors
Shawn Hardgrove is a 35-year-old artist who has a passion for Pontiacs and the talent to create original colored pencil drawings of Pontiac carburetors (and other auto-related items, too). He's the son of Jon Hardgrove, owner of The Carburetor Shop, the company that specializes in restoring Pontiac and 1974-and-older carburetors.
"I started drawing in 2004 with colored pencil, but have only recently drawn [Pontiac-themed] pieces," Shawn tells HPP. "The first was a pencil drawing of a '60s-era Carter AFB carburetor. I drew it as a birthday present for my father. I knew that he would like it because carbs are his business and the AFB is one of his favorites. The second drawing was for a gentleman in Michigan, [Tim John] who had seen a photo of the AFB drawing that my father had posted on an Internet website. He was so taken aback by the details of the AFB that he simply asked if I would like to draw a Tri-Power and manifold setup so detailed that it looked like it was ready to bolt right onto the engine. I took on the challenge of this drawing, and you can see the results."
Shawn says he's currently seeking out new customers who would like a drawing for themselves, or as a gift for someone. "I can draw just about anything automobile related, from carburetors to complete cars to your favorite Pontiac at the dragstrip. I charge $425 for a 19x24-inch, or $325 for an 11x17-inch drawing. These prices include shipping and insurance [within the U.S.]." For further information, call Shawn at (573) 690-6093 or email him at shardgrove2002@yahoo.com.