OWNER BIO: Ken Ondrejko
At age 63, Ken Ondrejko has been racing longer than some of our other competitors have lived--45 years. Though he grew up in Cleveland and has fond memories of seeing famous racers at Dragway 42, this present-day Arizona resident makes his own dragstrip memories with his '61 Catalina. He has three GTOs in the stable as well--two '66s and a '67--but the '61 is special because he had one back in the day, and his wife learned how to drive a four-speed in that Pontiac. Ken still carries a picture of his past '61 in his wallet. And his current '61? When it went on display in Memory Lane at the California Hot Rod Reunion, it was his favorite moment with that Pontiac.
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '61 Catalina |
| Race Weight: | 3,850 lbs |
| Curb Weight: | 3,650 lbs |
| Fuel Level: | 8 gallons |
| Type of Fuel: | 108 octane |
| Engine: | '69 400 bored 0.060 and stroked to 4.25 in |
| Cubic Inches Before/After: | 400/467 |
| Built By: | Steve Barcak |
| Carburetor: | Three Rochester two-barrels, 0.085 jets in all |
| Spacer Plate: | 1-in phenolic resin |
| Intake Manifold: | Tri-Power |
| Fuel System: | Holley Volumax 300gph, 1/2-inch lines, Holley reg. set at 7 psi |
| Heads: | Edelbrock aluminum, 72cc, 2.11/1.66 stainless valves, ported |
| Flow Numbers: | 310-cfm intake |
| Pistons/Rings: | Ross forged flat-top, +0.060 /Total Seal |
| Rods: | Eagle forged-steel, 6.800 in |
| Compression ratio: | 12:1 |
| Crankshaft: | Eagle cast steel, 4.25-in stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft: | Comp solid roller, 262/268-deg dur. at 0.050, 0.631/0.631 lift with 1.5:1 rockers, 110-deg LSA |
| Installed Position: | 4-deg advanced |
| Rocker Arms: | Comp Cams roller, 1.5:1 |
| Ignition: | MSD billet dist., 6AL box, two-step, coil, 8.5mm wires |
| Total Timing: | 35 deg at 2,500 rpm |
| Exhaust: | Hooker headers, 3-in pipes, no mufflers |
| Power Adder: | None |
| Transmission: | Jerico four-speed |
| Clutch: | McLeod pressure plate, disc and aluminum flywheel |
| Shifter: | Jerico V-Gate |
| Rear: | Pontiac, spool, 4.56:1 gears, Strange axles |
| Brakes F/R: | Stock drum/drum |
| Wheels F/R: | Centerline 15-in |
| Tires F/R: | M/T 27.5x4.5x15 / M/T 10.5x29.5x15 |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 35 psi/15.5 psi |
| Suspension Fr: | Stock, stabilizer bar remains |
| Suspension Rr: | Custom fabricated adjustable, airbags, Rancho shocks, stock springs |
| Chassis Mods: | Minitubs in rear, rollcage |
| Interior Mods: | Stock appearing |
| Exterior Mods: | Fiberglass front and rear bumpers and hoodscoop |
| Safety Mods: | Rollcage, driveshaft loop, Lakewood scattershield, RJS harness |
| Paint: | Coronado Red |
| Launch Technique: | Bring the car on the chip at 4,800 rpm |
| Best 1/4-mile ET, MPH Prior to Event: | 11.12 e.t. at Pomona, 123+ mph at Speedworld Motorplex |
| STRIP TUNING LOG |
Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH | Corrected 1/4 E.T./MPH |
| 1. | 35 degrees timing, 15.5 psi in slicks | 4,800 | 5,800 | 1.56 | 7.10/97.30 | 11.13/122.27 | 10.57/128.81 |
| 2. | Same | 4,800 | 5,800 | 1.58 | 7.1597.54 | 11.17/122.92 | 10.60/129.49 |
| 3. | 14.5 psi in slicks | 4,800 | 5,800 | 1.82 | 7.57/ | 11.63/121.53 | 11.04/128.03 |
| 4. | 15.5 psi in slicks | 4,800 | 5,800 | 1.66 | 7.27/96.79 | 11.33/119.01 | 10.76/125.37 |
| 5. | 16.5 psi in slicks | 4,800 | 5,800 | 1.63 | 7.22/97.47 | 11.24/123.17 | 10.67/129.75 |
| Run Notes 1) Straight--good run; 2) Small bog at launch; 3) Car fell flat at launch; 4) Small bog at launch--elimination run slowed at top end; 5) Small bog at launch |