For 2007, Speedworld Motorplex and Steve Barcak's Pontiac Heaven once again played host to HPP's Pavement Pounders Shootout. Due to a few mechanical difficulties, this year's participant list was cut to three, though each of them is certainly worthy of these pages and will provide potent combinations that you may want to try in your Pontiac.
Lucas Flanscha's Fowler, Colorado-based '76 Firebird decked out in Ultra-Violet Pearl Purple is not only a rolling advertisement for his autobody shop but it's also a low 12-second performer with a 0.030-over 400 powerplant, Turbo 400 and 3.73 gears.
Tony Valdois of Colorado Springs, Colorado, represents the A-body contingent with his clean and quick 11-second street/strip Lucerne Blue '72 LeMans. It features a 0.040 over 455 with KRE heads, a Turbo 350 trans and a 4.11-geared rear.
Ray Baumgardner hails from Phoenix and Speedworld is his '78 T/A's home track. This 0.030 over 455-powered F-body sports a Turbo 400, stout 4.33 gears, and produces 11-second time slips.
Weather Report
The temperature rose from 75 to 86 degrees throughout the day. Density altitude increased from approximately 3,000 to 3,800 feet, so we will multiply by a factor of 0.9635 for e.t. and 1.0348 for mph for 3,800 feet to chart the theoretical best performance at sea level. This will be done on the best pass only for each participant.
Owner Bio: Lucas Flanscha
Talk about making the most of a freebie. Lucas got his Firebird and its title for free just for hauling it away when he was 14 years old. "All my friends told me it would never see the road or track," he recalled. "The looks on their faces the first time I drove it to high school were priceless! I finished 2nd and 1st in my last two years of the high school drags. In '03 I was 3rd, in '04 I was 2nd, and in '05 I was Sportsman Champion. In 2006, I finished 6th my first year of Pro ET," he told HPP. Now 27, Lucas has been racing his Bird for 11 years and owns Wildfire Autobody. He makes time for his wife and three children when he is not racing in the Summit ET series at his home track, running in demolition derbies or working on his '64 421 Grand Prix, two '69 Firebird projects, '70 Bonneville coupe, or '71 Grand Prix.
| Strip Tuning Log |
| Run/Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Pt. | 60-ft. | 1/8-mile | 1/4-mile |
| 1. Jets #86/90, 10.5 psi rear, 35 psi front | 3,000 | 5,200 | 1.67 | 7.69/88.10 | 12.16/109.30 |
| 2. Same | 3,000 | 5,200 | 1.67 | 7.69/88.04 | 12.15/109.49 |
| 4. Same | 3,000 | 5,200 | 1.68 | 7.70/88.18 | 12.16/109.95 |
| 6. Same | 3,000 | 5,200 | 1.68 | 7.70/88.00 | 12.17/109.31 |
| 7. Same | 3,000 | 5,200 | 1.67 | 7.69/88.13 | 12.15/109.94 |
| BEST PASS CORRECTED | 11.70/113.76 |
| Best of 5 passes listed. Run Notes: 1-7) Good clean runs |
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model | '76 Firebird "Wildfire" |
| Race Weight With Driver | 3,516 lbs. |
| Curb Weight | 3,354 lbs. |
| Fuel Level When Last Weighed | Full |
| Fuel | Pump gas and VP racing fuel mixed 1:1 |
| Engine | '75 XZ-code 400 |
| Cubic Inches Before/After | 400/406 |
| Engine Built By | Owner |
| Power Adder | None |
| Induction System |
| Air Cleaner | 9-in diameter K&N |
| Carburetor | Demon 750 cfm |
| Jets | #78/#79 |
| Spacer Plate | None |
| Intake Manifold | Holley Street Dominator, single-plane |
| Fuel System |
| Pump | Holley black electric |
| Lines | 8-AN cell to pump, 8-AN pump to reg., dual 6-AN to carb |
| Regulator | Aeromotive set to 8 psi |
| Heads |
| Casting | '69 #62 |
| Porting | Owner per Jim Hand's book, exhaust crossover filled |
| Flow Numbers | N/A |
| Valves | Ferrea ss 2.11/1.77-in |
| Bottom End |
| Pistons | Speed-Pro forged flat-top, with valve reliefs, 4.15-in |
| Rings | Speed-Pro moly |
| Rods | Stock cast recon, 6.625-in, ARP bolts |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 |
| Crankshaft | Stock cast, 3.75-in stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced | Yes |
| Camshaft |
| Brand | Crower solid, flat-tappet |
| Duration at 0.050 | 252/266-deg |
| Duration Advertised | 300/310-deg |
| Lift With Specified Rocker Arms | 0.524/0.527-in, with lash of 0.018-in |
| Lobe Separation Angle | 110-deg |
| Installed Position | 106-deg |
| Rocker Arms | Harland Sharp 1.60:1 roller |
| Ignition |
| Distributor | MSD Pro-Billet |
| Amplifier | MSD 6AL with 3-step |
| Coil | MSD |
| Wires | ACCEL 8mm |
| Spark Plugs | AC R43S |
| Total Timing | 36-deg |
| Rpm That Total Timing Is Reached | 2,600 |
| Exhaust |
| Headers | Hooker Competition |
| Primaries | 1.625-in |
| Collectors | 3.00-in |
| Exhaust Pipes | 3.50-in |
| Mufflers | Flowmaster 1 chamber 4.00 in. diameter |
| Crossover | None |
| Drivetrain |
| Transmission | Turbo 400 reverse-manual valvebody, transbrake |
| Converter | Hughes, 10-inch, 3,500 rpm stall |
| Shifter | B&M Pro Ratchet |
| Rear | GM 8.5-in |
| Rear Gear Ratio | 3.73:1 |
| Posi | Stock |
| Axles | Moser C-clip replacement-type |
| Chassis and Suspension |
| Brakes F/R | Stock 10.9-in disc/9.5-in (aluminum) drums |
| Wheels F/R | Cragar S/S 15x6/15x10 |
| Tires F/R | Cooper 215/75R14 / M/T 29.5x10.5x15 slicks |
| Tire Pressure F/R | 36 psi/10.5 psi |
| Suspension Front |
| Springs | Stock |
| Control Arms | Stock |
| Stabilizer Bar | Removed |
| Shocks | Summit 90/10 drag |
| Suspension Rear |
| Springs | Stock |
| Stabilizer Bar | None |
| Shocks | Stock |
| Other Features | Slapper bars |
| Chassis Mods | 8-point cage, sub-frame connectors |
| The Rest |
| Interior Mods | Gauges |
| Exterior Mods | Shaker mounted to hood, rear spoiler |
| Safety Mods | Driveshaft loop |
| Paint | Ultra violet pearl purple |
| Launch Technique | Transbrake with 3 step at 3,000 rpm |
| Best 1/8-mile ET, mph prior to event | N/A |
| Best 1/4-mile ET,mph prior to event | 12.646, |
| 105.73 at my home track. 4,900 ft. elevation |
| 11.983, 111.38 at Division 5 E.T. final in Topeka, Kansas |