Conclusion
The lesson learned from VMP is that a diverse group of Pontiac hobbyists can have a great time at the track, while providing valuable data to aid HPP readers in building their own projects.
 Duke Jefferson Duke and his...  Duke Jefferson
Duke and his '69 Bird got better and better as the day moved forward, thanks to increasing jet size and launch rpm. He recalls, "The track was good, but the air was not." The best pass was his sixth, posting 10.81 at 120.71 on a 1.42 60-ft time. Of the shootout and the event, Jefferson says, "Have me in more of them. They could not have done it any better." |  Zachary Edwards Zach experimented...  Zachary Edwards
Zach experimented with different tire pressures throughout the day, but ran the same tune. It paid off in the mid-afternoon. His best time was on his eighth of nine total passes, 11.91 at 114.87 on a 1.66 60-ft time. He says, "My GTO hooked well and it was one of my best experiences at a track. The surface was excellent; very sticky." Zachary describes the Shootout as "good track prep, good coordination, good atmosphere." |  Billy Farrell Billy used...  Billy Farrell
Billy used engine timing and tire pressure to find his best attack. His '84 T/A ran consistently, varying only 0.2 second all day. His best pass was his fourth, turning a 10.89 at 122.24 on a 1.45 60-ft time. Billy says, "My car hooked up well and went straight. It was a nice track." He also enjoyed the Shootout. "I was able to make passes, change things, and have a great time testing and tuning." |
 Larry Cooper Larry amazed...  Larry Cooper
Larry amazed the crowd with trap speeds consistently exceeding 150 mph in his '71 Firebird. His tuning consisted of varying his tire pressure between 7 and 8.5 psi while working with a tried-and-true engine combo. His best pass was his second of the day, an 8.92 at 151.49 mph on a 1.30 60-ft time. Larry says, "The track was awesome, it was prepared very well, and everybody was so friendly." Regarding the shootout Larry says, "It was a stellar Pontiac event and we had a fabulous time!" | | |
Duke Jefferson showed us that a Pontiac doesn't need to have a million-dollar paint job to give its owner the best time of his life. His '69 Firebird was built to go fast, and that's exactly what it did. Duke's friendliness and great attitude can get him invited to any track.
Zachary Edwards showed us that the new GTO contingent is as Poncho-passionate as the traditionalists are, and can proudly carry the Pontiac torch. He has been racing for only two years, but came to the track with a great attitude, excellent racing skills and a head/cam package on his GTO that made it a worthy contender against the traditional Pontiacs.
Billy Farrell showed us that drag racing is a wholesome sport and can be a great life experience for its owner. He built his '84 T/A entirely by himself, learning as he went along. It was great to see a self-taught racer/builder who takes the time to give his passion back to the hobby.
Larry Cooper proved that you are never too old to go fast, especially when there is a big-inch alcohol-fueled Pontiac motor in your Firebird. Larry's team was top-notch and was an inspiration for the other racers. Stay tuned for Part II next month.
HPP would like to thank Jim Zeek, Chief Pontiac Productions and the management and crew of Virginia Motorsports Park for their assistance in making this shootout possible.