Pontiac Pavement Pounders Shootout - Virginia Motorsports Park Part 1

Once again, Chief Pontiac Productions and Virginia Motorsports Park invited HPP to use the newly-renovated NHRA-sanctioned track for our Pavement Pounders Shootout. Although the morning weather was damp, the crew of VMP quickly dried the track and the sun came out for a great afternoon of racing. Eight drivers participated, four of whom are highlighted in Part I, and the second four will be showcased in Part II.

Weather Report
The temperature rose from the high 60s to 73.9 degrees. Density altitude was 1,435 feet, so we will use a factor of 0.9848 for e.t. and 1.0157 for mph for 1,400 feet to chart the theoretical best performance at sea level. This will be done on the best pass only for each participant based on elapsed time. Let's get to the action.

Owner Bio:Duke Jefferson
Duke Jefferson, 57 years old, is a tire technician by trade and has been racing for 20 years. He says he caught the racing bug when he drove a friend's car and experienced burning rubber for the first time. Duke's first Pontiac was a '65 GTO, followed by a '77 Trans Am. He says the GTO took his heart and he has been strictly Pontiac ever since. He bought this '69 Firebird for just $300. Duke says, "I'm happy that I've finally started getting some wins after 20 years in the hobby, and I love the camaraderie of Pontiac-only race events."

Owner Bio:Zachary Edwards
Racing for only two years, Zachary Edwards of Virginia Beach, Virginia, knew he wanted a rear-wheel drive musclecar and opted for a Pontiac-this '05 GTO is his very first. "It's great when someone rolls up to a stop light next to a car that has a commanding presence and sounds like a race car shaking the tarmac apart. That's what I wanted," he says. Zachary took first place in Mid-Class for his club at the New Age GTO Fall Brawl in November, 2006, and looks forward to winning rounds in the future. He is a manufacturing engineer, a member of the GTO Owner Association of Tidewater and enjoys modifying his GTO.

Owner Bio: Billy Farrell
Now 23, Billy Farrell of Bridgeton, New Jersey, bought his Trans Am when he was just 16 years old. "I really liked the appearance of the Third-Gen Firebirds," he recalls. Billy started out knowing "nothing about cars," but says he is pleased with what he has learned. He has completed everything on his Trans Am but the paint. "I am so proud of what I have done," Billy says. "I would like to thank my uncle for getting me into drag racing Pontiacs at a young age. It taught me responsibility. I couldn't imagine living any other way." (Billy poses with wife Ashley and fellow Pontiac racers Rick Garden and Duke Jefferson.)

Owner Bio: Larry Cooper
Larry Cooper says he is "an old guy," at 65 years old. He spent 20 years, 5 months, and 3 days in the U.S. Navy, and began racing after his military retirement. Larry opened Fabulous Firebirds in 1990 and supplied the hobby with parts and accessories for 17 years. Though Fabulous Firebirds is now owned by Robert McNeil, Larry plans to continue racing under the company's banner. He purchased his race car in 1997 and says, "I can't begin to tell you how many modifications I've made over the years." Larry also enjoys helping organizations in his community such as the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW) and the Board of Health in Madison County, Missouri. He has been the Midwest Pontiac Outlaw Race Association contact person since the mid-'90s. (Larry poses with his daughter, Melissa Askins.)

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 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.