At The Track Jim Jammel/Charlie...
At The Track
Jim Jammel/Charlie Cimino
Jim was delayed from arriving at the Shootout due to his son's high school graduation, so Charlie Cimino offered to handle the driving duties for him. His best pass was his second of three attempts at the track, an 8.176 at 166.81. Of the Pontiac's performance, Charlie commented, "The car ran its best mph ever as a result of some new changes. It hooked up pretty well on the first two passes, but went right on the third." Of the event, Charlie said, "We had a chance to test a few new things at a great facility, with good friends, old and new."
Conclusion
The engine combos showcased illustrate what can be accomplished on the strip with judicious poking and stroking of a traditional Pontiac engine.
Jim Jammel showed us how his tube chassis Firebird got to be one of the quickest Pontiacs in the country. By utilizing the expert techniques of engine builder Gaby Labiosa of Wilson Manifolds, Jim is at the top tier of amateur Pontiac racers. His vehicle performed within 0.032 throughout the day, proving that it has the consistency to compete in the Bracket Classes as well.
Charlie Cimino showed that a steel-bodied GTO is a serious contender in the 9-second slot when outfitted with a well-tuned Pontiac stroker combo and chassis. Though he took his racing seriously, he came with a great sense of humor that had the Shootout participants laughing all day long.
Rob Toro proved that a daily driver Firebird can be turned into a strip contender with the right plan and dedicated effort. By stroking a 400 engine, he produced stout results at the track, and consistent e.t.'s in the mid-10s.
Allen Bristow reminded us that Pontiac racers always strive to improve their ride's potential. Last year, Allen's 421 suffered a catastrophic failure, and he returned to VMP this year with a fresh build and a winning attitude. His fullsize Pontiac was fun to watch on the strip, and the classic lines of the Grand Prix looked timeless when he propelled it down the track.
All four of our participants found that stroker combos can provide great benefits on the strip, whether their quarter-mile goals were the 8s, 9s, 10s, or 12s. If you desire to take your Pontiac to the next level, perhaps one of these stroker combos will be right for you.
HPP would like to thank Chief Pontiac Productions, and the management and crew of Virginia Motorsports Park for their assistance in making this Shootout possible.
Charlie Cimino Charlie made...
Charlie Cimino
Charlie made four passes in his '65 GTO, in addition to driving Jim's Firebird. His tuning adjustments consisted of varying the psi in his rear tires. Ultimately, his best pass was his first of the day, a 9.66 at 134.97 mph. He recalled, "It was mad fun. I'd love to do this every week." Of the track, Charlie commented, "It was great early, then it got greasy. Overall, VMP is a great facility." For future events, Charlie wants to see cooler temperatures, and racing earlier in the morning or later at night.
Rob Toro Rob's '67 Firebird...
Rob Toro
Rob's '67 Firebird was dialed in when he arrived at the event. He maintained consistent launch and shift points, and varied his timing for only one pass. His best timeslip came on his fifth of six runs, a 10.36 at 127.81 mph. He said the Shootout was a great chance to evaluate the performance of his car and compare it to other quality Pontiacs, and that the event was "a great and fun day." He described the track as a very clean facility, and well maintained. It also allowed his Firebird to hook well. For future Shootouts, Rob wants to see more heads-up competition between the racers.
Allen Bristow Allen's Grand...
Allen Bristow
Allen's Grand Prix made nine passes on the VMP track. His best time was on his final run where he secured a 12.67 at 108.26 mph. Throughout the day, he experimented with timing and testing of his new electric fuel pump. He said, "It was a great time. I loved all the time on the track." He described the conditions as "excellent," and said his Grand Prix hooked up well. For future events, he said he wants to see more nostalgic Pontiacs tearing up the track.