At The Track
Arnie Brewer
Arnie's first pass in his '67 Tempest was a 13.14 at 101.77 mph, and it set the benchmark for him throughout the day. "I was very disappointed after the first pass when I saw I had only run a 13.14," Arnie says. "I was expecting very low 12s. I tried to tune the Tempest by changing the timing and the shift points, but it ran worse every time. On the third pass, when it ran a 13.30, I knew there was something wrong mechanically. The next time out, it lost oil pressure and spun a rod bearing. I've been a mechanic for 30 years, and even professionals run the risk of an engine failure on the track."
On his Pontiac's performance, Arnie says, "It hooked up well, but I was really disappointed that the engine went." Of the event, he says, "It was great and a lot of fun. The HPP guys did a professional job, and I enjoyed the photo shoot."
Jeff Widner
Jeff made an incredible nine passes in his '98 Trans Am. His best was his seventh, a 10.78 at 123.33 mph, due in part to switching out his stock battery for a lighter unit. He kept his engine tuning consistently but varied the pressure in his tires and right rear airbag. Although Jeff's Trans Am has a nitrous setup, his times are all on motor.
Of his Pontiac's reaction to the track, Jeff tells us, "My car worked very well with the track conditions. It didn't pull at all, and there were no slick spots." Of the event, he says, "I loved the people and the track. It was a perfect day."
Conclusion
The race cars we present in Part 4 define the differences between traditional and modern engine combos in Pontiac stockers.
With a moderately built 400, Arnie Brewer did what many people do: modified his Pontiac to enthusiastically enjoy drag racing. Though he had bad luck on this day, the combo produced 12.25 e.t.'s at 108 mph prior to the event.
Jeff Widner showed us why late-model Trans Ams are so popular at drag races and events like HPP Shootouts. His T/A consistently produced high-10-second timeslips, and did so without the cooldown periods required by traditional Pontiac engines. Like many modern-day Pontiac drag racers, late-model T/As and GTOs are the Pontiacs of choice. With their LS-series engines, they effectively compete in many classes of drag racing.
Whether you're a purist and will embrace only traditional Pontiac power until the day you die, or you've joined the LS contingency and its plethora of performance offerings for today's Pontiacs, we're certain both of the Ponchos featured in this Shootout can give you plenty of options to consider when it's time to build your next project.
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.