Conclusion
Pontiac's A-Bodies are among the most popular to bring to the dragstrip, and though the three examples in our story share different eras of the same platform, their combos and timeslips vary widely.
At The Track Ken Deabenderfer...
At The Track
Ken Deabenderfer
Ken had the quickest Pontiac in Part I of our Shootout. His first pass was an incredible 10.13 at 132.02. His tuning strategy was to focus on changing his carburetor jet sizes and fuel pressure but maintain consistent timing. Although changing to No. 77 jets contributed to a 0.01 second loss on his second pass, the change paid off on his third pass, which earned him his best timeslip of the day at 10.09 seconds. Ken said that even though he experienced some tirespin throughout the day, track conditions were excellent and he enjoyed the "opportunity to test and tune all day long."
Steve Liebert It's not often...
Steve Liebert
It's not often you find a grocery-getter LeMans stuffed with a 455 H.O., so everybody at the Shootout was excited to see how Steve's wagon would perform. His first pass was a 13.59 at 96.39, with 40 degrees of timing. Steve's tuning consisted of backing off his timing in 2-degree intervals. On his third pass, with 38-degrees timing, he dropped 0.09 off his time for a 13.50 at 97.26. On his fifth pass, he dropped timing down to 36 degrees. This resulted in his best timeslip of the day, a 13.47 at 97.96. Steve felt his times could have been better. "My converter is a little loose for this motor," he said. "I seem to be dropping speed past the 1,000-foot mark." Like his fellow racers, Steve described the track conditions as "excellent," and that "there were no slick spots." Of the event, he said, "I enjoyed having ample time to tune and cool down. I also enjoyed checking out everybody's Pontiacs to get ideas for the future."
Ron Meyer Ron's first pass...
Ron Meyer
Ron's first pass was a 12.00 at 109.90 mph, and he told HPP that his goal was get the GTO to break into the 11s. He did it on his second pass-an 11.95 at 110.64 mph-and he stayed there all day. His best timeslip came on his sixth pass, an 11.84 at 111.69 mph. Ron attributes his great timeslips to dialing in his total timing to 34 degrees with 12 psi of tire pressure. When asked about the track, Ron told us, "The track conditions were excellent. My GTO hooked well, and there were no slick spots." Of the event, he said, "It was a very relaxed environment. I enjoyed talking to other racers about tuning tips."
Ken let the Shootout know that a Tempest can be transformed into a serious contender with the right engine. His 511ci MR1 block was specifically built for drag racing, and it was no surprise that he held the best times among our three competitors.
Ron showed us how minor tuning adjustments can have positive effects on performance. Although 12.00-flat was a respectable timeslip for his steel-bodied street/strip GTO, he was able to get it into the 11s, merely by adjusting his timing and tire pressure.
Steve showed us that grocery-getters are a whole lot of fun, and they add a unique flavor to a competition usually dominated by two-door coupes. His 455 H.O. is a mild combination right now, but it gives Steve the opportunity to improve his e.t.'s with further modifications, if he so desires.
Whether your plans are to drag race a Tempest sold to you by an older family member, a GTO like the one you had high school, a wagon that you use to go to the mall with, or whatever vintage Pontiac is special to you, the cars, engine combos, and driver tuning strategies detailed in this Shootout can help you accomplish your goals.
HPP would like to thank the management and crew at Summit Motorsports Park for their assistance in making this Shootout possible.