I WANT A WALLY TOO
Tough competition in the Summit Series. I had slipped to fifth place
and was hoping to go some rounds in Sunday's race. I was
disappointed.
First round was against a Z06. Don't remember much except he deep
staged.
Track officials swarmed my car en mass after the burn out. I had been in
the habit of racing with my wing windows open - but apparently
that's a no-no in the Summit Series. Guys on both sides were banging
my wings against the roll bar that impedes their closing. I un
buckled to do it right but they opened my doors and got it done. I
had to buckle in again. The Vette had been staged for about a week
now. Probably wondering. Probably pissed.
I backed up for another burn out and staged the next day. The Vette
beat me to the stripe but his 0.568 RT was long and he broke out
doing it. One for me.
Second round was a four time NHRA national event winner. The guy has
four Wallys! Just the week before he was in both of the Summit
series finals at Fontana. He won one. I kept my pedigree to myself.
It was a good race. His 0.523 RT was 0.004 better than mine. I beat
him to the stripe dragging the brakes. The margin was half a fender.
Too much. Half a lug nut would have won it.
Don't mind losing to a better car. Another lesson learned.
The Nova hooked beautifully all day on the Holley vacuum carb's two
barrel launch. Not even a hint of spin.
Saturday before, I configured the car based on previous experience
and expected to see 7.45 to 7.50 ETs. First lap was 7.60 with a 7.58
best all day. So - where did that 1/10 second go? Wasn't the heat -
the air was good.
Weeks ago, after I installed the B.G. double pumper, I had moved the
four link bars a couple of times in search of the Holy Grail of
Hook. Each move put more energy into the suspension searching for
more initial bite and weight transfer. That energy now is not
available to accelerate the car. Cost me a tenth but four link
theory is safe from dispute - like E=MC squared.
Big tires are second in line behind front suspension mods. The front
is too
stiff - need to wake it up a little. Not much is available so its
MacGyver time again. Researching.
I'm still pondering the 33 tall tires. Concerned they may be too fat
in the section width. I'll make a cardboard template to tape on my
tires and spin em around to check the clearances.
I decided to do the springs and shocks first though. That's been on
my To-Do list like since forever. If I put the bigger tires on now,
and they dead hook, it will mask the change, good or bad, from the
suspension mods. I'd rather test the mods with my poorly performing
tires first.
Moroso warns against using there "Trick Front Spring" on the road.
But John Youngblood from Chet Herbert's says he did that for a long
time without a problem. Moroso pointed me to a part number that may
work.
I'll have to adapt some shocks - nothing good is available for the
Mutt II type front end.
Top speed comparison of the Holley and BG carbs is inconclusive.
There is a hint that the BG is too small. The top speeds are
comparable right now but the Holley is running lean.
I'll keep the Holley on for Thursday's race - just tune it up a
little. Jets and the weaker secondary spring.
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