Been essentially racing myself for the last few years trying to get my '65 Belvedere to go into the 11's.
This weekend I took it the the Monster Mopar event at Norwalk and entered it into Nostalgia Super Stock. A good bunch of race cars and drivers. Big challenge for a newbie.
After time trials, it was obvious that I was not going to be able to run on the 12 flat index. I likely couldn't do better than 12.25. So I ran the 12.50 index. Kinda goes against my grain to slow the car down but you gotta play the hand you're dealt.
How to slow a car down? Well, add
weight. Put the trailer tire in the trunk, properly secured with the proper jack base, hook and wing nut, fill the gas tank and carry other real important things in the car like an air tank and spare tools. That added 95# which knocks off about a tenth. Then lower your shift point. If that doesn't work, then lift early. Got down to only .035 below the index on my last run.
But forgot one important point on my last run - watch your opponent. I realized after the run was over that he crossed the finish line two car lengths behind me. Just a little
braking and I was a winner and going on into the next round. Instead, I wasted an .025 holeshot and a .090 finish line advantage.
I ran a gamblers race and two complete NSS races. The best I did was to make it to the third round (of 7 rounds since there were 51 cars in NSS) but it was a great learning experience. Another race in two weeks.
Akron Don Gallimore