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Ten Five Racing Association Holds Third Event at Silver Dollar
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Report and photos by Erica Ortiz-Lugo |
Though much concern was given to the impending arrival of Hurricane Charley, Reynolds , GA was blessed with sunny skies for the 3 rd TFRA/TSRA racing event this past weekend. With (17) entries in Outlaw 10.5, (8) Top Sportsman contenders, (59) Super/Pro competitors, and (35) 6.0 & 7.0 racers, it seemed like the weather didn't scare off too many racers.
As these two fired and roared to life, the crowd was on their feet in anticipation. They staged up, and the two cut near identical reaction times in what would be the closest race of the evening. But Pilcher got there first, running 4.163 @ 175.05 against Parker's 4.229 @ 173.41. Second round, Parker seemed unfazed by Johnny's earlier round win as he pulled into the lanes: “We underestimated what the track could hold last pass, but we've got plenty left in it.”
By this point, the sun had left the skies, and the track had cooled significantly. Pilcher and Parker entered the waterbox under the lights, and with the crowd on their feet, the two vettes left lit by the twin sets of blue flames out of the headers. The glory and match would go home to Alabama , as Pilcher got there first with a 4.149 @ 175.64 to Parker's wildly out of shape 4.26 @ 168.28.
Outlaw 10.5 had some excitement in qualifying, as Brad Brand lit the scoreboards with a 5.52 much to the crowd's amazement. But further inspection showed a .88 60', which left little doubt that the ET was a glitch, and was thereby thrown out. At the end of qualifying, Josh McClelland held the pole with 4.708 @ 152.42. Other pole holders were Ronnie Davis in Top Sportsman with a 6.914 @ 201.10, Denardo Barron in 6.0 with a 6.004 @ 114.84, and Kevin Robinson in 7.0 with a 7.000 @ 103.64.
The Top Sportsman finals had Billy Vaughn over Robert Sellers, 7.377 @ 181.28 to a quicker but losing 7.317 @ 190.97. 6.0 winner Jerry Bryant defeated Eugene Dixion 5.955 @ 144.91 to 5.916 @ 117.02. Dennis Smith won 7.0 with a 7.006 @ 94.82 against Clifford Brooks 7.013 @ 97.43, and Peabody Harrell took the Super/Pro win with a 4.986 @ 137.13 when Jason Wick broke. Overall, it was a great weekend for this growing organization. The next TFRA/TSRA event will be October 1 st -3 rd in Reynolds , GA. |
The talk of the night: a match race between Georgia-Alabama rivals Johnny Pilcher in his ‘63 Pro Mod Corvette, and Dan Parker, driving Mike Hill's Pro Mod split window. 700+ cubic inch nitrous motors power both of these ultra-sleek Corvettes, and a battle of tuning and driving skills was about to begin. 
The second round win would go to Parker on the Georgia side with a 4.34, as both cars were forced to pedal, and Pilcher had to abort the run after the car made a violent right out of the gate. With the score was tied at 1-1, both vettes would be back for the deciding 3 rd round. 
Amidst all the excitement, Fun Ford Weekend regular John Gullett was making some test passes in his newly twin turbocharged Pro 5.0 ride. Everyone went crazy when on the last pass of Saturday night, John lit up the boards with a 6.64 @ 214 mph! 
A difficult qualifying session seemed to have taken its toll on many of the Outlaws, as there were many qualifiers missing from Eliminations due to breakage. First round, Rob Hale defeated Randy Petet 4.858 to a 5.043. Brad Brand got lucky when Longley couldn't make the call, and he roasted the tire on the 5.198 bye run. Tim West took the win with Rhodes broke, and Marcus Birt sailed to a victory against Carlton Thompson when his turbocharged mustang rolled through the beams. It was Ronnie Davis over Steve Kirk 4.876 to a 4.960, Barfield had the automatic win after Geothe red lit, Calvert won over a broke Robinson, and Josh McClelland cruised down track with the bye of the round. 
Second round, Barfield sent West home 4.790 to a 5.006. Davis took out the #1 qualified McClelland 4.883 to 5.058, Calvert over Brand 5.054 to 5.358, and Hale over a broke Birt. Round 3, Barfield took out an injured Calvert, and Hale defeated Davis 4.768 to 4.879. This left Rob Hale and Jack Barfield in the final. Barfield gets the jump on the tree, and stays out ahead of Hale, defeating him with a 4.772 @ 152.23 to Hale's 4.806 @ 153.09. 
