ULTIMATE DOORSLAMMER REVIEW
Some years back, when Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com was in its third year of existence and popular graphics designer Rod Burke of Burke Designs was looking to build a name for his budding business, we decided to pair together on a pretty neat project that would (A) build his name in the industry by showcasing his talents and (B) satisfy our desire to step into a realm previously only occupied by the legendary Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine. The legendary magazine made a habit of creating renditions of futuristic race vehicles.
Let’s revisit this wonderland of fantasy (and not real) and step into the realm of doorslammer Heaven.
The year is 2001 and the first season of the Pro Modified exhibitions with the NHRA. At the time, no one really knew what to expect of the program. That’s why we painted this picture of eight dream-induced, ultimate door slammer combinations.
Some years back, when Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com was in its third year of existence and popular graphics designer Rod Burke of Burke Designs was looking to build a name for his budding business, we decided to pair together on a pretty neat project that would (A) build his name in the industry by showcasing his talents and (B) satisfy our desire to step into a realm previously only occupied by the legendary Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine. The legendary magazine made a habit of creating renditions of futuristic race vehicles.
Let’s revisit this wonderland of fantasy (and not real) and step into the realm of doorslammer Heaven.
The year is 2001 and the first season of the Pro Modified exhibitions with the NHRA. At the time, no one really knew what to expect of the program. That’s why we painted this picture of eight dream-induced, ultimate door slammer combinations.
#1 – Bruce Allen/Lee Shepherd/ Reher & Morrison - '77 Monza
With David Reher now building Pro Modified engines for Shannon Jenkins and Mike Castellana, here comes our first offering. Imagine this. A pair of 1977 Monza coupes, one equipped with a 350-inch twin turbocharged Chevrolet and the other, a mountain motor (850-cid) with electronic fuel injection. Okay, just to satisfy your curiosity, Shepherd would run the EFI large displacement engine while Allen would set records with the turbo car.
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Jack
Roush - '74 Maverick
If Roy Hill can still do it, we’re sure that Butch Leal can too. This was a popular design a few years ago because another internet magazine essentially “borrowed” the rendering and said their sources had indicated that Leal was making a comeback. We can’t help but think Pro Modified in the 60s and 70s would have appealed to the man nicknamed as the “California Flash.” We can see nitrous purging out of a Hemi. Hey, that would be a novel concept, huh?
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Warren Johnson - '68 Hurst/Olds
We still have those visions of Warren Johnson running the real mountain motor, or as he calls them – the diesel engines. This is fantasy land, correct? While we’re dreaming -- how about the Professor in a Hurst/Olds with an EFI, nitrous-injected powerplant lurking beneath the low profile hood?
Bill Jenkins/Joe Lepone, Jr. - '74 Vega
How could you have a fantasy doorslammer spice and not include Da’ Grump? Could you ever really imagine the Grump in anything but a tube-chassis Vega? If Jenkins is fielding it, we’re guessing this will be a small block with turbos and nitrous. We'd even bring back Joe Lepone, Jr., to drive and he'd be a natural since he's living in the Carolinas now.
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That was the nitrous fraternity. How about those blown monsters?
Shirley Muldowney - 1971 Mustang Mach 1
I did mention to Shirley that she ought to try a Pro Modified one day and I got the stare. You know what I’m talking about, the ‘are you out of your mind?’ stare. Close your eyes. Shirley rolls to the water in this supercharged 1971 Mach 1 Mustang powered by one of those vicious Hemis and tuned by Mike Kopchick of Rage Fuel Systems. We’ve got some money that says she could hold her own against the boys.
John Force - 1940 Ford Panel Wagon
If Pro Modified would have existed in the 70s, we would have seen John Force behind the wheel. When Pro Modified first came out, Force was quite the spectator and when Paul Athey collided with Ronnie Hood on the burnout at one event, only to back up like nothing happened, Force said that is what made him fall in love with the class. The perfect Force car? How about a ’40 Ford Sedan Delivery with sponsorship from Castrol GTX, Ford and AMP Energy Drink.
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Larry Morgan - 1958 Plymouth Fury
All you need to hear is Larry Morgan to go on a “You Can’t Fix Stupid” rant and you’d know he would be perfect for a Pro Modified ride. Being the Mopar man that he is, a blown Hemi in a 1958 Plymouth Fury would be the perfect combination. We’re not discussing anything else on the car for obvious reasons.
Bob Glidden - 1979 Plymouth Arrow
Bob Glidden never met a golf course that he didn’t like. With a 12-race schedule, he might have some time for the golf game, but not likely. He’d work 24/7 – 365 days a year wringing every ounce of Hemi horsepower that he could out of this Hemi-powered Plymouth Arrow. The perks of the sponsorship might be worth it.
Bobby Bennett - 1959 Cadillac
Now you really didn’t think I was going to go through this whole fantasy land without offering my personal dream into the mix. How about a Vanishing Point Race Cars-built, supercharged Hemi in a 1959 Caddy? Then we could add sponsorship from Circus, Circus casino along with Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com. This classic sled will be a lot lighter than it looks.
So which do you like the best?
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