It's a virtual "Hot Rod Reunion" in Orlando for each of the REAL World Street Nationals events.
Everybody that's anybody in fast door slammer drag racing shows up in Orlando and then a hard core, hammer down, wide open, drag race explodes into action. No jets, no circus acts, no throttle stops or delay boxes. No bracket racing, no "boom box" contests, no bull, no "test runs", no dragsters, no practice and NO CRYBABIES! Every run counts at the big dance. Every run counts at the big dance.
SUNDAY FINAL
Gillig,
Ulsch, Berney, and Keenan Collect Championships in Orlando
300
cars, 21,000 spectators, and the best – bar none – heads-up, street-legal doorslammer
racing in the world. That in a nutshell is a recap of the just-completed event
simply known as “Orlando.”
Technically
it’s called the Real World Street Nationals, and this year’s version, the 14th
annual, was an unqualified success. Well, the racers who crashed, broke, or failed
to qualify may have a problem with that assessment, but the vast majority of
fans and racers who jammed the tight confines of Orlando Speed World Dragway
likely have a positive response if asked to evaluate the event.
The
number of race vehicles on hand is even more impressive considering that there
are only four classes – Super Pro Street, Outlaw 10.5, Heavy Street, and Radial
Tires.
In
Super Pro Street,
the premier class of the RWSN, 2003 winner Tony Gillig returned to the winner’s
circle at the expense of fellow Illinois
resident Chuck Samuel, himself a former winner in Orlando.
Gillig,
who is stepping away from his team’s 2004 Mustang after this weekend, took the
win when Samuel got out of the groove and lifted.
In
Outlaw 10.5, consistency won the weekend for Maryland’s Chuck Ulsch, who parlayed a
string of 6.90s into a trip to the final and a classic Ford versus Chevy
confrontation with Brad Brand.
Ulsch
lined his 2002 Camaro up beside Brand’s 1992 Mustang in the final stanza, which
came to a sudden end when Brand pulled the trigger way too early and left a
glowing red bulb in his wake.
The
Heavy Street
battle was a true classic, and in the end it was the all-steel, 3,500-pound ’55
Chevy of California’s Monty Berney taking a very popular win over Philadelphia’s Marino
Cintron.
Berney’s
“shoebox” Chevy put on an amazing show all weekend, running a jaw-dropping
7.177, 199.95 in the semifinals. In the final, Cintron’s ’68 Camaro lurched,
lit the red light and then died at the line, allowing Berney to collect his
first Orlando
victory. He took an easy 7.984, 197.10 jaunt to the finish line.
The
last of the four showdowns took place in Radial Tires, where another Ford
versus Chevy battle was waged between New
Mexico’s Mike Keenan and Floridian Tim Murray.
Keenan, who paced his 1999 Ford Mustang to the No. 1 qualifying spot on
Saturday, completed the weekend sweep by taking out Murray and his 2000 Camaro
7.861, 191.61 to 7.934, 176.09.
SUNDAY NOTEBOOK
The
meatball rolls – Fans of IHRA Pro Stock know the name Frank Meatball”
Gugliotta, but it’s a safe bet that the street-legal faithful may not be too
familiar with the driver from Mount
Airy, Maryland.
Gugliotta,
known in IHRA circles as “The Flying Meatball,” finished third behind Pete
Berner and Tony Gillig in a tight season-long championship battle.
But
just a week removed from last weekend’s tension-filled IHRA season finale
Gugliotta is having some fun for himself here in Orlando. He’s not here to watch, though. No,
he’s here driving a turbocharged ’89 Pontiac Trans Am in Outlaw 10.5 for his
friends Robert and Steven Criskfulli.
“I’m
just out playing for the weekend,” Gugliotta said. “Robert and Steven asked me
to drive, so here I am.”
Gugliotta
qualified the unusual looking Pontiac
in the No. 25 spot with a best pass of 7.387, 194.21. As for a possible future
in the street car ranks, Gugliotta said with tongue firmly planted in cheek,
“yeah, we’ll see about that!”
S
preading
the nitrous gospel – The doorslammer world is well represented in Orlando, and
one of the true pioneers of the Pro Modified category is in the house.
Charles
Carpenter, driver of a 1955 Chevrolet that is arguably the most recognizable
“shoebox” in the sport of drag racing, is taking a busman’s holiday here in
central Florida
this weekend. It’s not a true vacation by any stretch of the imagination,
though, as Carpenter explained.
“We’re
here with Steve Paulauskis and the WFO Racing team this weekend,” he said.
“They run a 2004 Cavalier in the Pacific Street Car Association, and they’re the
current point leader in their class. The car has been running real well this
year – it ran 6.41 at 218 at Las Vegas
in 4,500-feet of air, so it can run. They’ve done real well, and Steve’s a good
driver.
“I’ve
sold Steve a couple of engines,” said Carpenter.” In fact, they have the engine
that ran 6.22 in my car at Martin,
Michigan, earlier this season.
It’s a good piece, and it gives these guys great potential.
“My
son Michael and I came here to help them out this weekend, and we’ve been
having a big time. It’s been kind of a relaxing weekend but also a stressful
one in some ways. We’ve got to watch a lot more racing then we normally do at
the IHRA events.
“I
wouldn’t mind trying this type of racing,” said Carpenter when asked what he
thought of the brand of competition on display this weekend. “We’ve never run
weight in our car like this, but we’re learning stuff out here. We’ve got to
kind of cover all our options because you can never tell. With the way the
nitrous deal is going in IHRA this is looking better every day.”
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SATURDAY TOP QUALIFIERS
Steve King – Super Pro Street
Tim Lynch – Outlaw 10.5
Mike Keenan – Radial Tires
Bill Lutz – Heavy Street
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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK
Shufflin’ Off – The Real World Street Nationals always draw the
who’s who of fast doorslammer drag racing to sunny Florida. Most come
for the racing action, and others come for the weather, but one guy in
particular was there for both reasons.
Engine builder and two-time IHRA Pro Modified champion Mike Janis took
advantage of the scheduling this year to escape from his snow-covered
hometown of Buffalo, New York, and head south.
Just one week removed from the final race of the IHRA season in
Rockingham, North Carolina, and a tough fight for the Pro Mod
championship, Janis reflected on his 2006 campaign and his third-place
finish. “We missed being runner-up by eight points, but we’re real
happy with the way our new car and engine program worked out. We’d like
to find a little more power, but in general we had a great year and we
hope next year is a little bit better.”
Janis ended up in the pit area of Super Pro Street competitor John
Stanley, and he was happy to be there. “I came down here to get away
from the snow in Buffalo and to check out the cars down here,” he said.
Janis also mentioned that maybe he could help Stanley “run some 6.0s
like the Pro Mods are running,” to which John’s dad Camp replied: That
would be right down John’s alley, I believe, although it’s a little
far-fetched.”
Bringing a bazooka to a gun fight – In the world of Outlaw
10.5 racing it’s widely recognized that the quickest, fastest, and
toughest of the breed are two hard-chargers from Georgia. Tim Lynch, of
Woodstock, and Steve Kirk Jr., of Monroe, have developed a rivalry of
legendary proportions, and fans wait with bated breath to see the two
go head-to-head out on the racetrack.
Orlando has been a showcase for Lynch and Kirk for several years, and
this year’s edition promises to be one for the books. Just to be sure
it is both drivers have brought their biggest guns to their personal
war.
In an effort to gain an advantage over his adversary, Kirk has a new
Gene Fulton-prepared 870-cubic-inch beast under the hood of his 2000
Camaro. “We actually did a lot of homework just to do this race,” Kirk
said. “We’ve got the new 870-inch Fulton engine in there. We tested
with it in Valdosta and had some excellent results.”
Kirk may have rolled out the heavy artillery, but Lynch doesn’t appear
to be intimidated. With one qualifying session remaining, Lynch is the
provisional No. 1 qualifier, his 6.934, 212.26 holding sway over –
guess who – Kirk, who has posted a best effort of 6.938, 208.57.
Three For All – There are turbocharged cars in abundance here in
Orlando this weekend, but three of the coolest are the 2001 Mustang of
John Gullett, the 1986 Thunderbird of Erica Ortiz, and the 2004 Escort
wheeled by Dan Parker.
The trio have joined forces to mount a three-pronged attack on the
Super Pro Street class this weekend, and so far the strategy seems to
be paying off. After two qualifying sessions Gullett sits sixth, Parker
is 22nd, and Ortiz is just outside in the No. 36 spot.
The three-car approach has long-range implications, however, as Parker
explained: “We’re trying to evolve a team for next season. We’re really
hoping the IHRA will allow the turbo combinations to run [in Pro
Modified next season] and that’s our plan for ’07. John has a new car,
and we’re going to re-skin Erica’s car to an ’05 Mustang over the
winter.”
As a rookie, Ortiz finished second in Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 points
this season, and was the first woman in FFW competition to run in the
six-second zone at over 200 mph. We’re excited about being here,” said
Ortiz about her first trip to Orlando. “We’ve been improving slowly but
surely, and we’re just taking it one step at a time.”
Change of scenery – A week ago Tony Gillig was in North
Carolina, slugging it out for the IHRA Pro Stock championship. After
leading the points for most of the season, Gillig lost his bid for the
crown to Pete Berner on the final weekend of the season.
“Rockingham was pretty disappointing for us, but to finish number two
with a three-year-old race car and one motor in the trailer was pretty
good,” said Gillig. “We gave it our best shot, but we caught some bad
breaks along the way. We’ll take number two. Racing is racing, so what
are you going to do?.
To help put the disappointment of the previous week behind him, Gillig
has returned to the familiar confines of OSWD, where he has enjoyed
success in the past. In 2003 the Lake Bluff, Illinois, resident took
out Pro Street icon Tony Christian in the Super Pro Street final.
“We’re here to knock these guys around a bit and win this thing again.”
Gillig said. “It’s a cool deal. We won here with the blown small block
car in ’03, and last year we finished runner-up to Shannon Jenkins. I’d
bet on the red car in the final over here.”
The return of Marc Dantoni – After winning five NSCA Pro Street
championships, three consecutive Real World Street Nationals titles,
and taking a shot at Pro Modified competition, Marc Dantoni disappeared
from the racing scene.
His hiatus is about to come to an end.
AT – We hear you have a new car; we hear it’s in the paint shop. What’s the truth?
MD – The new car, a ’67 Camaro, will be out a month from
now. We’re going to be doing a lot of testing with Vinny [Budano] and
Scott [Shafiroff]. It looks like next year whatever class we pick to
run will be a tough class.
AT – Nitrous Oxide?
MD – Nitrous oxide, and two cars probably.
AT – Clutch?
MD – Big clutch.
AT – Of course.
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SATURDAY
An
overnight rain soaked the environs of Orlando Speed World Dragway, but breaking
clouds and brightening skies indicate that it’s full steam ahead for day two of
the 14th annual Real World Street Nationals.
Once
track drying is completed, the second qualifying sessions for Heavy Street and
Radial Tires will get under way. Competitors in Super Pro Street and Outlaw 10.5 had
their second shot at their respective 32-car fields last night, but the late
hour forced postponement of the other two categories.
In
last night’s second session, there were no changes in the Super Pro Street rankings, with Tony
Gillig holding on to the top spot, followed by Annette Summer, Steve
Paulauskis, Kevin McCurdy, and Ed Thornton.
There
were, however, some significant changes among the top five racers in Outlaw
10.5. The top three names on the list remained the same, but all three improved
upon their initial results. No. 1 was Tim Lynch, who went from 7.005, 209.49 to
6.934, 212. Second-seeded Steve Kirk Jr., improved from 7.069, 202.88 to 6.938,
208.57, while Chuck Ulsch also bettered his first run and held on to the No. 3
spot, going from 7.076, 202.24, to 7.001, 190.59.
The
fourth and fifth spots did changed hands, however, with Jeff Naiser displacing
Charlie Dolbin, and Todd Moyer moving up at the expense of Rick Thornton.
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FRIDAY
Orlando, Baby!
It’s hot, hot, hot, and the air temperature is up there,
too! If it’s October and we’re in Orlando,
then we’re at the biggest and baddest outlaw street car race on the planet.
The 14th annual Real World Street Nationals at
Orlando Speed World Dragway kicked off at high noon Friday, and some impressive
numbers have already been posted.
Unfortunately, the first of two planned qualifying sessions
was delayed for well over an hour after Eddie Timal, of Toronto, Ontario,
got out of shape while on a single run. His 10.5 ’74 Pontiac GTO went air born
before rolling, flipping, and landing on the far side of the guard wall. Timal jumped out of the car and gave a
thumbs-up to the crowd, but his car was heavily damaged.
There were 59 cars attempting to qualify for the 32-car Super Pro Street
field, and after the first session on Friday IHRA Pro Stock regular Tony Gillig
led the way. Gillig, who finished runner-up in the IHRA championship chase this
season, paced his mountain motor-powered 2004 Ford Mustang to a pass of
6.548-seconds at 215.10 mph to claim the provisional top spot.
Annette Summer, who qualified No. 1 at last year’s version
of the Real World Street Nationals, held the position again for most of the
session until Gillig made his pass. Summer, who has her turbo-powered ’57 Chevy
here in Orlando this weekend, is currently in the No. 2 slot on the strength of
a 6.577, 218.71 effort.
Rounding out the top-five are Steve Paulauskis (6.690,
211.41), Kevin McCurdy (6.694, 212.41), and Ed Thornton (6.710, 213.77).
66 Outlaw 10.5 racers jammed the staging lanes for today’s
first qualifying session, and since more than half of them will be going home
early or watching from the stands after the 32-car field is set, the
competition is understandably fierce.
As has been the case so many times in the recent past, two
heavy hitters from Georgia
dominated the action. Tim Lynch took the top spot with a pass of 7.005-seconds
at 209.49 mph. Right on his heels was Steve Kirk Jr., who ran through with a
mark of 7.069, 202.88 for the No. 2 position.
The third, fourth, and fifth runners were Chuck Ulsch
(7.076, 202.24), Charlie Doblin (7.156, 197.06), and Rick Thornton (7.158,
195.35).
The biggest turnout of the weekend has been in the Radial
Tires class, with 83 entrants lining up to do battle. Some impressive
performances were turned in by the top runners, with Paul Major clicking off
the best of the best, a class-leading 7.788, 185.56. He was followed by Mike
Keenan (7.813, 190.71), Victor Spires (8.004, 177.09), Tim Murray (8.028,
174.52), and Dave Buckley (8.043, 175.60).
The fourth class of competition here in Orlando is Heavy Street, and there are 60 cars in
the pits. Leading the way after the first session is veteran doorslammer
competitor Monty Berney, who put his California-based, all-steel, supercharged
’55 Chevy in the No. 1 spot with a solid 7.401, 191.32 blast. The No. 2 man was
Bill Lutz, who took the position with an effort of 7.520, 193.29.
They were followed in the order by Sam Gottier (7.577,
180.43), Heath Johnston (7.631, 186.18), and John Schroeder (7.666, 180.79).
Top five after first session of Super Pro Street:
Tony Gillig, 6.548, 215.10
Annette Summer, 6.577, 218.71
Steve Paulauskis, 6.690, 211.41
Kevin McCurdy, 6694, 212.41
Ed Thornton, 6.10, 213.77
Top five after first session of Outlaw 10.5:
Tim Lynch, 7.005, 209.49
Steve Kirk Jr., 7.069, 202.88
Chuck Ulsch, 7.076, 202.24
Charlie Doblin, 7.156, 197.06
Rick Thornton, 7.158, 195.35
Top five after first session of Radial Tires:
Paul Major, 7.788, 185.56
Mike Keenan, 7.813, 190.71
Victor Spires, 8.004, 177.09
Tim Murray, 8.028, 174.52
Dave Buckley, 8.043, 175.60
Top five after the first session of Heavy Street:
Monty Berney, 7.401, 191.32
Bill Lutz, 7.520, 193.29
Sam Gottier, 7.577, 180.43
Heath Johnston,
7.631, 186.18
John Schroeder, 7.666, 180.79
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Eddie Timal had a bad day during the Friday's qualifying for the
Orlando World Street Nationals. Torco's CompetitionPlus.com
photographer Kelly Pelrine captured the Toronto-based 10.5 Tire driver
and his mishap. He was uninjured.
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