[ponyakr]

They began qualifying today. Had 140 Stockers, including several Pontiacs.

Here is a link to the DRTV coverage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00x_...ture=emb_title

Haven't come up with a qualifying list yet. But, will post as soon as I get it.

A few pics were posted. There are cars belonging to Bob MIchael, Billy Foder, Don Turk, Rob Holmes, Don Kennedy, & I think one pic they posted has part of the front/grill of Billy Nees' '79 Lemans.

[ponyakr]

They're racing at Sonoma.

Only see 2 Pontiac son the Q-lists. One is Ryan Warter's '75 Formy. The other is a '67 Bird, driven by Blayke Phillips. That car has to belong to Bryan Phillips. Assuming the driver is some kin to him. Anybody know the connection ?

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2020#indextop

[ponyakr]

Got Stock & SS Q-lists.

Besides the Stockers I mentioned, Julie Biermann & Chris Stephenson are on the list with their '68 Birds.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r=100#indextop

Also noticed that Bill Rink & Casey McCarty are on the SS list. There is also a 428 powered '08 Cobalt, driven by Irvin Johns. Not familiar with that name.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2020#indextop

So, looks like there are at least 7 Stockers & 4 Super Stockers there, powered by Pontiac.

Rob Holmes is the highest qualified Pontiac Stocker. Bill Rink is highest on the SS list. Also looks like Chris Stephenson is running his '68 Bird in both Stock & SS.

[ponyakr]

"... Irvin Johns. Not familiar with that name..."

Check that. The car is the same one that Todd Frantz has been driving.

Also got a pic of Bill Rink's car, taken at this race. Not sure how old the Cobalt pics are.

[ponyakr]

Here's the link for today's DRTV feed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGe4gdddA9Q

[ponyakr]

In the 1st race of this doubleheader, Don Turk, Irvin Johns, & Tim Gillespie all made it to the 3rd round, in Stock, SS, & S/G respectively.

Qualifying for the 2nd race, plus class elims are tomorrow, with the race on Sunday..

https://www.nhra.com/jegs-sportsnationals/event-flyer

DRTV will provide coverage.

[ponyakr]

Blayke Phillips cut a great light in the 1st round. But in E-2, his opponent cut a perfect .000 light. Also noticed that Bryan Phillips was driving a 4th gen Bird Stocker & lost E-1, as did Ryan Warter.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

This is also a doubleheader race. So, qualifying for the 2nd race will be on Sat. DRTV also has coverage of this race.

https://www.sonomaraceway.com/docume...omadiv7ad1.pdf

Bryan has moved from CA to GA & back again. I think this video is of Blayke makin a pass in Bryan's '67 Bird, back in GA.

https://www.facebook.com/blayke.phil...user_video_tab

This DRC Q-list shows Blayke driving the '67 Bird in a div 2 race, back in 2014. He was #19.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=284103

[ponyakr]

Here's a link for today's DRTV coverage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdz42NsY46Y

Just watched Julie Biermann rip off a 10.597, in Tim Gillespie's '68 Bird. That's .953 under the D/SA 11.55 index.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/NHRA_Classes.aspx

[ponyakr]

Bill Rink just ran a 10.863 on an 11.85 SS/MA index, which is .987 under. That should keep him real close to the top of the Q-list today.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/NHRA_Classes.aspx

Don Kennedy ran a 9.128 on a 10.10 GT/EA index, which is .972 under. At that point during the qualifying round, those 2 Pontiacs were 1-2 on the Q-list.

Chris was listed as driving his '68 Bird in SS. But he's driving a Buick Apollo.

[ponyakr]

Here's the DRTV feed for today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chdJVlnBOPQ

[ponyakr]

Here's the Q-sheets for today.

If you click on each sheet 3 times, they get bigger.

In Stock, Julie Biermann has the only Pontiac on the 1st page. She's in #16 position. The next Pontiac, on page 2, is Chris Stephenson @ .876 under. Next is Rob Holmes @ .862 under. Then Billy Nees is #71. Billy Foder is #99. On page 3, Bob Michael is #111 & Don Turk is #119.

In SS, Bill Rink is #2. Don Kennedy is #4. Irvin Johns is #6. On the 2nd page of SS, Chris Stephenson is still listed as driving a Chevy powered '68 Bird. But, he's driving a Buick Apollo.

[ponyakr]

They ran class elims yesterday.

Rob Holmes won the J/SA class, with his '77 Formy..

Bob Michael won the L/SA class. with his '77 Cat..

Billy Nees won the Combo-Auto class, with his 301 '79 Lemans.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

In E/SA, Chris Stephenson had the 8-car E/SA field covered by a tenth. He had the only car in the 10's, with a 10.89. But, he slowed for some reason, in round 2.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

[ponyakr]

DRTV link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXHU...ture=emb_title

Saw Don Turk & BIlly Nees win their 1st round of Stock.

[ponyakr]

Sunday DRTV link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXhql2xXFIk

Just watched Ryan Warter win his 1st round.

[ponyakr]

Don Turk still in after 2 rounds of Stock.

But lost the next round.

[ponyakr]

Ryan Warter moves into the quarterfinal round.

But there he got treed.

[mgarblik]

Thanks for the continued updates. So great to see cars racing, really appreciate it. Rob Holmes and Bill Rink out of the tiny 2-man engine shop we have operated out of for over 30 years.

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Thanks for the continued updates. So great to see cars racing, really appreciate it. Rob Holmes and Bill Rink out of the tiny 2-man engine shop we have operated out of for over 30 years.

OK, you definitely have my complete attention, & have really peaked my curiosity !

I've read that Bill Rink & some of the other quick Pontiac Stockers & Super Stockers ran engines built by Parsons & Myers.

https://www.classracer.com/classforu...02&postcount=2

So, I have several questions for you. If you prefer not to answer them here, at least please pm me. I'd really like to know more about you, the 2-man engine shop, & all the Pontiac V8 powered class racing details & secrets you are willing to share.

(1) Who are you ?

(2) What's the name & location of the shop ?

(3) What part did you and/or your shop have to do with the engines for the above mentioned cars ?

(4) Did you and/or your shop also do any work on any other part of the cars, including T&T ?

(5) What other competitive Pontiac V8 class racing engines and/or cars did you and/or your shop have a hand in ?

I'd appreciate any info you could provide that will not only give me a better understanding of Stock/SS racing, but might provide info I could share on this & other Pontiac sites.

I've found that most Pontiac guys know very little about class racing. I don't know a lot. But, I've been trying to learn more & share what I learn with others.

Many here think I'm some sort of idiot, & have revealed that fact thru some of their posts here. Sometimes a person who is perceived to be an idiot, actually just don't know as much about a certain subject as he needs to know, in order to talk intelligently about it.

There are guys here who have done quite a bit of class racing. They obviously know a LOT more about it than I do. Some will share some of what they know. Others choose not to. I continue to search for class racing info, wherever I can find it. In that process, I have sometimes asked the wrong questions, to the wrong guys & have regretted it. Haven't give up yet, tho.

[ponyakr]

Sometimes I miss the Pontiac powered S/G & S/ST cars.

At this race, I just happened to see some of the S/G 1st round. There were 2 Pontiac powered cars entered. One was the 33 Ford Roadster, driven by Tim Gillespie. The other was a '68 Bird, driven by Doug Croft. Since they lost, their names may not show up on DRC.

So, I just wanted those here to know they were there, racing S/G, with Pontiac power. At least that's what my info tells me.

If my info is correct, Tim also owns the '68 Bird Stocker that Julie Biermann drives. At this race, she turned a 10.597. I don't know if that's the best ET ever, for the car, or not. Anybody here know ? Tim use to drive the Bird himself.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r=100#indextop

Tim was R/U @ Indy, in '14.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2014#indextop

I know I've mentioned this on this site. But I'll mention it again. The Gillespie Bird has a Heads Up cylinder heads decal on the front fender. They are famous for building the heads on some of the quickest Stockers. There use to be a section on their site, telling some about their NHRA legal stock head porting service. The rules actually say NO porting allowed. But, many of the quickest Stockers have always done some sort of acid porting, & covered it up so that the heads would pass tech. My opinion is that since so many were doing it, & it was so difficult for inexperienced tech guys to find, NHRA just decided to let it go. I suppose it's sort of an unwritten rule. Many here have posted about how much air, heads must flow, in order to make power. Using their info, there's no way that absolutely unported heads could flow enuff to produce the low 10 sec ET's some of the Pontiac Stockers run.

Heads Up removed the info about the Stocker head work they do.

https://www.headsupcylinderheads.com...der-heads.html

[mgarblik]

I sent you a long PM answering questions. I have no hands-on direct involvement with any of the cars you mention in your Class Racer posts. I am friends with most all the Pontiac guys in a 400 mile radius of Dayton, OH and many others running NHRA class cars. Keep up the good work. Love the updates. I think the fact that nearly 6000 have read your posts says allot!