[BAD2000TA]

Doc, it may have taken me several days to go through each page, but I finally got done! Excellent insight into one of the coolest cars to race the hollowed grounds around Detroit during those wonderful years. Thank you for all your research and attention to details. I learned a lot!!

I was not old enough to experience the street racing back then (born in '67). But, my dad had a '68 Roadrunner (383 auto) that Mom used to race around town (Dad was in the USAF and station in Korea in late '67 to early '69). When Dad got back, he traded the '68 for a new '69 Roadrunner - 383 4-speed with Air Grabber hood. That was our family car for 10 years (in Buffalo, NY!! not the greatest snow car, but these were "just" cars then!).

My uncle raced the streets in Buffalo in the late '60's and '70's. He worked at GM's Tonawanda engine plant, where they made big block 396, 427 and 454's. But, Uncle Pauly was a Mopar guy!! He had 3 Superbirds (would wreck one, then get another), had a Hemi Cuda, 340 Demon. The funniest story was hearing him talk about after work at Chevy, he and his crew would sit up on the Superbird's wing drinking beers!! Good times!!

Me, well, my first car was a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 383, auto. I was a Mopar guy, too. It was a cheap car - $375. But a real R/T. The 383 was gone, replaced with a 318. I found and rebuilt a 383 from a '68 Dart and drove that car for 4 years. Then some kid offered me $1000. WOW - I was rich!!! LOL.

After getting married, I realized a needed another car to drive to work, while keeping the mileage down on the wife's leased car. So, I found an ad for a 1980 Trans Am that needed "carb work" - $400. I go check out the car, talk the guy down to $350 and brought it home. The carb work it needed was directly related to the spark plugs wires not on the right cylinders!! Now I was a Pontiac guy!!! This Trans Am was black, with the red custom interior, 301 4bbl. I found a '73 455 block and #96 heads, had the block bored and cleaned, ordered a Wolverine cam and was in business!

When I moved to Houston in 2000, my daily ride was a 1986 Firebird that I installed a 305 Tuned Port Injected 305 and 5-speed. But, it didn't have air conditioning. So, I last two whole weeks before going to the local Pontiac dealer and buying a 2000 Pontiac Trans Am, with 6-speed. What a cool car! I was still a Pontiac guy!!

That car was stolen in 2006 and I found a low mile 2001 WS6 Trans Am 6-speed, black of course. I've since built a stroked LS6 motor for it. Lots-O-Fun!!

Anyways, I really enjoyed reading all about the history of the Black Bird and the associated stories. As a Mopar guy, I knew a lot about the legend of the Silver Bullet. Now I know the rest of the story!!! Thank you!