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#1
09-15-2020, 04:22 PM
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Vic Santos '85 GT Bird
I've mentioned the '82 "Hatari" Bird that Peter Biondo drove to his 1st SS nat championship, back in the '90's. Then Bruce Fulper raced it for a while, winning class @ Indy, in around '04.
Next oldest model 3rd gen GT car I can think of was once raced by Victor Santos. He did quite well with it. Here is some of what I found. The DRC records begin with the 1998 season. That's where the Vic Santos Bird shows up. So, I don't have a clue when he 1st raced it. 4/17/98 - Fram Nats - #36 - .742 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=39436 9/12/98 - 1998 North American Nats - #2 - .846 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=43256 9/8/07 - div 1-6 - #34 - .907 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=43256 5/24/08 - div 1-2 - #4 - 1.253 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=158846 8/23/08 - div 1-5 - #3 - 1.229 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=166659 6/23/12 - div 1-3 - #1 - .899 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=252597 7/21/12 - div 1-4 - #1 - 1.082 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=254746 10/12/12 - Dutch Classic - #5 - 1.097 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=260817 5/22/13 - Richard Nat Open - #1 - 1.160 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=268941 6/20/14 - New England Nats - #2 - .995 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=286517 7/19/14 - div 1-4 - #1 - 1.087 under - 3rd Place. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=287877 https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=288066 6/12/15 - NE Nats - #1 - .996 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=300185 6/27/15 - div 1-3 - #2 - 1.010 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=300994 10/12/15 - Dutch Classic - #1 - 1.150 under - R/U. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=306885 https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=306936 10/22/15 - Set GT/IA nat record @ 9.99 !  https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=307322 7/24/16 - div 1-4 - #2 - Made it to semi-finals. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=315910 Vic sold the car to Bill Kennedy. I'll post some of his results next. |
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#2
09-15-2020, 04:49 PM
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Bill Kennedy 3rd Gen GT Bird
Bill Kennedy began driving the car in 2016. It is 400 powered. Most of the 400 powered GT cars run either 6X heads or 4X heads. As posted, most who run 4X heads probably claim a '73 model 200hp big car 400 engine, cause the NHRA hp factor is a bit lower than for the '74 model, at least at the time I'm posting this. 275hp vs 290hp. But NHRA could change that at almost any time.
http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...5&MAKE=Pontiac http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...9&MAKE=Pontiac The '77 -'78 6X head 400's are now factored @ 289hp for GT/Auto. I suppose that's because there have several really quick Birds running the 6X head 400. That's why most guys try not to run any quicker than they have to. Lots of NHRA class racers have run their combo too quick & rendered it almost non-competitive, for heads-up runs. At this race the car is listed as an '83 model. But, it's running GT/IA. Bill did have an '83 Bird. But, it had a 305 & ran SS/KA at the div 1-4 race. So, I'm pretty sure Bill was driving the Vic Santos '85 Bird at this race. 8/6/16 - div 1-5 - #3 - .981 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2016#indextop 8/20/16 - div 1-6 - #2 - .969 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2016#indextop 5/27/17 - div 1-2 - #8 - .898 under - Won 4 rounds. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2017#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop 6/8/17 - Summer Nats - #3 - .987 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2017#indextop 5/14/18 - Atco NO - #15 - .855 under - Got to Semi-Final. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop 5/26/18 - div 1-2 - #9 - .818 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop 8/18/18 - div 1-6 - #3 - .905 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop 9/13/18 - Dodge Nats - #6 - .882 under - Round 4 finish https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop 8/4/19 - div 1-4 - 3rd Place. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=355024 9/12/19 - Reading Nats - #14 - .831 under - GT/MA Class Winner https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=356338 https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=356344 10/3/19 - Dutch Classic - 3rd Place https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=357361 6/20/20 - div 1-1 - #5 .883 under - Won 3 rounds. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=361197 7/4/20 - div 1-2 - #7 - .778 under - Won 3 rounds. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=361673 8/20/20 - div 1-3 - #6 - .904 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=362951 Last edited by ponyakr; 09-15-2020 at 05:24 PM. |
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#3
09-15-2020, 10:58 PM
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McCarty 3rd Gen
It seems that the '91-'92 model 3rd gens are preferred by many. I suppose it's because of the different nose. But I actually like the earlier 3rd gen models. Also prefer the earlier type rear deck spoiler. But, opinions & preferences differ.
Anyhow, another of the earlier 3rd gen GT cars is the McCarty 3rd gen. I think Lynn drove it originally. Casey has been the driver, more recently. I think it has mostly run an SD455. I think the McCartys are still members here. So, for any info I get wrong, maybe one of them will chime in & correct it. I've seen it listed as several different year models, from '84 thru '90. Don't have a clue what model it actually was, from the factory. I'll look at some race results & post a few of it's better performances. I think it's SD455 powered. But, they may have tried different combos. A quick look shows it in 2011. Although it ran a 9.96, that wasn't quite quick enuff to make the 128 car field, on the Q-list. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=237025 But, he got into the race as an alternate, & made it to the 2nd round. There he had a heads-up run with Peter Biondo, in the Phil Monteith Pontiac powered 4th gen GT Bird. We'll talk a lot about that car, later in the thread. Casey ran a 9.90. But that wasn't near quick enuff for a win. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2011#indextop Casey ran an .809 under 9.591, @ Indy 2012, good enuff for #96. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=257691 8/31/13 - US Nats - #85 - 9.65 - .750 under - GT/CA Class R/U - Won 3 rounds. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=276475 https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=276693 10/20/13 - Fall Classic - #10 - 9.459 - .941 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2013#indextop 9/5/15 - US Nats - #121 - .703 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=304506 8/25/19 -div 3-5 - #24 - 9.551 - .849 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2019#indextop 9/22/19 - Jegs Sports Nats - #27 - 9.549 - .851 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=356960 10/13/19 - Fall Classic - #12 - 9.393 - 1.007 under - Best time I've seen for the car. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2019#indextop Last edited by ponyakr; 09-15-2020 at 11:12 PM. |
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#4
09-16-2020, 12:04 AM
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Steve Smith 3rd Gen
Before the Burtons raced their '91 3rd gen, it was raced by Steve Smith. I knew that Steve had run a Pontiac powered GT Bird. But I just recently thought to do a search on Auto Imagery, for Steve Smith. To my surprise, the pics were of a car that looked exactly like the Burton car, including the wide blue stripe. Many, if not most guys change the paint job, at least slightly, when they buy a car that has been a recently active race car.
5/17/01 - Englishtown - #36 - .927 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2001#indextop 8/31/01 - US Nats - #75 - .823 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2001#indextop 10/4/01 - Pep Boys Nats - #22 - .921 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2001#indextop 4/26/02 - Thunder Valley Nats - #16 - .886 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop 5/26/02 - div 1-1 - #43 - Race Winner !  https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop 6/8/02 - div 1-2 - #16 - .982 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop 6/22/02 - div 1-3 - #19 - .927 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop 8/10/02 - div 1-6 - #15 - .946 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop 8/25/02 - div 1-7 - #20 - .899 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop 8/31/02 - US Nats - #98 - .905 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop 9/13/02 - Lucas Oil Nats - #42 - .978 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop "How bout Steve Smith's 91 formula div 1 championship 400 6x car 9.80's..." Noticed that his car wore the #5 during the '03 season. So, I assumed he was div 1 champ in '02. "Super Stock 1. Steven Smith 2. Sal Biondo 3. Bob Letellier" https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=30435 5/16/03 - Englishtown - #11 - 9.941 - 1.159 under - Perm number 5. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop https://autoimagery.photoshelter.com...B0ldA--&GI_ID= 5/29/04 - div 1-1 - #26 - 1.013 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop 6/17/04 - Super Nats - #29 - .803 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop 9/17/04 - Lucas Oil Nats - #36 - 1.018 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=1564 10/17/04 - Dutch Classic - #17 - 1.064 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop 6/17/05 - Englishtown - #34 - .989 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop 5/28/06 - div 1-1 - #24 - 1.017 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop 8/26/06 - div 1-4 - #29 - .951 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop 9/2/06 - US Nats - #26 - 1.113 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop 9/30/06 - Toyo Tires Nats - #5 - 1.223 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop 6/21/07 - Englishtown - #9 - 1.090 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop 8/25/07 - div 1-5 - #17 - .955 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop 9/8/07 - div 1-6 - #32 - .912 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop 9/22/07 - div 1-7 - #43 - .961 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop 10/20/07 - Dutch Classic - #18 - 1.108 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop 5/24/08 - div 1-2 - #40 - 1.007 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop 6/19/08 - Englishtown - #39 - .960 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop 8/15/08 - Toyo Tires Nats - #6 - 9.991 - 1.109 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop 8/30/08 - US Nats - #51 - 1.034 under - Semi-Final Finish. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop 10/4/08 - div 1-7 - #28 - 9.963 - 1.137 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop 5/23/09 - div 1-2 - #27 - 1.007 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop 6/12/09 - Englishtown - #22 - .920 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop 8/21/09 - Toyo Tires Nats - #13 - .983 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop 9/5/09 - US Nats - #52 - 9.97 - 1.130 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop 9/12/09 - div 1-6 - #17 - 1.066 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop 10/3/09 - div 1-7 - #7 - 1.168 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop 5/1/10 - div 1-1 - #51 - .485 under. Looks like maybe a larger engine, moving him up a few classes to GT/CA. Not as good against the index. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop 5/29/10 - div 1-2 - #46 - .575 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop 6/10/10 - Englishtown - #27 - 9.646 - .754 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop 8/21/10 - div 1-4 - #35 - .651 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop 10/2/10 - div 1-6 - #25 - .785 under. Apparently went back to the smaller engine & GT/FA. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop 9/2/11 - US Nats - #44 - GT/GA - .879 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2011#indextop 10/7/11 - Auto-Plus Nats - #12 - .945 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2011#indextop 6/1/12 - Englishtown - #40 - .774 under - 3rd Place Finish. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop 9/1/12 - US Nats - #77 - .852 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop 10/3/13 - Auto-Plus Nats - #16 - .848 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2013#indextop 5/30/14 - Englishtown - #18 - 9.953 - .947 under - GT/GA Class Winner. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2014#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2014#indextop Don't know if that was the last time Steve raced the car, or not. I do know that Scott Burton was listed as the driver at the 2015 US Nats. 9/5/15 - US Nats - #97 - .775 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2015#indextop Obviously, Steve was the previous owner of the 3rd gen that Scott & Brad Burton have been racing for several years. Still has the same paint scheme, complete with blue stripe. https://autoimagery.photoshelter.com...9AlXQ--&GI_ID= https://autoimagery.photoshelter.com...9AlXQ--&GI_ID= https://autoimagery.photoshelter.com...9AlXQ--&GI_ID= |
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#6
09-16-2020, 10:10 AM
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Greg Meyer 3rd Gen GT Bird
Now we'll look at the 3rd gen GT Bird driven by Greg Meyer. It's sometimes listed as a '91 model, sometimes as a '92. Greg runs a 400 engine. I think he uses 6X heads, but MAY have experimented with others. He's a member here. So, I invite him to correct anything I get wrong and/or add any info he'd like to share. MOST of what I know is what's posted on DRC. So, there is a LOT about these cars I DON'T know.
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...8&postcount=25 6/4/09 - Route 66 Nats - #29 - 1.006 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=182963 9/4/09 - US Nats - #85 - 1.091 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop 4/30/10 - Midwest Nats - #7 - .899 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=203026 8/15/14 - Lucas Oil Nats - #6 - .861 under - GT/HA Class Win. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=289379 https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=289462 7/10/15 - Route 66 Nats - #17 - .829 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=301612 8/21/15 - Lucas Oil Nats - #3 - .969 under - GT/HA Class Win. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=303796 https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=303795 5/29/16 - Jegs Sports Nats - #12 - .962 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=312681 7/7/16 - Route 66 Nats - #5 - .915 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=314918 8/18/16 - Lucas Oil Nats - #2 - .878 under - GT/HA Class Win. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=316975 https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=316978 8/17/17 - Lucas Oil Nats - #3 - .904 under - GT/LA Class Winner. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...UMMIT#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2017#indextop 7/7/18 - div 3-3 - #13 - .896 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2017#indextop 7/15/18 - div 3-4 - #9 - .833 under - Got R/U. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop 10/20/18 - div 3-6 - #8 - 9.986 - .914 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop 5/30/19 - Route 66 Nats - #20 - .836 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2019#indextop Ran across a LOT more lists where Greg was .800 or more under his index. Too many to list. I think the car could easily run more than a sec under at lots of tracks. But, when you run a sec or more under, you sometimes catch the eye of NHRA officials. So, most Q-lists in recent years do not show many cars a sec or more under, at races where the NHRA officials check it. There are some races where the hp police are not on duty. I think the US Nats is one of those races, as well as maybe some of the national open races. There are also special allowances made for what are called "mineshaft" conditions. That occurs occasionally when the temp is cool & the pressure & humidity is at a certain level. I think the upper half of the field must run a sec or more under, for "mineshaft" conditions to be declared. At least that's my understanding of what I've read about it. May not be EXACTLY accurate. Hope somebody will clarify that rule. |
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#7
09-16-2020, 10:38 AM
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Leo Glasbrenner 4th Gen GT Bird
Let's look at some of the 4th gen GT Birds. This 1st one was raced by Leo Glasbrenner. Leo has a trans shop in CA, called Remac. As many here know, he also ran a quick '68 Bird Stocker, for many years.
Just looked back at some DRC files. At the 2012 Pomona Finals race, he was running it in SS/JA. That means it had Chevy power. But, I assume he swapped out the Chevy engine for a Pontiac engine, during the off-season. By the 2013 Winter Nats, he was running in GT/DA. I think he was running a 455 Pontiac, at that time. Not positive. Later on, I think he switched over to the alum head 428 engine. I've seen the car listed as a '96, '97, & 2000 model. Don't have a clue what it was, from the factory. Here's that '13 Winter Nats Q-list. After this one, I'll try to only list some of the car's best races, to reduce the number of entries. 2/15/13 - Winter Nats - #28 - .631 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2013#indextop 10/13/13 - Vegas SN - #17 - .840 under - GT/DA Class Winner. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2013#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2013#indextop 2/8/18- Winter Nats - #8 - 9.562 - .938 under - Qualifies at most races somewhere near .800 under, a little more or a little less. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop 4/7/18 - Vegas DENSO Nats - #23 - .780 under - GT/HA Class Winner. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop The Class Finals list shows the car to have a 428 engine. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop 8/25/18 - div 7-5 - .001 final round light- Race Winner ! https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop 11/14/19 - Pomona Finals - #18 - 9.66 - .840 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2019#indextop At the early 2020 races, Leo was driving a '15 Camaro in SS, & a '14 Camaro in Stock. So, I suppose he is another guy who has jumped ship.  At one time, he had put both Pontiacs up for sale & said that whichever one sold 1st, he'd keep & race the other one. Don't know if both cars sold or not.LOTS of guys have switched to the fast FS cars, in both Stock & SS. I suppose the main reason is because in breakout style racing, the fast car has 2 major advantages. (1) The slow car has the 1st chance to red-light. When they trip the red-light, the quicker car gets an automatic win & a free time trial, during elims. Quicker cars win lots of rounds this way, during a full season of racing. (2) The quicker car also has the advantage of being able to easily see exactly where the other car is, all the way down the track. This gives them the advantage, for finish line strategy. It was yellow & white for years. I think it was in 2018 when it was changed to blue & white. Last edited by ponyakr; 09-16-2020 at 11:01 AM. |
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#8
09-28-2020, 12:03 PM
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Quote:
The US nats for the last few years is a race you could go as fast as you want and no horse power was given out . But not anymore . |
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