Overall, the event may have been the most pleasant ever in terms of weather. Just drop-dead gorgeous both "running" days (Friday and Saturday) with a little tail wind Saturday and temperatures that tickled 70 F at the most. I can't remember (and wouldn't hope to ever specify) better weather both days! 'Sure made up for the past couple years that have seen some moisture and partial rainouts.
Team Studebaker arrived Thursday afternoon, September 15. Note the sunshine and lettering on the marquee; this is not a leftover picture from 2010:
In addition to those four Studebakers, four more appeared for a total field of eight competitors this time around.
In no particular order, here are the cars, owners/drivers, best Elapsed Time (Time) and highest Terminal Speed (Speed) posted this year. (I'll be checking records from previous years and reporting personal improvement for the January 2012 Turning Wheels feature article, so stay tuned.)
Also posted here are the Shootout Competitor and results of the Shootout against that competitor.
1963 R1 4-speed Lark Custom 2-door, Richard Poe:
Time: 14.253. Speed: 96.92. Shootout: Broke an axle late Friday in practice; did not participate in Shootouts. See Richard's note in Post #2, below.
1963 R2 4-speed Lark Custom 2-door, Ted Harbit (The Stude Tomato):
Time: 13.081. Speed: 113.26 (new record high terminal speed)
Shootout: 1969 Camaro SS 396/375HP. Ted won his shootout, winning all three rounds.
1963 R2 Powershift Avanti, Chuck Kern:
Time: 13.994. Speed: 101.32.
Shootout: 1966 Chevy II Nova 327/350HP 4-speed. Chuck won his shootout, winning all three rounds.
1964 R2 Powershift Super Hawk, Allen Anderson:
Time: 14.761. Speed: 93.96
Shootout: 1972 Gran Torino Sport 351/248HP Cruiseomatic. Allen won his shootout by winning the last two of the three rounds.
1963 R2 Powershift Avanti, Peter Sant:
Time : 13.926. Speed: 102.26 (Both new personal records for Peter at this event. Speed is the best ever, anywhere, anytime.)
Shootout: 1969 Plymouth Super Bird 440/390HP. Peter lost his shootout but did win one of the three rounds. The Super Bird owner was clearly sandbagging but did not break out because he slowed toward the end after getting well ahead of Peter on Shootout Rounds One and Two. (No sour grapes here; just reporting observable facts.)
1964 R3 Powershift Challenger 2-door, Steve Doerschlag:
Time: 13.487. Speed: 102.38. (Both new personal records for Steve anywhere with this car.)
Shootout: 1966 Oldsmobile 442 W30 Tri-Power 4-speed. 'Sorry to say, Steve lost all three rounds of the shootout. Only one of the Olds' three runs was faster than Steve's 13.487 (and that was only 13.421), but Steve got the 13.487 during Friday's practice runs. He was not able to "repeat the feat" during Saturday's shootouts as he said the top-end blower pressure was going away, so the Olds won fair and square.
1964 R1 4-speed Commander 2-door, Steve Doerschlag:
Time: 14.545. Speed: 95.61.
Shootout: 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO TurboHydramatic. Steve won the Commander/Firebird shootout, beating the Pontiac in the first two of the shootout's three rounds.
1964 R3 4-speed Challenger 2-door, George Krem (The Plain Brown Wrapper). Driver: Ted Harbit
Time: 12.664. Speed: 114.03. (Both figures are new records for The 'Wrapper; anytime, anyplace!)
Shootout: 1970 Pontiac Tempest GT-37 400/345HP 4-speed. Ted and The 'Wrapper won all three rounds of the shootout.
Overall, the seven Studebakers in the shootouts participated in 21 Shootout Races total and won 15 of them; not bad! And in so doing, the seven Studebakers won five of their shootouts.
COOL BEANS! Congratulations to all. 'Stay tuned for the January 2012 Turning Wheels. BP
