October 2024 RPM Magazine by RPMMAG

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Story: George Pich

Photos: Jerry Garrison

Back in the eighties and nineties it was pretty common to see a Chevy Vega rollin' around on the streets and dragstrips of North America.

They were small, light and an amazing platform to drop in a small block with nitrous, and some more adventurous backyard builders would shimmy a big block under the hood. During the Pro Street wave, tubbedout big tire Vega’s were a favourite, however, the last 20 years have seen a near extinction event for these slick little hot rods. Now imagine a Vega Wagon, yes they did exist and there are even fewer left to tell the story.

Vega Wagon with 4 Nitrous kits rips down the track!

Temecula, California’s Rick Frye, owner of Trans Masters Performance Center, campaigns his killer big inch big block nitrous 1973 Vega Wagon anywhere he can, including some serious outlaw, grudge and no-time gigs.

Rick pretty much grew up in his father’s shop, Chino Hills Transmission, and went on to Ford Motor Company as a Transmission Technician for several years and then returned to working for an independent transmission shop.

Rick Frye has a soft spot for Vega Station Wagons. He drag raced one years back and remarkably found this newly constructed 6.0-certified rolling chassis when he was looking to up his program in heads-up drag racing. Of course he had to make a 60-hour round trip to get his hands on it!

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By 2007, Rick was ready to jump in with both feet and purchased the shop from his bosses and moved it to Escondido in 2019.

Growing up, he frequented Orange County Raceway and Long Beach Raceway and once he was able have his own car he found a 1968 Pontiac Firebird with a 428 Pontiac and dual 600 Holley carbs. “I did some street racing back in the late 80s and early 90s,” Rick admitted, “And my dad and I went to a lot of Super Chevy races at Las Vegas and Pomona.”

Four nitrous kits were carefully installed on the big block; 1 plenum kit, 1 hardline direct port and 2 softline direct port kits were added into the mix, capable of producing an amount of additional horsepower that we are not allowed to disclose.

More evidence of quality parts and work on the Vega. Rick built it to take whatever he could throw at it. A Ford 9” rearend hangs out back equipped with a 4.30 gear, Mark Williams spool and Mark Williams 40 spline gun-drilled axles.

As time passed, Rick got back into drag racing at Fontana Raceway and eventually found a cool black 1972 Vega Wagon that he ran with the West Coast N.A. 10.5 group. This was his first Vega Wagon and little did he know it wouldn’t be his last. Not only did that first Wagon attract him to the body style, he also got his feet wet in heads up drag racing with it. “This was my introduction to heads up action with a great bunch of folks and I really liked the Vega Wagon; it drew a lot of attention for the shop and fans seemed to like it too.”

800inchesofBowtiegoodnessresides betweentherailsoftheWagon...

A Dart billet 5.2 bore space block was filled with a Bryant billet crank, GRP billet aluminum rods and custom Reher Morrison nitrous-spec pistons and rings. A top secret camshaft commands valve train activities and custom Dart 5.2 bore center cylinder heads are equipped with Jesel billet aluminum intake rockers and T&D billet steel exhaust rockers.

It’s hard to imagine that this monster motor resides under the front end of a compact car. Well, it’s not completely under the front end. A large cowl hood was built-in with a massive hole required for the towering big block to breath.

Deciding to go to the next level, Frye knew he would need a stronger car, so he reluctantly put his attention to finding a new chassis. Thinking there was little chance he’d find another Wagon, the big question was, what could replace its impact? The answer is…another Vega Wagon! “I couldn’t believe it but I found another Vega Wagon in Tennessee. It was a new 6.0-certified chassis build being sold as a roller, so my nephew Tyler and I made the 30-plus hour trip (one way) to buy it.”

Rick Frye’s Big Block Nitrous 1973 Chevrolet Vega Wagon Grudge/No-Time Drag Car

■ Body & Paint:

The Body and paint was done in Tennessee by the gentleman that built the chassis. It is white in color and being it came from Tennessee, that is where it got its name (White Lightning).

■ Chassis Modifications:

6.0 Certified Chromoly chassis.

■ Suspension (Front & Rear):

4-link rear suspension, Extreme 2” anti-roll bar, Afco big gun 4 way adjustable rear coil over shocks, with shock travel sensors and long travel Strange front struts for no-prep racing.

■ Engine:

Dart billet 5.2 bore space engine block, 800 cid, Jesel keyway lifters, 6-stage Barnes dry sump oil pump, Star mountain motor vacuum pump, custom Reher Morrison spec Moroso 2 piece oil pan, Clear View oil filter assembly.

■ Rotating Assembly:

Bryant billet crank, GRP billet aluminum rods, custom Reher Morrison spec pistons and rings.

■ Miscellaneous:

Meziere billet pro mod flex plate and Meziere pro mod starter.

■ Cylinder Heads:

Custom Reher Morrison spec Dart 5.2 bore center cylinder heads, Jesel billet aluminum intake rockers, T&D billet steel exhaust rockers, PAC valve springs, Manton custom 9/16” intake & 5/8” exhaust push rods, custom Reher Morrison spec intake and exhaust valves.

■ Induction & Fuel Delivery:

4 - Brasswell 2 barrel carburetors, Aeromotive a3000 fuel pump and filter assembly.

■ Power Adder:

4 Speedtech nitrous kits (1 plenum, 1 hardline direct port and 2 softline direct port kits).

■ Transmission:

Lock up turbo 400 transmission, Reid case, Rossler valve body with dual dump valves (1 internal), Rossler 2 stage lockup, internal Rossler trans brake solenoid and Rossler lock up solenoid, Rossler lock up pump, Rossler billet forward drum and direct drum, Rossler 1 ¼ input shaft, intermediate and output shafts, Coan billet gear train (custom ratios), built in house at Trans Masters.

■ Rear Differential:

Ford 9" 4.30 ratio gear, Mark Williams spool, Mark Williams 40 spline gun drilled axles.

■ Brakes:

Four piston disc brakes all around.

■ Tires & Wheels:

Mickey Thompson 33.0 x 16.5 x 15 Slicks on Weld V-Series double beadlock 15 x 15 wheels, Moroso DS-2 26 x 4.5 x 15 front tires on front Alumastar 2.0

15 x 3.5 wheels.

■ Interior:

Fuel Tech FT600 Extreme ECU Performance and Dashboard, 13” Grant Performance steering wheel, Precision reverse shift pattern air shifter, Kirky seat with RJS 5 point harness, Safecraft fire system, Go Lithium 16v battery.

■ ET & MPH:

Grudge/No-Time car.

■ Most Unique Feature(s):

Since I own Trans Masters Transmission and Performance shop we have the best of the best for the transmission and the engine is pretty unique for its size and amount of nitrous.

■ Reason For The Build:

The reason for building this level of a car is to showcase what we can do and the capabilities of my shop. We wanted to show we can build a transmission for your tow vehicle, hot rod or drag car. We take the time to help figure out your combination and optimize it. We take pride in all levels of cars that we work on and tune on our in-house chassis dyno.

■ Thanks To:

I would like to thank my wife Jamie for putting up with all the time that goes into this car. I would like to recognize and thank Brett my right-hand man for everything he does for me, my car (fabrication, setup and suspension tuning, engine maintenance and many more things) and the business, and thanks to Tyler Frye, my nephew, for all the support and help he gives me on and off the track.

The car was everything it was supposed to be and once back in California, Frye went to work. Three years later, “White Lightning” was born and ready to hit the strip! “The Body and paint was done in Tennessee by the gentleman that built the chassis. Since it is white in color and given that Tennessee is where the car is from and also where the term White Lightning was born, the name was more than fitting.”

Topping things off are four Braswell 2-barrel carburetors served up by an Aeromotive A3000 fuel pump and filter assembly.

Quality of workmanship is top-shelf on the Vega, just check out the headers!

FT Wide Band 02 “Nano” readouts display each cylinder and an FT soft touch button panel was also installed within easy reach of the driver.

The Spartan interior includes a single way for Rick to stay connected to what’s going on – a Fuel Tech FT600 Extreme Performance ECU and Dashboard.

The chromoly chassis is complemented by a custom 4-link rear suspension with Extreme 2” anti-roll bar and AFCO Big Gun 4 way adjustable rear coilover shocks. A custom front suspension is equipped with rack and pinion steering and long-travel front struts for the no-prep

racing. A Ford 9.5” rearend hangs out back equipped with a 4.30 gear, Mark Williams spool and Mark Williams 40 spline gun-drilled axles. In case you’re not starting to get the picture yet, White Lightning is built to run with the big dogs, and it gets better…

St. Thomas Dragway

It’s purpose-built inside the Vega too. A maze of chromoly cage bars protect Rick along with a race seat with 5-point harness and a complete fire system.

An 800-inch big block Chevy mill started life as a Dart billet 5.2 bore space engine block. A Bryant billet crank, GRP billet aluminum rods and custom Reher Morrison nitrous-spec pistons and rings rotate inside.

A top secret camshaft commands Jesel keyway lifters, and custom Reher

Morrison-spec Dart 5.2 bore center cylinder heads are equipped with Jesel billet aluminum intake rockers and T&D billet steel exhaust rockers, PAC valve springs, custom Reher Morrison spec intake and exhaust valves and Manton custom 9/16” intake and 5/8” exhaust push rods.

800 inches of Nitrous Snorting big block Chevy says…..

TheVegaisashowcaseof RickFrye'scapabilities...

A 6 stage Barnes dry sump oil pump, Star mountain motor vacuum pump, custom Reher Morrison spec Moroso 2-piece oil pan, Clear View oil filter assembly, Meziere Billet Pro Mod flexplate and Meziere Pro Mod starter were also used in the build. Topping things off are four Braswell 2-barrel carburetors served up by an Aeromotive A3000 fuel pump and filter assembly. Of course, in today’s world of ultra-quick no-time drags you need a fortified weapon to take the win and Rick added four (yes, 4) nitrous kits; 1 plenum kit, 1 hardline direct port and 2 softline direct port kits! And since Frye owns his own transmission shop, and the Vega is a showcase of what he is capable of, he built a wild transmission to back this beast.

Photo: Pete Liebig

SPEED SAUCE T M PLUS INJECTION FLUID

Speed Sauce Plus water-ethanol mix comes premixed and ready to use straight from the bottle. Its 20/80 water/ethanol blend delivers more power per gallon. This ethanol-based ﬂuid is not only less corrosive to fuel systems than methanol-based ﬂuids but also safer to handle due to its lower toxicity.

• Provides 4% more power compared to methanol-based injection ﬂuids

• Produces up to 15% more horsepower/torque than stock, with proper tuning

• Delivers added octane when needed thanks to the ethanol’s >115 octane rating

• Less corrosive than methanol version

The built in-house Trans Masters lock-up Turbo 400 boasts a Reid Case, Rossler valve body with dual dump valves (1 Internal), Rossler 2 stage lockup, internal Ross ler trans brake solenoid, lock-up solenoid, lock-up pump and billet forward drum and direct drum along with a Rossler 1 ¼ input shaft, intermediate and output shafts and COAN custom billet gear train.

You won’t find an ounce of original Chevy Vega left inside the car as it is purpose built –to win and to showcase what Trans Masters can do. That being said, a maze of chromoly bars

provides an exoskeleton around the driver while a Fuel Tech FT600 Extreme ECU and Dashboard control and keep track of the package. A 13” Grant steering wheel, Precision Performance Products reverse pattern air shifter, aluminum race seat with RJS 5-point harness, Safecraft fire system round things out inside the wagon. Unfortunately, we can’t

tell you what the Vega is capable of as its no-time combo and Rick frequents as many no-prep and no-time events as possible. So if we did say something, there’s no doubt a sinister-minded competitor would take advantage of the covert

info and Rick would lose his surprise factor. What we can say is, do the math…800 inches, 4 hits of nitrous, 6-second legal lightweight chassis surrounded by a Vega Station Wagon.

Rick Frye (right) with his right hand man Brett Schwartzah.

Jason Golden has been drag racing

Ford Mustangs since the early 1990s, but it’s this specific Fox Body that afforded him the opportunity to experience Drag 'N' Drive events, and he was immediately hooked!

“I

won a Fun Ford Day in the mid-1990s with a GT Mustang and our daughter grew up at the race track and ran junior dragsters. Nowadays, she runs 8.50 with a 1991 nitrous small block Ford, so racing has really been a family thing for us,” Golden explained. Jason had been looking for

a new ride and specifically, he had his eye on this 1989 Ford Mustang Coupe for a few years and when he finally acquired it, the new build changed the way he raced. Instead of building the car for the strip only, he wanted to have a street/strip car that could be driven virtually anywhere.

Story: George Pich

Photos: Stephen Taylor

There’s no mystery here!

Twin 76mm turbos were used and are wrapped with heat protectant along with cold side piping to ensure air charge temps are protected from engine bay heat and stay as low as possible,. With debris and small animals creating a hazard on city street and highway drives, it’s wise to have a protective screen on the turbos.

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Because the twins are set into the front grill, the radiator and cooling system is rear-mounted under the trunk area. You can just barely make out the ladder bar coilover setup out back that suspends a built 9-inch. An aftermarket K-member and control arms were used up front along with aftermarket struts.

to stick with it through 2024 and heading into Canary Yellow paint covers the clean Fox platform ’89 Coupe. The car retains its OEM steel body tub, quarters and doors

CALTRACS HOOK LIKE A CHAMP

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RON RHODES 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

– as if Fox Bodies aren’t light enough already – but every little bit helps in the game of getting to the stripe with your quickest ET. Lightweight Alpha-1 wheels are dawned with Mickey T rubber all around, with 275/60-15 ET Street Radials out back.

Hooken Chassis Racecars

created the 25.3-spec roll cage that protects the driver with a Funny Car style hoop and the car rides on stockstyle suspension with an aftermarket K-member, struts and tubular control arms up front and an adjustable ladder bar coilover setup out back.

Jason Golden caught the street/ strip bug just like back in the 90s and built this ’89 Coupe to compete in Drag N Drive events across the country.

Inside, the Mustang is a mix of stock parts and aftermarket equipment for the business of both racing at the track and driving on the street safely and with confidence. After all, when you’re running a few hundred miles between tracks, then pushing to the limit on the strip, you want to have peace of mind that you won’t be breaking down.

Check out the slick trailer for Drag N Drive events. Jason painted it to match the car and equipped it with extra fuel jugs, side mounts for the extra set of wheels and sticky tires that he uses for strip duty along with other incidentals he might need while haulin’ between tracks during an event.

Jason kept the stock dash and door panels, and runs the Holley EFI dash to keep track of the fast Ford’s vital signs.

A mix of stock parts and aftermarket equipment were used inside the Mustang. Twin race seats with covers were installed and Jason shifts the Proformance TH 400 via a PPP shifter. And, for those long drives, a custom stereo was also installed.

It’s hard to miss the sizeable tubes running through the center of the interior between the seats, but they’re necessary to get to the massive cooler tank mounted in the space that once

occupied the rear seat. The stock dash and door panels were retained, however, the only gauge is the Holley EFI dash panel mounted in front of the steering wheel within view of the driver.

It’s hard to miss the sizeable tubes running through the center of the interior between the seats, but they’re necessary to get to the massive cooler tank mounted in the space that once occupied the rear seat.

Jason keeps his Fords powered by Ford and had Maschmeier Performance Engines build the killer boost-ready mill between the rails of the Coupe.

A 400 cubic inch Ford Motorsport block was used as the base and filled with a Callies forged crank and rods and custom boost-ready JE pistons. Brodix 202 cylinder heads were equipped with T&D shaft rockers for reliability and twin 76mm turbos were plumbed into the mix.

A 400 cubic inch small block Ford was built for boost by Maschmeier Performance Engines. A Motorsport block was filled with a Callies forged crank, Callies rods and JE pistons. Brodix 202 cylinder heads were equipped T&D shaft rockers for reliability.

■ Body & Paint: Canary yellow, carbon nose and hood.

■ Chassis & Suspension /Modifications: Hooken Chassis Racecars 25.3 roll cage; stock-style front suspension, ladder bar rear

■ Engine:

Maschmeier Performance Engines 400 ci SBF. Ford Motorsport block, Callie's rods and crank, JE pistons. Brodix 202 cylinder heads with T&D shaft rockers.

■ Induction:

Accufab throttle body, Wilson Elbow.

■ Power Adder: Garrett Twin 76mm turbos.

■ Electronics: Holley EFI.

■ Transmission & Converter:

Proformance Racing Transmission Pro Mod 400 3 speed, Chance billet converter.

■ Rear Differential : 9" Ford with 3.50 gear, Strange axles spool and billet center section.

■ Brakes: Aerospace

■ Tires & Wheels: Weld wheels with Mickey Thompson tires.

■ Interior: Holley EFI, PPI shifter, Kirkey seats, 25.3 cage, custom sound system.

■ Best ET & MPH: ¼-mile - 8.00 @ 183 MPH

■ Thanks To: Chris Penney, Donald Whitaker, Chris Lewis, Tim & Mindi Perdieu, Todd Maschmeier, Jason Collins, Aerospace Components, Aeromotive, T&D Machine Products.

An Accufab throttle body mated to a Wilson elbow slams cooled air down the intake of the small block.

Turbos and associated piping are wrapped with heat protectant to ensure air charge temps stay as low as possible and, because the twins sit just behind the front grill, the radiator and cooling system is rear-mounted under the trunk area.

A Proformance Racing Transmission Pro Mod 400 3 speed with billet converter sends power rearward to the custom 9-inch with billet center section and 3.50 gears.

A special Drag N Drive event trailer was also prepared by Golden. The tow rig is painted

to match the car, with matching wheels of course, and equipped with extra fuel jugs, side mounts for the extra set of wheels and sticky tires that he uses for strip duty along with other incidentals he might need while haulin’ between tracks during a weekend or week-long event.

Jason Golden's Drag N Drive

'89 Stang runs

8s all day long!

TheMustangruns8.0s inthequarterat183MPH!

With 2 years into the build, the results have been exactly what Jason had hoped for – the Mustang runs 8.0s in the quarter at 183MPH with a fairly easy tune and can street drive for hours, too – and he is continually working to improve on that. Most importantly though, the Coupe has provided Jason with the “Golden” opportunity to participate in a

sport he loves with his family, and you just can’t beat that.

“I built this car to go racing with my family in Drag N Drive events. Finishing the build was definitely rewarding, but putting just 50 street miles and 2 passes on it before we loaded up and drove 20 hours to a Drag N Drive event and finished in the top 10 in the Unlimited class was amazing!”

It’s Saturday night at the local car hang out and you’ve set up a race for big money against an old 60-something Chevy.

This big ole matte black 1963 Impala SS pulls up with an injector hat poking through the hood, and you’re thinking, easy money. Now, 95 times out of 100 this would be an old Pro Streeter with a tired big block and mildly overdriven (or under) blower set up for more show than go.

Story : Jack DuBois

Photos: Steven Taylor

CALTRACS

The Original Patented CalTracs Traction System

Complete bolt on system: no mods, cutting, welding, most applications

Keeps axle from rotating, maintains pinion angle

Eliminates spring wrap up

Pre-load adjustability

Durable powder coated finish

Detailed Illustrated Installation Guide

Custom sets available, call for

CalTracs, Calvert Mono Leafsprings, Calvert Sliders and Lowering Blocks

RON RHODES 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

And that’s it, the race is over before it even started as you already underestimated your opponent. You see, you just fell for GUDFAR’s smoke and mirrors show and chances are you will be handing over some serious cash before the night is through!

First let’s talk about the name; “GUDFAR”. “I am my brother

Todd’s oldest daughter’s godfather and he is my daughter’s godfather,” Explains Jamond Haug. “And being Norwegian, my wife thought the car should be named Gudfar, which translated is Godfather.

And since we think Gudfar is the most gangster looking car we know of, the name stuck.”

GUDFAR doesn’t sit like a full chassis car, because it’s not one. Instead, the car was constructed with a back-half chassis and stock type front half, which is why it has that sinister muscle car rake to its stance.

A custom 4-link setup suspends a Fab 9 housing with 40 spline axles and an Ultra Case with 9.5" 4.30 gears.

Even though the Impala is Todd’s, Jamond is part of the driving force behind a group of like-minded family and friends. For his part, at age 14 Jamond started as a crew guy on an NHRA twin engine Top Alcohol Dragster named Double Vision in 1989, which evolved into an injected nitro combo in 1992 and then into a Top Fuel

Dragster. By his early 20s he was a full time crew guy on Alan Hartley’s Top Fuel car, and would also go on to crew for Alan Johnson's Fuel FC, Scott Palmers Top Fuel Car, and won 6 IHRA World Championships with Clay Millican. On top of that he’s always had his own stuff to race on weekends and in various Outlaw classes.

Jamond calls the front half of the Impala “stock-ish”. The factory front frame remains intact but there’s some trick suspension and steering parts that were fabricated to keep the heavyweight safe for the street and strip. Disc brakes have also been added on all four corners.

GUDFAR is by no means a bought street sleeper/strip terror but rather it started from very humble beginnings. The body was found behind a garage in Louisville NE in 2003. “My brother found the car in an alley, and drug it home. We were deep into building our carbon fiber bodied 1963 Corvette Pro Mod at the time and he thought it would be funny to have a super heavyweight car to go along with it, so construction started.

The complete dash structure, headliner and all windows still operate as they should and even the original dash face with speedometer and warning lights was kept in the mix. It’s cool to open a door and see factory panels with chrome window and door hardware, the original sill plates and door seals, too!

The massive trunk area is near empty with just a pair of sizeable wheel tubs, rear chassis bars and battery taking up a small portion of available space. Check out the factory trunk lid with hinges moved inboard!

We finished the Pro Mod and went into racing it heavy so we didn’t have a ton of extra time to work on Gudfar like we all wanted and by 2012 it was mothballed.”

The Impala had been hung in the rafters of Todd’s Iowa shop, and the brothers hatched the plan at one of Todd’s kids graduations to get it down and have Jamond take it home to his Missouri shop and finish it there and it took another 3 years of off and on work to get it completed and painted.

Step into the Impala and you’ll see a bunch of factory trim mixed with hardcore race car parts. The car was produced at the long-defunct GM plant in Tarrytown New York. It’s hard to believe that some of the equipment installed by workers on the assembly line all those years ago is still installed.

A 540-inch Hemi was created in-house at Homewrecker Motorsports and planted under the hood of the Impala. These guys basically stuffed a blown alcohol Funny Car Hemi between the rails of a heavy, stock muscle car with big tires…and it works!

Believe it or not, the Impala has an all steel body and firewall along with glass windows, and it weighs 4500+lbs! “A close family friend, Buck David, painted all 22' of Gudfar in matte black, which is the absolute worst color to keep clean.” A 4130 back-half and cage were developed for the car by 417 Motorsports and it is certified to 6.0. A custom 4-link set up out back is combined with Kinetic Engineering coilovers by Chris Bell and a Mark Williams anti roll bar. The front is, as Jamond describes it, “a stock-ish A-arm setup”, built by 417 Motorsports “and repaired by them after a rather damaging (but cool) wheelstand,” he added.

Harnessing the Competitive Edge

Cylinder heads and intake are from Clay Millican’s Top Fuel car and a 1992 Whipple R980 screw blower is topped by a PSI deep injector. Incidentally, the Whipple is from a Pro Mod that Scott Palmer wrecked in 2004.

The pair retained most of the stock interior including the complete dash, headliner and all windows still operate as they should. Even the original dash with speedometer and warning lights was kept in the mix

to remind the brothers of their roots in muscle cars. Race equipment wise, a Racepak dash relays vitals, and a manual air shifter actuates a Lenco CS3 3 speed transmission with Bruno drive and Chance converter.

Todd Haug’s Pro Street, No Prep, No time, Street Race

Blown Alcohol 1963 Impala SS “GUDFAR”

■ Body & Paint:

ALL OE steel, and it weighs 4500+lbs. Family good friend Buck David painted all 22' of Gudfar in matte black.

■ Chassis & Suspension /Modifications:

4130 6.0 cert back half car, Titanium wheelie bars “because we thought it would be funny to have a 4500lb car with Ti bars”.

Rear suspension is a 4-Link controlled by a set of Kinetic Engineering coilovers by Chris Bell built by 417 Motorsports with Mark Williams anti roll bar. Front Suspension is “Stock(ish)” A-arms built by 417 Motorsports managed with a set of Kinetic coilovers by Chris Bell.

■ Engine:

Engine is an in-house built 540ci Hemi, 4.500 stroke, 4.375 bore. BAE block, Bryant 4.500 billet crank, MGP connecting rods and JE pistons. Cylinder heads and intake are from Clay Millican’s Top Fuel car.

■ Induction and Fuel:

PSI deep injector on top of a 1992 Whipple R980. Rage fuel pump.

■ Power Adder:

Copious amounts of boost and alcohol through a Whipple Screw Blower. The Whipple is from a Pro Mod that Scott Palmer wrecked in 2004.

■ Electronics:

MSD 44 amp mag controlled by an MSD Grid and Data logging is by Racepak.

■ Transmission & Converter:

Bruno converter drive, Neal Chance converter, Lenco CS3 3 speed transmission.

Rear differential:

Fab 9 housing with 40 spline axles, Strange Ultra Case with 9.5" 4.30 gear.

■ Tires & Wheels:

Weld Delta rear wheels wrapped in 33" Hoosier tires. Weld 17" fronts.

■ Interior:

Retained most of the stock interior; complete dash, headliner and all windows still operate as they should. Racepak dash, manual air shifter, Kirkey seats, OE dash with OE speedo and warning lights.

■ Best ET & MPH:

4.508 at 171.23mph. It takes a while to get that much weight moving but once it does it rolls out quite nice!

■ Most Unique Feature(s):

This is the dumbest build to ever want to go fast, the car weighs more than it did the day it rolled off the line in Tarrytown New York in 1963.

It’s all OE steel, OE windows, OE dash and firewall, it weighs north of 4500lbs, its actually destroyed the door on our new stacker trailer

■ Reason For Build:

We wanted to build a car that fit my 6' 3" 300lb brother, and wanted it to be different and have fun doing it.

■ Build Timeline:

The body was found in an alley, behind a garage in Louisville NE in 2003 and we finally unveiled the car at the World Of Wheels in Omaha NE in 2015. And promptly broke the transmission on the street after the show!

■ Most Memorable Experience:

We have been all over the country with this car, raced on a NASCAR pit road, been to GALOT and filmed the first season of NPK, Edinburg Texas. We took 4g off JJ in Memphis, Joe Zouplers Builders Brawl, and we have no-prep and street raced it everywhere in between.

■ Thanks To:

The car was built with the help of Randy Copeland, Randy Brungardt, Scott Barker, Brian Smith and Casey Campbell. Painted by Buck David.

GUDFAR’s power has roots in racing, including Top Fuel Funny Car! A 540-inch Hemi was created in-house at Homewrecker Motor-

sports. A 4.500 stroke, 4.375 bore BAE block was filled with a Bryant 4.500 billet crank, MGP connecting rods and JE pistons.

What’s Old Is New if you haven’t read it yet!

Over the coming months we will be hosting some of our past issues of RPM Magazine in this section. If you haven’t read them yet, they are new to you! If you have, maybe there’s a favourite car/story you want to read again….here they are!

The Impala has been 4.508 at 171.23mph on the strip, but that wasn’t why it was built by Ja-

mond, Todd and their band of brothers in speed.

“We are a think/work gang so everyone pitches in where and when they can and we currently race the Gudfar Impala, my own 1969 screw blown Hemi Camaro (previously featured in RPM) and “Frigg”, a 1953 Studebaker Commander Pro Mod with a screw blown Hemi.”

Todd Haug found the 1963 Impala in an alley, behind a garage in Louisville NE in 2003. With an all steel body and firewall along with glass windows, it weighs 4500+lbs! A close family friend of Todd and Jamond, Buck David, painted all 22' of GUDFAR in matte black.

The Haug brothers describe GUDFAR as Pro Street, No Prep, No time and Street Race, and anything in between. “We wanted to build a car that fit my 6' 3" 300lb brother, and wanted it to be different. We spent so much time on cars trying to win races and kinda lost the reason why we all were there, we all do this to have fun so this build was nothing more than the anti-establishment ‘we will have more fun than anyone’ build and while we weren't paying

attention, the car started to win rounds, and then a race here and there. The car is so fun to drive that all of us have taken a lap. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a car that has brought this much fun to a group of guys!”

Knowing the combination that GUDFAR has lurking under that original sheet metal should be enough to sway most from throwing money down against it on a race, but that’s just it, you never know what GUDFAR is up to until it’s too late!

With his 300lb 6’ 3” frame GUDFAR was built for Todd Haug but every member of their group has taken it for a spin at some point. The car was built mostly to get back to their roots and have some fun, and then just started winning races!

end. Now in its fifteenth year, the partnership of track manager Jim Halsey and event owner Monty Mikho have given fans the top-shelf in outlaw drag racing competitions with a heavy emphasis on diverse classes. The team of Monty Mikho, his wife Maria and brother David logged yet another superb race complemented by the incredible staff at Cecil County providing the best surface possible which keeps competitors coming back to the “YB NATS” year after year.

Weather plays huge on a four daylong event and with one of the hottest years on record and reports all over the map – some calling for rain each day and extremely hot temperatures – tensions were high. Both early days of testing had to be rescheduled until later in the evening when it would make more sense on the cooler track surface that did reach temps over 135 degrees both days. Come showtime, the area was heavily overcast but hot until Sunday when the clouds let the sun shine on a gorgeous finale, and RPM Magazine was there to bring you the recap.

Throughout the year, Monty and his many friends were putting out the word that the fifteenth year was going to be the one for the ages, where both radials and slicks could live in harmony on the same surface. Run orders favored each class as to their tire choice and performance expectations with big bonus money for the number one qualifier put forward by Joe Copson, father of our beloved "BCOP - Blake Copson" in remembrance. There were nine full classes providing the excitement for the weekend, from outrageous Pro Mods to daily drivers in Pro Dial. There was something for everyone, including Monty and Maria's coveted Sunday for the kids cornhole game overloaded with incredible prizes for 88 children of all ages courtesy of the many racers and teams who donated to the huge prize packages.

From Left to Right. Robert Brian, Maria Mikho, Monty Mikho, Patty Comparato DeMichele, Seth Cohen and David Mikho.

As you can see the kids area at the YB Nats is second to none, and the prizes are out of this world awesome!

Friday was game on and the cars were called to the lanes. Fans were blanketing the stands and the area behind the starting line to get a good look at the first qualifying sessions on Friday right through the final sessions on Saturday. The YB NATS is one event where the dedicated fans show amazing appreciation of the racers.

earlier duplicate run in testing.

Melanie Salemi would bring her supercharged Hemi Firebird into the number two spot with her husband Jon Salemi at the tuning helm pushing her to a strong 3.606 @ 206 in the heat of the day. Qualifier number three, Derek Ward, has been having a very prosperous year again with his stunning red flamed

Supercharged Hemi Firebird running a solid 3.622 @ 206 in a very tough field.

A very unexpected final would see Andy Jensen, with probably the most unconventional set up; a single turbo small block in a '68 Camaro, line up with Bubba Greene in the screwcharged Corvette.

It was a tough journey for Jensen whereas Greene had been making very consistent strong 3.60 passes each round, however,

amazing things happened for the underdog, which looked to be Jensen, heading into this matchup.

Jensen’s .119 light off the line was drilled by Greene’s .022, which should have ended it right there, but Jensen never quit, winning the race with a 4.236 @ 154 over Greene who suffered an issue around 300ft and coasted through behind Jensen, who took home a vast mound of 50K in cash and the 2024 YB Nats Pro Mod Championship.

Andy Jensen drove his small block turbo Camaro to the win over Bubba Greene’s screwcharged Vette in Pro Mod when Greene had issues at 330ft and Jensen drove around him with a 4.236 @ 154.

Melanie Salemi would bring her supercharged Hemi Firebird into the number two spot with her husband Jon Salemi at the tuning helm pushing her to a strong 3.606 @ 206 in the heat of the day.

Ward, has been having a very prosperous year again with his stunning red flamed Supercharged Hemi Firebird and qualified in the #3 spot.

Derek

Qualifying in the mid 3-second zone, Nick Lacerenza in his centrifugal blown Mustang would meet the screwblown Hemi Dark Dart in the finals of Pro 275. With both drivers on and off the throttle Lacerenza’s 5.372 @ 137 would take the win.

Manny Buginga in the red "Fred" ProCharged Mustang never fails to wow fans and posted a 3.718 @ 202 to qualify in third spot.

PRO 275

Time for the small radial tire fans to get their fill of these wild creations. Hometown hero Mo Hall took top honors in his sleek black 2019 Corvette powered by a 959ci nitrous combination with 3.679 @ 201. Manny Buginga in the red "Fred" ProCharged Mustang was next in line with 3.718 @ 202 and the wicked black Dodge Dart of Blaine Johnson (3.757

@ 191) captured third place in the ladder. This car is WILD! It's vicious Screwcharged Hemi and completely blacked out exterior makes it even more sinister. Nick Lacerenza in his centrifugal blown Mustang would meet the dark Dart in the finals. Nick has made some real gains with his Mustang this year winning four out of the seven competitions he'd

Mo Hall qualified top of the pack with a 3.679 @ 201MPH his sleek black 2019 Corvette powered by a 959ci nitrous combination.

entered. His father Nick Lacerenza Sr. is one of the originals of drag racing that I personally have known nearly two decades. Lacerenza hit the tree hard with a .001-second start and was followed by Johnson’s very solid .008. They both had to pedal to get to the finish, with Lacerenza's 5.372 @ 137 taking home $20,000 bucks over Johnson’s 6.331 @ 97MPH.

LDR LIMITED DRAG RADIAL

This class is becoming the new goto for those who want the old 10.5 style cars with very limited body mods and more of a stock look. It’s coming along well thanks to Yellowbullet and its prominence in small tire racing.

Joe Newsham took the number one qualifying spot. As one of the

original gangsters of Outlaw 10.5, Joe has obviously made the switch quite easy running a 4.049 @ 183.

Michael Gross in the immaculate Bitzer/Gross Malibu came second with 4.080 @ 181MPH. The stunning burnt orange Malibu is a fan favorite for many years and always a threat.

Ron Rhodes, a staple in the X275

class, in his now Limited Drag Radial big block nitrous powered 68 Camaro sat third with a 4.094 @ 182.

In the finals, Josh Nierman’s 4.725 @ 157 in his ProCharged Mustang would best a traction-challenged Joe Newsham. Nierman would earn the LDR Champion title and $10,000 prize money.

Josh Nierman’s ProCharged Mustang would best a traction-challenged Joe Newsham (pictured right) in the Limited Drag Radial final.

Michael Gross in the immaculate Bitzer/ Gross Malibu qualified second with 4.080 @ 181MPH.

Ron Rhodes, a staple in the X275 class, has swapped over to Limited Drag Radial in his big block nitrous 68 Camaro.

out ahead in a big way. A 34 car field was led by Connor Hartsock in his nitrous 92 Mustang running 4.458 @ 154. Cameron Massengale's stunning nitrous powered C7 ZO6 sat second in qualifying with 4.453 @ 158MPH. Billy Smith in the all black 2006 Mustang from Texas would take third with his 4.457 @

In the finals, last year’s Ultra Street champion, Connor Hartsock would take the win on a .018 holeshot start and 4.513 @ 158 pass over a quicker but losing Bill Travato’s .070 reaction time and 4.507 @ 155MPH.

Hartsock becomes one of the very few repeat winners in Yellow Bullet Nationals history and is $10,000 the richer for his efforts.

A 34 car Ultra Street field was led by Connor Hartsock in his nitrous 92 Mustang running 4.458 @ 154. Hartsock became one of very few repeat winners in Yellow Bullet Nationals history.

Seasoned veteran on the dragstrip Bill Travato would have to settle for second place with a quicker ET that wouldn’t cut it. Hartsock left the line just a hair quicker and Bill just couldn’t reel him in by the stripe.

Cameron Massengale's stunning nitrous powered C7 ZO6 sat second in qualifying with a solid 4.453 @ 158MPH run.

WARRIORS

You've heard me say it before, but I have to keep repeating how great this club has been since it began. Larry Mack, the main man in this organization, started this group that is in big demand and a welcome addition to the YB NATS.

Very fast, wild and sometimes unpredictable combinations of diverse power adders fill the huge car counts. Forty six entries this year proves just how strong this team is, from Keith Rhea's blistering 4.091 @ 181 twin turbo Mustang number one qualifying position to Dominic DiDonato’s second

place turbo Mustang running 4.116 @ 182. The Chevy Nova of Jacob Naumann who was featured in RPM Magazine March 2021 sporting a nitrous combination slipped into third spot in the massive field.

In the final round Jacob Naumann would meet a very strong 8th qualified Craig Walls. With both leaving almost identically, Walls would move out and not look back, streaking to the finish with a 4.241 @ 183MPH cementing his Yellow Bullet Nationals "A Class" championship and prize of $5,000!

Larry Mack, the man who started it all in what has now become an amazing lineup of wild drag cars and one helluva show!

Keith Rhea's blistering 4.091 @ 181 in his beautiful white New Edge Stang would qualify number one followed by Dominic DiDonato’s second place turbo late model Mustang running 4.116 @ 182.

Jacob Naumann in the absolutely stunning Nova would meet a very strong 8th qualified Craig Walls’ Mustang in the final of the Warrior class with a door handle to door handle start. The Mustang would overpower the Nova to take the win and 5K home.

8.50 INDEX

The 8.50 Index is the class to be in for the true competition racer in the full 1/4 mile. These very quick street looking machines always guarantee insanely close competition at the YB NATS.

Early qualifying left

many of the well-known leaders running way under the index. Saturday got very tight though, with sixtyone entries, and the top ten running quicker than 8.510.

Ralph Rubino would have the honors of the perfect 8.500 @ 157 in the ultra-

clean 87 Buick Regal. An 8.502 @ 160 wheelsup hit in the fan favorite green metallic 70 Buick Skylark of Mike Clayboss would put him second place on the ladder, and taking number three was Shane Stride of Bankrupt Racing with 8.504 @ 159MPH.

Nick Tucci would run his first final in his new Mustang against Joe Albrecht driving his Monte Carlo, who is also wheelman of Eagles defensive All Star Fletcher Cox’s Pro Modified Camaro. Albrecht would come out first to the finish line with an 8.523.

Ralph Rubino would have the honors of the perfect 8.500 @ 157 in the ultra-clean 87 Buick Regal.

How close was the racing in the 8.50 class? Shane Stride of Bankrupt Racing hit

fan favorite green metallic 70

#3 spot in qualifying with 8.504 @ 159MPH in his bright red Mustang!

The

Buick Skylark of Mike Clayboss would qualify second with a solid 8.502.

10.0 INDEX

Another great index class, the 10.0 Index, has great wheelsup action of all types of street appearing cars and incredibly tough performers running the full 1/4 mile, and the class enjoyed forty-two cars this year!

Joe Patrizio's very cool Monte Carlo led the field with an almost perfect 10.003 @ 134. "Fast Eddie Welch" had no problem wheeling his very sedate looking Malibu into the number two spot 10.006 @ 126 and Will Winthrop’s flamed wheelie Malibu took up the third spot wowing the fans with a strong 10.008 @ 128.

The final round produced the matchup of Dennis Salvatore in his gorgeous red SS Monte Carlo and Dylan Ammons. Salvatore left early with -.006 start giving the win to Ammons as he ran it out to a 9.993 @ 127 for a well fought 10.0 Index title and $2,500, made possible in part by Dan Murphy/Hot Rod Garage.

The 10.00 Index win went to Dylan Ammons in his blue Fox Body as his opponent Dennis Salvatore turned on the red light at the hit.

Close racing doesn’t describe the 10.00 Index class! Joe Patrizio's very cool wheels-up Monte Carlo led the field with an almost perfect 10.003 run while “Fast Eddie Welch" qualified number 2 in his very street-looking Malibu with 10.006 and Will Winthrop’s flamed wheelie Malibu took third spot wowing the fans with a strong 10.008 @ 128MPH.

blister the track with his black Dodge Viper billowing flames of nitrous joy out the sides of the exhaust bullhorns while running 3.859 @ 192MPH.

A great story within the Top Sportsman Ranks is that of Chris Krajewski CLK Kustoms and Bob Caldwell & International Defense & Aerospace Group teaming up and not only competing, but also winning Best Engineered spon-

sored by Josh and Jeff Eastburn of Hoopes Fire Prevention, Inc this week-

"The day after the baddest race on the east coast is always a day for reflection,” Chris Krajewski stated. “The 2024 Yellow Bullet Nationals did not disappoint. I am very honored and humbled to drive one of the nicest cars on the planet. After 13 years in hibernation since being built, Bob Caldwell has obtained the infamous Tim McAmis Performance Parts Top Sportsman Camaro. This is truly a work of art. Af-

Dan Ferguson would blister the track with his wild nitrous black Dodge Viper lighting the candles out the bullhorn exhaust to the tune of 3.859 @ 192MPH.

ter a few conversations with McAmis, we pulled her out of the box and went straight down Broadway with a pass of 4.52 on motor. Unfortunately, that was not enough during the Q2 qualifier. After a late night, as a team we decided to give her the ol’ juice. With everyone in suspense we went up for Q3 and made the fastest pass after 7 runs on the car. A 4.35 with a .984 60 foot! The weekend did not disappoint as we pulled off Best Engineered at the Yellow Bullet Nationals"

Don Teague would take his nitrous '67 Chevy II into the winners circle with an almost impossible to beat package of an .002 light on a 4.46 dial-in and 4.467 run, taking the Top Sportsman class win and $10,000!

The final round was impressive as longtime Cecil County competitor Don Teague would take his nitrous burning '67 Chevy II into the winners circle with an almost impossible to beat package of an .002 light on a 4.46 dial-in and 4.467 run, taking the Top Sportsman class win and $10,000 payout (made possible in part by Bob Caldwell & International Defense & Aerospace Group).

Chris Krajewsk pilots Bob Caldwell’s stunning Camaro in Top Sportsman with Chris’ wife Morgan calling the shots and won Best Engineered at the YB Nats!

equipment for the next race. Enter "Pro Dial", a bevy of all styles of dial-in drag racing on the full 1/4 mile. These folks race anytime and go as many rounds as needed. A fun class to watch and was definitely the biggest class of the weekend with 131 cars entered. With multiple rounds run each day, the finish was contested by mid Sunday afternoon.

Josh Voshell in

his very cool Ford Maverick would strap a solid .010 light and 10.15 run on his 10.14 dialin against another strong performance by final round challenger Anthony Capirose in his late model Camaro (.030 9.781 on a 9.77 dial in). It was a great day for the Voshell family at the Yellow Bullet Nationals as father and son both competed in this class. Josh would take home $2,500 in cash and the title made possible in part by Hot Rod Garage.

Josh Voshell’s Maverick took the Pro Dial cash home. You have to see this car to believe just how clean it is, a true standout in the lanes.

Father and son Ralph and Steve Romeo watch as Ashley takes her first round win!

Also in Pro Dial, three generations of Romeos participated in this year’s Yellow Bullet Nationals. I have known the family for decades and watched them all race this area since they were just youngsters, but this time was special with the inclusion of Ashley

Romeo in her first race. Ashley is the granddaughter of Ralph Romeo and daughter of Steve Romeo who races the wild looking ProCharger equipped Chevelle in Ultra Street. Most everyone knows Ralph Romeo's son Mike Romeo who passed away August 8th, 2012

in a fatal car accident, Mike was one of the most liked racers in our area. This weekend, Ashley was competing in the Pro Dial sessions as Father Steve and Grandfather Ralph celebrated Ashley Romeo's first round win! A very special moment for everyone.

Steve Romeo piloting his supercharged Chevelle.

Ashley Romeo’s first race ever was the YB Nats 2024!

Monty Mikho

By all accounts the weekend was a total success, no accidents and just all-round great times. "On behalf of the entire Yellow Bullet Nationals team, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made the 2024 Labor Day Weekend Drag Race a resounding success. Your presence, enthusiasm, and unwavering support turned this event into an unforgettable experience.

To the racers, thank you for bringing your passion and fierce competition to the track. Your dedication and skill were on full display, and you gave us all a thrilling show from start to finish. The spirit of competition was alive and well, and it’s because of you that the Yellow Bullet Nationals continues to be a highlight of the drag racing calendar,” stated

event founder Monty Mikho.

“To our fans, your energy was unmatched! Whether you were cheering from the stands, connecting with others in the pits, or enjoying the festivities, your excitement fueled the entire weekend. I was absolutely blown away that you watched every class, from 10.00 Index to Pro Modified and never left your seats or moved from the fences. It’s your love for the sport that creates the electric atmosphere that makes this event so special.

We also want to thank our sponsors, MH Mechanical, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Induction Solutions, Hoopes Fire Prevention, Inc., Jesel Valvetrain Innovation, FuelTech USA Tech, Salvato Designs, ProCharger Superchargers, Interna-

tional Defense & Aerospace Group, Joe Copson, Hotrod Garage, Pilot Racing, Cox Racing 9191, Decker's Salvage and many others for their continued support. Also, a big shoutout to all who donated to the YBN Kids contest! Your contributions help make this event possible, and we’re grateful for the trust you place in us year after year.

Lastly, a special shoutout to my wife Maria Szkudlarek Mikho, Jim Halsey, Cathy Crouse Halsey, David Mikho, all of our VIP YBN crew, volunteers and staff, which is too long of a list to name, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes and at the event. Your dedication and hard work ensured that everything ran smoothly, and without you, none of this would have been possible.

Nick and Patti Mueller’s ’55 Chevy

From the pages of RPM Magazine, July 2016

Best of WorldsBoth

There are some cars that are just timeless. Their appeal began the day they rolled off the assembly line and continues to this day. The 1969 Camaro, the 1970 Mustang, and the 1970 ’Cuda all come to mind. And undoubtedly, the tri-five Chevys fit that description, as well. However, that same appeal comes with an inherent challenge for the aspiring build-

point for their ride, how can anyone create something that stands out from the pack?

For Lake Havasu, Arizona natives Nick and Patti Mueller, the answer was simple: take every aspect of the car and make it absolutely awesome…then wrap the whole thing in a street legal package just for good measure. The end result is a car that is a force to be reckoned with

Nick and Patti Mueller ,55 Chevy shows that all-out performance on the dragstrip doesn, the expense of all-out cool on the street...

The Muellers can literally hop back in (after repacking the chute) from a blistering pass and grab a couple of ice cream cones from the local soda shoppe. Now that’s the best of both worlds!

The cockpit of the Chevy is a combo of racecar safe and street rod smooth, with the full chromoly cage and 5-point Impact harnesses juxtaposed against the billet tilt steering column and the Autometer tach and gauges. Removable quick disconnect transbrake and line lock buttons add function and convenience.

The killer big block Chevy was created by Goodwin Competition and started life as a custom Brodix/Goodwin design aluminum block with 5.0-inch bore spacing and a 1 inch raised cam profile. A Callies 5.375 stroker crank went in first, followed by GRP 5500 Pro Series aluminum rods and Diamond 16.0:1 compression pistons with Total Seal rings. A Goodwin 65 mm tool steel cam was selected with the 4/7 3/2 swap to squeeze every ounce of horsepower from the combo. Jesel keyway 1.062-inch roller lifters communicate with the WW Engineering rockers on the intake side and Jesel rollers on the exhaust that have all been mounted atop the Goodwin billet Semi-Hemi heads. With full water jackets, bronze alloy seats, copper alloy valve seats, and Victory 2.625/1.900 titanium valves, they feature performance features usually only seen in top-shelf racing applications with the cooling provisions necessary on the street. Are you sensing a pattern here?

A custom Jesel 1-inch raised cam belt drive accommodates the altered block, and other parts and pieces like Manton tapered salt heat treated pushrods, Clevite H Series coated bearings, and ARP stainless fasteners throughout ensure top-of-the-line components for top-of-the-line performance.

Induction for the monstrous mill consists of an HRE billet runner tunnel ram with Holley Gen III 1350 carbs on shear plates. Although the ’55 is minus a power adder at the moment, Mueller admits that fast enough is never fast enough. As a result, he’s already lined up a single stage fogger nitrous system for next season.

A Dailey 5-stage dry sump oiling system minimizes windage, maximizes ground clearance, and ensures the big bullet stays well lubed. A Racepak Sportsman data logger has been paired with an MSD Power Grid ignition for optimal tuning and adjustability. Backing the engine is a Rossler Pro Mod Max Turbo 400 transmission with a similarly bulletproof PTC 9-inch converter that sends the copious power rearward through a fabricated aluminum driveshaft.

Body and paint on the classic Chevy is flawless, with the original steel body (that’s right, we said original steel body) was updated and lightened up via a fiberglass hood and deck lid. The removable front end makes servicing the car after passes easier, and the end result is a 3,360 pound (with driver) rocket ship.

How does 762 cubic inches of naturally-aspirated Goodwin Racing Engines nastiness sound? Producing just a tick shy of 1,700 horses without a blower, turbo, or a bottle is, in a word, well, awesome!

So far, Mueller has piloted the Chevy to a best of 7.84 at 176 mph and is relatively confident that there is plenty more performance left where that came from. With the addition of nitrous and further refinements to tuning, he’s likely to inch ever-closer to mid sevens and 200 mph.