RPM Magazine April Issue 2013

Page 48

2,500-2,600 horsepower but has the potential to produce well over 3,000hp with the boost turned up! It’s interesting to note that the GRP aluminum connecting rods that they recently pulled out of the engine had 7,500 strip/street miles on them (and those were a tough 7,500 miles to say the least). Over the years many debates have ensued about the issue of aluminum rods not being suitable on the street. I guess that Joe has shown us that if you use top-shelf aluminum connecting rods like the GRP’s, they can work in a street & strip application. Myth debunked!

Bonafide Street Car! In 2011 Joe decided it was time to enter his car in the endurance event of all endurance events…Drag Week. After a year of testing on the street, and track, he was ready for the big leagues. As Joe stated, ”Little did my co-pilot Joe Oplawski or I know that we were in for a grueling week that neither one of us will ever forget!” As Joe tells the story, “On the second night of Drag Week I was so tired that I asked Joe if he wouldn’t mind driving the ‘56 for a while so that I could get some shut eye. I rode shotgun in a Drag Week competitor’s car for a while and followed the ‘56 as we headed towards Liberal Kansas. After driving just a short distance the drizzle turned into a heavy downpour. Joe was clipping along at a pretty good pace ahead of us and all of a sudden the ‘56 slid completely sideways. The trailer whipped around and spun the car in the opposite direction from where we were headed! I was speechless as I watched the car heading

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