Russell Brodie is the most prolific of "Those Crazy Aussies" which seem to invade Drag Week every year. His 4-door '63 Dodge 440 is a staple at this event, and starts out the second 10 on our list at number 11. He finished a tick behind Church's RR in the Street Race Big Block Normally Aspirated class.

Tulsa 11.93-101.84
Ennis 11.734-115.12
Gilliam 11.739-114.97
Memphis 11.872-109.35
Tulsa 12.02-104.76
Final 5 day AV. 11.86-109.28

(guess the 4 door didn't like Tulsa either, Darryl )

Coming in at number 12, right smack dab in the middle of this big block B-body lovefest, I give you Clark's 68 Barracuda 340. (Bad340fish, Moparts) sports a full cage in his A-body, and qualified 11th in the DD field. Like many of the serious DD competitors, his 4 tenths sandbag on Saturday is the only thing that kept him from being higher up in the pecking order. When it comes to clean, beautiful Mopars however, this little fastback has few peers on Drag Week.

Tulsa 11.829-113.37
Ennis 11.76-114.79
Gilliam 11.814-114.91
Memphis 11.818-113.66
Tulsa 12.21-97.77
Final 5 Day AV. 11.887-109.70

Remember the line from the movie "As good as it gets" when Jack Nicholson says, "You make me want to be a better man"?
Well Drag Week makes you want to build a better car! I know Clark is working on a 408 for his, but it effects everyone in a large sense or even the smallest details. Things you can overlook on a 15 mile jaunt to a car show, or 8 trips to the drag strip every year suddenly become glaring inadequacies on a week long 1400 mile odyssey! Bad steering coupler, dim dash lights, non-functional dome light...just a few of the many which fill my list!

Great write up Billy, man #12 in the mopars I need to work on that. I recently chased a bad MSD box out of it and picked up some ET and MPH, it went down in the .40s last weekend.

I don't know if I will have my bigger motor in for next years drag week but this 360 will be faster. I think I could build the bigger motor if I didn't go on dragweek.......nah.

Looks like Tulsa did not like Randy Heinselmans Cuda ether, is this track owened by a chevy guy?

Of course it's owned by a Chevy guy Darryl, but the important thing is, he's a drag racer, drag racing enthusiast, and serious gearhead, so hopefully that track will prosper under his management!

We can now rejoin our regularly scheduled parade of Big block B-bodies! Lucky 13 on our list is Redlight Ross, as he is known north of the border in his homeland of Canada, but just Ross here on Moparts. His Yellow 68 RoadRunner is a fixture at Drag Week events, and they managed to qualify 12th in the Daily Driver field.

Tulsa 12.037-111.60
Ennis 11.830-112.14
Gilliam 11.798-114.12
Memphis 11.839-112.21
Tulsa 11.987-111.45
Final 5 Day AV. 11.898-112.35

I was benchracing with Ross and his buddy who co-drives every year, and we were discussing my story from last year on Moparts.
His friend commented that he and Ross had lots of DragWeek stories collected over the years, but most couldn't be repeated! To which Ross, completely unfazed, added, "So I guess we'll just have to enjoy reading yours, eh?"!
To your enjoyment Ross, and many more Drag Week stories!

Rachael and the Belvedere fall onto the list at #14 with a
Final 5 Day Av. 11.960-108.70

#15 However will surprise everyone, as it certainly surprised me! Jason Pipkin and his white 1986 Mazda RX7! Sure, I noticed there was a v-8 conversion RX7 on the very first day, but like typical guys, I figured SBC or possibly an LS.
Jason was helping another Mopar competitor after most had left Memphis, and we were working on The Belvedere head gasket. We walked over to see if we could offer any assistance, and peered into the open hood of the Mazda, there sat the 5.9 carbed magnum just like it was born there!

Jason and the Mazda were solidly in the 12.0 range, and like seasoned bracket racers sandbagged a bit on Saturday to set thier dial.

Tulsa 12.18-112.54
Ennis 12.140-111.54
Gilliam 12.065-112.46
Memphis 12.041-111.67
Tulsa 12.209-103.38
Final 5 day Av. 12.127-110.31

Very cool Billy!! Thanks for the write up, maybe well see you at speedworld this yr.

Im still repairing the issues from drag week.

"Beginning to see a theme? Yeah, big ole B-bodies with stroker BBMs and no roll bars make great street cars to tour the country in, reach well into the 11's, and are reliable, plenty more examples to come!"

You've got my blood pumping, Billy! Great read, and thanks for bringing these drag week stories to us!

Quote:

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One of the reasons I took this on last year is because a Moparts member seemed to be bashing the efforts of the Mopar racers who were attempting this event, with comments about how they were bringing up the rear of each class. Rather than confront this directly, I figured if I told the story of what it took to actually tackle this adventure, more people would understand that the numbers on the scoresheet aren't as important as completing it with your fellow competitiors.

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I don't recall that Billy, but I do wonder if that individual ever took part in DW, or was just an armchair racer.

Thanks for your great recount of DW, pictures and all!!

Always a pleasure Billy. I really do enjoy your recounts of Drag Week and I hope to see everybody again next year. As a quick side story about my name Red Light Ross. The magnetic sign that is on my rear bumper mysteriously appeared there on our first gas stop after we left National Trail on the 1st day of Drag Week 2010. No one has ever officially owned up to that but since I red lighted against Steve Eden in the 1st round at Bowling Green in 2009 (that was the only time he has ever beaten me )and then he went on to win Daily Driver, I have a very strong feeling that he and his side kick Pete know more about it than they let on. In the spirit of Drag Week I display it with pride. LOL Ross

Awesome read as always Billy,thanks for letting us do drag week through you and yours....

After I made my last pass of the event and drove back to the pits I climbed out of the car and started yelling I BEAT DRAGWEEK 2012, not long after I stopped yelling I realized if I start thinking about doing this agian it may be best to talk to a psychiatrist first.

Rodney Munchiando's 68 Dart GTS holds the 16th spot, despite having to bail after Friday's festivities. Must've been rough on those guys who had to pack up and go with unfinished business left at the track.

Tulsa 12.430-109.29
Ennis 12.331-110.40
Gilliam 12.182-111.86
Memphis 12.210-110.84
Final 4 day Av. 12.28-110.59

After the first 2 days the little black A-body was hanging onto 31st in the 32 car qualified Daily Driver field. Solid runs at Gilliam and Memphis, and some breakage ahead of them on the sheet, and Rodney and the Dart were comfortably in 28th going into Tulsa with a 2 tenths cushion as the bump appeared to be settling in around 12.50.

Ok, time for #17 on the Mopar/Moparts list, not where you would expect to see a car that recorded an 8.293-168.14 on opening day, but thier's is a cautionary tale, of just how bad Drag Week can bite you in the butt and find the weakest link in your car/program right away!

Time to introduce those CRAZY Aussies and thier incredible RHD Silver 72 Valiant Charger! John Faraone of Faraone Engines is the motivating force behind this effort, and the car is his own personal toy/testbed.

A quick look through John's videographer's youtube channel, and you realize these guys love building, chasing and tuning for Horsepower, with vid after vid of cars strapped to the chassis dyno belting out big numbers. This Charger is no exception to this persuit, in fact, the wedge based BB is thier crown jewel, and is sorted out to perfection.

They've had this 472 built and in this Charger since 2009, constantly making improvements, but the PowerGlide and trying to get a converter that suits thier needs has been a constant problem since day one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=3Td5bSXXZyY&feature=endscreen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETeVlh-Ob...mp;feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMuXll5vjCU&feature=relmfu

These videos tell the story far better than I could, and gives you a better flavor of what we were treated to with this bunch. But in the spirit of Moparts being a family site, I must warn you the language is a bit course!

So, when you are battling trans issues, what's the best approach? Lets take it to the USA, drive it 1400 miles, with an overbuilt, packed to the gills, U-haul trailer attached to the back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WK2RKAR8...mp;feature=plcp

They ended up being this years Joe Barry, not only trashing tranny parts but also spinning out in the rain and jacknifeing the trailer into the side of the car!