Once again I went to Thunder Road, Watkins Glen International Raceway with my [real] AAR Cuda 4 speed to run hot laps on the full course.

Watkins Glen is the fastest and nicest road course in the country and every year it gets better. We ran only one day this year as NASCAR had to tire test. The final tally was 175 miles/52 laps were driven and they were a blast. Let me see here…that would be 700 ¼ mile passes for all you straight-line folks. The car is dialed in so it rotates thru the turns nicely and pulls hard thru the gears. “Nice & flat…surprisingly” said one of the instructors who was playing tag with me. Top speed was held to 126 mph on the back straight and 115 mph for the front straight. Going up the hill exiting the toe of the boot [2nd gear/50 mph/4000rpm] I was spinning the [competition type] tires when the six pak would open, [just hang on] and at the top of the hill it was 110 mph before braking for the right hand turn.

I cannot thank enough 9 Sec Phil for saving the day and bringing me a new fan belt at 10:30 on a Sunday night. Seems the belt decided to show signs of failure after driving the 95 mile trip to watkins glen. That’s right, no trailer, AAA will bring me home if I break. Somehow the spare was still hanging on a hook at the shop. Phil had to deliver in style so he drove his beast of a Barracuda to the motel and everyone staying there heard the rumble…and they heard him leave…

Your car looks & sounds great Phil and thank you for saving my play day in the big playpen.


The pic location is the toe of the boot.

Sounds like a blast and that`s definately representing the mopar clan in style. I`ve known Phil for years and he`s O.K. in my books too.....

I have learned how to turn myself lately. I want to build another car (MOPAR) to autocross etc. But the 2010 Camaro wold have to go, and for now I am waiting, because I am having too much fun with it.
I applaud you for driving your car there and home. Yes, Phill is a Great Guy. ALWAYS helpful.

That sounds very cool.

Very Cool,
We have a road course here.(Nelson Ledges)
I want to take my Neon around it just for fun.

And you drove the car home in the rain ..


I dont want to hear any crying about you having to wash it extra throughly.
Just think of all the dust that got washed off the underside in the rain ..

Once again , I missed the Glen , One of these days ..

Congrats, Tom.. Phil is truly one of a kind. Great guy. Wish he lived closer. Tom, sounds like the Cuda is rnning killer.. Congrats. Love to get a hi-res action shot for the website !!

Rich, those firecore 50 plug wires made my car run so much better I had to change the tune up on the car...I am going to purchase a few of the hi res professional pics.

There were a lot of new faces at the event this year and some interesting iron. The corvette LT1 engine in the datsun 240 Z cars gets the most interesting cars at the track award. The first question asked me about my car was the usual “Is it real?” As usual the unsuspecting were surprised. When playing with other big dogs remember just because your car is better handling and faster does not mean you are faster than me…my buddy with the CTS-V supercharged Cadillac could not keep up with me and was sideways in my rear view mirror at one point…

Now to thank some mopar business people whose products & support make a fast car faster:

Bill Reilley of Reilley Motorsports has been very helpful with hardware and brain storming and we have determined one size does not fit all in getting your car to handle. You don’t need a second mortgage to go fast and handle well, and still have a car that drives down the road ever so nicely.

Jaime Passon, Passon Performance: Aluminum hemi 4sp/overdrive and Passon lube. It just keeps working flawlessly, track time is torture testing. The Passon lube from last years track time is being analyzed. And with Jaime comes Rochester Clutch and Brake 10.95 Emerald clutch and 6 paddle Velvetouch disc. Shifting is flawless.

Bob R from Bob’s Automotive Machine built me a very reliable 340/416 E-aluminum head 6 pak now with 21,000+ miles that makes horsepower all day long. Bob is retired now for the most part but still provides technical support and still can’t decide if he should be happy or nervous when I call the day after the track…. We built another 340/416 six pak but that one has to wait.

Sparkey’s Firecore 50 wires made a huge difference in the tune up - set up and the giddyup and go, Get yours today!! Thanks Rich.

Here is a pic by 9 Sec Phill

Thanks Phil

Thanks Tom,
Glad the trans is working well. Maybe you will have something else to try soon... BUT only if you learn to put the "i" in the right spot in my first name!