ORLANDO WORLD STREET NATIONALS - OCT. 27-29, 2006
Oct 30, 06 | 1:27 pm
SUPER PRO STREET ELIMINATIONS
Oct 30, 06 | 1:11 pm
SUPER PRO STREET FINAL ROUND
Oct 30, 06 | 1:03 pm
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Two former World Street Nationals winners prepare to do battle in the Super Pro Street final. Tony Gillig (near lane) backed up his 2003 Orlando victory when Chuck Samuels Escort lost traction off the start. Later, Gillig said it was the last time he was driving the car after four years with team owner Tim Houston, who is selling his complete racing operation. Heavy Street winner Monty Berney also confirmed his car was sold and he would be delivering it to its new owner the next day. (Ian Tocher photo)
OUTLAW 10.5 ELIMINATIONS
Oct 30, 06 | 1:01 pm
OUTLAW 10.5 FINAL ROUND
Oct 30, 06 | 12:57 pm
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Chuck Ulsch (3rd from right) celebrates with friends, family and crew in front of Orlando's famous Speed World sign after winning the Outlaw 10.5 title. Brad Brand had trouble with the transbrake on his car and rolled the beams, negating his run in the final. (Ian Tocher photo)
HEAVY STREET ELIMINATIONS
Oct 30, 06 | 12:55 pm
HEAVY STREET FINAL ROUND
Oct 30, 06 | 12:49 pm
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Monty Berney was all smiles after picking up his Heavy Street winnings. Berney and his uber-cool '55 Chevy stormed through the field on raceday to reach Marino Cintron, who left before the tree was activated in the final. (Ian Tocher photo)
DRAG RADIAL ELIMINATIONS
Oct 30, 06 | 12:47 pm
DRAG RADIAL FINAL ROUND
Oct 30, 06 | 12:42 pm
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All the way from Albequerque, NM, Mike Keenan came and won the Drag Radial title in his first attempt at Orlando. Keenan, who also was the number-one qualifier, said it was just the second time he'd raced all year. (Ian Tocher photo)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS PHOTO GALLERY
Oct 29, 06 | 3:54 am
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Daring to be different in a sea of Camaros and Mustangs (top to bottom): Ed Mathers, Lansing, MI, 1969 Roadrunner; Bill Wright, Lakewales, FL, 1960 Bel Air; Sam Berardi, Hudson, FL, 1953 Studebaker; Erica Ortiz, Salem, AL, 1986 Thunderbird; Susan Vanderspool, Melbourne, FL, 1984 BMW (Ian Tocher photos)
OUTLAW 10.5 FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER (After 3 rounds)
Oct 29, 06 | 3:46 am
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Outlaw street racing veteran Billy Glidden placed 18th on the Outlaw 10.5 qualifying list after going 7.264 in his 1990 'Stang. (Jeff Burk photo)
1. Tim Lynch 6.934/212.26
2. Steve Kirk 6.938/208.57
3. Chuck Ulsch 7.001/190.59
4. Rick Thornton 7.012/204.26
5. Brad Brand 7.045/209.39
6. Jeff Naiser 7.049/199.46
7. Todd Moyer 7.087/204.03
8. Conrad Scarry 7.094/210.92
9. Scott Guadagno 7.156/198.85
10. Charlie Dolbin 7.156/197.06
11. Richard Sexton 7.165/198.85
12. Michael Robinson 7.166/192.71
13. Joe Newsham 7.185/201.02
14. Elliott Thompson 7.206/198.54
15. Rob Golobo 7.209/199.64
16. David Hance 7.220/199.24
17. Chip Haveman 7.229/187.61
18. Billy Glidden 7.264/182.88
19. Joe Nichols 7.274/195.31
20. Bobby Cole 7.297/189.07
21. Shannon Renfro 7.312/184.01
22. Rocky DiLecce 7.354/200.53
23. Frank Mewshaw 7.365/202.74
24. Ray Sanchez 7.366/191.16
25. Jim Blair 7.375/174.45
26. Frank Gugliotta 7.387/194.21
27. Eddie Whitlow 7.405/184.69
28. Chris Butler 7.414/192.22
29. Mike Brown 7.417/168.69
30. Brett Newell 7.455/186.68
31. Mo Hall 7.471/185.87
32. Troy Blake 7.473/182.59
(72 entries)
HEAVY STREET FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER (After 3 rounds)
Oct 29, 06 | 3:28 am
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A clear crowd pleaser with his long, smoky burnouts, Carrolltown, GA's Terry Garner and his '73 Vega Wagon secured the final qualifying position in Heavy Street. (Jeff Burk photo)
1. Bill Lutz 7.312/195.82
2. John Schroeder 7.357/189.27
3. Monty Berney 7.401/191.32
4. Marino Cintron 7.417/187.93
5. Sam Gottier 7.494/181.23
6. Ronnie Duke 7.591/179.82
7. Pete Rickart 7.604/180.14
8. Heath Johnston 7.631/186.18
9. Russ Jung 7.648/179.14
10. Joe Schroeder 7.669/184.23
11. Kenny Doak 7.676/187.38
12. Dale Collins Jr. 7.693/180.65
13. Rocky Robinson 7.713/181.92
14. Tony Nesbitt 7.762/175.33
15. Mike Schmidt 7.787/178.04
16. Ken Cruz 7.800/180.57
17. Barb Nesbitt 7.828/176.71
18. Glenn Cave 7.835/180.18
19. Mitch Mika 7.919/176.43
20. Jeff Castaldo 7.961/173.21
21. Waverly Green 7.981/172.71
22. Larry Viennean 7.984/173.84
23. Jamond Haug 8.017/182.11
24. Wayne Smozanek 8.037/171.91
25. Robert Remek 8.049/180.90
26. Ralph Hardes 8.054/172.28
27. Ronnie Souza 8.072/170.45
28. Felix Garcia 8.083/170.74
29. Samuel Carter Jr. 8.142/168.16
30. Willie Hernandez 8.154/172.38
31. Joe Blond 8.165/164.80
32. Terry Garner 8.173/168.76
(66 entries)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS PHOTO EXTRA
Oct 29, 06 | 3:21 am
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Charlie Wilkinson missed the cut for raceday with his Wesson, MS-based 1970 Nova, finishing 39th of 72 Outlaw 10.5 entries. (Ian Tocher photo)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS DRAG RADIAL GALLERY
Oct 29, 06 | 3:18 am
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Top to bottom: Peter Champani, East Falmouth, MA, 1989 Mustang; Jesse Lambert, Chantilly, VA, 1986 Mustang; Samuel Phillips, Hollywood, FL, 1974 Nova; Ron Rhodes, Townsend, DE, 1972 Nova; Mike Saponara, Cape Coral, FL, 1987 Mustang (Jeff Burk photos)
SUPER PRO STREET FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER (After 3 rounds)
Oct 29, 06 | 3:17 am
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Steve King laid down a 6.477-seconds pass at more than 214 mph to take over the number-one slot in the last round of Super Pro Street qualifying. (Ian Tocher photo)
1. Steve King 6.477/214.03
2. Rob Mansfield 6.509/210.03
3. Vinnie Budano 6.514/219.61
4. Tony Gillig 6.548/215.10
5. John Gullett 6.565/220.31
6. Chuck Samuel 6.567/220.04
7. John Stanley 6.572/214.95
8. Annette Summer 6.577/218.77
9. Steve Paulauskis 6.605/215.98
10. Jerry Bird 6.621/211.26
11. Kevin McCurdy 6.629/214.79
12. David Schorr 6.681/212.21
13. Ed Thornton 6.710/213.77
14. John Hines 6.742/211.41
15. Todd Sheppard 6.789/208.04
16. Jim Wiens 6.792/203.89
17. Rocky Raynor 6.794/204.17
18. Bill Meadows 6.796/205.29
19. Joe Morgan 6.802/206.80
20. Michael Bowman 6.818/205.29
21. Dan Parker 6.824/213.21
22. Wayne Roberts 6.852/208.23
23. Erica Ortiz 6.886/177.76
24. Mike Moran 6.908/211.76
25. Tony Pugliese 6.922/201.47
26. Vinny DeMieri 6.925/205.57
27. Doug Watson 6.929/198.85
28. Morris Johnson Jr. 6.936/199.73
29. Glen Adams 6.947/207.70
30. Mark Micke 6.969/204.68
31. Shannon Jenkins 6.977/208.04
32. Rick Davis 7.001/197.62
(67 entries)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS PHOTO EXTRA
Oct 29, 06 | 3:13 am
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Bill Lutz brought his '67 Camaro down from Canal Winchester, OH, and seized the top qualifying spot in Heavy Street with a lap of 7.312 seconds at 195.82 mph. (Ian Tocher photo)
DRAG RADIAL FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER (After 3 rounds)
Oct 29, 06 | 3:11 am
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Corey Berry, from Pinellas Park, FL, put his '03 Mustang into the 3rd starting position for raceday at Orlando. The car, co-owned by Chad Hitt, recently received a new 423 c.i. small-block Ford built by Ronnie Crawford, new twin turbos, an all-new BMR suspension, and was finished the week of the race. In fact, it arrived at the track with no transmission, but a new CRT unit was installed in the pits. "Not really a good place to come and test a new car, but we've been fortunate so far," Berry said. He made it past the first round on Sunday, but had to shut off early in round two. (Ian Tocher photo)
1. Mike Keenan 7.659/189.99
2. Paul Major 7.767/179.64
3. Corey Berry 7.772/186.87
4. Jason Ardron 7.852/179.65
5. Peter Champani 7.867/186.68
6. Victor Spires 7.892/178.39
7. Tim Murray 7.947/174.92
8. Scott Bitzer 8.025/175.19
9. Dave Buckley 8.043/175.60
10. Troy Pirez 8.055/172.41
11. Jamie Sarver 8.068/176.40
12. Will Stevenson 8.073/173.07
13. Glennie Buckler 8.098/184.38
14. Charles Manchester 8.105/164.41
15. Mike King 8.133/180.72
16. Mike Saponara 8.150/173.54
17. Mike Keeler 8.166/172.97
18. Tony Ridenour 8.177/172.87
19. Rob Wells 8.182/179.03
20. Steve Kent Jr. 8.182/170.58
21. Haskell Mackowski 8.190/170.10
22. Greg Trotta 8.196/167.31
23. Rob Cherkas 8.228/168.09
24. Spurgeon Adkins 8.247/165.31
25. Shannon Wren 8.264/172.18
26. Richie Stine 8.296/166.45
27. Luis Perez 8.309/163.87
28. Ale Belford 8.344/162.39
29. Steve Edwards 8.347/143.76
30. Dean Adams 8.368/172.57
31. John Balinsky 8.383/167.37
32. Troy Pirez Jr. 8.414/160.28
(91 entries)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS PHOTO EXTRA
Oct 28, 06 | 2:54 am
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Luis Perez wowed the crowd with this huge wheelstand in the opening round of Drag Radial qualifying. Not only was it Perez's first time racing at Orlando, but it was his inauguration to radial tire racing on a pure stock Ford suspension. The inevitable return to Earth bashed in the '93 Mustang's oil pan and damaged some fittings, but repairs were made and the Opa Locka, FL-based racer went on to qualify 27th and lasted until the third round on raceday. (Ian Tocher photo)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS PHOTO EXTRA
Oct 28, 06 | 2:47 am
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Despite never before turning a wheel on a racetrack, Dan Parker (who built the car) put John Gullett's new turbocharged '04 Escort solidly in the Super Pro Street show with a 7.251/164.02 that was good enough for 22nd in the 32-car field on its maiden voyage. (Ian Tocher photo)
SUPER PRO STREET TOP TEN (after 2 rounds)
Oct 28, 06 | 2:42 am
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IHRA Pro Stocker Tony Gillig went to the final at Orlando last year and started off this edition with the number one slot in Super Pro Street after going 6.548/215.10 in the first session. (Ian Tocher photo)
1. Tony Gillig 6.548/215.10
2. Annette Summer 6.577/218.71
3. Steve Paulauskis 6.690/211.41
4. Kevin McCurdy 6.694/212.41
5. Ed Thornton 6.710/213.77
6. John Gullett 6.717/216.76
7. Jerry Bird 6.773/205.94
8. Jim Wiens 6.792/203.89
9. Rocky Raynor 6.794/204.17
10. Chuck Samuel 6.807/215.62
(66 entries)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS PHOTO EXTRA
Oct 28, 06 | 2:39 am
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Life is a blur for Hamburg, PA's Kevin McCurdy as he heats the hides before posting a 6.694 in his '01 Trans Am that was good enough for 4th in Super Pro Street after two rounds of qualifying. (Ian Tocher photo)
OUTLAW 10.5 TOP TEN (after 2 rounds)
Oct 28, 06 | 2:31 am
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Woodstock, GA's Tim Lynch regained the number-one spot in Outlaw 10.5 in dramatic fashion. Running just a few cars later than Steve Kirk Jr. ran 6.938 in his nitrous-fed 2000 Camaro, Lynch lined up his Steve Petty-tuned, twin-turbo Mustang and laid down a 6.934 at more than 212 mph to sit on top after two sessions. (Ian Tocher photo)
1. Tim Lynch 6.934/212.26
2. Steve Kirk 6.938/208.57
3. Chuck Ulsch 7.001/190.59
4. Jeff Naiser 7.049/199.46
5. Todd Moyer 7.087/204.03
6. Charlie Dolbin 7.156/197.06
7. Rick Thornton 7.158/195.35
8. Richard Sexton 7.165/198.85
9. Michael Robinson 7.166/192.71
10. Joe Newsham 7.185/201.02
(70 entries)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS PHOTO EXTRA
Oct 28, 06 | 2:26 am
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Fire in the hole! John Gullett warms the pipes just prior to launching a 6.717-seconds pass that placed him 6th on the provisional Super Pro Street qualifying list. (Ian Tocher photo)
WORLD STREET NAT'LS PHOTO EXTRA
Oct 28, 06 | 2:23 am
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Always a crowd favorite at Orlando, Clearwater, FL's Reggie Chapman enters his 355-equipped '65 Chevy van in Heavy Street. (Ian Tocher photo)
HEAVY STREET TOP TEN (after 1 round)
Oct 28, 06 | 2:11 am
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Monty Berney and his all-steel '55 Chevy (a former DRO feature car) came all the way from Danville, CA, to seize the top spot in Heavy Street after one round of qualifying. After going 7.401 at 191.32 mph, Berney said he had the motor set up "fat" and "there's a lot more there." (Ian Tocher photo)
1. Monty Berney 7.401/191.32
2. Bill Lutz 7.520/193.29
3. Sam Gottier 7.577/180.43
4. Heath Johnston 7.631/186.18
5. John Schroeder 7.666/180.79
6. Kenny Dork 7.676/187.38
7. Joe Schroeder 7.697/182.07
8. Rocky Robinson 7.713/181.92
9. Pete Rickart 7.791/174.11
10. Dale Collins Jr. 7.812/180.86
(60 entries)
DRAG RADIAL TOP TEN (after 1 round)
Oct 28, 06 | 2:07 am
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Paul Major, of Ft. Salonga, NY, drove his 422 c.i. 2001 Corvette to the provisional Drag Radial pole with a 7.788-seconds lap at 185.56 mph. (Ian Tocher photo)
1. Paul Major 7.788/185.56
2. Mike Keenan 7.813/190.71
3. Victor Spires 8.004/177.09
4. Tim Murray 8.028.174.52
5. Dave Buckley 8.043/175.60
6. Jamie Sarver 8.068/176.40
7. Charles Manchester 8.105/164.41
8. Peter Champani 8.143/183.52
9. Tony Ridenour 8.177/172.87
10. Will Stevenson 8.208/171.98
(83 entries)
West Coast "Heavy" hitters will compete at Orlando
Oct 27, 06 | 11:55 am
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Monty Berney's "Big Bertha"
West Coast “Heavy” hitters will compete at Orlando
California’s Monty Berney has installed a torque converter in his big ‘55 Chevy to meet the World Street Nationals rules so he may enter the “Heavy Street” class in Orlando, FL on Oct. 27-29. Monty is a perennial player in the West Coast’s Pacific Street Car Association and has long wanted to run at the World Street Nationals. But, Orlando’s strict “no clutches in Heavy Street” rule has kept him away. But, no more. Monty says, “You have to beat the best to be the best and Orlando is where they’re biting”.”
Fellow Californian Rocky Robinson and Arizona’s Keith Johnson are also making the tow to Orlando to make their best efforts to haul the gold back to the west.
The roster of other players in past Heavy Street wars in Orlando is not going to make the west coasters attempt to capture the winners trophy a cake walk. Connecticut’s John Schroeder has been in the final of Heavy Street in Orlando for the last 4 years and has won 3 of those. Sam Gottier, also from the Constitution State, is expected to compete with new Musi power in his Chevelle. Michigan’s Rob Golobo has tasted victory at the “big dance” too. Add New York’s “Charlie Boy” Micallef to the mix and this class is sure not to disappoint.
Many feel the big one hasn’t been won until the World Street Nationals in Orlando is won. Track operator Carl Weisinger says, “We have been blessed with the best cars, drivers and spectators there are in this niche of drag racing. The atmosphere is absolutely electrifying at the World Street Nationals and it’s all because of the people that show up here.
“We just put the best staff we can find onboard, open the gates and hang on,” Weisinger added.
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