Steve Kirk’s Mauney-built ‘63 ‘Vette may have looked odd with its 10.5-inch tires barely filling the rear wheelwells but the stunning new ride destroyed Tim Lynch’s 4.36-second all-time record for the breed with a 4.325/167.29 in qualifying, (arguably the most impressive run of the entire event), and a 4.339/167.47 in its strange first-round loss to Bill Jewett’s Mustang. Even Kirk’s 4.39/165.81 test pass was a jaw-dropper.
Rod Rosentiel’s outrageous ‘70 Opel GT drew more crowd response than any other vehicle and won the inaugural ADRL X10.5 title despite being the least likely vehicle to make it to the finish line when the gates opened. Vastly overpowered with a wheelbase far shorter than deemed feasible, Rosentiel became one of the quickest and fastest 10.5 racers ever on his first full test pass, a 4.45 at a tremendous 172.18 mph. His final-round 4.37/168 made him the third-quickest ever and garnered his first major victory. “It kept carrying the front on every run”, said Rosentiel in the winner’s circle, “but we just kept loading weight on the nose and, after a while, it was pretty manageable”. Who’d have thunk it?
Think 178 mph air pressure is no big deal? Check out the distortion on Bil Clanton’s “Big Money” Commander at the conclusion of a 3.99-second pass. Among the flattened roof, collapsed hood, smashed nose, warped doors and extruded windows is Clanton‘s new escape hatch flailing in the breeze.
Josh Hernandez’s holeshot loss to event winner Mike Bell in the second-closest race of the event, (0.007 seconds true win-margin), was the only lowlight to a magnificent weekend in which the “Rage” ‘57 Bel-Air ran 4.05/184.80, 3.92/194.13, 3.97/190.11, 3.87/193.47, 3.869/194.55, and 3.92/191.82 to become ADRL’s second-quickest driver and his home track‘s new ET record holder.
