Dirty Bird Update!
Feb 21, 2010
Fast-forward to February, 2010. 2009 was a great year for Dirty Bird! After the Little Guy nats, where the best ET of 6.52 was established, there were two more outings for the car.
Early in June, the POCI (Pontiac/Oakland Club International) held their "Co-vention" with the GTOAA (GTO Association of America). At Xenia, Ohio, right outside of Dayton, they put on their racing show. All we had to do was make one "clean" pass and we were certain to get "best ET" for the meet. Half way down the track, the engine suddenly "shut off". When Dave arrived at the turn-out, he noticed it was "idling". There was no response at the throttle.
The mounting collar for the lower pulley had split at the keyway and wasn't spinning with the crankshaft. Long drive for half a pass... But we learn and progress from it. Bob machined the timing cover to accept a big block Chevy main seal and made a new collar with the larger outside diameter, making it MUCH thicker. He saved the dimensions and process for anyone that may need one.
In August, the annual gathering "Ames TriPower Nationals" was at Norwalk Raceway Park in upper Ohio. Dave Wilcox had some medical issues that wouldn't allow him to drive. A local driver was asked, but had a prior commitment for the date. Bob and Frank were going to take the car for a static display. The team stayed home once it was decided the car wouldn't race.
Rob Bruce was there. He has the proper NHRA credentials to drive such a car. His own car is a Hemi-powerd car and is quicker than Dirty Bird. Bob and Scott discussed it and Scott agreed to allow Rob to make a pass. His first time in a "converter car" (as opposed to a "clutch" car), he made an excellent run. 6.63 @ 211, assuring him of Number 1 Qualifier and quickest ET of the meet.
After that run, he and I talked at length over the phone about the differences between a converter and a clutch. Once he fully understood what to expect from the car and what we were "after", I knew he could do an even better job. The second pass was a 6.64 @ 211, but 60' time and 1/8 mile were improved due strictly to Rob's adapting to the different type of car. He helped us by providing valuable data regarding launching the car. Due to no real competition, the involved parties agreed to a form of "bracket" race for the car to at least try for a "win". GTO George and his blown '74 was Number 2 Qualifier, nearly 2 seconds "behind". At the end of the run, the car let up and George beat him to the line. Congratulations to George! He's a great guy, loyal Pontiac racer and showed true sportsmanship.
When the car returned from Ohio, Scott wanted to fire it up for his new boss. It had no oil pressure! We found some rod bearings heated up and decided to completely disassemble it and make sure where everything "was". As it turned out, a tiny piece of aluminum broke away from a sharp corner in one of the valve covers and lodged in the gears of the oil pump, immediately locking it up. Again, we learn and progress. Fortunately, no serious damage was done. The crankshaft polished out nicely and everything appears to be back where it should be. Steps have been taken to assure it doesn't happen again! Overall, though, we proved the reliability of the Pontiac at this level. We put 24 passes on the car and engine. Had there not been external "forces" acting, it would have been without a single internal failure. Dave calls it the "indestructable little Poncho". How many others can say they revved a Pontiac V8 past 9,000 RPM more than once? (the same one, anyway. Argh! Argh! Humor...)
The November 2009 issue of High Performance Pontiac Magazine has a 6-page article on Dirty Bird. "Down and Dirty" tells much of the story behind the car. It is captioned "The World's Quickest Pontiac". Some good action shots there too, featuring not only the regular team, but my son, Forrest (guiding Dave back into his tracks from the front) and Randy Cocchia, my oldest and best friend in all the world (behind the car flashing signals to Forrest) who were "filling in" for the guys that couldn't make the trip from Virginia to Arizona.
2010
For the new year, we're attempting to get off the porch! We've been invited to join a tour of alcohol funny cars here in the mid-Atlantic area called "Earth Shaking Entertainment" (earthshakingentertainment.com). While not yet ready for full-on 1/4 mile TA/FC racing, Dirty Bird has shown very good potential as an 1/8 mile racer. That, coupled with Dave's incredible ability to "cut a light", we may actually be competitive against the Hemi cars. We're about to "put up". WIth some luck and providence, perhaps we won't have to "shut up"! Remember, be careful what you ask for, you just might get it!
For Valentine's Day, the Asphalt Angels of Virgina, one of the larger rod and custom clubs around the Richmond area, held their 48th annual "Rod and Custom" show in Mechanicsville. We felt Dirty Bird needed some local visibility so Dave entered the car in the show. We had barely gotten the engine back together and the frame polished for inspection. With some Turtle Wax and elbow grease, we got the car looking pretty nice. Chris, Dave's wife, made a nice display board for us. Dave had the HPP magazine article laminated to a board alongside the printed information Chris provided.
We were among many SERIOUS "custom" cars intended for display purposes. There were many examples of very high quality paint and body "creations". We didn't expect to really win anything, but thought we MIGHT have a shot at the "Competitiion Engine" award. Afterall, where else can you see a 2,000 HP Pontiac V8? We had a grand time. Many kids had their picture taken sitting in Dave's seat. One girl had just turned 15, and lost her NHRA "Junior Dragster" eligibility after 4 years of racing. Her dad told me she was going to drive their "foot brake" Mustang this year. When I asked her if she wanted HER picture taken in the car, she nearly burst! "WOULD I?!?!" She climbed in like she'd done it a hundred times. She grabbed the wheel and was smiling so big I thought her eyes would pop! Her dad mumbled something about a Mustang not going to cut it, and he'd probably have to find a funny car before long. Thanks alot... It was CLASSIC! Another future female high-end racer! Good luck and be safe, Eden! ("like the garden", her words)
Directly across the aisle from us was a gorgeous '34 Plymouth "coupe" with a real-deal 392 Hemi in it. One man walking by Dirty Bird glanced over at the engine, stopped and came back. He said "The spark plugs are in the wrong place." He had already read the information on the board, so it was clear he knew funny cars. I pointed across the aisle and said "No, HIS are!" We had a great chuckle over it.
We saw many old friends from around Richmond and made some new ones. The car was actually a big "hit". There are a couple of local Pontiac guys that "subscribe" to a different philosophy of Pontiacs than we do. Much to their distaste, it is now completely obvious to them who is actually responsible for the car and it's performance.
As the show wound down and the awards ceremony began, we paid attention, hoping for at least a minor SOMEHTHING. Afterall, it was the most serious car in the building. It seemed like hours went by as they wormed their way through dozens of smaller trophies and plaques. The "Best Competition Engine" award went to a flat-bottom "jet boat" with a big block Chevy in it, all polished and purdy... We started packing up as we figured that was "it". With 6 giant trophies left on the stage, Dave heard his name and "188" (our resgistered number in the show) for "Best Competition" (overall)!!! We were floored! A real race car and NOT a "show car", we had cleaned off much of the rubber from the back, but left enough inside the body everyone would KNOW it's real and not a "pretty face". Never in our "wildest dreams", did we think we would actually win our category! Not really a high priority to a racer, it's very satisfying to win such an award. Not only is Dirty Bird fast, he's a show winner, too! I suppose the quote "World's fastest Pontiac-powered Car" didn't hurt.
We have made some minor changes to the engine, but it's still the same 475 CID, Tiger-headed mini-monster (at about 50 CID smaller than the hemis, it's "little"). We're changing the gear to be more appropriate for 1/8 mile racing. There will be a test session in the near future. Our first race is Easter Sunday (April 4) at Waynesboro's Eastside Raceway. The 8-car field was already established when we "signed up" so we're #1 Alternate. We're going to make at least one pass. We're scheduled for The Performance Years Nationals (FKA Pontiacs in the Park) at VMP April 30, May 1 and 2. The LIttle Guy Nationals has invited us for a match race at Elizabeth City, NC, May 22 and 23. We're also invited for a 3-round match race agains Bunny Burkett (former IHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car champ) July 31 at VMP's "Night of Thrills". There are scheduled meets with Earth Shaking Entertainment as well.
Looks like we're going to try a "full schedule" of racing this year. It will test us and the Pontiac. If we're even mildly successful, we will have accomplished every major goal we've set for the car. Racing against the Hemi cars is one of our primary purposes. It will lead the way for other Pontiac racers to step up and run with the "big dogs". Dirty Bird is again "On Safari! (we're hunting elephants...)"
April 22, 2010
Since the last installment, we've been to Waynesboro's Eastside Speedway. Easter was a good day for Dirty Bird! The weather was wonderful. The stands were full. There ended up being six alcohol cars as winter weather prevented some of the scheduled cars from making the trip. Five funnies and one "altered" (a F/C chassis with a "T-bucket" type body, or Fiat or something...). We had the only iron block and the only "wedge". The rest were modern Hemis.
We were to make two passes each. The track conditions were iffy, to say the least. We lined up against the same team we raced at Little Guys last year. Same result. Dave "treed" him so bad he bogged it trying to launch. This time, there was no room for him to run Dave down. Bagged one elephant! Time wasn't anything to write home about. 4.70 @ 158. Bunny set the best time of the first round with a 4.31.
One car crashed into the guard rail in the first round. We drew the "by" run. We made a few small adjustments and Dave made a significant change in the mixture. He cut a pretty good light and managed a 4.46 @ 161. With no one in the other lane, we used the opportunity to test. Not a bad improvement.
Jim Dickey had an excellent second round. His "altered" set a new track record of 4.01. I didn't catch the MPH. His first round was poor from tire shake, but he drove through it and crossed the line. Bunny didn't back up her first round, leaving our 4.46 as the third best of the meet.
As you know, an Indian "brave" was required to earn their "warrior name". Dirty Bird now has a warrior name! "Dances With Elephants" has served notice. Circle the wagons, boys, the Injuns are comin'!!!
Saturday, April 17
The "Super Chevy" tour was at Virginia Motorsports Park for their annual visit. Dirty Bird was on hand, as both a "GM-powered car" and included among the exhibition "nitro coupes" (pro-mods with 30% nitro...). All of the nitro coupes were Hemi-powered except one. It was a pre-war Willys body with an 800 CID big block Chevy and three stages of nitrous.
We very proud to say, the quickest GM-powered car at that Chevy "show" was not a Chevy! Dirty Bird put down a 4.28 @ 165. The Chevy-powered pro-mod could manage only a 4.46. They had nitrous issues.
The car was a big "hit" with both the crowd at Eastside and at VMP. After the pass, they were on their feet shouting and stomping in unison "Dirty Bird! Dirty Bird!..." The promoter for Earth Shaking Entertainment remarked he didn't recall ever seeing a crowd react to a car like they did. Drivers? Maybe, but we're "nobody" and "unheard of", so it's gotta be the car.
We made some "changes" between the Easter race and the upcoming PY "Nats". I was in need of a part number for a piece in the rear axle and called Strange Eng. When I described the component, the man on the phone got curious. He wanted to know who we "were". I told him we're nobody, yet, but he MAY have heard of us: "The Pontiac." His response was immediate and surprised: "I HAVE!" Scott figures we've made a "ripple in the space/time continueum of alcohol funny cars"... I gave the man the website info so he could come and read this.
The Performance Years "Pontiac Nationals" was held at VMP, April 30 and May 2. Dirty Bird was to make a "shake down" pass Friday night. We decided the air would be as "good" as it would be all weekend, so Dave dialed it "up". The result was a 6.49 @ 200 MPH. A new "record"! MPH was down because the head gasket between 3 and 5 burned sending fire into 5 on the "intake" stroke. COUGH! went the blower... It broke the belt and "torched" the head between 3 and 5 (burned a "channel"). All this some 300 feet from the line. While unfortunate, this type of problem isn't all that unusual with blown/alcohol engines. Dave welded the middle and we resurfaced it. No more problem... There were some other issues with the heads, but they weren't the cause of the failure. A little too much heat in the engine and little too lean, can do it every time!
WG Smith, the team's photographer and my apprentice machinist, has created a "Facebook" page for Dirty Bird. There are actually two, one a "regular" page and the other a "fan-based" . Everyone is invited to visist them and become a "friend" of Dirty Bird. "Dirty Bird Pontiac" will get you there in the "search" option.
Two weeks later, we were at North East Dragway outside Hertford and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It's a "cute" little 1/8 mile track. Though a bit narrow, it has a good surface and shut-down area. The event was Johhny Rossie's "Little Guy Nationals, Suffolk Reunion". This is the same event held at VMP last year where Dirty Bird scored his first "kill". We intended to be there both Saturday and Sunday, but were unable to finish preparing the car until Saturday morning. So we went Sunday. The weather was looking ominous, and as it turned out, did rain later. When we arrived, the crowd and car count were small. Saturday had been a good day, but the weather threat kept alot of spectators and racers away. The only other F/C that was planning to run, pulled out just after we arrived, saying he didn't want to take a chance on the track again.
Bunny Burkett was ther "on display" with her car and her merchandise. She was greeting fans and wasn't scheduled to run Sunday. She had gone a 4.28 on Saturday. We were parked next to her. She's a "HOOT"! She's funny and spontaneous, kinda silly, all the while, sharp as a tack!
We made a "single" pass, as the only other car there that could "run" with us, a ProMod "Willys" with an Alan Johnson 526, wanted to make a "single" first, then later, a match. He went first, going 4.40 @ 158 MPH. Three sportman pairs later, it was our turn. Dave made it count. 4.21 @ 167.8! The "quick ET" of the meet!
Then the rain did arrive. We hung out grillin' and chillin' for a couple hours waiting for it to stop and go away so we could race again, or pour so we could go home. Bunny sat with us most of that time. We shared grilled food and snacks. For a "ragtag bunch of misfits", it sure felt good to get the respect from a true champion in the sport. She congratulated us on what we've accomplished since she first heard about us. I guess she "keeps track" of alcohol funnys around the country. Bear, her husband, told us we should be highly flattered, as "She doesn't sit in the rain with ANYONE. You guys must be special!" Big Dave said "Really?" "Yah, it messes up her hair..." Cool people. Friendy as can be and offering real advice on some of the "ins and outs" of the funny car "game". We're scheduled to run a three-round match with her July 31 at VMP. Should be fun! And she'll be "on her game" because she's seen Dave on the tree "in action" and knows he's "for real". The friendly competition is the biggest advantage of the "exhibition" curcuit. She does it for a living. We're doing it to learn and develope the car and engine program.
Friday June 4 and Saturday June 5
The Speed Channel show "Pinks All-Out" was being filmed at VMP. Dirty Bird was invited to be one of the "opening acts". We displayed the car all day Saturday, planning a pass between 7 and 9 PM. They pitted us against a former IHRA TA/FC champion. They had just changed to a "screw blower" and hadn't run the car in a while. It had been 5.50s in the past. Sporting a BAE "hemi", it was a formidable foe. If they could get off the line and make a clean pass, they would waste us. But again, as has happened a few times already, Dave and the little Pontiac put such a hole-shot on the other car, they over-powered the car and got "out of shape", eliminating any chance of catching the Bird. 6.51 @ 208 MPH. "Bagged another elephant". They have 500-1,000 more HP than we do. First guy to the end wins!
The car "fattened up" at the end of the pass due to the horrendous air, so it MIGHT have been better. We're happy it ran well in the air and didn't get "hurt".
We're talking about the POCI annual convention being held at Charleston, WV. There's an 1/8 mile track nearby where they run some Pontiac races during the event. Last time they paid a purse for "quick ET". I think we can do that... I*t's a bit of a "trek", so we haven't decided yet. STAY TUNED!
Jim
