The Stress is at an All-Time High

Brian Acton, TJ from Baker Engineering, and Jay Blanchard spent the weekend testing the Big Block swapped Nova at Mid-Michigan Motorplex, running within a tenth of the current Street Race Big Block Naturally Aspirated record. 

We all know testing before an event is important for consistency and to prepare your tunes for the upcoming race. Well, these guys can now throw all of that out the window….

Within Reach of a Record?

In a phone call update today with Brian, he gave me the rundown from the weekend and let me know the heads are off of the car as I write this (Tuesday at 1:15pm, four days before Hot Rod Drag Week begins). 

The first update came as great news, they ran quicker to 660 ft than they had at US 131 in an earlier test session. Tripping the beams at 5.69, and using the backsplit from the 8.88 pass should have potentially netted them an 8.73 to the quarter mile. An 8.73 puts these guys in the hunt for to run at the front of the class. 

The guys were able to make several runs both days, dialing in the suspension and engine tune to be as ready as possible for next week’s event. A fun story, Brian is an accomplished bracket racer and decided to enter the bracket race on Saturday at Mid-Michigan to get a few test hits. He ended going to the Third Round! 

Slippery Slope Chasing Numbers

But, and it’s a biggggggg but, they have decided to change a few things……you know, four days before the event….. 

While at Mid-Michigan, the guys were talking with Jeremiah Kirby and John Lohone about fueling and the potential load requirements of running E85 in the car. Jeremiah and John said they just run premium pump gas and turn the timing wayyyyyy down. That got Brian and TJ (Baker Engineering and tuner for the car) talking on the ride home. The ability to save the weight of 30+ gallons of fuel from the trailer would be better for the car, trailer and ultimately the guys. So, on the ride home, they have decided to drive on pump gas and race on METHANOL. Yep, left field. They have ZERO testing on Methanol, but they should be able to “pickup a few numbers” in the front half of the track based on previous experience. 

The Anxiety is Palpable

One last thing to do before next week……change the camshaft and lifters. The team feels like they hurt a lifter which has led to a cam swap that has to be completed this week. After Brian got the car home on Sunday, he tore down the front of the engine, removed the radiator and all things in the way. He dropped the car back at Baker Engineering so TJ could thrash today to get a new cam and lifters in the car as soon as possible. They hope to have the car on the dyno tomorrow or Thursday. 

UPDATE (4 hours later): The engine is out because of a sparkly oil filter….. Debris from the lifter and cam made their way through the engine…. So, the guys dug in elbow deep and went back to work pulling the engine for a rebuild tomorrow by Baker’s best. The anxiety is palpable. 

The Thrash is never done. Make sure you are following the guys at Fast Act Racing to cheer them on as they attempt something incredible. 

And if you need last minute parts like these guys did, make sure to shop at Summit Racing ASAP