Wildfire is closing in fast!

[Verne_Frantz]

Just in case you guys might be interested, Ronnie Evans first 9.sec pass was at the E-town MuscleCar drags (posted earlier). This past Sunday, the East Coast Nostalgia SS Assoc had it's event at Atco, but Ronnie had to go to the Grove to take his 9.sec license test runs. He made every run perfectly, as well as the 10sec "in & out of the car" timed test. The last two runs were full runs. He recorded a 9.87 then a 9.85.
Ronnie is now the second fastest "stock" 409 in the country. (stock, meaning original iron block and heads, as opposed to any aluminum or a reconfigured MK-IV block). He has 18 hundredhs to go to be #1........and he has several things yet to do to the car to do it.
Most people just don't understand what an unsung hero Ronnie is.......since 1962.......he has set track records, and national records in his car and as a driver in other people's cars. He has put himself in the seats of other cars that he never drove before and gone faster than the owner ever had. He can watch a car leave the line and know exactly what to do with the suspension or the tuning to make it go faster.
The man is 63 years young and has more drag racing blood in his viens than anyone I've ever known.

In case you can't tell, I kinda like the guy. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[mockingbird812]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif Unbelievable!!

[JoeG]

Glad you guys are making some noise....

[Dog427435]

[b]Congratulations to Ronnie and his pit crew!!

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

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[Xplantdad]

VERY cool Verne!!!

[Verne_Frantz]

Pit duties and turning wrenches are one thing, but Ronnie makes the decisions that make him go faster and faster! And he's the one in the car when it goes that fast! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ORIGLS6]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Salvatore]

And as Verne will attest to is that our man Pete Suriano "Petes Automotive" from Pottstown/Phoenixville, Pa. is the master mind behind Ronnies and a few other FAST 409 guys on the east coast! Attention to detail is a must for an 09 and that is what these guys do best! Pete is a master at massaging the 409 iron heads to make a lot of horsepower. Congrats on all fronts! Have any drag strip pictures Verne? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Kim_Howie]

COOL VERY FAST!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif My kind of car.

[Verne_Frantz]

I don't have any recent ones Sam. There's a video I took of his first 9.sec run at E-town but it's on someone else's camera. I'll take mine with me when we go out again and see what I can get.

And you're right about Pete. The little details count for a LOT. The last motor he did for Ronnie was just 417cid and he was running 10.30s. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

Verne

[Salvatore]

Hey Verne, When you guys change the rear Ronnie will be running mid 50's-60's always I bet! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

I appreciate the optimism Sam, but Ronnie says the .38s may only give us a tenth. It would be nice to be surprised though... I have a hunch that gear change will do more than that because the car is a 4-speed. (rather than a 5-speed). It RPMs instantly and has a long flat torque curve at the top.

Also consider that none of the 9.sec runs have produced his best 60' time. Suspension changes are also on the list. There are a few ways we can knaw on those 2 tenths we need......... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

Ronnie just turned a 9.72 in bad air (89deg, 56%RH). He's now 4 hundreths away from being the fastest "stock" 409 in the country. And there are still a few changes in the works. We don't want to beat the .68 best with a .67. We want to be in the .50s.
The starter at Cecil said it was the best looking and launching nostalgia car he'd ever seen.

More updates later as the weather gets better.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif And remember.......this is a 4-speed car!

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

I'm going to sleep with a smile on my face tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Salvatore]

Thats REAL fast Verne! You guys are getting the race day tune-up down pat! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif How about some pictures from down the County!!!

[Dog427435]

[b] COOL! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif