2007 ISSCA Nationals - Plus-Size Speed & Agility

Two categories of sound-off competition were held: one for vehicles with up to 600 watts, and one for those that exceeded 600 watts. Les Griffin of Benton, AR, and Jason Weiner of Tulsa, OK, took home First Place honors respectively. Bob Ploof of Belleville, IL, prepares to place the sound measurement equipment into Chris Pustizzi's '95 Impala SS. Although Chris didn't garner an award here, he was amply rewarded in the car show, where his modified '95 Impala SS shared First Place honors with Jesse Jackson Jr.

Although the speeds were limited by a pace car, it didn't take long for the cars to either spread out in an attempt at gaining some speed or alternately gallop in formation.

John Rafteseth of Lawrenceville, Georgia, barely finished getting his custom red '96 SS out of the chassis shop in time to make the nationals, but there wasn't sufficient time to tend to the myriad of racing details necessary for a shakedown run. In addition to being back-halved, the Impala has an 8.50-certified 10-point 'cage, Halon fire system, fuel cell, and dual parachutes.

The Dart-blocked 400 features 18-degree Brodix heads and a FAST XFI engine controller. Twin T-76 turbos and a custom liquid intercooler feed the mighty motor, reputably capable of producing up to 2,300 hp of Impy insanity. With goals of mid 8-second quarters, that's pushing 4,000 pounds mighty fast!

John Madeley displays his AA/GALT '96 Impala SS Bonneville Race car in the show car field. Powered by an EFI-equipped 572ci big-block Chevrolet, the 4,628 pound race car has run a best of 203.255 mph on the Salt Flats. Look for John to continue his assault on the record books. At a minimum, it's the fastest Impala SS in the land!

John "Doc" Dougherty of Cincinnati comes in a bit too hot on the autocross course in his blazing quick '94 SS during time trials. After quickly learning the track, John blistered off a 47.955-second lap to post a win in the race class as well as the fastest lap of the day.

The modified class in Autocross pitted two of the toughest competitors against one another. Travis Filby of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, drove his '96 SS to victory with a 49.626 over Bob Ploof's 49.818. Travis not only won autocross, but scored a victory road racing as well with an outstanding time of 1:17.510.

Chris Pustizzi of Nashua, NH, launches his immaculate custom-painted silver-and-black '95 SS in the Super Sport finals of against Brian Smyers of Fairborn, OH. Chris's '95 sports a Suncoast Ram Air hood and a Procharged LT1 that puts out 438 rear-wheel hp.

Robert Schmidt of Chicago, IL, posted a victory in Super Pro with his '96 SS by netting a 13.734 at 103.7 mph to a slower 14.354 in the near lane to Karl Ellwein of St. Leonard, MD.