GM Performance Parts - LSX All Motor
All Motor was seemingly the battle of two 8-second F-bodies, the Six Speeds Inc SOM Z28 and the SAM Racing HOSS, but as last year proved, it really is anyone's game. Nearly every car in the field had made recent changes to their setup, often completely untested, and there was no telling who would put it on the bumper, blow away the tires, smoke the clutch, or smoke the competition. Just as last year, stock-style suspension, OEM-style trans, and a 28.5x10.5 max tire size were a few of the only restrictions (besides weight)-leaving competitors to choose from virtually any LS motor combination using a GM block. However, when both the SAM HOSS and Six Speeds SOM Z showed up with Beck sheet metal EFI intakes with two 4-barrel style throttle bodies, the NMCA quickly scurried to change the weight breaks in an attempt to level the playing field. The unfortunate side-effect was that everyone wound up running at a weight that was most likely previously untested, which tends to be a big deal on cars that are SFI-mandated to use a parachute and can scrape the rear bumper at will.
The one disadvantage the two Houston, TX-based Camaros carried into the event is that their high-revving, solid roller LS1s were both at the limit, and slightly beyond, that of their transmissions. Word on the street was that Joe Huneycutt was repairing six-speeds as often as he was changing oil, and the SAM crew was fiddling with a new clutch setup after the proposed replacement trans was shut down by the NMCA (for not complying with the rules). Since all motor is all about consistency and whittling down your ET with small changes, either of the stick shifts could be sucking wind behind the more reliable TH400-equipped Firebird of defending champ Kevin Patterson. Ashley Gable had made strides since last year in her WS6, and new-comers Chris Fowler and John Ventresca were both wildcards.-SP
 Driver Judson Massengill,...  Driver Judson Massengill, who had already set the mark for the fastest n/a LS1 F-body in the SAM Camaro, no doubt had a bad taste in his mouth after losing last year's championship at the light. |  Right behind them is Joe Hunneycutt...  Right behind them is Joe Hunneycutt (a former SAM student) in the SOM Z28 that also set a milestone this year, becoming the fastest six-speed F-body. That's quite a nice feather in your cap to have as the owner of Six Speeds Inc-one of the best T56 builders in the country (seen here with wife, Amber, also a die-hard racer and new mother)... |  ...Joe was happy to have brought...  ...Joe was happy to have brought a backup trans when the original broke on Friday before eliminations. |
 |  New-comer Chris Fowler put...  New-comer Chris Fowler put his SAM-trained skills to good work in assembling an LS7-headed, 427-powered '90 Camaro after last year's event... |  ...Chris and his father Arvil...  ...Chris and his father Arvil had been running this combo for nine or ten months, but purchased the third-gen four or five years ago with the intention of making it a project car for their Fort Worth, TX-based shop Extreme HP. Fowler was the beneficiary of both Steve Hopkins and Judson's misfortune when both had to withdraw due to mechanical problems. |
 Not to be forgotten is last...  Not to be forgotten is last year's winner Kevin Patterson in the carbureted '95 black Trans Am, which now sports a 418 LSX combo with ETP canted valve heads... |  ...The Roseville, MI native...  ...The Roseville, MI native lowered his personal best to a 9.22, since last year's race as the result. |  Ashley Gable from Mt Airy,...  Ashley Gable from Mt Airy, MD is not to be forgotten in the white WS6 who has been running 9.60 at over 140 mph as of late, thanks to ETP LS7 small bore heads and a narrowed 12-bolt in place of an S60... |
 ...Can you believe this white...  ...Can you believe this white bullet still runs a hydraulic roller and a plastic LS7 intake? Unfortunately her TA was no match for the SAM Camaro, as she bowed out with a 10.21 to Judson's 9.53 in Round 1. |  Last but not least, was one...  Last but not least, was one of the fieriest of entrants-John Ventresca of Missauga, ON Canada and his partner Drago from Westport Auto, put the 440 LS2 combo together in just 2.5-weeks in order to make the race. The flamed '99 Camaro ran a 9.62 back in Toronto,... |  ...and they hoped with a few...  ...and they hoped with a few tweaks to the BS3 software they would be doing the same in Memphis. Unfortunately the northern competitors were sent packing by Patterson in Round 1, as their 9.69 couldn't match KFP's 9.30. |
 The closest race in All Motor...  The closest race in All Motor came in the second round of eliminations when defending champ Kevin Patterson faced Joe Hunneycutt. Though Patterson had Hunneycutt at the light by a full tenth, the Six Speeds Camaro took the lead until the shifter rail broke and the trans popped out of gear. Hunneycutt's Z regained composure and beat Patterson to the checkered running 9.20 at 148 mph to the Firebird's 9.24 at 144. |  With a hurt trans, the Six...  With a hurt trans, the Six Speeds Camaro couldn't regain its 8-second prowess, but a 9.20 at 145 was enough to beat Fowler's third-gen, which ran a respectable 9.71 at 138. It was a hard road for Hunneycutt after last year's engine carnage and many broke trannies, but at long last-victory! (In the great words of Johnny Drama.) | |