|
|
31st Annual GS Nationals - Buick PrideCan't stop, won't stop: the Buick boys were at it again in Bowling Green for the 31st Annual GS Nationals. From the April, 2012 issue of GM High-Tech Performance By Justin Cesler Photography by Justin Cesler
|
|
Clay Willmott got it done... Clay Willmott got it done early on in qualifying, setting a new class record in Turbo Hot Street with a blazing 9.776 at 137.29mph. That’s with a single 67mm turbocharger, working air conditioning, power steering, stock-style suspension and a 200-4R transmission! Year after year the Buick faithful flock to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the annual GS Nationals, an event that has been a staple of the Buick racing community for more than 31 years. While a slowing economy and aging enthusiast base may seem like important factors in any discussion relating to overall event turn out, the week of October 17-23, 2011, proved that you just can't ever count these racers out, as new classes have been added to the event and the ladders have continued to fill up, aging community or economy be damned. And while you may be tempted to think that the GS Nationals is just the same event over and over, that couldn't be further from the truth, as we were on hand to talk to a couple of relatively new racers with all-new cars as well as veteran sportsman rocking brand new hardware for 2011. Everywhere we turned racers were posting up blisteringly quick elapsed times, lowering personal bests and class records as if the turbo Buick scene had just begun. Kevin Bolger would find himself... Kevin Bolger would find himself in the runner up spot on Saturday for THS, bowing out in the final round with a tight race separated by less than 1-mph and just a couple of tenths. It may not look like a 10.50 car, but we think that’s just the way Kevin likes it. Turbo Hot Street has seen tremendous growth since its inception, with 18 cars making the qualifying ladder and times ranging from 13.23 to 9.776 at 137.29mph, a new class E.T. record set by Clay Willmott. Turbo Stock Appearing, a purists' dream, saw 5 cars in the tough class, which goes through an incredible pre-race tech under the eagle eye of Richard Clark, who has been known to bounce racers for items as small as an unauthorized Zerk fitting on a trailing arm bushing! Yes, these guys are good and the racing is tight with almost every car in the 11-second range. Many racers double up in the alcohol injection class, TAI, which was won by last year's runner up, Jack "JD" DiLorenzo. Turbo Street Outlaw and Turbo Street Modified were, as always, crowd favorites, seeing low 9-second passes in TSM and low 8-second blasts in TSO, which was won by Dave Fiscus with an 8.330 at over 164mph. Go forth Buick fans, and check out all of the wheels-up and turbocharged action we've brought back from the GS Nationals. And who knows? Maybe we will see you in attendance next year...  Backing up his 2010 THS win,...  Backing up his 2010 THS win, David Day was back in the mix, taking home another trophy at the GS Nationals with a win in the final round on a 10.21-second pass at 133.24mph. David has owned this car since it was brand new and we’ve got more info on it coming up in a future issue, so stay tuned!  John Case faced Jack “JD”...  John Case faced Jack “JD” DiLorenzo in the Turbo Alcohol Injected finals and knew he would have to kill the tree to pull around the number 1 qualifier for the win. Unfortunately, John was a little too quick and saw the red light of doom, although he was still wicked fast with a 10.42 at 128mph.  JD took Runner Up in TAI last...  JD took Runner Up in TAI last year and was on a mission in 2011 to take the champion’s trophy back to Florida. Qualifying in the number 1 spot with Low E.T., JD knew he had to keep it together during eliminations and he did just that, winning the final round with a 10.61 at 143mph.  The Duttweiler/Gallina Racing...  The Duttweiler/Gallina Racing rocket was back at the GS Nationals looking to put on a show for the crowd, with an all-new engine combination and a new driver, “Sheriff” Bill Chaffin. The twin-turbo Buick mill was obviously making power, and although we didn’t get to see a complete run during the weekend, we can assure you this will continue to be the 6-second Buick to watch in the future.  Bill Thompson races his GN...  Bill Thompson races his GN in Turbo Stock Appearing and managed to set the Top Speed in qualifying, win a Gold award in the car show, and drive down the track during the car show parade lap…talk about a full weekend of fun!  Check out Red Armstrong’s...  Check out Red Armstrong’s ’87 Regal, which would help him take the Number 1 qualifier spot and set Low E.T. with an 11.12-second pass at 121.27mph.  John Tubbs’ ’87 Grand National...  John Tubbs’ ’87 Grand National ran great all through eliminations, posting back-to-back 11.3-second passes in the first two rounds. The final round was a nail biter between John and Clay Arnold, with only .081-seconds separating the two cars. John actually ran quicker (11.402 to Clay’s 11.483), but lost the race on a hole-shot by Clay.  For the second year in a row,...  For the second year in a row, Clay Arnold found himself taking home the Champion trophy (and money) in TSA, just barely edging out Mr. Tubbs in the final round thanks to a quick hole-shot and some quality driving. If you want tight racing action, TSA is where it’s at!  Racing at the GS Nationals...  Racing at the GS Nationals is serious business, but that doesn’t mean racers don’t help other racers out whenever they can. Here you can see David Day helping his fellow competitor, Kevin Bolger, in the lanes right before the final round of eliminations. Everyone at the GS Nationals is a class act, which is one reason why the race is still going strong.  Ron Joseph said “soolong”...  Ron Joseph said “soolong” to a set of tires during his burnout and would go on all the way to the finals in Turbo Stock Eliminator, taking home the Runner Up spot.  It says “9SEC GN” for a reason...  It says “9SEC GN” for a reason and Bob Hinson isn’t afraid to prove it to anyone. Doubling up on last year’s success, Bob left Bowling Green with the Low E.T., Top Speed, and Champion titles, running a 9.84 at 141mph in the finals for the win.  Think driving with your Grandfather...  Think driving with your Grandfather on the road is scary? Imagine if he was cool enough to wheel this awesome turbo Buick down track. Wheels up and on a mission!  Wondering what the iron-headed...  Wondering what the iron-headed mile per hour record holder in TSM looks like? Check out John Plog’s GNX-clone digging in hard on his way to a 145.55-mph pass. John ran hard all weekend and managed to take home the Runner Up spot with a 9.44 in the final round.  Jason White won TSM in 2010...  Jason White won TSM in 2010 and took home the trophy again, running a 9.102 at 151.60mph in the finals. Amazingly, that 9.1-second pass wasn’t even his fastest of the day as he ran an 8.963 at 153.13mph in qualifying, earning him the Number 1 spot, along with Top Speed and Low E.T. for the weekend.  Always remember this: Never...  Always remember this: Never lift, no matter what.  Only at the GS Nationals in...  Only at the GS Nationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will you see this sight!  Turbo Street Outlaw is the...  Turbo Street Outlaw is the semi-official “do everything you can class” at the GS Nationals and commonly sees 8-second turbo Buicks banging huge mile an hour with a single 88mm turbo and almost any V-6 Buick engine combination you could imagine. Although Brad Tennyson qualified in the 8 spot, he made it all the way to the finals and took the Runner Up spot in TSO.  It would be Dave Fiscus who...  It would be Dave Fiscus who found himself at the top of the pile on Saturday, taking home the TSO win with an 8.330 at 164.29mph, backing up his 8.300 Number 1 qualifier Low E.T. run from earlier in the day. That’s hauling the mail with an 88mm turbo Buick V-6 on a drag radial!  Awesome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Camaro ZL1 Morphs into “Freedom Fighter”
In a post-9/11 world, there are a multitude of organizations and individuals dedicated to helping veterans, both human and canine, adjust to life back home and aid with their health problems --...
more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|