Car: 1988 Formula
| STRIP SPECS |
| Owner: | Kyle Brant | | Block: | LO3, 305 cid | | Compression ratio: | 9.3:1 | | Heads: | Stock iron | | Cam: | Stock | | Pushrods: | Stock | | Rocker arms: | Stock 1.5:1 | | Pistons: | Stock | | Crankshaft: | Stock | | Rods: | Stock | | Throttle body: | Stock | | Intake: | Edelbrock | | Fuel injectors: | 55 lbs/hr | | Fuel pump: | Stock | | Ignition: | Accel coil, stock distributor, Moroso wires, NGK plugs | | Engine management: | Stock | | Exhaust system: | Stock manifolds, Mac Y-pipe, Dynomax cat-back | | Transmission: | T5 | | Clutch: | Stock | | Driveshaft: | Stock | | Front suspension: | Stock springs, shocks, control arms and sway bar | | Rear suspension: | UMI lower control arms, stock springs, shocks, torque arm, Panhard bar and sway bar | | Interior mods: | Sunpro oil pressure, Autometer air/fuel ratio | | Rear end: | 10-bolt, 3.42 gear, posi | | Brakes: | Stock front disc, rear drum | | Wheels: | Stock 16x8.5 | | Front tires: | BFG KDW 255/50/16 | | Rear tires: | BFG KDW 255/50/16 | | Fuel octane: | 89 | | Race weight: | 3,400 lbs | | Best ET/mph: | 15.2 at 89.5 | | Best 60-ft. time: | 2.16 | | Launch technique: | Idle | | Current mileage: | 125,000 | | Miles driven weekly: | 300 | | Money Invested: | $2,300 |
| RUN LOG |
| RUN | 60-ft | ET/MPH |
| 1 | 2.58 | 15.90 at 91 |
| 2 | 2.65 | 15.89 at 91 |
| 3 | 2.45 | 19.65 at 60* |
*A broken tranny mount caused a premature end to the day for Kyle.
Owner Bio:
Kyle is studying to become a full-time automotive technician and one day open his own shop. Currently, the 19-year-old also works part time as a mechanic at a local shop near his home in New Milford, Connecticut. His racing experience extends mostly to test and tune days with his beloved Third Gen since purchasing back in October 2004. After doing all his own work on the car, including replacing the rear, he started hitting the track in August of the following year.
Conclusion
Despite the leeway contestants were given with the rules, only one car actually sported forced induction, and in fact most cars didn't venture too far from stock. In addition, Mother Nature was less than cooperative for an ideal day of racing. At 11 a.m., the temperature had already reached 91F in Old Bridge, New Jersey, at Raceway Park with 55 percent humidity, a 10 mph wind, and 29.94 barometric pressure. By mid-afternoon, it reached the high of the day at 97F, with a heat index of 107F. As you'll note from the difference in best ET to the Run Log, the high ambient temperature was like racing with a deployed parachute attached. However, I commend all the participants for braving the heat and making this thing happen. They were all good sports despite being as much as seven- or eight-tenths of a second off previous best times, and being a tick away from heat stroke.
While critics may contend that this shootout was setting up Third Gens to fail, I believe that with just a few more mods both Eric Martyn and Matt Cranford could have easily had some of the fastest times on the day. Most remarkably, though, is that including the price of the car itself, they would have spent far less than any LS1 owner. They certainly proved that, despite their age, Third Gens could still be valuable performers. Of course just because LS1s may cost a few extra dollars up front doesn't mean they aren't a good platform for a budget build either, which our First Place finisher Nick Broff showed. We had hoped to have a few LT1s at the shootout as well to represent the full spectrum of late model EFI F-bodies, but a few last minute cancellations ended those hopes. Tune in next time as we hit E-Town's strip with a bunch of stupid-fast GMs--you won't want to miss it!