"I actually drove the car into the garage as a V-6 Firebird. That was the last time it moved under its own power for over three years." Starting with a blue V-6 car, Mark had a lot of work ahead of him. The first step was to strip the car down and "with the help of a couple buddies, we flipped the car over on its roof, in my garage, and started cutting it apart." Believe it or not, this is how Mark was able to mini tub the car, without a lift or any fancy rotisserie. Once right side up, Mark replaced the original factory T-tops with a new hardtop and installed a new rear hatch. For easy trackside access, Mark attached the front fenders and bumper together as a one-piece lift-off front end. He then modified an existing VFN hood and extended it all the way to the windshield. Of course, the glass is no longer stock and was replaced with custom Pro Glass Lexan windows. After the body was hung and the panels all aligned, Mark and Sean Decker of Shandon, Ohio, applied two coats of Sherwin-Williams Planet Color Orange and another five coats of candy to give this Trans Am one of the nicest paintjobs at any dragstrip. To finish the exterior, a Joe Van Overbeek carbon wing was installed and sprayed with a candy orange tint.
Inside, it is all business, with safety and performance as the main focus. From the driver's seat Mark can keep an eye on the vitals using a custom-mounted RacePak UltraDash, which reports what the Big Stuff 3 is currently doing. Boost control is done by a home-built system with "lots of regulators" and is adjustable based on track and tire conditions. To keep Mark safe, a heavily modified Wolfe Racing 25.4 cage was installed along with a custom fire system. Behind the driver's seat, a custom bulkhead keeps everything legal and is home to both the fuel cell and water/ice tank for the intercooler. Shifting is done via a Precision Performance shifter and a Simpson parachute helps slow everything back down on the big end.
"We didn't set out to build the fastest car on the planet. We wanted something that ran well, was consistent, and looked good doing it." With help from Jim Egbert, Dave Shock, Ryan Griffin, Kevin Koehler, Bob Hamilton, Norm Davis, and his ever loving wife, Kellie, Mark feels good about the project and can't wait for next season. He already has a new 447-cid hydraulic roller LSX in the works and a larger turbo to provide even more thrust. Mark gives us all hope as he proves that you don't need high-dollar shops and tons of money to build one of the most beautiful cars to ever grace the 1320. Now, all of you slackers have no excuse. Get in the garage and start building; you have a lot of catching up to do.
 The fuel cell and water/ice...  The fuel cell and water/ice cell sit in the trunk, covered by a well-built aluminum bulkhead to keep the sanctioning bodies happy. The polished fire suppression bottle is to protect Mark in an emergency. |  The Simpson parachute is nestled...  The Simpson parachute is nestled neatly under the Joe Van Overbeek carbon-fiber wing. The lack of wheelie bars makes for one heck of a ride. |  The ARE dry sump oiling system...  The ARE dry sump oiling system and Burns muffler look like show pieces, but they are all function over style. |