Man, how time flies! February this year marks a few milestones within the club. The first is that I will have owned my 72 Oldsmobile Cutlass for 20 years, and the fact that we are both still here is quite remarkable considering that for most of the time I have driven the car like a madman. I used to say I only use two throttle settings, on or off, however now that the car is capable of running 10 sec quarters I have come to realise that is not always possible so have learnt a little respect. Either that or i am starting to show my age! The other milestone is that Surrey Muscle will be entering our 15th year following on from our 1st club meet back in February 1995. In many ways club meets nowadays have not changed much since the first, true we have had to change venues a few times after  too many late night burnouts, but we still have most of the original hardcore members, and their cars, and still meet on the last Sunday of the month. The biggest difference however is that back then we were running 14s but now we are talking 9s which is something I could not have dreamed of back then. Here then are our runners and riders.

Mad Dog Dave Nugents 69 Charger has come along way since he used to drive the family down to Cornwall on holidays in it, for he is currently our no1 qualifier with a 9.70 @ 145mph that he ran back in 2006 in the now Dukes of Hazard themed car. Unfortunately the engine let go at the 2007 Mopars but he will be back for 2009 and the competition better watch out as the car now features a lightweight front end and the new motor should be putting out a bit more than the last, so low 9s could be on the cards. Of course it will road legal, he even intends to drive it to this years Mopars. Next up is Craig Mcmanus in his 9 sec 83 Camaro that won the Mopar Euronats 2007 Burnout competition, but you wont be seeing that car again as Craig decided he wanted a real muscle car and purchased a 67 Nova rolling shell. He thrashed like mad to get it ready for last years  Mopars only to put a big crack in the bellhousing on the Friday racing. He has been plagued by problems ever since, the car just wont go straight so it is currently at Websters being sorted. Once done though it should be pretty quick as the engine that propelled the Camaro to 9.8s is sitting in a car 500lbs lighter. It should be easy to spot with its mat black paint and yellow roof.
Then there is Roger Luty who spends most of his time keeping us on the road but last year got to work on his own car in the quest for the 9s. Refusing to take advice from anyone by sticking with Oldsmobile power he knew his engine building skills would be tested to the fore if he was going to crack it, but I am pleased to report he ran the magic number in his now legendary yellow 442 at the Hot Rod Drags. Next up is Dave Arnold in his 77 Trans am and the last time anyone saw it on the track it was running smoking 13s, so last year he stepped up with the programme by purchasing a 582ci Shafiroff motor. Now of course you can’t just stick a motor like that in a car without major mods so John Sleath was called upon, and he promised the Pontiac wouldn’t leave his workshop till it ran straight. True to his word the car runs effortlessly up the track to a so far best of 10.21 @132MPH, and that’s on the motor in street trim, full exhaust and street tyres!
Now if you think 582ci is big that is nothing compared to the engine Richard Nugent has put in his Stars n Flamed 68 Camaro. Built by that man Roger Luty the Merlin block motor came out with a massive 632ci. First time out at the Mopars the new found horsepower and torque fried the Trans then at the next meet a slippery track prevented a good time, but you can be sure that once Richard gets to grips with it next year we will have another 9 sec runner. At the moment he is being a bit cautious with it as back in 2004 he was slammed hard into the Armco at Avon after a core plug let go dumping water under the left slick. The whole right side of the then yellow car was wrecked but Richard got it all back together, carrying out all the bodywork and applying the amazing paintjob himself. Nick Woods hasn’t been hanging about either in his 70 Roadrunner posting a PB this year with a 10.23 @132 mph. Again this car has come a long way since its early days when it was yellow and ran 15s via a manually shifted 383. As for me I am chasing the pack with a comparatively slow 10.73 but at least I am one of the last who actually drives the car to the racetrack. We also now have a blown 68 Pontiac GTO in our ranks currently being completed by late joiner Brin Thomas that should be pretty quick when it hits the track.
Believe it or not we do have a few non racing members and whilst Andy Johnson just cruises in his peppermint 69 Mustang he is quick with a pencil being a graphic artist. He is responsible for all our club artwork having designed our T-shirt and jacket logos, and has also been doing the annual Mopar Euronats T-shirts for many years now. Our affiliation with  the Mopars and its originators goes back even further, our first visit being back in 1999 so that’s another anniversary to celebrate as we have been back ever since for the past 10 years. During that time we have been honoured to receive the Club award 3 times and, between us, won the Burnout competition 5 times. In fact in the early days Roger Luty won it 3 years on the trot in the yellow Olds so was asked to retire to give others a chance. His efforts were duly noted however as in 2005 he was inducted into the Mopar Hall of Fame. Over the years we have formed a very strong bond with Mr Tony Oksien who has championed our cause since day one, generally helping to promote us, even playing host for some years at our Xmas parties.
Our 2009 calendar is shaping up nicely, our first outing being at Wheels Day on Good Friday. Then, apart from some RWYB testing, our first race meet will be the Wheels USA 4 day event at Santa Pod 1st to 4th May. The Power Tour kicks off here and we cant wait to do battle in this new series, I only managed to attend 2 of the 4 meets last year and still came 4th but I reckon the opposition this year will be a lot stronger now the word is about. After that it’s on to the Yanks Weekend at the end of May at Avon Park, followed by the Nostalgia Drags in June then it’s the big one, the Mopars. The Mopar Euronats really is the premier meet of the year for us, 3 days of muscle car heaven where once inside the gates you feel you could be in America. There are Yanks and Yank minded people everywhere and you won’t find a better collection of Plymouths and Dodges outside of the USA, and whilst some of them come for the Show n shine you will find most of them doing what they were built for, blasting down the quarter mile. Once you have attended a few meets you get to know everyone but not necessarily their names, but that doesn’t matter because you sense that you are all there for the same reason and it’s that atmosphere that makes it so special. As for us at Surrey Muscle you will see us coming back year after year and that’s because this muscle car thing is not just a hobby, it’s a way of life.  Paul Dodd.

 

NEWSFLASH: June update

We are just two race meets in and already setting personal bests. Richard Nugent, 68 Stars n flamed Camaro, has run  9.78 @137mph, and that’s just easing it off the line until a stronger axle is installed. Dave Arnold, 77 Trans am, just had to uncork the Shaffirof motor to run a 9.93 and set a new 60ft club record at 1.39 seconds. Wow, just imagine if these motors were on Nitrous, one motor that definitely is, Roger Lutys Olds 442, is now in the 9.8 zone. Also being rebuilt to withstand plenty of abuse is the engine for Mad Dogs car, 69 Duke Charger, and he intends to debut it at the Mopars, so watch out! Brin Thomas has already debuted his bad black n blown 68 GTO to easy high 10s with plenty to go. Craig Mcmanus is still struggling to get to grips with the 67 Nova, first it wouldn’t go straight but now it’s reaching for the skies, see wheelie in photo and remember that shot is of the car on its way back down! Some wheelie bars will be installed by the Mopars. Nick Woods is still dialling in the latest combo in his 70 Roadrunner and hopes it all comes together at the Mopars too so that really is the place to be come the weekend of 24th to 26th July. As for me, the Olds has been doing silly stuff like appearing on a TV game show, see link to you tube. It was all a bit daft but I won tickets to the British Grand Prix and, more importantly, a muscle car was being beamed out to millions of viewers, Paul Dodd, Surrey Muscle.