The off season in our game seems to last forever, especially this year with the horrendous weather we have had. Driving a musclecar in winter sucks, it’s hard enough trying to get traction in the dry, let alone the wet, plus my Old’s has no heater and, as i discovered too late, the cowl induction hood has been set back so close to the windscreen the window wipers smash into it. The garage is freezing as well so this is a good time to catch up with the latest club news; Ladies and gentlemen i am very proud to announce that we now have 5 cars in the 9s. I always say the previous year was our best ever and, in terms of performance, it really was. Starting with Mad Dog, at the start of 2009 there was no engine in the car, then it eventually arrived from Muscle Motors in the States, and when Dave opened the box ,expecting to find all the bits required for assembly, he couldn’t believe his eyes, it was already built up ! What a result, but needless to say Mr Luty had the sump off to check a few tolerances. Daves mission was to have it all up and running for the Mopars, but apart from all the work that needed doing on the car, Dave himself needed surgery on his heart, but managed to fit it all in and make it. The car still had some gremlins to iron out at that meet but the next time out at a test n tune the Duke Charger ran an amazing 9.37 @144mph straight off the trailer, raising the bar with a new club record. He then heard a few rumblings about the cars streetability on a certain website so drove the Charger to the Hot Rod Drags pulling a caravan, then unhooked it and ran a couple of mid nines, respect indeed. Plus, there is more to come from the Charger yet as Dave was running out of revs at the top end  so is gearing it down for this year, then there is another 200hp shot of Nos to play with, dare i say 8s ? Next up Mr Roger Luty, who just crept into the 9s last year in his now legendary yellow Olds 442. It was never a question of power with the car but  getting it to the ground, so he threw a couple of sandbags in the boot and Bingo, ran a pb of 9.75. Roger was also under the spotlight last year as he was interviewed, then filmed in car making a 9 sec pass during the Powertour for the MoparEuronats 2009 DVD. Then we have  Richard Nugent in his, self painted, stars n flamed 67 Camaro. I knew that mighty Luty built 632 ci motor would propel the Chevy to a 9 once he got a decent pass in and it did it with ease with a 9.78 setting a new club record for an on the motor run, and, he would like me to add, it was through the mufflers ! Also Richard was just easing it off the line as he needs a stronger rearend which should be installed over this winter.
We really enjoyed competing in the Powertour this year, especially as one of our members won it. Dave Arnold performed heroics in his innocent looking taxed n tested 78 Trans am, but looks can be deceiving  as under the hood lies a 750hp 582ci Shafiroff motor that propels it into the 9s, but what really  won it for Dave was that he attended every race and laid down consistent 10 zeros so it really was an excellent efort. Not so lucky this year is our 5th 9 sec runner Craig Mcmanus, his menacing matt black 67 Nova either reaching for the sky or the other lane with every pass. Some rearend strengthening was carried out along with a set of wheelie bars which stopped the huge wheelies, but that force has got to go somewhere and eventually the prop twisted itself in half at the Mopareuronats. The Nova then went back to Websters where a closer inspection revealed a twisted chassis, so the car is currently being completely back halved and, knowing Webster, should run straight this year. Craig could well be one to watch this year as before that prop went bang he ran a club record 60ft in 1.33 secs and, i believe, a club first eigth mile time in the 5s. So, there are our five 9 sec runners but that could increase to 6 after this year. Enter Nick Woods who also had a bad year after blowing the engine in his 70 Roadrunner, but every cloud has a silver lining and his has come in the shape of a 915hp 622ci mountain motor, Lord have mercy !
We had a new car out last year too, when Brin Thomas debuted his 8 71 Blown 68 Pontiac GTO. So far the goat has run 10.68 with the supercharger underdriven, but he intends to turn the wick up this year.
As for me i have been doing silly things like appearing on T.V. with the Old’s, namely the Graham Norton Show, Totally Saturday, and yes, my son really did  drive through the garage wall when he found 1st gear instead of reverse ! It was all a bit crazy at the time but, looking back, i now have a rebuilt garage, we had a good laugh on the night, won tickets to watch the British Grand Prix and whats more a musclecar was beamed out to millions of viewers.
For this year i, like Roger, may just throw a couple of sandbags in my boot and see what happens, if nothing else it should pull a good wheelie. If you want to catch us out and about this year we normally make our annual pilgrimage to Wheels Day on Good Friday. After that our first big meet will probably be the All American weekend at Santa Pod, May 1st and 2nd, which coincides with the first round of the Powertour. Just a few weeks later you will find us at Shakespeare for Garys Picnic at the end of May. Its then just 2 months until the MoparEuronats, Jul 30th to Aug 1st,  which we have attended now every year for the last 11 and no wonder, if you are into musclecars this is Mecca. We look forward to seeing you there, especially those Taz boys because they know judgement day is coming !  Paul Dodd.