SEAMAN HAS BANNER DAY, RAFTASETH FINALLY WINS BIG DOG
by Tim Glover
Photos
"Sedans on Steroids" once again ruled the track at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga. for the event named Southern Super Heavy Shootout 4, The Final Battle. Racers from all over the United States came to the track to enjoy their final event of the 2004 season. Only big cars, weighing 3800+ pounds, were allowed in the heads up competitions. The fastest and quickest car on the grounds once again belonged to Bill Kieler from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. His '89 Mark VII Lincoln blasted down the quarter mile course in 9.73 seconds at 138.23mph, qualifying him number one in Big Dog. Unfortunately, a burned piston ended his day before round one. The best reaction time in eliminations award went to Mike Lukens from Lake Worth, Fla., who had a .501 react with his '96 Impala SS. Eric Seaman of Clayton, N.C. had a great day, winning both the Class B and King of the Hill races. Seaman also finished in the Heads Up / Bolt On class semi-finals. Brian Lewis, a former Big Dog winner (2002) added some excitement for the fans when a huge nitrous explosion blew the side off his intake manifold and buckled the hood of his Lincoln Mark VII about six inches.
Along with the racing action was a car show, featuring not only Impala SS machines, but other makes of big cars as well. A bright yellow 350 powered Cadillac was on the grounds. Randy Kuntz from nearby Lawrenceville, Ga. brought his bright red 440 powered '67 Belvedere for the car show and time passes. The most tricked out car on the grounds was Mike Lozano's Lozano Customz '95 Impala SS, featuring gull wing doors, killer stereo, a playstation in the back, a wild paint job and a high level of detail. Metco Motorsports Solutions had a booth on the Midway with all types of high performance suspension and engine parts for the '03 and '04 Mercury Marauders and '94 - '96 Impala SS cars.
Three bracket classes, three heads up classes and a King of the Hill race were on the schedule; Big Dog, GM Class and Heads Up / Bolt On (HOBO) for heads up - no breakout racers, Class A (14 seconds and slower), Class B (13-14 seconds) and Class C (12 - 13 seconds). King of the Hill was for the three bracket winners plus the runner up with the best reaction time in the bracket race.
Lawrenceville, Ga. racer John Raftaseth was the first person to put an Impala SS into the eleven second range several years ago, and has always been a top contender in the Big Dog class. However, breakage and other forces have conspired in the past to keep him out of the winner's circle. Wanting it badly, he took the Big Dog win with a decisive 10.60 pass at 127mph against Karl Ellwein from St. Leonard, Md. Ellwein posted a very good 10.91, 127.22mph pass. "I personally wanted John to win one week ago. He's always had bad luck. I was telling my buddies earlier it was John's year," said Ellwein. He then added, "There were five cars faster than mine today, and my strategy was to simply outlast the competition." Earlier, in qualifying, Raftaseth enjoyed an even quicker 10.22 second pass. Dave Horn ('96 Impala SS - Las Vegas, NV) and Jorge Perezgurri ('94 Impala SS - Miami,
Fla.) were the semi-final pair.
In addition to Big Dog, two new heads up classes were added for 2004, GM Heads Up and Heads Up / Bolt On.
Fred Gramby from Waldorf, Md. became the first Atlanta GM Heads Up winner with his '95 Caprice. Gramby turned in a very good 12.99, 103.25 mph pass to win against Trey Jenkins' Savannah, Ga. based '96 Impala SS. Jenkins carded a 13.28 at 101.30 mph. Nabil Guffey ('95 Impala SS - Mechanicsville, Md.) won Class B in 2002 at Atlanta, but had to settle for a semi-final finish in GM Heads up. Gramby added, "I enjoyed myself today. I wasn't even expecting to win. Special thanks to GASSIT for having us."
The final round in Heads Up / Bolt On featured drama when Pat Gish's Lawrenceburg, Ind. based '96 Impala began leaking water on the track during the burnout. Too much water was probably used during the radiator cool down from the previous pass, but Gish could not get it all out before his opponent and racing friend Glen Koerig of Limerick, Pa. was told to make the pass. Koerig offered to wait on Gish, but time ran out. Koerig's '96 Impala SS took the win with a 12.81 at 103.91mph. Eric Seaman completed the first of his late round appearances with a semi-final finish, along with Scott Kaufman ('95 Impala SS - Millers Creek, N.C.).
Mark Lady made his trip from Faribault, Ill. worthwhile with a Class C (12-13 seconds) win. Lady's '04 Mercury Marauder ran close to its 12.70 dial in time with a 12.73, 106.59 mph pass. Mike Harris ('94 Impala SS - Dayton, Ohio) had a slightly better reaction time, but ran well off his 12.53 dial with a 12.67 at 104.68mph. Karl Ellwein's '95 Impala SS broke a water bleeder fitting in the semi-finals, which is where he finished in Class C. "I traveled 1100 miles for this event. The hospitality of the Impala SS people has been top notch," said Lady.
Clayton, N.C. racer Eric Seaman enjoyed his first win of the day in Class B (13 - 14 seconds) with his '96 Impala SS. Seaman enjoyed a slight reaction time advantage and then went closer to the dial with a 13.48 at 101.28mph. Seaman's opponent, Chris Nickell (runner up in 2002 and winner in 2003 at Atlanta) earned the 2004 runner up spot with his Pleasant Plains, Ill. based '96 Impala SS when he turned in a .06 over 13.74 at 96.55 mph. Pat Gish ('96 Impala SS - Lawrenceburg, IN), who was focusing on the Bolt On / Heads Up class, dropped out of Class B competition in the semi-final round. Seaman added, "I've been bracket racing 15 years. I'm actually a bolt on guy, but decided to run the brackets today. My first time at Atlanta Dragway, and I get lucky."
It was déjà vu all over again in the King of the Hill final for both Seaman and Nickell. Seaman broke out with a 13.43, 100.25mph pass (13.45 dial), but Nickell committed the bigger infraction with a 13.67 at 94.89mph (13.73 target). Mark Lady and Duane Webster ('95 Impala SS - Hoover, Ala.) were the King of the Hill semi-finalists.
Duane Webster had the pleasure of racing good friend and fellow NASSA (North Alabama Super Sports Association) club member Gregory Wilson ('96 Impala SS - New Market, Ala.) in the Class A (14 seconds and slower) final. Webster enjoyed a huge holeshot advantage, so he trimmed the ET and took the win with a 14.90 at only 84.20mph (14.80 dial). Wilson finished with a 14.82 at 91.15mph (14.70 target). Glen Packard ('03 Marauder - McDonough, Ga.) and Rick Graves ('96 Impala SS - St. Louis, Mo.) were the semi-final pair.
BIG DOG CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: John Rafteseth '96 Impala SS Lawrenceville, GA 10.60 127.22
R/U: Karl Ellwein '95 Impala SS St. Leonard, MD 10.91 123.83
Semi: Dave Horn '96 Impala SS Las Vegas, NV
Semi: Jorge Perezgurri '94 Impala SS Miami, FL
GM CLASS CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Fred Gramby '95 Caprice Waldorf, MD 12.99 103.25
R/U: Trey Jenkins '96 Impala SS Savannah, GA 13.28 101.30
Semi: Nabil Guffey '95 Impala SS Mechanicsville, MD
Semi:
HEADS UP BOLT ON (HOBO) CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Glen Koerig '96 Impala SS Limerick, PA 12.81 103.91
R/U: Pat Gish '96 Impala SS Lawrenceburg, IN (broke)
Semi: Eric Seaman '96 Impala SS Clayton, NC
Semi: Scott Kaufman '95 Impala SS Millers Creek, NC
CLASS C - 12.00 - 13.00 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mark Lady '04 Marauder Faribault, IL 12.73 106.59 (12.70)
R/U: Mike Harris '94 Impala SS Dayton, OH 12.67 104.68 (12.53)
Semi: Karl Ellwein '95 Impala SS St. Leonard, MD
CLASS B - 13.00 - 14.00 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Eric Seaman '96 Impala SS Clayton, NC 13.48 101.28 (13.45)
R/U: Chris Nickell '96 Impala SS Pleasant Plains, IL 13.74 96.55 (13.68)
Semi: Pat Gish '96 Impala SS Lawrenceburg, IN
Semi:
CLASS A - 14.00 - UP CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Duane Webster '95 Impala SS Hoover, AL 14.90 84.20 (14.80)
R/U: Gregory Wilson '96 Impala SS New Market, AL 14.82 91.15 (14.70)
Semi: Glen Packard '03 Marauder McDonough, GA
Semi: Rick Graves '96 Impala SS St. Louis, MO
KING OF THE HILL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Eric Seaman '96 Impala SS Clayton, N.C. 13.43 100.25 (13.45)
R/U: Chris Nickell '96 Impala SS Pleasant Plains, IL 13.67 94.89 (13.73)
Semi: Mark Lady '04 Marauder Faribault, IL
Semi: Duane Webster '95 Impala SS Hoover, AL
Photos
"Sedans on Steroids" once again ruled the track at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga. for the event named Southern Super Heavy Shootout 4, The Final Battle. Racers from all over the United States came to the track to enjoy their final event of the 2004 season. Only big cars, weighing 3800+ pounds, were allowed in the heads up competitions. The fastest and quickest car on the grounds once again belonged to Bill Kieler from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. His '89 Mark VII Lincoln blasted down the quarter mile course in 9.73 seconds at 138.23mph, qualifying him number one in Big Dog. Unfortunately, a burned piston ended his day before round one. The best reaction time in eliminations award went to Mike Lukens from Lake Worth, Fla., who had a .501 react with his '96 Impala SS. Eric Seaman of Clayton, N.C. had a great day, winning both the Class B and King of the Hill races. Seaman also finished in the Heads Up / Bolt On class semi-finals. Brian Lewis, a former Big Dog winner (2002) added some excitement for the fans when a huge nitrous explosion blew the side off his intake manifold and buckled the hood of his Lincoln Mark VII about six inches.
Along with the racing action was a car show, featuring not only Impala SS machines, but other makes of big cars as well. A bright yellow 350 powered Cadillac was on the grounds. Randy Kuntz from nearby Lawrenceville, Ga. brought his bright red 440 powered '67 Belvedere for the car show and time passes. The most tricked out car on the grounds was Mike Lozano's Lozano Customz '95 Impala SS, featuring gull wing doors, killer stereo, a playstation in the back, a wild paint job and a high level of detail. Metco Motorsports Solutions had a booth on the Midway with all types of high performance suspension and engine parts for the '03 and '04 Mercury Marauders and '94 - '96 Impala SS cars.
Three bracket classes, three heads up classes and a King of the Hill race were on the schedule; Big Dog, GM Class and Heads Up / Bolt On (HOBO) for heads up - no breakout racers, Class A (14 seconds and slower), Class B (13-14 seconds) and Class C (12 - 13 seconds). King of the Hill was for the three bracket winners plus the runner up with the best reaction time in the bracket race.
Lawrenceville, Ga. racer John Raftaseth was the first person to put an Impala SS into the eleven second range several years ago, and has always been a top contender in the Big Dog class. However, breakage and other forces have conspired in the past to keep him out of the winner's circle. Wanting it badly, he took the Big Dog win with a decisive 10.60 pass at 127mph against Karl Ellwein from St. Leonard, Md. Ellwein posted a very good 10.91, 127.22mph pass. "I personally wanted John to win one week ago. He's always had bad luck. I was telling my buddies earlier it was John's year," said Ellwein. He then added, "There were five cars faster than mine today, and my strategy was to simply outlast the competition." Earlier, in qualifying, Raftaseth enjoyed an even quicker 10.22 second pass. Dave Horn ('96 Impala SS - Las Vegas, NV) and Jorge Perezgurri ('94 Impala SS - Miami,
Fla.) were the semi-final pair.
In addition to Big Dog, two new heads up classes were added for 2004, GM Heads Up and Heads Up / Bolt On.
Fred Gramby from Waldorf, Md. became the first Atlanta GM Heads Up winner with his '95 Caprice. Gramby turned in a very good 12.99, 103.25 mph pass to win against Trey Jenkins' Savannah, Ga. based '96 Impala SS. Jenkins carded a 13.28 at 101.30 mph. Nabil Guffey ('95 Impala SS - Mechanicsville, Md.) won Class B in 2002 at Atlanta, but had to settle for a semi-final finish in GM Heads up. Gramby added, "I enjoyed myself today. I wasn't even expecting to win. Special thanks to GASSIT for having us."
The final round in Heads Up / Bolt On featured drama when Pat Gish's Lawrenceburg, Ind. based '96 Impala began leaking water on the track during the burnout. Too much water was probably used during the radiator cool down from the previous pass, but Gish could not get it all out before his opponent and racing friend Glen Koerig of Limerick, Pa. was told to make the pass. Koerig offered to wait on Gish, but time ran out. Koerig's '96 Impala SS took the win with a 12.81 at 103.91mph. Eric Seaman completed the first of his late round appearances with a semi-final finish, along with Scott Kaufman ('95 Impala SS - Millers Creek, N.C.).
Mark Lady made his trip from Faribault, Ill. worthwhile with a Class C (12-13 seconds) win. Lady's '04 Mercury Marauder ran close to its 12.70 dial in time with a 12.73, 106.59 mph pass. Mike Harris ('94 Impala SS - Dayton, Ohio) had a slightly better reaction time, but ran well off his 12.53 dial with a 12.67 at 104.68mph. Karl Ellwein's '95 Impala SS broke a water bleeder fitting in the semi-finals, which is where he finished in Class C. "I traveled 1100 miles for this event. The hospitality of the Impala SS people has been top notch," said Lady.
Clayton, N.C. racer Eric Seaman enjoyed his first win of the day in Class B (13 - 14 seconds) with his '96 Impala SS. Seaman enjoyed a slight reaction time advantage and then went closer to the dial with a 13.48 at 101.28mph. Seaman's opponent, Chris Nickell (runner up in 2002 and winner in 2003 at Atlanta) earned the 2004 runner up spot with his Pleasant Plains, Ill. based '96 Impala SS when he turned in a .06 over 13.74 at 96.55 mph. Pat Gish ('96 Impala SS - Lawrenceburg, IN), who was focusing on the Bolt On / Heads Up class, dropped out of Class B competition in the semi-final round. Seaman added, "I've been bracket racing 15 years. I'm actually a bolt on guy, but decided to run the brackets today. My first time at Atlanta Dragway, and I get lucky."
It was déjà vu all over again in the King of the Hill final for both Seaman and Nickell. Seaman broke out with a 13.43, 100.25mph pass (13.45 dial), but Nickell committed the bigger infraction with a 13.67 at 94.89mph (13.73 target). Mark Lady and Duane Webster ('95 Impala SS - Hoover, Ala.) were the King of the Hill semi-finalists.
Duane Webster had the pleasure of racing good friend and fellow NASSA (North Alabama Super Sports Association) club member Gregory Wilson ('96 Impala SS - New Market, Ala.) in the Class A (14 seconds and slower) final. Webster enjoyed a huge holeshot advantage, so he trimmed the ET and took the win with a 14.90 at only 84.20mph (14.80 dial). Wilson finished with a 14.82 at 91.15mph (14.70 target). Glen Packard ('03 Marauder - McDonough, Ga.) and Rick Graves ('96 Impala SS - St. Louis, Mo.) were the semi-final pair.
BIG DOG CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: John Rafteseth '96 Impala SS Lawrenceville, GA 10.60 127.22
R/U: Karl Ellwein '95 Impala SS St. Leonard, MD 10.91 123.83
Semi: Dave Horn '96 Impala SS Las Vegas, NV
Semi: Jorge Perezgurri '94 Impala SS Miami, FL
GM CLASS CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Fred Gramby '95 Caprice Waldorf, MD 12.99 103.25
R/U: Trey Jenkins '96 Impala SS Savannah, GA 13.28 101.30
Semi: Nabil Guffey '95 Impala SS Mechanicsville, MD
Semi:
HEADS UP BOLT ON (HOBO) CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Glen Koerig '96 Impala SS Limerick, PA 12.81 103.91
R/U: Pat Gish '96 Impala SS Lawrenceburg, IN (broke)
Semi: Eric Seaman '96 Impala SS Clayton, NC
Semi: Scott Kaufman '95 Impala SS Millers Creek, NC
CLASS C - 12.00 - 13.00 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mark Lady '04 Marauder Faribault, IL 12.73 106.59 (12.70)
R/U: Mike Harris '94 Impala SS Dayton, OH 12.67 104.68 (12.53)
Semi: Karl Ellwein '95 Impala SS St. Leonard, MD
CLASS B - 13.00 - 14.00 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Eric Seaman '96 Impala SS Clayton, NC 13.48 101.28 (13.45)
R/U: Chris Nickell '96 Impala SS Pleasant Plains, IL 13.74 96.55 (13.68)
Semi: Pat Gish '96 Impala SS Lawrenceburg, IN
Semi:
CLASS A - 14.00 - UP CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Duane Webster '95 Impala SS Hoover, AL 14.90 84.20 (14.80)
R/U: Gregory Wilson '96 Impala SS New Market, AL 14.82 91.15 (14.70)
Semi: Glen Packard '03 Marauder McDonough, GA
Semi: Rick Graves '96 Impala SS St. Louis, MO
KING OF THE HILL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Eric Seaman '96 Impala SS Clayton, N.C. 13.43 100.25 (13.45)
R/U: Chris Nickell '96 Impala SS Pleasant Plains, IL 13.67 94.89 (13.73)
Semi: Mark Lady '04 Marauder Faribault, IL
Semi: Duane Webster '95 Impala SS Hoover, AL
posted by David @ 1:25 AM
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