So I've canceled my subscribtion to SCC (last one left) as they've gone from "not bad" to "meh" to "crap" to "since when is a review of a sawz-all a tech article?". I was looking back through my old issues, and just happened to check out September of 1998. The bad dog on the cover? A Supra making 596 ponies.

The really interesting thing, however, was a recap of the NIRA spring nats. The winner of the Quick 8 class was Peter Farrell with a 93 RX-7 that ran 10.982 @ 128.62. The fastest time I can find mention of is a 10.530 @ 112.78 run by Luis Diaz' 72 Datsun 1200.

Fast forward to the NHRA SC Spring Nats at Englishtown this year. Jesus Padilla takes the All Motor class in the 85 RX-7 with a 9.927 @ 131.97. Man... we've come a long way. I have to wonder though, if things weren't just a little better when the import scene was a little bit hungry, before we all got PAUL WALKER'D. I remember when a 14 in a Honda was impressive. In some ways, I kinda miss those days.

 

we all just evolved. you either love it or hate it. yeah I like DRAG and MOdified. But there is alot of been there done that.

 

GOOD TIMES

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RevenantAE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> In some ways, I kinda miss those days.</TD></TR></TABLE>

in many ways i miss those days.

Back in the days when I was young I'm not a kid anymore
But some days I sit and wish I was a kid again

 

I remember PF was the guy to knock off back-in-the-day and I could actually qualify (and win) with 10.8's. Now it's mid 9's on BFG's to have a shot (even though 8.3's are the goal). I also remember a big name performance shop (around my way) running a swiss cheese hatch going high to mid 10's on the hack (they still swear by the hack). Thanks for bring up old memories.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Silverskylinegirl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I remember PF was the guy .</TD></TR></TABLE>

I remember Eddie Bello handing him his ***!

 

Man, i miss those days.. I wish i could go back to those days with the knowledge i have now. If i could change anything i did back then, i woulda built my car for racing rather than car shows.. what a waste of time and money that was.. atleast i found the right track and switched over.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Group Tenacity &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Man, i miss those days.. I wish i could go back to those days with the knowledge i have now. If i could change anything i did back then, i woulda built my car for racing rather than car shows.. what a waste of time and money that was.. atleast i found the right track and switched over.


you did the right thing..


</TD></TR></TABLE>man, you guys sound like a bunch of women. crying over old bf's.. the old days were wonderfull and i must say i also had some of the greatest fun in my life.. but today its even better.. we got cool stuff like INSANE street cars making alot of FULL Drag cars look like idiots... 8.0 sec unibodys, tube chassis cars, 6 sec 200+mph pro class.. gimme a break.. in with the new!! out with the old..

 

back then i couldn't have imagined what it would be like to have a 13 sec honda....now i get bored with an 11 sec car

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MHRacing-310 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

man, you guys sound like a bunch of women. crying over old bf's.. the old days were wonderfull and i must say i also had some of the greatest fun in my life.. but today its even better.. we got cool stuff like INSANE street cars making alot of FULL Drag cars look like idiots... 8.0 sec unibodys, tube chassis cars, 6 sec 200+mph pro class.. gimme a break.. in with the new!! out with the old.. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Believe it or not, this is one of the things that makes me miss the old days all the more. Sure cars weren't as fast.... but on the other hand, you didn't need to invest the equivalent of a nice SoCal house in order to be competitive.

Remember when the phrase "Don't mess with him... he's squeezing at least 50" could be taken seriously? When "Battle of the Imports" was still a rumor? When the shows were small, and nearly ever car got driven there? When some of the fastest cars belong to people's mothers... and they'd been completly hiding the things theyd done to it (It sounds just the same as always, mom.... maybe your hearing is messed. )?

Ah well... guess you're right. Out with the old personal and close knit scene, in with commercialization and corporate sponsorship.

BTW: Before you get TOO happy about how far things have come: strap a GE F404 turbofan onto a brick and it'll run the 1/4 pretty quick too.

That simplicity is what I miss. Oh well. As you said, those times are over. I

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MHRacing-310 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

man, you guys sound like a bunch of women. crying over old bf's.. the old days were wonderfull and i must say i also had some of the greatest fun in my life.. but today its even better.. we got cool stuff like INSANE street cars making alot of FULL Drag cars look like idiots... 8.0 sec unibodys, tube chassis cars, 6 sec 200+mph pro class.. gimme a break.. in with the new!! out with the old.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol, leave it to old man max to wake everyone up!

 

i remember when old man max was rolling a dark gray DA integra on carbs straight off the header. rolling around in long beach trying to break the sound barrier, but only got in the 14's instead....dam that thing used to make my ears bleed.

congratulations max, YOU'VE come along way.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by letholone &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i remember when old man max was rolling a dark gray DA integra on carbs straight off the header. rolling around in long beach trying to break the sound barrier, but only got in the 14's instead....dam that thing used to make my ears bleed.

congratulations max, YOU'VE come along way.</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL yea that integra was nuts.. waaay back in the early 90s.. Yepp, tons of fun, but that car ran mid 13s on the motor ls. stock block.. 14.0s was with bolt ons and still efi ... Thanks steve I appreciate the support. hopefully there will be more to come shortly!

 

man you really are bringing up old memory's. that was one of the first cars we had built back then. we all worked for john arbizo at speedtek performance here in jacksonville. the car was owned by mike donaldson at the time. now that car has been sold so many times we have no idea where it is and john passed away feb. of last year! he really got the import scene started in jaxs. he was also the only shop in town at the time with a dyno. he will be missed. but like they say out with the old in with the new. now there are everyday drivers with 8 to 900 horse power on every corner. man i miss the old days!

 

Hey Joey,

Objects in mirror are LOSING!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RevenantAE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was looking back through my old issues, and just happened to check out September of 1998. The bad dog on the cover? A Supra making 596 ponies.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here is the builder.....John John (555)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MHRacing-310 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

man, you guys sound like a bunch of women. crying over old bf's.. the old days were wonderfull and i must say i also had some of the greatest fun in my life.. but today its even better.. we got cool stuff like INSANE street cars making alot of FULL Drag cars look like idiots... 8.0 sec unibodys, tube chassis cars, 6 sec 200+mph pro class.. gimme a break.. in with the new!! out with the old.. </TD></TR></TABLE>
amen, out with the old , in with the new

 

Eddie Bello i've seen his tube chassied car one time on display at a NHRA import event in pomona in the pits a year or two ago. It was rumored that he was coming back. I never seen him race, but have heard the stories from my buddies who around back in those days. I would love to see that car run against the rest of the pro RWD cars. it will be something a little different a Euro in the mix w/ the domestics and japanese cars.

 

I thought he was barred after his arrest....

At any rate, that reminded me of another classic. Anyone rememebr the Puerta Rican beast Sakura?