Vid- Steve Morris discusses "the quickest & fastest street car in America"
 

Cupholders are a nice touch on those 1200 miles trips. ;)

It's not a real hot rod unless it has cup holders..... driving one without this critical feature is just insanity.

Another good thing is that it's not a 6.99 sec car.

:stirthepot:

lol

Well the real difference here is one of being deceitful... because there's a GIGANTIC difference between a car that runs 6.90's (the proper term for this particular car) and a car that runs 6.0's... as in, about 20 car lengths in a quarter mile...

Reminds me of an old saying:


Figures lie and liars figure.

That's true! A buddy of mine has a 71 El Camino that did 8.9X seconds ONE time. Other then that he said it was a super reliable low 9 second car.

But when I talk about the car, I still like to say its an 8 second car. :)

I disagree Greg with the label of it being a 6.90 sec car. :)

Below it shows he made a 6.70 and 6.72 sec passes during some very hot weather.

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"Tom Bailey is a pretty tired guy right now. Tired and famous. Piloting the ex-ProRides “Sick Seconds” 1969 Chevy Camaro, Tom made history as the first racer to make five consecutive six-second passes during the 2013 edition of Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week.

On top of that, Tom posted the lowest elapsed time (6.70 seconds) and highest top speed (217 miles-per-hour) ever recorded during Drag Week competition, winning the Unlimited Class crown and earning the title “Quickest and Fastest Street Car in America”. Tom did all this while logging 1,000 highway miles driving Sick Seconds from track to track, often in 90-plus degree heat."

"Before this year’s event, the Drag Week ET record was 6.94 seconds; the top speed record was 212 miles-per-hour.

Tom obliterated the ET record the first day out, running a 6.72 in Bowling Green. Tom went back out Tuesday and broke the ET record again and reset the top speed mark with a 6.70/214 mile-per-hour pass in Indianapolis."

http://www.onallcylinders.com/2013/0...ar-in-america/

This car is a true 6 second car IMHO, meaning it runs mid 6's. I was talking to the original owner of the car and he pointed out several things that need to be kept in mind. The 6.70 passes were done with a tune that keeps the overall goal of drag week in mind. You have to make the whole trip and still be fast. This car has another couple tenths on full kill. Tom was going to go for it on the last day until he blew the door off. (Due to a crack caused by violent tire shake earlier in the week by the way) Also, the high 6 passes were traction issues not power. Look at the MPH, 217! He ran the same Hoosier DOT drag tires on the track and the drive. There were 10 second cars swapping from street rubber to race rubber at every stop. I can be as critical as the next guy, but I believe this is a true 6 second street legal car. Daily driver, NO! But, not much different than a full on Road Track Car being given the minimum requirements to register it for street duty and calling it Pro-Touring.

Whether you agree or not, I want a ride! :y0!:

Well said Chad.


In the vid below, the first run is the 6.72 pass.

Tom was surprised it did 6.72 sec. Said "not with that tuneup in it."

Followed up with a 6.70 pass. Said it felt slow.

:D

That's a fantastic looking car - especially for a fiberglass body. I would love to see the details of how they got the glass in there so nice with the stock trim and everything. Anyone know of a good build link for this car or what brand of fiberglass body that is ?

Here is some stuff. Just Pics.

http://www.bailey-racing.com/build-photo-s/

My discussion was an example. If a car runs 6.70's then it's a 6.70 car which is a long way from a 6.0 car statement.

:BlahBlah: :BlahBlah: :BlahBlah: :poke:

Greg,

For brevity, I refer to a car that has run a best of say 11.67 seconds as an '11 second car'.

But I get your point.

thanks for the photo link

You're both right !
I've always understood that as soon as your car makes it to the next bracket you call it a "12 second car (12:99)". We do the same thing in bicycle racing - "I want to make a 24" means you can run the course in 24:59". The magazines have used this type of nomenclature as long as I've been reading them.

But Greg is also right - it is a big leap from 6:72 to 6:09. Just like its a big leap from a 24:59 on the bike race to a 24:30.

I understand Greg's point and I'm sure he understands ours, but please exercise caution is agreeing with him so easily. That's like throwing the chips ahoy bag to the Cookie Monster! :slingshot:

This is true.

Greg has strong opinions...and they are weighty.


:tv_happy:

Tom Bailey's car and a few like it caused a lot of controversy with Drag Week and participants like Larry Larson. Larry declined to participate this year in protest. Larry didnt want modified promod cars in the competition. He thought the rules should call for factory cars with an original vin. They are commonly referred to as "door cars". Last year Larry hit the 6s, and was hoping to be the first door car to run 6s throughout the 2013 competition. Personally, I think Larry has a point.

That said Tom Bailey's car is amazing and he seems like a very humble and likable guy. A promod has a 1000lb or so weight advantage over a door car. Maybe next year they can add a weight penalty and even things out.

If you make a rule(s)... somebody will build something that pokes a gapping hole right thru the one thing you didn't cover in the rule.

Thus the life of racing throughout history. :rofl:

I love how casual he is in the dyno video about 2100rwhp.....

> Larry didnt want modified promod cars in the competition. He thought the rules should call for factory cars with an original vin.

I find that ironic- I'm sure back in the day there were more people calling larry's car out for being "a bridge too far". Like its not a full chassis car too, the only difference I can see is the Larry's body (ie roof and pillars) are metal. I doubt his doors, trunklid, clip etc. are metal. They said the Camaro weighed 3100+ lbs, so where is the huge discrepancy ? I'm sure it must have some kind of "VIN" to be registered.

What about the unfairness of any of the new cars later than '70 ? If they were licensed here in WA they would have to pass an emissions test- I'd like to see that. I assume all those cars have to be registered in non-enforcement locales.

Not again...:computer:

And to that same end, there is usually someone who is the rule Nazi scrutinizing every detail of someone else's car trying to point something out.

Maybe instead of taking his toys and going home, Larry could have shown up and run around him?


Jeff-

Agree Jeff.... It's racing. If you come to compete - then run what ya brung - and if you get your ass handed to you - then build something better for the next time. If you can't, or are unwilling to do that - and you choose to sit on the porch... Oh well....


What people forget about is that the competition/event (like this) are put on by "someone" or some group... THEY make the rules. You can choose to read them and try to do your best with what you have -- or you can just go do something else. But then nobody wants to hear your opinion because you weren't a part of it. (that didn't read well -- and what I was saying is to the guy that dropped out of, or choose not to compete, his opinion doesn't count)

I think Stielow is a good example. LOTS of controversy about the evolution of Optima. Some really wicked stuff starting to show up. Mark continues to refine his builds and do his thing. I haven't seen any mention of him complaining or saying he was not showing up because somebody couldn't roll up their windows...

If a guy went from being 1st to 20th in a season, yeah something is screwy in the match up. Let's revisit the rules. If you are in the top 2 or 3 year after year, seems pretty well matched. Those guys are building cars specifically to beat Larry.



Jeff-

Larry also had the added pressure of winning 4yrs in a row. By the actual times posted by the winner, Larry could have given a good run for the money and maybe won. Larry was afraid the competition would get ruined by big money guys and competition specific car builds.

Tom Bailey doesnt seem like a big money guy and I bet he has had his car for quite awhile. 6 second street cars, still baffle me, lol. The top drag racing categories dont even race the 1/4 mile anymore as the distance has dropped to 1000ft. They are just too fast to be allowed to run a 1/4. Im not into drag racing but the tech is amazing and does trickle down to the street.