400 Pro Tree Racer

Deadly and Consistent -

That is the best way to describe the hotrod of Kirk Thompson.  Just take a look at the win streak shown on the home page.  It does not matter if the temperature is hot, cold or somewhere in between; if the track is reasonable, the car will fly.  The July 4th race was no different.  While some racers were tuning between rounds, Kirk was eating cheeseburgers and watching races. 

The day started much like the other races this year with Kirk taking the number 1 qualifying position and never looking back.  Don't be fooled, this is not a runaway.  The camaro of Jack Brown or the Wagon of Chifen Parker have always been right on the heals of Kirk.  All of the cars in the class are capable of winning any race at anytime.  But as they say, when you are in the zone, it is hard to be beat.  We have raced many classes throughout the years and have never finished better than 2nd place.  For once it appears there is a chance to bring home a points championship to Gaffney. 

   Well Mooresville Dragway has come and gone and once again the blue camaro of Kirk Thompson has left it's mark on the competition. 

   This was probably one of the most interesting days of the year.  It was hot.  The thermometer was topping high 90's at the track.  The track was hot and messy.  The cars did not want to run and when they did, it was hard to keep from spinning.  But that did not stop the ponies under the hood of the blue beast.  Whatever it lost in 60, it made up on the big end.  After taking the number 1 qualifier, Kirk was able to continue on to the final round where he met the small block powered camaro of Jack Brown.  Jack had posted a faster et in the semis, so he had lane choice headed into the final.  Everyone thought this was important since the track was off most of the day. 

   But when the green came on, the blue camaro hooked and posted the best time of the day.  Even in the hot summer weather both cars were able to post 6.50's on the board.

   Now it is time to prepare for another trip back to Mooresville July 4th.

What a weekend down at Carolina Dragway.  The Performance Street class was once again loaded with heavy hitters trying to take home the crown.  All week long racers have been making their picks for the weekend and once again the mighty blue beast recieved few votes.  

So, the day started like all others, but it became apparent very quickly that traction was going to play a key role in deciding the winner of each round.  The beast was spinning the tires as soon as the transbrake was released.  After a few adjustments to the car, the traction was better, but a long way from the Pageland race just a few weeks back.  This meant the drivers better be on their game. 

After the qualifying rounds, the beast (for only the 2nd time in 2 years) was sitting 2nd on the ladder.  Chifen Parker in the awesome black Chevy Wagon had taken first.  Chifen had won the Pageland race so he had already staked his claim to the class.  Next was Kevin Robinson who had qualified 3rd but only .03 seconds off of 2nd place.  Yes this class is close.  Can you say mini PRO STOCK.  Kevin has been deadly most of the year so we knew this was anyone's race. 

Skipping ahead to the final round and once again it was the Black Wagon versus the Blue Camaro of Kirk Thompson.  Two weeks ago these two met in the final round and the wagon was able to win on a hole shot.  Not this time.  Kirk was on his game and when the tree activated, the blue beast left the building.  That's right, another win. 

It was a great race with stiff competition.  This race marked the return of the Green Monster, a mustang built by Eddie Young.  I understand he was able to tune 3 tenths out of this car this weekend.  I would expect him to be a force to be reckoned with come Union.  I heard a rumor stating the Race on E85.com camaro will return to the class at Union.  With a field as close as this, it should make for some exciting heads up racing.  Stay Tuned...   

The front page title says it all.  Kirk has taken back both the ET and MPH record for the Performance Street Class.  This year, he has been able to make the final round at every race.  This is not an easy task, since the entire field is within a 0.10 second range. 

However at the last race in Pageland, SC, the beast came out.  I guess P309 (car number) had been listening to all of the comments made by other competitors as well as us.  Several times this year, the heads up super series board has posted predictions on races.  So far no one chooses the beast.  I assume everyone likes to pull for an underdog!

Back to Pageland - We arrived there about midday.  I had taken the 79 camaro and Kirk had brought the beast.  Upon arrival we expected to get one round of practice prior to qualifying.  Unfortunately, the PTRA tech official decided to P&G our engines during practice.  Both cars had received some changes, so this left us headed into qualifying with alot of unknowns.  After an hour, it was time for 1st round qualifying, but mother nature decided to send us a rain storm that almost canceled the day.  Thanks to the awesome track personnel at Pageland Dragway, the track was completely dry around 5:00pm.  We had not made any runs yet and all we have left is 2nd round qualifying.  So we headed to the lanes.  My 79 in the left lane, Kirk's beast of an 81 in the right.  We hit the transbrakes and BAM!  The 79 laid down.  The 81 decided to show what it had.  From my viewpoint the car launched like a spring chicken and never let up.  By the time P309 hit the 1/8 mile beams it was pulling over 106mph.  The car had posted another number #1 qualifying pass of 6.48.  We knew the changes had worked and it was going to be a good day.

Next round Kirk headed to the lanes for a bye run.  The beast really decided to set the tone by posting a new record of 6.45et.  This was awesome considering the the next closest car was running low 6.50's.  A few more rounds went by and the beast was sitting beside Chifen Parker's chevy 2 wagon in the final round.  Chifen is new to the class this year and has really put in his time developing an awesome performance street car.  After a smoky burnout the cars headed to the beams.  Both cars staged and Chifen left on an almost perfect light.  Unfornunately for us, Kirk did not.  The little black wagon took home the victory, but the 81 camaro was able to reset the et record one more time with a 6.44.  Congrats goes out to the crew of the wagon.

However to sum up the day, the beast is back and better than ever.  The 81 camaro is holding both the et and mph records as well as the points lead and we don't plan to let up.  Next week the headsup super series is headed to Carolina Dragway "The House of Hook."

Several years ago, both of us started racing the Pro Tree Racers Association in an 8.0 index heads up class. At the same time we were able to catch several 6.99 and 7.99 heads up index races at Shadyside Dragway. After several great seasons of index racing, Tony Brown of PTRA started an all out heads up all motor class for stock suspension race cars. The class was named Performance Street. You can view the rules here: www.headsupsuperseries.com.

During the winter time prior to the first year of the class, Kirk's camaro was completely rebuilt. This included a 468BBC, TH 400 with brake, and a new Moser 9" ford rearend. The plans were to race the heads up 7.0 index class, but after the invention of Performance Street, Kirk switched classes. The car, by chance, matched the rules perfectly, excluding the installation of a performer rpm intake. At the first race Kirk was setting records. He went on to win 3 of the 4 2008 races and currently holds the record using a restrictor plate. record - 6.62 et in the 1/8 mile.

He plans to come out swinging in 2009 sporting a new E85 1050 cfm carb from www.raceonE85.com.

Tony's car was mostly a street car prior to 2008. After Kirk had great results with the new class, I decided to convert. it took most of the 2008 season to prepare the car. The new changes included a TH 400, Kevin Dalton Racing Engines 468 BBC and a gear change. This car only made it to one race, but was able to qualify 3rd. I went to the semi finals were I was beat by Kirk!

Some of you may know that we are Lakewoood test vehicles.  We have tested these new prototype bars for Lakewood.

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