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Outlaw Racing Street Car Association, (ORSCA), held their third all-star points meet of the series at U.S.19 Dragway, Albany, Georgia, May 26th – 28th. If the soaring temperatures in the mid-ninety degree mark were not enough heat for the Memorial Day weekend, add approximately 200 race cars to the mix for some extra hot, heads-up, grass-roots racing -“Outlaw style”.
ORSCA provided a show of six classes to a packed house of fans at U.S. 19 Dragway, who lined the fence on both sides of the track from the starting line to the finish line, eagerly awaiting qualifying on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday.
The core classes of the ORSCA organization, Outlaw 10.5, Limited Street, EZ Street, 6.00 Index and 7.00 Index, have a unique contribution of a street appearing muscle car, running 10.5” tires, turning unbelievable ET’s with wheels up even at the 330 mark. Also included in the core of ORSCA is the 5.30 index class, which is not required to run the 10.5” tires. Bracket racing aids are clearly not allowed, making this class a stand-apart from the rest. It was a performance that fans in the Albany, Georgia area will be talking about for weeks.
Qualifying
The third round of qualifying produced some heated passes in Outlaw 10.5 Saturday night as three different race teams broke the track record. The original Outlaw 10.5 record at U.S. 19 Dragway was 4.63. Jimmy Blackmon out of Rockmart, Georgia in his 1992 Twin Turbo Trans Am pushed the record to a 4.629 at 162.44 mph. Next up was Steve Kirk, Jr. out of Monroe, Georgia in his extremely graphic 2002 Camaro, putting the record further back with a 4.610 at 159.77 mph. To close qualifying, Mike “The Hitman” Hill in his newly debuted 2005 Mustang, out of Washington, Georgia topped both of those records with a 4.585 at 156.28 mph. Definetly not Grandma’s street ride to the grocery store!
Limited Street, which is anything but limited, and right on the back door of Outlaw 10.5, turned some unbelievable numbers in qualifying as heat from the day withered. Carlton Thompson out of Tallahassee, Florida in his bright “tangerine” 2004 Mustang, captured the #1 spot with a 5.006 at 150.80 mph. Second position landed with David Reese, Rockmart, Georgia with a 5.053 at 152.10. Jeff Cooner, Townley, Alabama ran a 5.079 with a 152.35 mph and captured third position. The one and only Tom Hammonds, former NBA basketball star and ex-pro stock driver, who has decided to join the Outlaw racing scene, placed fourth with a 5.094 at 145.63. Fords in the top three and a Chevrolet to boot. Ford fans ought to love this.
EZ Street, the “Bad Boys” of the group and noted for being totally unpredictable, built close to being Limited Street, but without wheelie bars, put the fans on their feet in qualifying as these wild and wooly Outlaws come off the line and carry the front wheels half track.. Tim Kincaid in his Mustang out of Thornhill, Tennessee captured the #1 qualifying position with a 5.264 at 141.02, Robby Erwin, Lithonia, Georgia – 1988 Mustang captured spot #2 with a 5.298 at 136.28, and third position, Kell Eubanks in his 1987 Mustang from Oxford, Alabama and the 2005 EZ Street World Record Holder, with a 5.30 at 139.31. Guess what? Three more Fords in the top qualifying positions.
The 5.30 Index top qualifier was Jeremy Ellis out of Phenix City, Alabama in his 1967 Chevy II with a near perfect run of 5.3009 at 130.08 mph. 6.00 Index had a vie for the top two qualifying positions as Michael Strickland Alma, Georgia in his 1995 Camaro pulled a 6.003 at the finish line and Wesley Kelly, Decatur, Georgia in his 1981 Chevy Malibu were right behind with a 6.005. Top qualifier in 7.0 Index went to Quick Vandiver of Eatonton, Georgia in his S-10 Chevy truck with a 7.0002. Vandiver may have captured the #1 spot, but Frankie Downing, Brundidge, Alabama with a 7.0010, Tony Murphy, Munford, Alabama, 1964 Chevy II with a 7.0020 and Ricky Pennington, Calera, Alabama in his 1964 Chevelle SS, the current ORSCA World Champion, with a 7.005 were right on Vandiver’s heels. Here you go Chevy fans, a fist full on Chevorlets to even the score.
Elimination Sunday – No Holds Barred
After a tough round of eliminations, semi-final action in Outlaw 10.5 put Michael Robinson in the VIP 1997 Camaro up against Jack Barfield in the Tindle Racing Enterprises 1969 Year One sponsored Camaro, as Barfield pulled the win light at the far end in an extremely close run with a 4.77 at 157.81 to Robinson’s 4.756, Sending Barfield to the final. On the other side of the pro-ladder, Steve Kirk, Jr. against Jimmy Blackmon. Kirk pulled the win light over Blackmon with a 4.72 to Blackmon’s 5.02, sending Kirk to run for the money against Jack Barfield.
Final round, the “Team Skull” partnership of Jack Barfield and Tim Tindle and the newly formed partnership of Kirk-Fergurson Motorsports pair off. When the smoke cleared, at the finish line Steve Kirk, Jr. prevailed with a 4.72 at 153.65 to Barfield’s 4.923 at 132.85. The Outlaw 10.5 winner at U.S. 19 Dragway, Steve Kirk, Jr. taking home the $7,000.00 prize money.
Limited Street Final brought David Reese against Tom Hammonds after Reese put Jeff Cooner on the trailer in the semi-final and Hammonds conquered Carlton Thompson. Tom Hammonds pulled the win light at the far end in a close run with a 5.04 at 148.04 to Reese’s 5.12. This was Tom Hammonds’ first win in an ORSCA points series and one he will never forget.
The final in EZ Street came down to Larry Melton out of Tallahassee, Florida and Robby Erwin Lithonia, Georgia. Erwin came out the winner with a 5.41 to Melton’s 5.63.
5.30 produced a close final run between David Goodson in his “Alabama Outlaw” convertible 1969 Camaro out of Weaver, Alabama and Lester Pitts in his striking 1991 Corvette out of Mobile, as Pitts pulled the win light with a 5.32 to Goodson’s extremely close 5.35.
Luck of the day went to Michael Strickland in the 6.00 class who landed in the final against Jason Richards out of Gastonia, North Carolina. Strickland pushed the dial in as he ran a 6.09 to Richards’s breakout of 5.98 and took home the money and the big trophy.
7.00 index pitted. Ricky Millard out of Chickamunga, Georgia against the current World Champ, on a roll, Ricky Pennington. Millard had problems on the line as soon as the tree hit green and Pennington eased through the far end an automatic winner.
An awesome event for the fans in Albany, Georgia.
John Baldwin states, “ORSCA will return to U.S. 19 Dragway on August 4th – 6th for another points meet. If you missed this one, you need to come see what these Outlaws add to the industry of drag racing. Not a fan left the track until the final run and I am willing to bet after this show of power, every one of them will return in August.” |