Spring 2005 Newsletter
Calendar of Events
· Kart Challenge
Track 21 www.track21.info
July 22 – 7:30pm
· Tech Session
Gray’s Ranch
Directions are on the website
July 23 – 10am
· Fast Finger Shootout
Houston Performance Driving
Aug 7 – 2pm-6pm
· Scavenger Hunt/Cruise
October 1
SCPOCA Officers
President – Will Kooiman
wkooiman@earthlink.net
Vice President – Fred Foreman
105005.2566@compuserve.com
Treasurer – Steve Hawkins
shawkins6@houston.rr.com
Events Coordinator – John Taphorn
jtaphorn@kingwoodcable.com
Webmaster/Secretary – David Bell
davidabell@att.net
President’s Message
Since I’ve been in Houston, most of the communication for the club has been through the e-mail list – SCPOCA@yahoogroups.com. While that works great for those that use computers, I was worried that some were being left out. One of the things I wanted to start was a Newsletter. Since you’re reading this, I finally got it finished. Now I know why it’s so hard to get these things out. My hat goes off to the Drews, Taphorns, etc. out there.
We’ve had several events already this year and more to come. We just finished a picnic with the Z club, the Lotus club, the Triumphs and various others at the San Jacinto Monument. Our next event is a Tech Session at Gray’s. That’s followed by slot car racing and karting events, a Scavenger hunt/cruise, other events TBA and of course our monthly meetings.
Don’t have email? Call me for info: 281-772-3567.
See ya there!
Sincerely – Will Kooiman
Past Events
1st Annual Golf Tournament – Jan 1
Our first event of the year started on the first day of the year! It was a lot of fun, but I didn’t really expect to have 364 more events like this one. My wife and my golf swing wouldn’t really go for that. It was held at Tour-18. Members getting kitchen passes for the Jan. 1 “tournament:” El Presidente (me), John Taphorn, and Steve Hawkins.
I was expecting a leisurely golf outing, but on the 1st tee box JT asked what the bets were. Oh no. It was going to be one of those days. We settled on something like $1/hole. All I know is Steve left with about $12, I left with about $9, and JT left with a less $$ and a lesson.
Tech Session and Rocket Launch – Jan 8
SCP hosted a tech/rocket launching session Saturday, January 8, 2005 at Gray Gregory's ranch in Pattison. Visiting POCA Profiles editor Mike Drew came along for entertainment.
John Taphorn worked most of the day tweaking the jetting on his DaVinci-built Holley carburetor, with limited success. David Bell suspended his ‘beater' T-Bird on Gray's rack and wow -- an annoying sharp metal banging noise mysteriously disappeared from somewhere in the suspension. Doug Lockin actually intended to do some real work and replace the exhaust manifold gaskets on his Pantera but we never really got around to it (sorry Doug).
After lunch, the entire crew took a break and assembled at the official Space City Panteras command center (somewhere between cow patties along Gray's main ranch drive) for an extensive series of tests of unmanned, rocket-powered launch vehicles. John Taphorn brought both a 3-stage monster rocket and a second single-stage model, this one equipped with the all-important see-through passenger module. Dave Bell had his daughter's basic but reliable single-stager and launch equipment. Mike Drew piloted the chase vehicle (a Polaris 4-wheeler), which he intentionally drove into the lake (he says) to “salvage” the upper stage of JT's missile following an off-target landing.
Final results: the Bell Institute Barbie-red rocket made multiple launches and re-entries with consistently soft, parachute-assisted landings. JT's single-stage passenger module -- inconclusive. We couldn’t find any suitable lizards or grasshoppers to serve as passengers. Could have been the cold weather, could have been advance communication, we don’t know. The monster rocket was spectacular, reaching incredible velocity on several high altitude flights, even with a slightly soggy main tube from the lake landing. Eventually, however, the pink monster succumbed to a Challenger-like disintegration of the first and second stage booster sections. Luckily, no injuries were sustained by any of the ground crew.
Plan to join us next time. Bring your helmet and fire suit.
March 5 - Dyno Day
SCP met at Fastlane Performance on March 5 for a fun filled day at the Dyno. John Taphorn, Will Kooiman, David Bell, Steve Hawkins, Jim Narum, and Bill Isaacs attended.
Besides wringing it out on the dyno, we also wanted to dispel some myths.
Myth#1 – Clevelands like 32-34 degrees of advance.
We tested open chamber and Aluminum A3 heads from 32 to 40 degrees total advance. We did not test the closed chamber heads as the total timing test for these heads was performed at a previous dyno run.
All configurations made more HP and TQ at 38BTDC. All made less at 32,34, and 36. These results were consistent with the closed chamber test.
Myth busted. At least in Texas, Clevelands like 38-40 degrees of advance.
Myth#2 – The Dogbone Air cleaner (B&M, Airtech, etc.) is constrictive on carbs with a choke horn because the air cleaner sits low over the carb.
This test was performed at the request of Gray Gregory whose 377 stroker topped with a dogbone air cleaner made an impressive 347 HP at 6400 rpm. His carb has a choke horn, no spacer between the air cleaner and the carb, and a single filter on each side.
The result – a one horsepower (loss) at 6400 with the dogbone versus no aircleaner at all. That’s right – one horsepower on a 377 stroker.
Myth busted. At least in Texas, the Dogbone air cleaner does not restrict, even on a 377 stroker.
Myth#3 – Coating Ceramic headers significantly reduces engine bay temperatures
We tested the temperature of every car’s headers with a pyrometer immediately after shutdown of full throttle testing.
Ceramic coated headers averaged about 460 degrees. Painted headers averaged over 800 degrees.
Myth NOT busted. Get yer headers coated!
Unexpected – We learned that we had to go up about 6 sizes on jets to see any difference on the dyno. We initially tried 3 or 4 sizes, but the A/F ratios didn’t change.
We had enough time to put Steve’s son’s car on the dyno. He hit 180HP. That made Steve feel better. He’d buy a nitrous kit immediately if his son beat his Pantera.
This was a great event.,,,and educational to boot -- two things that usually don’t go together. More cars were too lean rather than too rich, and the owners were able to re-jet on the spot.
Big Bend Open Road Race - BBORR
Twice a year the city of Fort Stockton puts on an event that is truly spectacular. You’ve heard of it before. It’s called open road racing. They close a long section of the road and let you go all out. There’s a little more to it than that, but you get the picture.
The objective to open road racing is to average a certain speed over the course. You must stay within your tech speeds, which is primarily determined by your safety equipment. They station radar guns throughout the course to make sure you’re being safe. If you get caught, you are disqualified.
The event is accompanied with picnics, parties, a car show, and a banquet. Even if you skip the actual race it’s a lot of fun.
This year we tried to see how many Panteras we could get in one place. We had Michael Frazier, Carter Boyer, Tom DiIulio, Dennis “Mad Dawg” Antenucci, John Taphorn, Will Kooiman, David Bell, Steve Hawkins, David Adin, and Jim Narum – along with their passengers and crew. We heard over and over, “Did you know there are 10 Panteras here?”
On a personal note, I bumped into the original owner of my car. That’s right. I knew my car spent part of its life in Fort Stockton, but I didn’t know the owner’s name. The conversation went something like this:
Him: “I used to have a Pantera.”
Me: “Really, what color was it?”
Him: “It was white.”
Me: “My car was originally white.”
Him: “I painted mine black.”
Me: “I don’t think my car was ever black.”
Him: “I sold it to a guy in Midland.”
Me: “My car came from Fort Stockton.”
Him: “Well it was mine then. I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m the only one that ever owned a Pantera.”
When I made it back to Houston, I checked out some of the paint chips on my car. Sure enough, it is white, then black, then red. Pretty cool.