After reading threads on this site, I firstly wanted to say to all the members who have posted their projects and discussed their plans, that I am very impressed, a pat on the back to all and very well done guys! awsome stuff!!!!!
In light of this I decided to give you guys as sneak preview of what I have and what is soon to return to the track after a long time in the making. I have placed pictures below which show the evolution of the Pincher, I will make brief comments in between the pictures and will release the final picture after approval on media release from my major sponsors. I hope you Torana fans enjoy my ride as much as I enjoy yours..
History of the 1971 Holden Torana:-
The Torana was originally built by no other and well known and respected racer from the days of Castlereagh, Roy Thomas. The car was known as the famous "Pincher" which ran in the late 1970's high 9 second 1/4 mile passes with a SBC injected engine. This car was one of the "First" four-link drag cars in Australia, as previously most cars including Pro Stock cars of that era where ladder bars. I purchased the car in 1993 from the previous owner, Tony Peli, who had originally purchased it from Roy himself. Tony updated the engine to a Blown and injected SBC running a 6-71 blower and two speed glide. The car ran several meetings in Queensland and it ran the final of the first every Wild Bunch meeting in Queensland against fellow racers and in particular the well known and respected "John Payne" in his corvette. The torana in the hands of Peli ran a best of 8.7 seconds @ 161 mph. This was in the 80's. When I sighted the vehicle for sale and done my home work and found out it's history as I remembered this car back in the days of Castelreagh where I rand my own Street Car a GTR LJ Torana, I knew I had to have it. So a deal was done and it sat in my garage.
Rod Andrews of Andrews Race Cars was contracted to update the car with chassis work, struts, etc, to accomodate a new buick SBC (350) with a lenco gear box and an up dated version of ARC's four link, all the chassis work was done, new tin work, the body was sand blasted and repaired mostly file finish and a new coat of paint was applied. The car on its debute in 1996, to everyones supprise ran straight and true, for a 7.60ET and 179MPH with the SBC 350 cube, Rootes blower and lenco gear box. Unfortuantely Eastern Creek closed down and the car never really archived its full potential with very few runs in hand. in 1999, the car ran one meeting at the 1999 Calder Park Top Fuel Championships with the Grant O'Rouke ex-PSI blower on it. At that meeting and due to the new techonology with the PSI and being not experienced with tunes, etc, we hurt the engine at the 1000 feet mark which was shut down at that stage and the car still rolled over the 1200feet mark to astound us and record a 7.8ET at 175MPH! and that is with the engine shut down well before. As there was no track in Sydney, the car was garaged and when the announcement came that the new WSID was being built, we contracted Rod Andrews to perform his magic again! and the torana underwent it's second major rebuilt, to bring it up to spec's. With the old PSI Blower sold and now with the latest PSI Supercharger, the engine under going a rebuilt with all new internals, with the update of the MSD Pro Mag and with update of the Lenco gear box, the new Dry Sump deal being included, and also Updating the Four Link to Rod's newest version as used and proven by major teams in the states, the car had new paint applied, new lexan windows, rewired, the list is to long and the $$$$ just flew out the window, and now, she is ready to return, better than before.
With new sponsors on board, I and the crew are excited to return to the track in the very near future. Our sponsors are currently arranging a media release, so I will let you guys know when this happens. Anyway, I hope I did not bore you but at least you have some idea of this history to this car. My plans? well we will run in Competition (BB/Gas) and also Supercharged Outlaws and use this class for testing purposes. My aim? to reset the WSID Track Record and to get the "Pincher" to run a 6 second pass. The weight? well we put the car on a diet, did all we could, but we still come in around 200 pounds over weight so we are looking again at the weight situation. Current weight with driver is 2810pounds. The car should come in for BB/Gas duties at 2600pounds. The car actually weighs 2400 pounds but due to the pound per cube weight break we had to add weight.
Now the pictures below:- (Enjoy)
The Pincher back at castlreagh and record holder for E-Gas. Which to date we understand this record was never beaten and still stands.
The Pincher in the hands of Tony Peli in Queensland after he purchased it from Roy and applied a new paint job and SBC engine with Blower.
The pincher, now in my hands and after its major first rebuilt in 93-94. This picture was taken at the Eastern Creek Track on the car's first debut and burn out, during its licensing passes which was required by ANDRA. A younger Greg Shultz ANDRA chief steward undertook this proceedure.
The torana return to the track at the 1999 Top Fuel Championships at Calder Race Track Victoria. This time with the ex-Grant O'Rouke PSI Blower. This was the cars first burnout with the PSI and the dreaded run which hurt the engine, (due to our stupidity!!!!) but shut down at the 1000 foot mark she rolled over the 1200 foot mark with still recording a 7.8ET at 175mph. We were all stunned by the times considering we had no set up to her. She showed a lot of potential, now the problem was to sort it out and get back down the track.
SNEAK PREVIEW!, Sorry guys that is all I am allowed to show you at this time. But this is the new PSI and the new engine for the car, the picture was taken around a month ago, when the vehicle was being refitted, after it's Second Major Update.
She is now ready to return. The only thing that is required to be done to the car is to have Rod Andrews scale the car very soon (HOPEFULLY) next few days from the date of this post and a wheel alignment.
I call this "Evolution"
Cheers.
PSI
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