4,500+hp Full Water Jacketed pro Mod engine
Blocks and heads available for your engine builder to finish Complete Super Charged engine packages available
Maximum power Built for endurance
Complete Turbo Charged engine packages available Power adder packages - ignition system, dyno tested and tuned ready to run N/A and N2O combos also available Contact us for specific pricing
750 E. Ellis Road, Muskegon, MI 49441 Shop Phone: 231-747-7520 stevemorrisengines.com Sales@stevemorrisengines.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF..............................................................CHRIS BIRO editor@rpmmag.com V.P. MARKETING/CUSTOMER RELATIONS..................TRISH BIRO trish@rpmmag.com EVENT MEDIA..................................................events@rpmmag.com EVENT SUBSCRIPTIONS COORDINATOR...........SHERRIE WEBER sherrie@rpmmag.com ART DIRECTOR............................................................TOBY BROOKS toby.brooks@rpmmag.com Photographic Contributions: TIM LEWIS, MARK goDragRacing.org, GEORGE PICH, TOBY BROOKS, MATT WOODS, TABITHA SIZEMORE, MATT TROMBLEY, LOUIS FRONKIER, WILL McDOUGLE, BART CEPEK, PATRICK “RED” WILLIAMS, BLAKE FARNAM, JERRY GARRISON, NEIL ZOMBALDI, and STEVEN TAYLOR. Editorial Contributions: TIM LEWIS, CHUCK SCOTT, MARK goDragRacing.org, TOBY BROOKS, TABITHA SIZEMORE, JAMES WILLIAMS, TIM BIRO, STAN SMITH, JT, GEORGE PICH, JAY MISENER. Technical Writing Contribution: CHUCK SCOTT, SHANE TECKLENBURG, TOBY BROOKS, and TIM BIRO.
ADVERTISING SALES For advertising information contact
TRISH BIRO...........................519.752.3705.......trish@rpmmag.com
Special Events Manager: Chris Biro events@rpmmag.com Special Events Sales: Trish Biro: 519-752-3705 trish@rpmmag.com Subscriptions/Address Changes: Circulation circulation@rpmmag.com
MEET THE RPM TEAM
PRODUCTION STAFF
RPM Magazine is a REGISTERED TRADEMARK of Revolution Publishing & Media Inc. RPM Magazine is a worldwide motorsports publication distributed online. To subscribe to RPM go to www.rpmmag.com or email Trish Biro at trish@rpmmag.com, or call 519-752-3705. The focus of RPM is to bring a diverse mix of high performance street and race automobiles to life within its pages including race cars, musclecars, hot rods and street legal machines with an emphasis on the “EXTREME,” including fast doorslammer and outlaw forms of drag racing. Not familiar with these types of cars? They are considered to be the top-shelf of the industry and are on the edge with regard to design, performance, and power! RPM Magazine does not sell its mailing list or share any of the confidential information regarding its subscribers.
WANT YOUR CAR IN RPM?
RPM Magazine has been a world leader in motorsports publishing for 21 years and has support locations in Ontario, Canada, Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, along with contributing writers and photojournalists worldwide. If you have a story that may fit within the focus and scope of RPM Magazine’s coverage, please email our Editor In Chief at editor@rpmmag.com. Submission of an article does not guarantee that it will be published. Revolution Publishing & Media Inc. (RPM) / RPM Magazine IS NOT responsible for errors or omissions in ANY advertisement or article. Advertisements may be rearranged or altered at the sole discretion of RPM to allow the ad to fit in the space purchased by the advertiser. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY ADVERTISING WHICH WE CONSIDER TO CONTAIN MISLEADING, OFFENSIVE OR FALSE INFORMATION. REPRODUCTION OF ANY INFORMATION HEREIN IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT.
General Inquiries: 519.752.3705 info@rpmmag.com
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editor’s
Rant
by
Chris Biro
RPM MAG heads
FULL THROTTLE INTO THE FUTURE
T
here are two questions I would have never imagined the answers to 21 years ago when we started RPM MAG, yet both answers are exactly the same: The first question would be: Could you ever have imagined that RPM, starting from literally nothing but a vision, would have grown into the world’s top independent print car magazine? The answer: Never in my wildest dreams! The second question: Could you have ever imagined that after growing each and every month for 21 years that RPM would be shut down in print in a matter of days due to a worldwide virus? We all know the answer (see above). But to me, shut down in print and shut down are two entirely different things… Those who know me personally know that nothing slows me down, keeps me down, or prevents me from doing what needs to be done. And this challenge is no different. There have been many naysayers, haters, and copycats from day one all those years ago. But for every one of them there has been 100 times that of positive, helpful, encouraging, supportive people along the way, so it’s simple math why RPM is what it is today. It is not because of us, it is because of you. This pandemic essentially shut off 100% of the revenue that runs RPM MAGAZINE within a matter of days. With printers running skeleton staff and experiencing paper shortages, in addition to many of our customers closed or skeleton staffed, and the last thing on their minds being advertising, we simply could not print a magazine. So for the first time in 21 years RPM had to literally “stop the presses” and we did not print a May 2020 edition. We’ve regrouped quickly, though, and it is because of our amazing, talented and dedicated team here, and through the overwhelming support of you, our readers and followers, and our incredible advertisers. Armed with this, we were able to put every resource we have toward the goal of continuing RPM, and the results are amazing. RPM is publishing this issue, June 2020, in a totally digital format at www.rpmmag. com. Our website, which has been totally overhauled and increased in traffic a staggering 720% the past 90 days, will also host content from around the world including your photos, videos, press releases and more. That’s the good stuff that has come from this. That bad side is that, unfortunately, a print magazine is not viable at this time. That being said, remember that we are RPM, we are not “the other mags.” We are committed to making this transition right for every single one of our readers, print or digital. Something that has burdened me and
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cost me a lot of sleep over the past month is part of what I said in response to TEN Publishing closing of 19 of its 21 print titles last December. I said, “Rest assured we will not shutter RPM in print as long as I am at the helm of the magazine!” I can say with certainty that was 100% true—in that world. But I could never have seen this coming, never in my wildest dreams. Something most print readers don’t know is, that despite paper costs rising over 60% during the past 2 year period (preCovid), despite constantly increasing mailing and shipping costs, despite the pressure to go digital-only by so many companies who said they “would” gladly advertise in RPM if it was wholly digital, we resisted. We dug in our heels and held steadfast to print and digital. I have always said that RPM is a family company with family values, we don’t think of it as our magazine but rather yours. Unfortunately, the destruction this pandemic has caused worldwide to life and economies is staggering, but together we will continue on and will grow once again. To our print readers, whether it is a transfer to our digital RPM MAGAZINE subscription or a refund, make no mistake we are here to do this with morals and integrity. We have been working overtime to contact all of all you in 34 countries and will continue for months to come until everyone is satisfied with their outcome. I can say this, the response and support that so many of you shown so far has been overwhelming and has fueled our passion to continue. TO ALL OF OUR RPM MAGAZINE DIGITAL READERS, WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS AND SUPPORTERS: You depend on us and we are here for you! We get it. Now more than ever it is important for all of you to have an outlet, a hobby, a pastime, a simple way to break up your days and nights with something you/we enjoy, and cars and horsepower are what we all have in common. RPM is fueled by valued advertisers that allow you to enjoy our content. They are the people that make and sell parts and provide the services we need. So in the coming weeks and months as economies re-open and start to function again, we ask that you click on that link, follow that story, contact those manufacturers and speed shops and help get things back to full throttle. Once you’re back to work, if you have the means, set that little bit aside once again for the car out in the garage. It’s up to all of us to create the ending of the “how our industry emerged from the 2020 Covid-19 crisis” story. Let’s make it a good one!
ADVERTISER INDEX AED Competition..................68
MagnaFuel...........................16
Air Flow Research
Manton Pushrods.................86
(AFR)........................5,56,57
Mark Williams....................107
AJE Racing............................68
Metal Products.....................63
American Racing Headers....56
Meziere Precision Mfg..........38
Aurora Bearing.....................64
Misener Motorsports..........101
Autoglym.............................43 AVAK/Ridgegate Tools..........40 Baer Brakes.....................31,35 BES Racing Engines..............32 Bill Mitchell Products......12,32 Billet Specialties...................66 C&S Specialties.....................69 Calvert Racing Suspensions..26 Canton Racing Products.......47 Chassis Engineering.............52
Moser Engineering...............62 Neal Chance Converters......104 Northern Radiator................60 Parts Pro Perf Centers...53, 107 PBM Products.......................13 Performance Rodware....39, 95 Piston Racing Engines........107 Profiler.................................63 PRW-USA...........................106
Clearshot Customs................80
Race Part Solutions........20, 74
CURT/NPW...........................52
Racequip............................. 63
Design Engineering..............42
Rage Wraps..........................63
Dynotech Engineering..........11
RAM Clutches.......................78
ECAM...................................80
RCD....................................106
Erson Cams...........................86
RM Racing Lubricants...........71
goDragRacing.org................80
Ross Racing Pistons..........7, 51
Goodson Tools......................56
RPM Magazine.......29, 94, 112
Granatelli Motorsports.........61
SG Metal Works....................70
GRP Connecting Rods.........101
SM Racecars.......................103
Harland Sharp......................27
Smackdown 4......................67
Hitman Hotrods...................57 HoleShot Wheels..................39 Hughes Performance..............7 Ian Hill Racing......................51 Icon Forged Pistons............102 Induction Solutions..............30 Jesel.....................................38 Joe Van O..............................57 JW Racing Transmissions........5 Karbelt.................................68
Summit Midwest Drags........41 Summit Racing Equipment ......................94, 103,110,115 T&D Machine........................15 The Supercharger Store........71 Ti64....................................111 Tom’s Upholstery..................85 Total Seal Rings....................62 Trailer Alarms.com.............106
Kinsler Fuel Injection......13, 63
Trick Flow.....................15, 103
LenTech Automatics.......27, 70
Tuned By Shane T.................68
Liberty’s Gears......................70
VFN Fiberglass......................62
Lutz Race Cars......................80
Wiseco...............................102
Magnaflow.........................102
World Products....................67
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June2020 Often Imitated, Never Duplicated—For 21 STRAIGHT YEARS RPM Magazine has been the ORIGINAL Voice Of Wild Street Machines and Extreme Drag Cars WORLDWIDE! Don’t Settle For Less! We DELIVER Insane Fast Cars and Bring You NO POLITICS... JUST ACTION! Your ONLY “Real Time” “Real World” Car Mag...PERIOD!
THE
RIDES
The Real ThingThis................................................. 54 7-second street/strip Camaro is a full-scale threat!
Know the Rules.......................................................... 8
Big Shot..................................................................72
Do-Overmire..............................................................24
Project Pace Car Race Car ..............100 Part 1: How did we get here?
...Even when there are none!
If at first it isn’t perfect, do it again!
EXCLUSIVES & Tech
RPM
Shop Talk....................................................................38 Quarantine blues: All dressed up and nowhere to go!
Tony Harlin is a man who isn’t afraid to show some muscle— like, say his blown Hemi Dart, for example!
The Rebirth of Madness: Part 2..................................... 43 The resurrection accelerates!
Truck Stuff: Accessorize.................................................88 We add some accessories to the latest RPM truck
Company Spotlight: Oil Matters.................................... 97
We go inside Maxima Racing Oil to find out what makes it slick
READ COMPLETE ISSUES OF RPM MAG ONLINE AT WWW.RPMMAG.COM 6
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RPM Magazine
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feature CAR
RPM
QUITE THE OPERATION
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Pierre-Luc Mallet’s 1991 Mustang Coupe Grudge car was previously a show-stopping small tire Super Street class car that was rolled several times during competition a few years back. Mallet bought the wreck and rebuilt it in his own garage.
story by
Chris Biro
content consulting by
Steve Argiropoulos
photos by
Andrew Radiotis
! E N O N E R A E R E H ...EVEN WHEN T
G
rudge no-time drag racing has grown from the roots of both street racing and organized street car style class drag racing. Add in the component of not having time clocks telling everybody what a car is capable of (that’s why it’s called “NO TIME”) and you just managed to level the playing field to almost flat! Almost… Grudge cars and racers are a different breed. For the racers, it’s still about the rush of heads-up, even start (none of that TV head-start BS), first to the finish line, on-the-edge racing. But these
guys and girls also gotta know how to play the “Grudge Game.” By game, we mean how to beat the car beside you when have no idea what it can run. In martial arts there is a saying: “when you’re weak pretend your strong, and when you’re strong pretend you’re weak.” This is the single rule that the grudge no-time racer must understand before they enter the ring. www.rpmmag.com
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feature CAR
RPM
POWER UNDER ’GLASS
The dual-scooped fiberglass hood is not just for show as the 509 big block towers over the fenderline of the Fox Body.
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RPM Magazine
Because there are not a lot of rules in grudge racing, if you’re the type who loves social media attention by posting your ET and the new parts you just installed last week online, then you suck at this game. On the other hand, if you doctored up your time slip to be, say, 3 tenths slower (by the way we can help with that), then you are on the right track. If you took photos of your parts installed and happen to mention the
1050 cfm carb as an 850, you’re learning. If you took photos of a buddy’s street driver parts as being installed on your car, you’re actually getting really good at this game. There’s a lot more to it, but you get the gist. It’s the equivalent of poker and never showing all the cards or letting everyone what you have, or don’t have. You have to find your poker face. To quote Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry Character “If you
Anywhere you see the RPM VIDEO EXTRA icon, click to see this feature in action!
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feature CAR
RPM
HUNNA DOLLA BILLS, Y’ALL
This handful of Canadian “Queens” after a big win is proof that Mallet knows how to play the Grudge Race game!
LIT AND READY
LAUNCH SEQUENCE
The narrower class legal tires need some heat to hook the big nitrous combination.
Mallet has the Mustang’s launch down to a science. The left front wheel just scrapes the ground as the car leaves the line.
HARDCORE
INTAKES
SMALL BLOCK CHEVY 4500 CARB FLANGE 2.020” X 1.200” Ports
RPM: 2500-7500 4150 Height: 5.625” 4500 Height: 6.385” Made In America
4150 CARB FLANGE 2.000" x 1.180" Ports
HARDCORE QUALITY & PERFORMANCE
Valvetrain•Safety Equipment •Blocks •HeadsFuel •Manifolds •Horsepower Valve Covers Systems Combos•Hardware • • •
386-279-7131 | BillMitchellProducts.com
IN STOCK - BUY NOW: $475.60 12
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RPM Magazine
wanna play the game, you better know the rules…” Ontario, Canada’s Pierre-Luc Mallet knows the rules of this game and has the mitt full of hundreds to prove it! Before his foray into heads-up and subsequently grudge/
no-time drags with this car, though, Mallet was your average young car guy who drove his hot rods to the local car shows and nearby tracks in the Ottawa, Ontario area. All this innocence would soon come to an end when he and his father were invited to the OSCA
(Ontario Street Car Association) weekend with the Chove racing team and their ’69 EZ Street Camaro. Once they got a taste of competitive headsup racing, the rest was history. In fact, it was mere months later that Pierre-Luc, with the support of MS Roofing (his
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feature CAR
RPM
GET ON UP...
Hooked up and wadding sidewall... what could be better? father’s roofing company), contacted Auto 500, who maintained the Chove Camaro, and started a plan to enter the world of heads-up drags. To start with, the team purchased
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an all-motor ’95 Mustang which was raced for a few months then switched to a small block nitrous convertible that they campaigned in True 10.5 events at Napierville Dragway for two seasons. At this point, the
RPM Magazine
fast-growing and big purse payouts of Quebec Grudge Wars began to make some serious noise in Canada and the NM-sponsored team got bit by the bug of N/T Grudge Racing. Now let’s talk about the typical
grudge car: more often than not, the grudge or no-time car is a working man’s passion. On an average, or even an above-average income, you can only do so much, and this is where the second rule of grudge racing comes into
play; horsepower first. Hey, if you got more cash and can make it a “show stopper” grudge car that wins, then all the power to you. But if you want to win at any cost, then that “cost” has to be dedicated to where it creates a win.
MoPower to You. Trick Flow PowerPort 190® cylinder heads are the new standard for small block Mopar engine builds. Improvements over stock: A356-T61 aluminum castings; enhanced intake ports; CNC Street Ported runners; stronger rocker arm shaft bosses; and 3/8" pushrod clearance. There’s also standard features like bronze alloy guides, ductile iron seats, 11/32" stainless valves, PAC Racing springs, steel locks, and chromoly or titanium retainers. PowerPort 190 heads fit all non-emissions, LA and Magnum 318-360 engines. That’s right, Magnum owners can now— bonus!—use LA parts on their builds using these heads. What a great time to be a small block Mopar owner! Airflow Results PowerPort 190
Lift Value
Intake Flow CFM
Exhaust Flow CFM
.100" .200" .300" .400" .500" .600" .700"
66 134 200 248 281 293 301
54 121 181 213 231 237 240
Tests conducted at 28" of water (pressure). Bore size: 4.000"; exhaust with 17⁄8" pipe.
Your Recipe for Small Block Mopar Performance! New heads are just one component of the horsepower recipe. To make it complete, you’re going to need some more ingredients.
Track Heat® Intake Manifold Hot on the heels of the PowerPort 190 heads is this single plane Track Heat intake manifold. Perfect for all 273-360 Mopar LA V8 engines making peak power in the 3,000-7,000 RPM range, the manifold features a one-piece spider-type design with extended high-flow runners and a raised plenum floor to significantly increase horsepower and torque.
Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Lifters
COMING SOON!
These affordable retro-fit roller lifters permit roller camshaft conversions to be made to engines originally equipped with hydraulic flat tappet cams. The lifters are manufactured to factory tolerances for an exact fit and to provide precise oil control to keep your engine running smoothly.
Track Max® Harmonic Dampers Put Trick Flow’s advanced engineering to work for you with a Track Max harmonic damper. Engineered for safety and power, these SFI 18.1 rated, carbon steel dampers contain an injection-molded, bonded elastomer and removable counterweights. They also have engraved timing marks for easy adjustment and a corrosion-resistant black powdercoat finish.
TrickFlow.com • 1-330-630-1555 2006RPCT
Some parts are not legal for sale or use on any pollution-controlled motor vehicles.
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