Culture|Garage

How fast is your car? Really? How fast is it stock? And by stock I mean no sticky tires, no tack-on aftermarket stuff, not even a tach with a big honkin’ shift light on it. For the folks involved in the Factory Appearing Stock Tire drag racing series, this question is easy to answer- they’ll just tell you to look at their timeslips.

(edit, don’t miss the bikini chicks after the jump, Chris)

The FAST and Factory Appearing drag racing series are something that has grown in popularity with the rise in muscle car prices as of late. It all started in 2001, when musclecar restoration parts supplier Year One invited 8 of the fastest stock musclecars in the country to race head-to-head at the Bristol Bash in Bristol, Tennessee. Seven years later, the F.A.S.T. and F/A series have gained in popularity, with new events springing up all over the country.

The rules in F.A.S.T. racing encompass four pillars. The first pillar specifies that all parts used on the cars must be proper for the year, make and model specified. This means no aftermarket aluminum heads, no trick intakes, nuthin.’ The second pillar states although OE-produced parts are preferred, parts may be aftermarket if they are “correct.” In other words, aftermarket restoration parts may be used if they are built to the same spec as OEM parts. Pillar three states that all parts may be “spec’d up” to a point, but must appear stock, thus no wheeltubs, non-factory headers, etc. Finally, the fourth pillar emphasizes the point that all parts must be correct appearing, meaning that there cannot be splashy, non-stock graphics, upholstery must look factory, wheels must be factory pieces, etc. You don’t like dog dishes with hub caps and trim rings? Go race somewhere else. This is F.A.S.T. racing, and it’s serious business, as evidenced by the below photo.

Entries from every American manufacturer spanning the period between 1955 to 1974, excluding those “lightweight” factory cars as well as dealer-built vehicles (although a few Yenkos, among others, have slipped through the cracks) qualify for the series. Cars need not be “numbers-matching,” however, and a minimum of 4-barrel carburetion and dual exhaust is all that you need to race your stocker in the series.

There’s plenty to do at F.A.S.T. events, which are usually held concurrent with other track events, so on-track activity will vary. The focus remains on factory-correct musclecars in the parking lot, as visitors can see both participating F.A.S.T. cars and non-F.A.S.T. cars in the car show that is part of every F.A.S.T. event. Year One is still the main sponsor of the series, and always helps to put on a good show.

Perhaps the coolest (and best) thing about the F.A.S.T. series is the community that has sprung from such a unique concept. Racers not only encourage people to come out, they disparage having lawn chairs around during the car shows, in an attempt to get people up and moving around, talking, enjoying the folks as much as the cars. The Year One/ F.A.S.T. message board is also active, with members offering tech tips, advice and laying down the occasional (good-natured) gauntlet. Leave your biases at the door, as a bad attitude is sure to get you shunned-these are guys who are just out to have fun. If you are a Ford guy, the GM-inclined will welcome you warmly, and the few-and-far-between AMC contingent is also a welcome part of the series.

As far as the racing itself goes, the times put down by those who participate is nothing less than staggering. Although the term “stock” can be a bit of a stretch for some of these cars (as internals can be massaged, as long as the engine still sounds “correct”) they no less reach speeds that are fast in any-one’s notebook. Andy Caldwell, for example, runs a ‘70 Superbee with a 383 cu. in. engine and an automatic transmission (below). His best time has been a 13.59 on bias plies. Just imagine what that thing could do with a 440 and a set of DOT radials!

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, as Alan Estergomy races a ‘66 Shelby G.T. 350(below) in the series. On his first trip to the F.A.S.T. drags, he ran a 12.33@ 113mph! Not too shabby for an ‘ol small-block, especially considering the gorgeous sheetmetal wrapper.

Perhaps the Cinderella story of the F.A.S.T. series has been the saga of the L88 Corvette. A couple of them run in the series, but one is particularly special. In this case, the lucky (former) owner, Wayne Nelson, blasted down the quarter-mile in F/A, netting a 10.59, a record-setting run. Whether you think Corvettes are more sports cars than muscle cars, the achievement is nonetheless impressive. The monster responsible for such an impressive timeslip is pictured below. Since selling the ‘Vette, Nelson has moved on to a ‘68 Mustang with a 428 Cobra Jet. Personally, I can’t wait to hear about how that thing runs!

Basically, F.A.S.T. racing and F/A is just about having a good time, and showing the “investment musclecar set” that a true car is driven, not stored away, never again to get any street (or strip) time. If you ever come across the time and date for a F.A.S.T. or F/A event, check it out. You will not be disappointed. In the mean time you can check out a ton of video coverage HERE, watch this bonus clip of some “Pure Stock” (sorry if I am confusing F.A.S.T., F/A and P/S) racing, or check out the “Pure Stock Drags” photo gallery on Flickr HERE.

Ultimately, F.A.S.T. and F/A is more about having fun than winning races, although as some of the drivers will tell you, that’s not bad either. It is truly amazing to see what 40+ year-old iron will do, especially in factory trim-it’s enough to make you nostalgic for a time you didn’t see in the first place.

via: Rumble-Vid, Fastraces.org, Fastdrags, Factorystockmusclecars.com, Hemmings Motor News, Hot Rod, Pure Stock Drags

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