Total Loss!
Eddie Timal, 34, of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, became an unwitting witness to the total destruction of his first car. He bought this '74 GTO when he was 15 and began racing it shortly thereafter. Over the years, the car was thoroughly modified, as Eddie worked up the ranks to the 10.5-inch-tire Super Street class in the Ontario Street Car Association, ultimately ending up with a twin-turbo setup that was good for low-7-second e.t.'s at trap speeds of around 209 mph.
In October, while qualifying for the Orlando World Street Nationals, Timal's car got sideways off the line and launched over the steel guardrail. He flew nearly 200 feet before landing and barrel-rolling to a stop, the car shedding all its sheetmetal in the process. Timal walked away from the accident with no injuries, but his car will never run again. As a result of the crash, Orlando Speed World Dragway installed new concrete barriers in place of the steel guardrails. In December, the OSCA held a benefit dinner for Timal, who had most of his life savings tied up in his GTO.