One-Liners
I hate you. My wife hates you. But my machine-shop guy loves you.
Joe Bartung, Portland, OR
How come you don't change your name to "V-8 Craft," since you only seem to concentrate on these engines?
Ian Leeson, via e-mail
I loved the Matt King Classic Demo Derby [at the CC Summer Nats]. There's nothing wrong with taking a bunch of ugly junkers that would be going to the crusher anyway and having some fun with them.
Brent Canaday, Chadron, NE
Street racing has got to be the dumbest thing anyone can do in a car.
Sam Pollard, via e-mail
I just visited your Web site for the first time since you revamped it, and I must say, it's much less sh--ty.
Brien Creelman, via e-mail
Dyno tests may raise an eyebrow, but track testing may cause loss of bladder control. Track testing all the way.
David Delambre, via e-mail
Thank you for the great issue with the big-block comparo. I have never seen a more useful magazine issue-I wish I could get it in hardcover.Eric Asmussen, USCG SanFrancisco
I'm 17 and have a black-primered '70 El Camino that I wet-sanded all by myself. Man are my arms tired.
Kevin Kyle, via e-mail
Screaming Chicken
Who: Steven Dean
Where: Phoenix, Arizona
What: '81 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am SE
Why: He wisely replaced the 301 with a real
Poncho 400
Goodies: Dean opted for vintage Pontiac
motorvation after cooking the turbocharger on the anemic 301. He secured a '74 400, and with the help of his friend John Rowe, rebuilt and installed the 0.060-over motor. The block was filled with 9.5:1 flat-top pistons and a mild Comp hydraulic cam. On top, Steve put an Edelbrock Performer intake and a Quadrajet carb. A Turbo 400 handles the shifting duties, while the original 10-bolt sits out back with highway-friendly 3.42 gears.
Real Street Eliminator
I loved the Mar. '03 issue. Of particular interest was the long-overdue revival of RSE. In fact, I dropped my subscription to your magazine precisely because RSE was dropped from your roster, but I will most definitely revive my subscription to CC since RSE is back with a vengeance! The only change I would make to your new RSE format would be a re-insertion of the fuel economy category in the competition. However, this is a minor deficiency in what is otherwise an excellent event. You have brought RSE back, and for that I am very grateful.Chuck Geer
Johnson City, TN
OK, that's it. I quit. I'm selling my IROC and buying a Cadillac ... not!
Jim Titsworth
Vancouver, WA
The rollbar was "in the way"? Maybe you should change your name to "Comfort Craft."Pure Poncho GuyLincoln, NE
The guy wins Real Street Eliminator with a Cadillac that has obviously been touched by God himself, and you don't even put him on the cover? What happened, did he say something bad about your sister?Jim Buckner Jr.via e-mail
It's been quite some time since we have been graced with an interesting shootout that didn't require a second mortgage to reproduce. Even though Terry Steven's Caprice didn't get top honors, it is the kind of ride 90 percent of us can build on a real budget.Gabe Sallustivia e-mail
I was disappointed that RSE was an all-GM format, and I was shocked that a Cadillac won. It would be nice if the format would expand to GM cars, Fords, Mopars, and even imports (hey, hey, I know ... but who's getting all the races at the Dairy Queen?). I hate the fact that mileage was thrown out. Mileage is a major factor! So what if you have 500 hp? How often do you go to the gas pump?
Charles W. McCray Jr.
McCalla, AL