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Shake Rattle & Run
By Mike Alberts
It was a bright sunny weekend in Joliet, Illinois, for the Super Chevy Sunday Show. This event's been running for 10 years now. With over 350 Drag cars, and 250 plus show cars, it was gearing up to be an awesome weekend.
The pro part of the show was great. It had Nitro Coupes running 3.90's and 4-oh's in the 1/8th mile. Then they ran the exhibition cars, which included the 1957 Chevy Bel Air of the Messino family, who have been racing this same car for 45 years. Saturday started off good with an off the trailer 7.24 @ 192.40. Rain prevented a second pass.
Sunday was a beautiful day. With 80 degree temps and 60% humidity, the stage was set for a great day of racing. The first pass of the day was a record at the time for the Shake; the car went 7.18 @ 193.80. The Messino family, with Dick, brother Clem, sons Chris, Paul and Crew Chief Eric Schmidt, went crazy down at the starting line.
I walked up to Dick and said, “I’m glad I was here to witness the record run for this car,” and he said, “Stick around; you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
So low and behold, 4 o’clock rolls around. The weather is great, sun is gleaming off the beautiful DuPont candy red paint, and the track is tightening up. Well, now it’s time to step it up? Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, the car comes out of the burnout box, blazing the tires. Driver Mike Lopez sets the line loc, the tree comes down, out goes the clutch, and boom balla bang, she's ridin'!
When the clock lights up, to our amazement it reads 7.02 @ 196.30! The first thing I thought was, “Pinch me, I must be dreaming.” No it read right, 7.02 @ 196.30. Wow, a full bodied 1957 Bel Air that weighs 3,080 lbs., has a ton of Danchuk chrome and stainless all over it, and a vinyl top to boot, runs just a door handle away from the 6-second zone? That’s amazing!
Well, it’s been 45 years in the making, and I’m glad I was there to see it for myself. In the coming months, the car is going to Moroso Motorsports Park in Florida to finish off their Super Chevy Series races for the year. Maybe the trip South will include another trip – to the 6-second zone!
Mike Alberts
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