HOT ROD Drag Week, presented by Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive
The 1966 Corvette of Dave Schroeder, a car well known at HOT ROD Drag Week and in other street-legal drag racing circles, hit the wall yesterday when the parachutes failed to deploy. Fortunately, Schroeder was unharmed but the car is down and out for the remainder of Drag Week Competition.
“It wasn’t that hard a tap,” said Schroeder. “The chutes didn’t open at the end of the track, and I was coming up pretty hard; I braked too hard and locked up the rear wheels. I let off but there was no steering through the traps.”
The wreck happened on what was Schroder’s best pass to date, a 6.85 at 199.52 mph. “I told my wife it needed some paint, a radiator, and a tire,” Schroder said. “ Maybe we should send a call out for a racer in need of some parts,” he laughed. The car suffered damage to the chassis, radiator, body, struts, and likely a few more areas that will be found later at the shop.
“It didn’t feel bad when it tagged the wall, Schroeder said. “I was more pissed off than anything else. I almost had to buy a new carbon helmet because when I got out; I just about threw it on the ground and smashed it.
The car, which is still an original ’66 Corvette from behind the doors back, had received some upgrades to make it more street-friendly for 2016 competition. A set of 1.5:1 rocker arms replaced the 1.9s during street drives and valve spring oilers kept the springs cool and lubricated in traffic. A bigger radiator and twin,16-inch electric fans were also added to keep the 872ci mountain motor running cool.
Once the ‘Vette returns home to Toronto, Canada, it will be treated to a full rebuild. “Oh yea, we’ll be back next year,” added Schroeder.
“The [original] body is a 300 pound weight penalty,” said Schroeder. “We don’t have a shot of sticking with Lutz and Bailey with the power we have.” So, while he is adamant the ‘Vette will be rebuilt, he dropped a few casual hints that something bigger and meaner might be in his future for Drag Week 2017.
See the Live Stream, Photo Galleries, Videos, and Event Coverage from Hot Rod Drag Week 2016 Here!
September 11 – Registration, Test and Tune
National Trail Raceway
2650 National Rd SW
Hebron, OH 43025
September 12 – Day One Racing
National Trail Raceway
2650 National Rd SW
Hebron, OH 43025
September 13 – Day Two Racing
Summit Motorsports Park
1300 OH-18
Norwalk, OH 44857
September 14 – Day Three Racing
US 131 Motorsports Park
1249 12th St
Martin, MI 49070
September 15 – Day Four Racing
Lucas Oil Raceway
10267 US-136
Indianapolis, IN 46234
September 16 – Final Day Racing
National Trail Raceway
2650 National Rd SW
Hebron, OH 43025
The post Video: David Schroeder’s 1966 ‘Vette Hits The Wall When Chutes Fail at 199 MPH appeared first on Hot Rod Network.