The revival of old school Pro Stock racing has been long talked about by many a racer and fan reminiscing about past golden eras in the class. This Saturday (Aug 10) at Willowbank Raceway’s Nostalgia Drags the first steps will be taken in a plan to bring back some aspects of those glory days of high revving aspirated small block sedans throwing down in heads up combat.
Born out of a historic Pro Stock Facebook page run by Neville Kettels, the idea of reviving the nostalgic Pro Stock scene snowballed with Bruce ‘Gonzo’ Agate, Daniel Lake, Andrew O’Sullivan and Aaron Smith as proponents in developing the idea along with Kettels about putting on a Pro Stock show with big burnouts, dry hops, staging duels, and all the Pro Stock shenanigans that wowed fans in the past.
“The idea of a Nostalgia Pro Stock class is awesome with the potential for a lot of success given the amount of cars in the country that would enjoy a chance at the pro tree,” said Australian Pro Stock Owners Association Vice President Joe Polito.
To start the ball rolling on the plan the ruleset is pretty liberal for now to encourage current racers into the class and, hopefully others out of sheds that could be hiding Australian Pro Stock classics. This weekend’s Nostalgia Pro Stock debut will see four cars on show racing to a 7.90 cut off based around the performance of 90s Pro Stock machines, with further plans to expand into a separate 80s Pro Stock scene in the future. As for now, all pre 90s Pro Stock denominations are welcome like Aaron Smith’s Charger who will be one of the racers to hit up Willowbank this weekend.
Smith’s Mopar Mover Motorsport tribute Reischl and Gilmore Charger will be flying the flag for the 70s and 80s era of Pro Stock. Starting life as an E38 RT it was then built for Pro Stock in 1974 by Bob Reischl and Billy Gilmore and race throughout the 70s and 80s in Pro Stock before making the switch to Super Stock duties to race B/Gas and C/Gas with a new owner.
Cars with history in Australian Pro Stock is what this class is trying to attract and Aaron has pledged to be a regular contender in the bracket if it gains traction.
“The car has undergone a complete restoration keeping in mind the car’s past heritage, but at the same time to compete in today’s sportsman classes,” said Smith. “It was a team effort by my dad, eldest son Connor, and myself to get the car where it is now, not to mention the financial support from Courtney.”
Knowingly not able to run near the 7.90 cut off, Smith is supporting the bracket and there to put on a show to encourage future growth in the class.
“My car for example won’t run that quick. I know my car won’t run that quick and there’s a strong chance I won’t be competitive. But I want to be part of this great concept that’s failed time and time again to get off the ground,” he said.
Still there is a number of non-racing trophies on offer like Best Presented Car/Crew and Best Showman.
“Life is too short to drive boring cars, come to the meeting and I’ll show you,” said Smith eyeing off the latter trophy.
At the other end of the performance competing this weekend is Darrin Gay, driver of the CHD Motorsports 1991 Chev Lumina. Currently competing is Super Stock, Gay is is ready to face the pro tree this weekend at the inaugural Nostalgia Pro Stock event. Built by Jerry Haas the Lumina currently competes in the 6.5 lbs per cubic inch B/Gas which is essentially Pro Stock from the 90s. With a 356ci small block Chev under the scoop this car would have been completely legal in Pro Stock throughout the 6.5lbs days, and is the perfect fit for Nostalgia Pro Stock for Gay and any other competitor looking to join the class as the Lumina is For Sale.
The Lumina in its former life was a Gordie Rivera car and then rebranded in Competition Eliminator’s C/A in the U.S until it was imported into Australia by Steve and Lenore Gay (Darrin’s parents) in 2008 as a roller, assembled in house by the family until 2018 when it completed its first burnout in Australia. Currently holding both ends of the B/Gas record with a 7.369, Gay;s is looking for another challenge in the pro tree and 7.90 ET cut off.
Gay has been in around Pro Stock all his life, “Growing up as a kid right beside Dad when he partnered with Mike Reilly in the mid 90s and then getting the opportunity to work with Peter Ridgeway/John O’Kearney as a crew member on the Don Ness Holden Monaro,” reminisced Gay of his Pro Stock past.
Also running this weekend in the inaugural showing of Nostalgis Pro Stock will be the Oldsmobile Cutlass’ of Daniel Lake and David Gauldie. Lake’s Cutlass was once one of the most successful Pro Stock machines with five National Championships to its credit at the hands of Peter Ridgeway and then David Rogan, while Gauldie’s Cutlass was campaigned by Frank Nirta.
For racers interested in running Nostalgia Pro Stock or just to find out more information then head over to the Australian Nostalgia Prostock(Where are they now) Facebook group for now.
– Information courtesy of Pro Stock Australia
