Regal Race Car
This car is very possibly the first back halved Regal of this body style built. It was first built in the late 80's by Dan Hopkins, and I purchased it in 1993. We initially upgraded portions of the car, and ran it for several successful seasons, winning a couple track championships in Super Pro, and competing in NHRA Super Street on the divisional and national levels.
The car was sold in 1999 to our good friend and frequent shop assistant Tim Hol. In 2001, the ladder bar suspension and cage were updated.
We were fortunate to win the Super 16 BB class, and king of the hill runoff, at the 2000 GS Nationals. I drove for a couple of years, as Tim worked into running this type of car, from the GN he ran for many years. Tim has taken over the driving chores now, and should be very competitive with it in the future. Power is from a very basic iron headed 462, the car runs a 12 bolt Chev rear, TH 400 with brake, and has a one piece fiberglass front clip, glass hood, and glass doors.
At 3200 lbs, the car has run a best of 10.29, at 129 mph.
Thanks to Devin Tornow, and Al Schamens for the pictures!
Here we have me sitting in the car, with my long time partner and friend Mike Bucy holding open the Passenger door, letting some air in. This was taken at the 2001 GS Nats, and it was about 1000* in the car that day. Just waiting in line for a qualifying pass for the S16... This is the new paint scheme, which is similar to how Dan painted it when he first built it. Although the car used to be black and maroon, but Tim liked the two tone gray. The paint is '99 GMC truck colors.
Taken at the 2000 Nats, during round 1. This is prior to getting the new back half, compare it with the picture above, and you can see the ride height difference at the rear wheels. And yes, that is my hand up in the air, I found my trans brake button release was more consistent if I lifted my whole arm, vs. just my hand. Makes for some neat pics.
At the Midwest Buick challenge in '00. We came up 1 round short that day. The extension cord powers the onboard battery charger, thru a special plug, behind the lisc plate.
Just your basic 550 HP Buick motor. Nothing real trick about it.
So much smoke, the scanner picked it up in Black and White!
Ready to go! Note the ride height. I like low cars!
Ready to take Paul on again in the First Round... two years in a row.