(Photo Bob Chiluk/Greg Rourke) – Lots of GM 10-bolt rears died on the drag strips of America this recently passed weekend. I saw two of them blow up at New England Dragway and Chiluk/Rourke saw this Camaro experience the fun of 10-bolt axle evacuation at Rt 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. Sure, the c-clip eliminators aren’t that expensive or tough to install, but how often do these things break? As it turns out, with sticky tires they break with glass jawed frequency.
One of the 10-bolts that died during my day at Epping kicked the bucket right at the hit of the throttle. It was so instant that it appeared to have been a wheel stud failure. I revised my opinion on that when I saw an axle shaft attached to the wheel that was rolling down the track. That racer was stopped before the tree, but the guy in this Camaro appears to be pretty far down track. If he is lucky, the whole mess will slide out and free of the car, but I have seen lots of these over the years that get all hemmed up in the rear quarter panel, doing mucho damage if the car has any time of speed going.
This is a great photo and it really needs a caption!
Caption this photo! What is the driver thinking? What is the announcer saying? What’s gonna happen next?
GM has jumped into a new NHRA sponsorship, providing a new alternative to the current ATV push vehicle for the fuel classes. This allows the safety team to remain in air conditioned comfort while being able to wave, side by side, with their favorite drivers. The new safety safari helmets will include an add-on mullet option to keep with the spirit of the program.
He tried to save weight by removing the license plates lol, guess he thought the c clips were adding weight to the rotating mass.
He extended the right axle so it would take the left turn at the end of the track without needing to slow down.
During an interview with the driver he commented ” Now I know where those extra parts go. You thrash all week on the car and you just want to run down the track. Its not a good thing having extra parts on some projects”
Well… without even asking we can tell it’s a TPI motor and not a crossfire, it takes at least 150 hp to grenade a 7.625.
Dangit, Earl, fer some reason my posi quit workin..
C what?
i told you those ET streets were going to hook alot harder than those used up street tires you were running
you put your right foot in, you put your right foot out…
Go Gadget Go
The training wheels did not fully kick in, back to the drawing board.
speed – i am speed…..
Do we really need this much stagger to go straight?
Right Turn Clyde!
The outside groove has always worked good at this track!!!!
“There Goes My Baby”
Song Lyrics.
In a new chassis development, the sliding axle extension was used for the first time thispast weekend. Company officilals have declined comment.