RTH2 Results Are In!

[Steve Chryssos]

The Pro-Touring.com Run Thru The Hills 2 event, brought to you by MuscleRides.com is now complete. The event included the following activities:
FRIDAY ACTIVITES
-Cruise through the great Smoky Mountains
-Southern style BBQ: Mainstay Suites
SATURDAY ACTIVITIES
-1/8 mile Drag Racing: 411 Dragway
SUNDAY ACTIVITIES
-Auto-X from Hell: 411 Speedway. This turned out to be the standout event of the weekend. The course was laid out on an actual track surface (not a dusty parking lot) with banked turns, high speed straightaways and cones set up to create gates, chicanes and hairpins throughout the track including the figure 8 infield. Overall length is "'oh 'bout a mile" (That's southern for "we're not exactly sure") The course doubles back over itself. Add in the infield sections and you can figure on 3/4 mile minimum. Here are the results:

MuscleRides.com Cruise and BBQ
While the typical Fall Grand Run cruisers were content to idle along in traffic, we headed up into the Smokies for some real driving on mountain roads. 57 cars started. 55 cars finished. Speeds were low due to the car count. So to avoid creating our own traffic jam, we broke up into groups . Scenery and roads were breathtaking to say the least. The two cars that "broke" failed right at the start of the cruise (in the parking lot), so there was no drama. Back at the hotel we jammed up the parking lot and then stuffed our faces. There was cake, too.

GPSuperStore.com Fastest Street Car Award
Conditions started out poor with dense fog. Surface was slick throughout the day. We also managed to blow up the 'cuda on it's second run. It did manage an 8.80 off the trailer, though. The 'cuda and Prodigy both suffered blown differentials on a side by side run. Rules dictated that the winner complete the Friday cruise and drive to the track under it's own power. Tire changes were permitted. Frank Serafine had a fastest run at 6.44. While Frank did participate in the cruise, he trailered the car to the strip, so his car was disallowed. The winner received a slick looking trophy. The pro-touring cars all spun down the track and ran 8's or slower.
WINNER: Jerry Balko, Dallas, TX 6.58@106mph. 1968 Street/Strip Camaro

AirRide Technolgies Auto-X from Hell
Autocross action was INSANE! We crashed a car. Following up his impressive first run, Billy Utley overcooked the turn that faced the track entrance and grandstands. He locked up the brakes on his beautiful 72 Nova and slid hard into the water barriers. Water splashed 50 FEET into the air! The resultant spray soaked the entire grandstands as well as other spectators and photographers. Billy walked away unscathed and the car suffered a damaged hood and fenders. We're all glad that Billy is unharmed. The crash set the tone for the event. This was a fast, challenging and dangerous course. The winner is a local hot shot with a heavily modified Z06 vette. Late model or not--this car definitely stops, steers, and accelerates better than stock. Even with the crazy "showboat" powerslides, no other car could hang with Shawn's Z06. The winner received a trophy and $100.
WINNER: Shawn Willocks Z06 Vette 57.523 sec

Prodigy Customs Camaro Challenge
Since there's so much heated benchracing about Camaro parts selection on message boards, we decided to single out a few f-bodies with a wide range of parts. First we rounded up a wide section of cars with varying front/rear suspension layouts, engine/trans combinations and wheel/tire choices. Then we simply tracked their times to thin out the list. We also included Billy Utley's Nova since the chassis layout is similar. Since he wrecked, we only had one run to collect--but it was a fast 67.677+1. Cars were allowed to run on their own. Cone penalties are included at 2 seconds per cone. At the end, we strapped Tony Bolton, the local hotshoe into the three fastest cars and let him loose to push for a final low number. Tony ran each of the cars as many times as possible until the trakc made us shut down the show. Cone penalties are factored in. If there is any conclusion it is that the performance was very similar. Despite variations in component selection (i.e. airbags or springs, stock clip or aftermarket, leaf spring or four link, etc.) all of the times are very close. The three fastest cars were as follows:



3rd Place: 1968 Camaro Steve Chryssos: 63.947 +1 = 65.947 sec.
2nd Place: 1971 Camaro Brett Voelkel: 64.186 sec.
WINNER: 1969 Camaro Kyle and Stacy Tucker: 64.107 sec.

In the end, we decided to give the trophy to Tony Bolton, who worked his ass off to drive these cars and a few others for us. He would hop out of one car and we would shove him in another. He had the time of his life in the process. Boy can he drive.

Thanks to everyone who participated, spectated, sponsored and helped run the show. While I'm biased, I'm confident that Larry, Bill, Melinda and I put on an awesome event. There was lots of action, cool cars and good times. It was great seeing and meeting all of you.
/Steevo