Run And Gun 2002: Dragstrip Dynamos

In 1972, the rock band Deep Purple wrote the song, "Smoke on the Water," and while there was no "fire in the sky," as in that song, smoking tires in the water of the burn-out pits, and the rain that shortened 2002's four-day Run And Gun to a three-day shoot-out, made this the theme of another exciting kit car event.

While the English rock band was once credited in the Guinness Book of World Records as the globe's loudest band, their four-wheeled counterparts gave out some of the loudest, throaty engine purrs we have ever heard. The music emanating from the engine compartments of more than 50 kit and component cars made the '02 Run And Gun a true car-lover's event, rain or not.

We usually conclude the three-venue event with a dragstrip bracket race shoot-out for King of the Hill honors. Last year was the first time that the finale had to be scrapped, due to a day of downpour, but all other events--the autocross, CART/IRL road course, and dragstrip best times--went off without a hitch at Gateway International Raceway, in Madison, Illinois, just around the corner from the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

While the '01 dragstrip duel pit a Corvette Grand Sport against a Maseratti birdcage-inspired kit, the '02 top times came down to a Cobra shoot-out between Layne Schranz, in his alcohol-engined Shell Valley Snake, and Wayne Turpin and Rich Pickles in their trusty Contemporary Serpents.

Schranz, following in his dad, Randy's, tire tracks, beat his two foes with a time of 10.3 seconds, to Turpin's 10.37 and Pickles' 10.4 e.t. Dave Salkowski's bid at a time in the 9s in his 600hp Shelby 427 engine-powered ERA Cobra ended with a disappointing (for him, but very credible for the event) 10.8, good for First in his class (Prepared Big-Block) and sixth overall, behind Schranz, Turpin, Pickles, and the GSR Grand Sport driving combination of Aaron Quine (10.61) and Mike Miller (10.68). The other sub-11 time was run by Dave Serchuk at 10.81 in his 600hp, Ford 358-powered Shell Valley Cobra.

Schranz also won another unofficial event--in true Deep Purple fashion, Schranz's fluorescent-orange Cobra was easily the loudest car on the track. No db ratings were taken, but we believe that he hit 100 db just as easily as he topped 100 mph.

If it were all decided by horsepower, John Ciacchi, III, with his 850hp Ford 488ci would have bested the six 600hp cars and the 20 cars with ratings of 500 hp or better. However, Ciacchi fired his Contemporary Cobra to a 12.56 finish, while Schranz's 550hp Chevy 370 bested Turpin's 550hp Ford 484, Pickles' 575hp Ford 468, and the two drivers of Grand Sports' 550hp Chevy 434 powerplant. Ciacchi topped the entire Run And Gun contingent in terms of horsepower, and he finished with solid times on the quarter-mile and road course, with only an unfinished autocross standing between him and Top Dog honors.

And that's why they run these events, so the drivers, the setups, the preparation, the car weight, and the handling determine the outcome, rather than power numbers. And that's why we generally run the King of the Hill bracket race, so that a dialed-in driver has the advantage over a less-consistent racer/owner with more power, a bigger engine, or a sporty, but heavier or less aerodynamic, car. Even without the King of the Hill, the dragstrip provided action, excitement, thrills and entertainment.

Cobras didn't sweep the quarter-mile, as Aaron Quine drove his Grand Sport to First Place honors in the Pro Big-Block class (10.61), while Schranz, in his Cobra, nipped Serchuk in the Pro Small-Block (10.3-10.81). John Gyann's Chassis Shop Lola, a car we wanted to see off the line, kissed the road-course wall and was eliminated.

The Lotus 7 contingent did well in the competition, as Stephen Brinkerhoff's CMC Locost 7, all 70 hp of it, won the Pro 4&6 in 14.56, and Doug Reed's Superformance S1 (140 hp) beat Andy Stafford's S1 in the Prepared 4&6, 14.11-15.3. Brian Anderson took Street 4&6 honors in his Lotus-inspired World Class Motorsports Ultralite. His 240hp Honda-powered 7 posted a 13.18 e.t. In Pro Power Adder, Miller's Corvette Grand Sport topped Bill Bonadio's CAR Specialist Dio Tipo 61, 10.68-11.44, while the Vette also enjoyed a 550hp to 325hp edge in engine strength.

Cobra replicas took the rest of the classes on the 'strip, with Turpin topping Salkowski in Prepared Big-Block (10.37-10.8); Jim Schenk (Factory Five Racing) besting Dan Wyatt (FFR) in Prepared Small-Block (12.08-12.21); Pickles blazing past Steve Pass (FFR) in Prepared Power Adder (10.4-11.18); and Bill Belcher (Superformance) nipping Gary McDaniel (FFR) in Street Small-Block (12.44-12.56).

Of those classes, Prepared Big-Block had the quickest full contingent, with all seven cars blazing down the quarter in less than 13 seconds, five in less than a 12.0 e.t.

In the tightest competition class (Street Big-Block), with six cars finishing in under 13 seconds, Steve Charlton (LA Exotics Cobra) beat Frank Stone (Premiere Motorsports) 12.14-12.58. Charlton's 400hp Ford 428 proved mightier than Stone's 500-plus-hp Ford 428.

Pro Top Dog honors went to Schranz, with Quine finishing second. Prepared Top Dog was Turpin, over Pickles, and Street Top Dog was Carlton, ahead of Belcher. While the dragstrip represents only one-third of the Run And Gun triathlon, it is often the most tense, and most fun. Racers duel side-by-side for the quickest time, in scenes as professional as any NHRA event held on the same 'strip but reminiscent of a more innocent time, when these drivers may have smoked their tires against their best friends in high school or college for neighborhood bragging rights.

The Cobras ruled supreme last year, but the challenge from the Lotuses, Corvettes, Mustangs, Dragons, and the Lola certainly served notice that this is NOT a Snakes-only event, nor a Snake paradise. This year, we are expecting a return of the Daytonas, some Willys, '32 Ford street rod kits, and a few original designs and new players in the genre. It should be another exciting event...the 16th Annual Run And Gun, to be held October 16-19 at Gateway International Raceway. The event is open to owners and drivers of all kit cars, component cars, replicars, or original-design, limited-edition specialty cars. While the competition is genuinely serious, the fun, camaraderie, and spirit of the event is what kit cars are all about...play value, bragging, laughter, skill, craftsmanship, friendship, and heart-pounding automotive thrills.

Come on down to St. Louis in October and have some fun...it just may start a yearly pilgrimage for you, as it has for the 50 racers who competed last year, and the expected 60-80 who will show off their cars, their skills, their enthusiasm, and their smoking tires...rain or shine!