Small Block Fever
The small blocks were screaming as the Outlaw Small Block Association (OSBA) kicked off its inaugural race as a part of the Muscle Car Powerfest at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Va, on May 17-18. This was the first of a three-race series for the OSBA. The next race will be Sept. 27 at VMP and the final event on Nov. 1-2 will see the champion named.
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These racers were excited to have a venue to showcase their talents and let the crowd see the intensity of an all small block field...
“These racers were excited to have a venue to showcase their talents and let the crowd see the intensity of an all small block field,” said Bill Harris, President of the OSBA. “There has been lots of talk about the program and I believe the turnout shows us this program is here to stay.”
Despite the threat of rain on Friday and again on Sunday, which kept some teams from attending, the diehard small block teams were there, ready to do battle. The run ladder was determined by a draw system. This was instituted by the OSBA to keep the racing fair for all competitors. The rain did come in on Sunday just as the finals were set to start, halting the action and causing the winners to split the purse.
C/2 (all motor 2750 lb. minimum)
Bobby Bladen set the C/2 MPH and ET record. He drives a 1970 Nova.
Leon Powell’s Camaro.
Sixteen cars qualified for the C/2 class and it got started with Bobby Bladen III of Gambrills, Md. setting the tone in qualifying, running a solid 8.812 at 151.46 followed by the ’65Barracuda of Leon Hudson of Lynchburg, Va., with a 8.947 at 151.12 mph. Leon Powell of Sutherland, Va., was number 3 qualifier with a 9.17 at 144.52 in a ’77 Camaro. Bladen met Hudson in the semi finals, beating him 8.832 to 9.073. Powell slept at the lights and had to run down the ’74 Astro of Lawrence, Virginia’s Shelton Gillis in the semi to meet Bladen in the finals.