Snavely turns up the heat at Summernationals

Words by Tim Rigby
Photos by Reflections Of

The West Coast Hot Rod Association rolled in to AAA Auto Club Famoso Raceway on Saturday, June 25, for race two of the 2011 season, and its first ever single-day event, the Kings Oil Tools Inc. "Summernationals", presented by Mickey Thompson Tires and Chris Alston’s Chassisworks.

Leading up to the event people had concerns about the one-day format and wondered what the results would be. Judging from the racers’ input, the one-day race format was a success. Qualifying started at 2 p.m. and concluded at 5:30 with eliminations getting under way at 7:30 and concluding just before midnight under ideal racing conditions.

On the Heads-Up side of things, unfinished cars and parts breakage seems to be the unfortunate trend for the first half of 2011. Many of the Heads-Up racers were at the event as spectators and I can tell you, they don’t make good spectators and are more than ready to get back on the track!

The highlight of the day on the Heads Up was in the Extreeme 10.5 class and the performance of the Bothwell Motorsports XTF twin-turbo SBF Mustang driven by Rick Snavely. With outside temps at 95 degrees and track temps at 141 during qualifying, getting down track quicker than the competition would be a big challenge for all the drivers and crews during the event.

The Bothwell team was up for the challenge and laid down an impressive "off the trailer" 4.46 at 173 mph to take the #1 spot, followed by Al White at 4.78 and Scot Slotten at 5.26.

In round 1 of eliminations Snavely had a bye run and 25-degree cooler track temps, The result was a 4.381 at 178.21 mph and a shot at the class record if they could back it up in the finals.

On the other side of the ladder it was Al White in his N/A GTO versus Scot Slotten in the Dyno-Flo Pontiac. White took the win in a close race, 4.89 to 4.90.

In the final round the focus for Team Bothwell was to get the win, but the record back-up of 1% was what everyone wanted. When the tree dropped both drivers left with .051 R/T's and at the finish line it was Snavely for the win, 4.419 over White's 4.957 and the new WCHRA XTF record!

Snavely got the record but Al White took over the championship points lead over Chris Alston Jr., who couldn’t make it due to engine damage he suffered last month, Chris was at the race and said he is on schedule to return at the next event with a fresh powerplant.

In the True10.5 class it was Dave Boles trying to hold onto his points lead, after getting his first ever win at the season opener. Boles was looking to win back-to-back events and was off to a good start, qualifying #1 with a 5.136 at 147.31 in his BB nitrous ’ 63 Chevy II followed by Bobby Frye, Roger Rydell, Lance Clontz, Dave Bowman, Johnny Coleman, Jalil Jaber and Rob Allen.

In round 1 of eliminations Boles advanced with a 4.96 on a single run when Allen couldn’t make the call. Clontz and Bowman were up next with Bowman advancing 5.78 to Clontz’s coasting 10.56, Jalil advanced over Frye 5.33 to a shutting-off 7.93, and in the final pair it would be Rydell advancing with a 5.88 on a single run when Coleman couldn’t make the call due to a broken blower drive part.