Time Machine Nationals
NSS Inc. at Great Lakes Dragaway
Words by Bob Wilkiewicz - Nostalgia Super Stock Inc. Staff
UNION GROVE, Wis. - Mike is back.
No, not Michael Jordan, although both these Michaels have connections to (and in) Chicago.
For this story, that is Mike Singleton of Nostalgia Super Stock Inc., who recorded an 8.562 elapsed time at 155.41 mph during Sunday’s third session during the Time Machine Nationals event at Great Lakes Dragaway on September 3 and 4.
The 8.562 of Singleton’s ‘Resurrected’ 1964 Hemi-powered Dodge was low enough to claim second place in corporation all-time official event records.
The top time of 8.55 was set in May 2014 by Paul Habura of Addison, Ill., also at GLD in his ‘Keepin’ The Faith’ 1963 Plymouth. Habura has gone as quick as 8.48 in testing.
“It felt like a long ride,” said Singleton of Naperville, Ill. “The front wheels carried (up about two feet) out about 125 feet and when I pulled second gear it just kind of gradually settled back down and rolled on.”
Historically one of the quickest cars in the corporation, Singleton suffered a wreck which caused considerable sheet metal damage after guard wall contact at Bunker Hill, Ind. two seasons ago.
Fellow NSS Inc. member Wayne Keimig volunteered to do the frame and metal rebuild work at his shop in Atchison, Kansas, which included laying down a first class paint job. Singleton took delivery of the rebuilt car this spring and started the process of gradually sharpening both the engineering and driving standards of the aptly named ‘Resurrected.”
“There seems to be a pattern of setting a new club record about every two years,” said Singleton. “I appreciate all the support I’ve received and have satisfaction in being able to achieve this. It moved a little left at mid-track but not much. Mostly a smooth and certainly a satisfying run.” Singleton knows he will have to keep working during the off-season to maintain his spot.
Last autumn at Central Illinois Dragway (Havana), Mike Cicciarelli and the (Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ 1966 Ford Fairlane clicked off a 5.48 eighth mile time, which is equivalent to mid 8’s in the quarter mile.
In Sunday’s same session, Jeff Wick clocked 8.581 at 156.08 mph with the ‘High Voltage’ 1964 Ford Thunderbolt and followed that effort by finishing the event in session four by posting 8.596 and 155.89 mph, his second 8.59 of the season.
Other top performances on Sunday included 8.690 at 152 85 in session two and 8.73 at 152.69 in session three by Bill White in the ‘We Haul’ 1965 Chevelle and 8.796 at 153.58 mph with Spencer Schreindl driving the ‘Max Wedgie’ 1964 Dodge Polara.
White was slightly quicker on Saturday at 8.656 at 153.97 and 8.665 at 153.74 mph.
Mike Jessup came out on Saturday and continued his mid and late season improvement in the ‘Last Dance’ 1968 Plymouth Barracuda with Hemi power by going 9.503 at 143.49 and then following up with 9.439 at 142.81 mph.
At the top of the line-up, guest Charles Bode with his rare 1966 Mercury Cyclone at just 390 cubic inches enjoyed his match-ups with member Tom Cartwright and the 1964 Dodge ‘Polara Missile’, posting a 12.040 at 112. 26 best and even prevailing 12.103 at 112.06 to Cartwright’s 12.278 at 112.23 mph in Saturday’s second session.
After that, however, Cartwright consistently captured another 0.2 in his first event of the season, eventually clocking an 11.835 at 112.68 mph best.
Settling into the second pair, Dan Hradrisky and the 1963 Chevrolet Impala ‘Homewrecker’ with W-block power and Dennis Sherer with his ‘Repeat Offender’ 1963 Ford Galaxie repeatedly hammered on each other, sometimes within 0.01 around the 10.60 mark.
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