Ted Harbit back at it....BIG TIME. Yowzers!

[BobPalma]

Muncie Dragway had a special 2-day meet this weekend. Ted Harbit participated with The Stude Tomato, his original-engine 1963 R2/4-speed Lark Custom 2-door. He said traction was unusually good. He was thrilled with the excellent 60' and quarter-mile times he was able to post, and terminal speeds he was able to achieve.

I'd say so!

Check out the following runs today. Remember, this is running in Pure Stock configuration: street tires and closed exhaust through mufflers and tail pipes! This is consistent performance, not a single-run fluke among slower runs. (Expressed, in order, are 60' times, 1/4-mile elapsed times, and 1/4-mile terminal speeds.)

Run #1: 1.950, 12.809 seconds, 108.39 MPH

Run #2: 1.984, 12.811 seconds, 109.03 MPH

Run #3: 1.913, 12.628 seconds, 109.94 MPH

Run #4: 1.919, 12.938 seconds, 099.06 MPH (backed off on this run to avoid beaking out...but still posted an ET under 13 seconds!)

Charlie Brown famously said it best: Good Grief! ('Way to go, Ted; good to see you so firmly back in the saddle.)

Keep in mind, folks: We'll be taking The Stude Tomato to compete in the 2009 Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race at the Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton MI Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19, 2009. BP

[mbstude]

This IS Ted Harbit... What else should we expect? [8D]

Way to go Ted. [^]

Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[Swifster]

DANG!!!

Consistent 12.8's with an R2????

Ted's my hero!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom - Mulberry, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona - 289 4V, 4-Speed (Cost To Date: $2125.60)

1964 Studebaker Commander 170-1V, 3-speed w/OD (Cost to Date: $623.67)

[41 Frank]

Simply amazing to see an R-2 run in the 12's consistently.[]

[barnlark]

Incredible! [^][^][^][8D]

[Chucks Stude]

They were building a car on speed today, and the guy (Stacey David) was talking about building a 32 Ford hotrod, and doing it old school. He wanted to build it like they would in 1968. He wanted to build a car that would run in the 12's, because most of the cars of that time were running 14's. Congratulations to Ted on campaigning a Stude that would beat just about anything of the time!

[ChampTrucking]

Nice!!!! Way to be Ted!!

[Avantidon]

Bob, thanks for posting Ted's times. So great to see him back at it and can run so consistent times. it will be interesting to see what he does at Pure Stock Drags next month.

[Invalid User Name]

It just goes to show - you can't keep a good man and a good car down!

Doug

1950 Champion 9G F1

[BobPalma]

quote:Originally posted by Avantidon

Bob, thanks for posting Ted's times. So great to see him back at it and can run so consistent times. it will be interesting to see what he does at Pure Stock Drags next month.

You're welcome, Don.

Ted cautions that traction has never been that good at Stanton, and 60' times are critical to The Tomato posting in the 12s. Ted said to prepare everyone for 60' times in the low 2.000 range at Stanton, with resultant 1/4-mile ETs back up in the low 13s.

It all depends on traction at Stanton this year. Of course, that will affect other racers, too, so we won't be alone if 60-foot times remain above 2.000 at this year's Pure Stock Drags. BP

[Dick Steinkamp]

Just an amazing guy...and car! [8D]

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[Roscomacaw]

Just WOW! [:0]

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[silverhawk]

Way to go!

Dylan Wills

'61 lark deluxe 4 door wagon

[Pat Dilling]

Very impressive! They must have some excellent air density as well. Sounds like a great day at the track. Isn't that 12.62 approaching R3 territory? Just when the other muscle cars thought it was safe because of the PBW retirement...

Pat

Pat Dilling
Olivehurst, CA
Custom '53 Starlight aka Stu Cool

LS1 Engine Swap Journal: http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/jour...ournalid=33611

[BobPalma]

quote:Originally posted by Pat Dilling

Very impressive! They must have some excellent air density as well. Sounds like a great day at the track. Isn't that 12.62 approaching R3 territory? Just when the other muscle cars thought it was safe because of the PBW retirement...

Pat

Ummm....more than approaching it, Pat; it's under it: The best time The Plain Brown Wrapper ever turned, anywhere, during the 1998-2008 campaign, was 12.71!

And, yes, that 12.71 was posted at Muncie Dragway in cool, dense, evening air.

You know the old expression, "Drive it like you stole it?" Well, truth be known, Ted never fully overcame his awareness that he was driving someone else's car when he was piloting The Plain Brown Wrapper. Try as he might, he just could not beat the car quite as hard as if it were his own.

On the other hand, the title for The Stude Tomato reads the one-and-only Ted Harbit. 'Nuff said! BP