by Chevyfireball on Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:03 pm
Moran first to the 5’s with a turbocharged entry
(03-19-09) TAYLOR, MI – Drag Racing is the ultimate competitive sport where every racer has two goals in mind, maximum performance & win lights. After countless hours of sweat, blood & tears, Mike Moran has accomplished his first goal, now he looks forward to the challenge of part two. Behind the wheel of his familiar ’99 Monte Carlo, Moran became the first turbocharged competitor to enter the 5 second zone on March 12 at South Georgia Motorsports Park, running a staggering 5.973 elapsed time @ 250.41 mph.
Confidence in the combination is at an all time high. Although the ¼ mile numbers are quite impressive, a quick analysis of the time slip indicates that much more performance is available. “We definitely left a little bit on the table on that pass” stated Moran. “We have been consistently 1.01-1.02 to the 60’ & usually around 195.5 mph to the 660’ on our previous shots, but we had a little extra wheel speed off the line on that pass, so there is definitely more to come.” The full incrementals on the pass were 1.036 – 60’, 2.708 – 330’, 3.994 @ 194.52 – 660’, 5.072 – 1,000’ finally resulting in the historic 5.973 @ 250.41 miles per hour.
While the feat is impressive, doorslammer aficionados who follow closely should not be surprised. Moran along with longtime partners Bart Lemieux and Gordie Sprosek (MSL Racing) have a history of lighting up the scoreboards. The combo yielded a 6.11 @ 246 in Las Vegas in ’08 & an “oh so close” 6.01 @ 250.88 at the The Clash of The Titans event in Houston. “It’s not as if we made a huge jump in performance on this pass, we just successfully got the car lined out & the numbers bear that out” stated Moran. “The tuning window is so narrow on this car, but we hit the right set-up on this one.”
What might make the performance of this racecar most impressive is the evolution of the chassis itself. The ’99 Monte Carlo was originally fabricated as a Pro Stock chassis by Larry Larson Race Cars in 1998. Unlike the common blown & nitrous injected competitors in the class who have endless data to glean from, Moran & Larson have blazed their own trail. Throughout years of trial & error, the two have made countless changes to the chassis as they learned themselves what a turbocharged car needed. “Larry (Larson) has made so many additions to the chassis throughout the years” explained Moran. “The car has essentially been re-built three times, including installing new double frame rails & re-building the rear two different times. There are numerous x-braces that have been added in strategic locations, again as we learned what the car needed.” These factors combined with the original pro stock configuration which includes a steel roof & quarter panels, brings the total weight in at over 2,800 pounds.
While not the only competitor to try his hand at the big cubic inch turbocharged combo, Moran would certainly be considered the pioneer of the class. The current power plant is a 572 cubic inch motor built by Moran Racing Engines, utilizing A Big Stuff 3 electronic fuel injection system which controls the MRE Power Tip 5 Injectors that spray the Methanol while a set of Precision 90mm turbos make the boost. When Moran made the decision in 2004 to begin R&D on the methanol combination, he certainly had his share of detractors.
“When I decided to take on the challenge of methanol, no one had ever done it with EFI” stated Moran. “I had several folks tell me that I shouldn’t do it, but without the intercooler, I was convinced that methanol was the way to go. The first challenge that we encountered was that there was not an injector on the market that could flow what we needed. So we developed our own injectors which have now evolved into the Gen 5 models that we have available today.” That further illustrates the stand alone nature of this combination as many parts are developed in-house at Moran Motorsports.
The fact that consistency is required to win races is not lost on Moran. “I feel that through years of hard work, we have developed a combination that is very competitive performance wise” admitted Moran. “Our task moving forward is to now develop some consistency. It is admittedly hit or miss, as Larson says, running this car is like trying to balance a BB on a razor blade, you never know which way it’s going to go.” Moran feels that finding that consistency is merely a function of making laps. “We have the car how we want it now, it’s just a matter of making lots of laps to find a way to make the car repeat. Lots of laps require lots of money, so that’s where we are right now.”
As is the case with most competitors, funding is essential to the future of the race program. Moran did in fact receive an invitation to the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, but it was just not economically feasible at the time. Currently the plans for 2009 include a handful of NHRA & IHRA national events as well as select outlaw events throughout the season as funding will allow. The long term future includes a new race car with all the lessons learned incorporated in the chassis, again as funding allows.
No stranger to milestones, Moran may be remembered most from his days in “Casper”, a late model, nitrous injected Camaro in refrigerator white. A fixture in the Pro Street ranks for years, he recorded the first 6 second, 200 mph pass in Pro Street trim in 1996 as well as the first LS1 powered 6 second, 200 MPH pass in 2006. Besides “Casper”, Mike has been the first turbo car in the 6.30’s, 6.20”s, 6 teens, 6.0’s and now 5.90’s along with the first to 230 mph, 240 mph and 250 mph with the current MSL Racing Monte Carlo. With the evolution of the class & drag racing in general throughout the years, the latest milestone will without question go down as one of the most meaningful in turbocharged door slammer history.
MSL Racing would like to extend their thanks to Wade Rich and the entire staff at South Georgia Motorsports Park for the professionalism & outstanding track surface provided for testing. “SGMP is an outstanding facility” stated Moran. “Wade & crew are extremely organized & professional. We could not ask for better experience than we receive at SGMP.”
Moran is quick to point out that this achievement could not be realized without the help of many people. “First of all, I have to thank my longtime partner Bart Lemieux for all the support, it could not be accomplished without him” stated Moran. “And of course Larry “Pete Rose” Larson, Gordie ”Black Belt” Sprosek, Michael “Bobo” Biehle, Bob Stark, Adam “Metro” Wyatt, David “Whitey” Brown, Matt “3.0” Grawberg, Matt “2.0” Tret, Tiny “T-rex” Mitchell, John “Sparky” Meany, Michael “Mini” Pinkowski, Kevin” Grandpa” Coon, Bill “Billiam” Kane, George Zaske, Jack “Billet” McClain, Chris “Harry Potter” Prucha for all their hard work & support as well as all of our sponsors including Flowmaster, Big Stuff 3, Larson Race Cars, Red Line Oil, Precision Turbo, Liberty Gears, Wilson Manifolds, Hoosier Tires, VP Race Fuels, Dart, Jesel, GRP, JE Pistons, Speedglass, Race Pak, Baudier Graphix, Penske Shocks, CFE, Jory’s Rod and Custom, NRC, Swain, MSD, Flatout Gaskets, Manton Push Rods, Powermaster, Weldon Racing Pumps and ARP. None of our success could be achieved without the support of these fine companies.”
There is constant debate, whether life is about the journey or the destination. When speaking with Moran about his accomplishments, the passion in his voice makes it evident that the trials & tribulations of his 5 year journey make the destination of 5.973 so much sweeter. That being said, make no mistake, the destination continues to be a moving target and the perseverance exhibited by all of MSL Racing will keep them at the front of the pack in door slammer racing for years to come.
Written by Brian Cupp / Promodifieds.US
It Ain't Over Til It's Nova
I half expected to see it with a couple of 44 gallon drum size units hanging out of the bonnet. Reckon it would be something well worth looking at for the GTO. There'd be dummies getting spat out all over the place.
