Chevy Big Block Show - Super Chevy Magazine

What could be better than looking forward to a day of W-engine drag racing at Thompson Raceway Park? We caught this beautiful '55, the Phantom 409, lined up for one of the first passes of the weekend. This 409-powered gasser is owned and driven by Barrie, Ontario's Jim Carniato.

What could be better than looking forward to a day of W-engine drag racing at Thompson Rac

Shortly after 8:00 p.m. on November 23, 2006, Fred Totten, an original member of the Internet forum www.348-409.com, passed away from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As a tribute to this honored member of their site, his friends and family decided to dedicate the forum's yearly reunion to Fred's memory.

What an honor it was, as many who attended the 1st Annual Fred Totten Memorial in northeastern Ohio considered this to be one of the largest gatherings of 409-equipped Chevrolets in the past 45 years. A total of 45 forum members brought their W-motor-equipped Biscaynes, Bel Airs, and Impalas to Thompson Raceway Park (TRP), about 45 minutes southeast of Cleveland, for three days of racing-on and off the track-and fellowship with other members of www.348-409.com. Any 348- or 409-equipped vehicle was welcome, and a variety of transplanted 409s showed up, including a beautiful wheelstanding Chevy II, and even a rear engine dragster.

Wheelstands, killer reaction times, and the best 60-foot times ever for the racers were commonplace, a testament to the condition of the track at TRP. Ken Edgar, owner of Thompson Raceway Park, told us they have spent a considerable amount of money to upgrade the starting line and shut-off areas to match their national-caliber dragstrip. The results showed as the competitors had to scramble to cope with the awesome traction available.

Barry Taylor won his bracket and the overall King-Of-The-Hill title in the first ever Fred Totten Memorial 409 bracket race. He went through four rounds to win the HR-1 bracket defeating the Valerie McCombs when she red-lighted. The Taylor & Russell Racing Bel Air downed Kevin McCauley's Bel Air in the King Of The Hill showdown.

Barry Taylor won his bracket and the overall King-Of-The-Hill title in the first ever Fred

The date was chosen by the forum to occur in conjunction with the 8th annual Gasser Reunion. The Mid-America Willys Club claims to be the world's fastest car club, and based on the incredible show put on by the Chevy-powered gassers, its yearly reunion proved to be a fitting backdrop for the wheelstanding 409 Chevys of the www.348-409.com website. The United Manual Transmission Racers (UMTR for short) also joined the weekend with a points race that counted toward its regional championship. All three organizations put on a great show for the spectators.

The 409 match race in honor of Totten was held on Saturday afternoon, with 26 Chevys entered in two classes, HR-1 for W-powered vehicles running 10.99 seconds or faster and HR-2 for 11.00-second and up 409 cars. After four rounds, it was Barry Taylor from Garland, Texas, on top of the HR-1 bracket slated to meet Kevin McCauley of Burlington, Ontario, the winner through four rounds in the HR-2 class. They met up on Saturday evening for the 409 King-Of-The-Hill finale and it was Taylor who took home the overall trophy with a winning run of 9.70 seconds at 135 mph. All of the competitors should be commended as the fans were on their feet for the entire shootout reveling in these historic pavement pounders.

It was unanimous among the participants that this would be the first of many events to come for the www.348-409.com crew. With every powershift, launch, and 9-second pass, we couldn't help but think that Totten was looking down with a smile on his face.

Full-size Chevys run in the family as Kevin McCauley's brother, Kent, also made the trek from Ontario in his '62 Bel Air. This 32,000 original mile post car was fresh from a recent frame-off restoration when the 509 BBC was installed.
Full-size Chevys run in the family as Kevin McCauley's brother, Kent, also made the trek f
Jim MacKenzie built this beautiful tribute to "Old Reliable" and has run his Bel Air with great success in the Pro Nostalgia class of the NSCA and the NMCA. Always a crowd pleaser, this '62 bubbletop ran in the 8s most of the weekend.
Jim MacKenzie built this beautiful tribute to "Old Reliable" and has run his Bel Air with
No, 409 power was not limited to the full size Bow Ties at this event. David Mills brought this beautiful '62 Chevy II, complete with a race 409 and four-speed. This hard-charging deuce ran a weekend-best 9.86 at 134 mph.
No, 409 power was not limited to the full size Bow Ties at this event. David Mills brought

Kevin McCauley brought his unrestrored '62 Bel Air two-door post across the Canadian border to take the win in the HR-2 class for 409s running 11.00 seconds or slower in the quarter.
Kevin McCauley brought his unrestrored '62 Bel Air two-door post across the Canadian borde
When Ray Lehberger decided to get into the 409 racing game, he started with this clean six-cylinder body, a common trick from back in the day to get weight out of the car. This project has kept rolling and Ray has the best of everything from bumper to bumper. The 409 stroker has powered his '62 Bel Air to a 10.19 second/132 mph pass.
When Ray Lehberger decided to get into the 409 racing game, he started with this clean six

Allen George, Jr. races the Blue Screamer, a 470 cube W-powered '62 Impala, in MANDRA, the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association. Fastest time down the 1320 for this Impala was a 10.42 at 125.5.
Allen George, Jr. races the Blue Screamer, a 470 cube W-powered '62 Impala, in MANDRA, the
The Wully Bully Racing Team made to trip from nearby Kutztown, Pennsylvania, with twin Roman Red '62 Bel Air hardtops to put on a great show for the crowd. Since it was built after the lessons were learned from Steven Moyer's original Wully Bully, Carl Bucks, driver of Wully Bully II has a 310-pound weight advantage and a W-motor that is 22 ci larger than Steven's 450 ci engine. This advantage is good for 10 mph and a half second in the quarter.
The Wully Bully Racing Team made to trip from nearby Kutztown, Pennsylvania, with twin Rom
This was one of the Z-11-equipped 409s running around during the Fred Totten Memorial. Note the aluminum front end on Rusty Symmes' black '62 Bel Air show car. Warming up the fluids prior to the start of the day's racing action is necessary for serious drag machines. Verlin Hale services the racing twin of Rusty Symmes' black bubbletop show car. Verlin ran a 1.27 second 60-ft time later that day on its way to a 9.04 second/149.91 mph pass, best ever for one of Rusty's Bel Airs, and a testament to the conditions of the starting line at Thompson Raceway Park.
This was one of the Z-11-equipped 409s running around during the Fred Totten Memorial. Not

In addition to the W-motor festivities, the gassers were also out in force. Here is one of many exhibition passes made by Gene Schwartz in his beautiful '52 Chevrolet. Gene has owned this car since he was 15-years-old and used it to set the NHRA E/G national record in '64 (which he managed to hold for four years.
In addition to the W-motor festivities, the gassers were also out in force. Here is one of
The 6-71 blower was just installed on top of the 409 in this red '62 Impala SS. The owner, Jay Gould, used this event to dial in the combo and ended up with a weekend-best of 10.62 at 125 mph.
The 6-71 blower was just installed on top of the 409 in this red '62 Impala SS. The owner,
Many manual transmission Chevys showed up to compete with UMTR-North during the weekend. Wild Bill Dowhaniuk heats up the slicks on his '64 Chevy II gasser, the Mind Bender II. Bill bought this baby new, then drove it two miles to his house, where it was converted to a race car. He claims this C/Gas five-speed-equipped car is the only original '64 Chevy II still racing in America today.
Many manual transmission Chevys showed up to compete with UMTR-North during the weekend. W

One of the most enjoyable 409s to watch was Dennis Ford's '62 Biscayne. Denny made it through the first round of the HR-1 bracket of the 409 race with a 10.31/129.31 mph run. He was a crowd favorite as his Biscayne was wheels-up every pass.
One of the most enjoyable 409s to watch was Dennis Ford's '62 Biscayne. Denny made it thro
One of our favorite gassers on the track was "Blew By You," a '56 running a 13:1 355 ci small-block with Hilborn injection. This '56, owned and driven by Steve Crook, has run a best of 11.14 seconds at 118 mph. Wheelstands were the order of the day and the crowds loved it.
One of our favorite gassers on the track was "Blew By You," a '56 running a 13:1 355 ci sm
Lou Terra brought this August '85 Super Chevy cover car, a '62 Bel Air race car from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. This four-speed 409 was originally raced with an aluminum nose and a Z-11 top end by Jim Jones out of Dallas.
Lou Terra brought this August '85 Super Chevy cover car, a '62 Bel Air race car from Bloom

One of the organizers of the 1st Annual Fred Totten Memorial, Jim Kwiatkowski, brought this heart-stopping Bel Air. Good thing he has a tilt nose on the '57. There is nothing quite like a dual carb M/T cross-ram intake on top of a 409.
One of the organizers of the 1st Annual Fred Totten Memorial, Jim Kwiatkowski, brought thi
Gerry Gostenik drove this beautifully engineered '61 Bel Air. He posted the fastest pass in the HR-2 bracket with an 11.94 second/112.54 mph run in the first round, but he ended up red-lighting against the eventual HR-2 winner, Kevin McCauley.
Gerry Gostenik drove this beautifully engineered '61 Bel Air. He posted the fastest pass i
Traveling with the McCauley brothers was Jordan Station, Ontario's Len Woodrow and his fully restored '62 Bel Air two-door post. We were glad to see Len wringing out the 409 four-speed on the strip.
Traveling with the McCauley brothers was Jordan Station, Ontario's Len Woodrow and his ful