Who remembers when our little turbo cars were not well liked?

[fastblackracing]

Who on here has had there turbo regal long enough to remember back when people at the track really did not like our "funny little turbos" that made strange noises? And if you happened to hand them an azz whippen they really did not like it. I remember one time I ran a guy with your typical big block camaro that ran mid 11 seconds, got so upset that he went to the tower to try and have us kicked out for not having a roll bar after we went faster/beat him and this was in time trials to boot! Nowadays everybody out there has to have a turbo or two on there car and its all the rage. I cant help but think that Our little turbo buicks pretty much single handidly revolutionlized the way people thought about turbos here in the US and led to the awesome cars and power levels that are being achieved today. Like larsons truck making 3000 or whatever and all the street outlaw guys, just my opinion and wondered if anyone else felt the same way.

 

[tbone87]

Most have respect for them!!! The others will have respect!!!

 

[TR Custom Parts]

I was one of those guys who hated all these black "new" cars when I was racing at Englishtown NJ with my 66 Chevelle before I pro streeted it. Many years later I sold the Chevelle due to a baby on the way and didn't feel like building another car. Wanted something fast with all the creature comforts and a Buick Grand National fit the bill, ironically found one with 4700 miles on it in 1995 at the Englishtown swap meet two weeks after selling the Chevelle. Was going thru some old pictures of the Chevelle years ago and found one with me racing a Englishtown against no other than a Grand National. If I can find the picture I will post it. And no, don't remember if I beat him or not.!

 

[bison]

And no, don't remember if I beat him or not.!

Most people don't seem to remember their losses.


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[novaderrik]

the GN helped with the reputation of turbochargers as an effective power adder, but they weren't the only car to ever make big power from small displacement by using one. there were a lot of other cars- mostly imports- in the late 80's and 90's that also used them to get big block power numbers out of economy car displacements- and most of them could take corners and stop way better than a GN could, while getting better fuel economy in day to day use.. the GN's of the 80's were a piece of the puzzle, but not the whole puzzle..

 

[Nasty Wendy]

I remember other 'players' being the Mustang SVO, Dodge Shelby Daytona, Mitsubishi Eclipse ... But I agree the Buicks definitly had a major influence

 

[deezdad]

It was like being a metallica fan in the 80's, the main stream golds gym z cavaricci bag phone fanny pack iroc deusch bags despised us haha

 

[bison]

It was like being a metallica fan in the 80's, the main stream golds gym z cavaricci bag phone fanny pack iroc deusch bags despised us haha

Haha


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[SS/GN]

This is so true, guys like Buddy Ingersol really put these cars on the big screen. I was out for breakfast with the group this morning and one of the guys said "those helcats are going to kick your a$$" I replied, maybe ! These people forget that 700 hp with a stick on a Friday night usually ends up in tire smoke

 

[bison]

This is so true, guys like Buddy Ingersol really put these cars on the big screen. I was out for breakfast with the group this morning and one of the guys said "those helcats are going to kick your a$$" I replied, maybe ! These people forget that 700 hp with a stick on a Friday night usually ends up in tire smoke

Usually ends up into the guard rail. 


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[Pronto]

I remember my first loss to a GN perfectly. Was at NED in 2002 with my 79 Trans Am with a warmed over 403 . It ran mid 13s, not bad for what it was. While in the staging lanes, I noticed a black car with the hood up. In front of it was skinny young girl with glasses smoking away. Looked at the engine and saw a bunch of hoses and not much engine. I really didn't know what to make of the car or the girl. I ended up lining up beside it. It was pretty quiet but did a strong burnout. Humm. Next thing I'm going down the track watching that black car's tail lights get farther and farther ahead of me. It ran an 11.6. Found out later that was Melissa's GN. Shortly after that I ended up with my T.
Melissa's car about to destroy a Mustang.

My Trans Am about to get destroyed by a 10 second MC. That MC now runs 8s.

 

[SS/GN]

Its funny how even today these cars intimidate others

 

[turbofrank]

If you can't beat them join them. The haters still say it was a fast car in its day.

 

[SS/GN]

In front of it was skinny young girl with glasses smoking away. Looked at the engine and saw a bunch of hoses and not much engine. I really didn't know what to make of the car or the girl.

Defiantly the wrong car to mess with lol

 

[deezdad]

I remember my first loss to a GN perfectly. Was at NED in 2002 with my 79 Trans Am with a warmed over 403 . It ran mid 13s, not bad for what it was. While in the staging lanes, I noticed a black car with the hood up. In front of it was skinny young girl with glasses smoking away. Looked at the engine and saw a bunch of hoses and not much engine. I really didn't know what to make of the car or the girl. I ended up lining up beside it. It was pretty quiet but did a strong burnout. Humm. Next thing I'm going down the track watching that black car's tail lights get farther and farther ahead of me. It ran an 11.6. Found out later that was Melissa's GN. Shortly after that I ended up with my T.
Melissa's car about to destroy a Mustang.
View attachment 243938
My Trans Am about to get destroyed by a 10 second MC. That MC now runs 8s.View attachment 243939

Awesome!

 

[BEATAV8]

I remember being referred to as "one of those guys" and smoking all my buddies. They would just say its not the same rush as a big cube motor and turbo lag sucks.

 

[TurboSkunk15]

I hear nonsense about my 2010 camaro SS it has a 76 mm turbonetics turbo, people say turbos are for ricers or king of the jungle should roar not whistle. Kind of dopey considering alot of the fastest track cars are turbos. I do offer to run them, don't always get takers. Did beat a supercharged ss running slicks at the track with street tires and a turbo, and ran better than a zl1 that cost 20 grand more than my car did to build :0). Def love turbos

I've never heard a bad thing about my GN though

 

[TR Custom Parts]

My Chevelle vs a GN back in 1988, Englishtown NJ

 

[TurboSkunk15]

Nice chevelle

 

[novaderrik]

If you can't beat them join them. The haters still say it was a fast car in its day.

haters is a word that i wish would go away...