Over the course of time, PHR has turned out quite a few project cars. Some of the older ones are still with us, like Project X. Others, however, were sold off and lost track of. Recently, we received a packet on the whereabouts of "Project O," our '85 Oldsmobile drag car. This Olds was one of the first Super Stock GT cars and it turns out it has continued to do what it's good at over the last 20-plus years. Back in the mid '80s, our car would run low 11s (fast now, and even faster back then).
Since leaving PHR's hands, the Cutlass has had a few owners, all of them drag racers. In '04, veteran racer Richard Johnston bought the car complete with a cracked 350 SBC. The Olds couldn't have gone to a better home. Ditching the junk engine, Richard and his crew chief/wife Dee ended up building a 250hp 327 mill and have been running it hard in GT/IA class ever since. Currently, the Olds has 614 gears and is running .988 under the index.
After 40 years of racing, and two bouts with brain cancer, Richard is hanging up his helmet to enjoy traveling with his wife. Sadly, that means the car will once again be up for sale. Hopefully, it won't be another 20 years before we find out where the Cutlass is winning races. Thanks for the update on our family member, Richard, and enjoy your retirement.