Midwest Musclecar Challenge - Midwest Insurrection

One of the wildest cars that turned laps on the autocross was last month's cover car-RPM Hot Rods' '70 Mustang, which posted a 52.13-second lap time for a Seventh Place finish. Under the bulging hood is a Kaase-built 520ci big-block Ford producing 770 hp. Despite all that power, driver Curt Ukasik managed to keep the tires planted, thanks to a Chassisworks suspension featuring Ridetech springs. The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association plans on giving it away at their season finale in Scottsdale this fall.

Who says the Pro Touring formula can only be applied to muscle cars? Greg Schneider of Ridetech subjected his '67 Chevy C-10 pickup to some serious lateral loads in the autocross. The rig is equipped with 355 small-block, 700-R4 trans, Baer disc brakes, and full Ridetech air suspension. It posted a 54.95-second lap, good for 18th Place out of 30 cars.

If Chris Jacobs's sweet '66 Chevelle looks familiar, it's because it was featured in the November '08 issue of PHR. The LS7-powered A-body was built by Randy Johnson, and puts down 514 rear-wheel horsepower. Evidently, Johnson builds some competent machinery, and Jacobs is one heck of a driver, as the Schwartz-suspended Chevelle took Third Place with a 51.20-second lap.

The Baer Brakes Speed-Stop Challenge is a test combining acceleration, braking, and driver skill. Competitors accelerate from a standing start, then hit the brakes to try to come to a halt within a 40x20-foot stop box. The course measures 800-feet long, and cars can start braking anywhere within the final 300 feet. Jeff Schwartz finished 15th out of 23 entrants with customer, Grant Craft's '65 Pontiac Tempest, which features Schwartz's trick frame and suspension.

Spectre Performance made the long haul from Southern California in its '71 Z28. The Camaro's original LT-1 block has been stroked to 388 ci and fitted with EFI. Owners Brandy and Mike Morrow drove the car to 13th and 14th Place finishes, respectively, with lap times of 53.65 and 54.58. Talk about sibling rivalry!

As no surprise, first-gen Camaros were well-represented at the MMC. During the brake test, many racers struggled to avoid locking up the fronts, especially on cars without power brakes. Jimmy Spears finished 17th in his '69 Camaro with a 12.81-second run. The spread was super tight, as less than 2 seconds separated the first 20 positions.