To racers and followers of NHRA Inventory Eliminator, the Ficacci identify is understood for campaigning a number of the quickest and quickest Chevrolets within the class. The household has a protracted historical past, with Steve Ficacci Sr. having raced because the Seventies.
The patriarch competes in his mightily fast 1968 A/S (and typically AA/S Camaro) Camaro has gained races and set a mess of data.
Ficacci’s 4 sons, Steve Jr., Bobby, Dave and Mike, additionally compete in Inventory, and as you’d think about, they race fast Bow-Tie machines. The fleet consists of Stevie’s 1971 350 D/S Camaro, Bob’s 396 1970 A/S Nova, and Dave’s AA/SA Camaro.
The youngest of the clan, Mike, not too long ago acquired the 1969 Camaro of long-time household good friend Joe Fasino, a automobile previously pushed by Steve Calabro to a lot success in A/SA.
Wanting extra pleasure than even a nine-second small-tire 427 cubic inch Camaro may present, Mike swapped out the Turbo 400 for a G-Pressure G101A four-speed guide transmission.
“I raced a 454 Corvette in F/SA years in the past and I drove my brother Steve’s stick small-block Camaro a bunch, too. I bought the Vette to start out a household, however my youngsters, Sloan, Stevie, Sienna and Michael, are on the age the place me and my spouse Sharon like taking them to the monitor. My mother and pa additionally go racing with the household and I respect every little thing they’ve finished for us.” mentioned Mike Ficacci.
“In coming again, I actually needed to give attention to going quick and having enjoyable driving the automobile. And there’s hardly something extra enjoyable in sportsman drag racing then driving a guide transmission race automobile in A/Inventory,” he added.
A well known engine builder, Steve Ficacci Sr. (Steve Ficacci Racing Engines) ready the Huge Block within the Camaro when Calibro was driving, and it was freshened up for Mike’s efforts. “The automobile is setup as a COPO (Central Workplace Manufacturing Order) with the L72 427 that’s manufacturing facility rated at 425 hp and factored by NHRA to 413 horsepower. It makes use of iron block and heads with 2.19/1.72 inch valves and 0.520 inch carry on the consumption and exhaust. As per the principles, there’s no porting allowed, and we’ve to make use of the manufacturing facility 780 Holley carb and inventory Chevrolet aluminum consumption. Inventory guidelines do enable for headers and blueprinting, which brings compression simply previous the manufacturing facility 11.0:1 manufacturing facility spec. All in, the L72 in Ficacci’s Camaro produces 650 horsepower and 575 ft.-lbs. of torque.”
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“The engine was drained, so my dad freshened it, making the most of what’s allowed within the class by way of valve job, cam (any length is allowed with inventory carry), plus cautious machining and meeting. I additionally modified the shocks, rear gear (from a 4.88 to a 5.13) and clearly the transmission. We additionally use a Boninfante adjustable clutch that’s designed to slide on the launch and grip as rpm climbs. Whereas my dad has run sticks ceaselessly along with his 396, this mixture is simply completely different. We’re additionally working a Mickey Thompson 9×30 inch Radial Slick, which is completely different than most stick guys in Inventory. The frequent tire is the bias ply model. The radial needs to be faster as soon as we determine it out, nevertheless it’s unforgiving. We run 18-21 psi, vs like 10-13 with the opposite tire. If you spin the radial it’s violent, rattles the automobile and it doesn’t get well, whenever you stick the tire arduous it bogs the engine. So, we should management slip within the clutch and we’re nonetheless studying learn how to maximize that,” he added.
“As for efficiency, I went to 2 races with the automated simply to make some passes then we switched it over. It had run a better of 9.87 at 133 mph with the T400 at 3,410 in A/SA and we’ve already been 9.75 at 137.8 mph in A/S at 3,470 lbs. With the stick you’re not a passenger, you’re concerned within the course of, and you may’t evaluate the expertise. On the beginning line, when you’ve gotten your foot to the wooden, you’re ready for it to do any variety of various things. It may spin, drag the bumper or simply do a small wheelie and go,” he added.
“It’s loopy enjoyable,” mentioned Ficacci. “I do the burnout in Second gear, then stage, deck it and dump the clutch. Launch is about 5,500 rpm and I shift at 8,000! On run it crosses the traps screaming at 8,300 rpm and 137 mph so it will get your consideration,” he added. “Sooner or later I’d wish to run 9.68 and go after the A/S file and I’d wish to win Class at Indy on the NHRA US Nationals.”
