[1]I met Mike Kreeb during the Top Dog quick 8 events at Sunshine Dragstrip back in 2008 before I started writing and fell in love with car at first sight. Who can deny the beauty of the early Vettes, especially one so clean with factory body and chrome and a Shaffrioff [2] 582 under the hood?
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Mike has owned the car for six years now and handles all the maintenance duties. Underneath the car is a JW Ultra Glide [4] and 5500 RPM converter transferring the power back to a 4.56 geared Dana rear. Mike normally runs the car at occasional bracket events, quick 8 shoot outs and other specialty events around the Florida area with on track help from good friend Joe Martino.
In early 2009 the car was taken back to Stan Budke’s Eagle Race Cars in Largo, Florida for chassis upgrades. While the car was apart, Mike fell off a ladder and broke both arms while painting around the house, which delayed re-assembly for several months. After only a couple of outings the car got out of the groove on a pass in mid December of 09, made a big move on the 1-2 shift and wound up in the guardrail. Mike was OK but the car was a little worse. It was stripped down the next day to asses the damage and the chassis was sent again back to Eagle for repairs where a new front clip, radiator and struts were installed. New wheels were also in order as well as significant body work, new grill and assorted and rare chrome.
Now that the Quick 8 is no longer on the schedule at Sunshine I am trying to talk Mike into slowing it down for 5.50 index at the Heads Up Madness series, I think it’s a tough sell though, we’ll see how that goes.
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- The truck has no real extra room, so just the essentials, fuel cell, BG pump, battery and giant wheel tubs.
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- The Shaffrioff 582 Big Chief engine puts out 1048 naturally aspirated dyno proven horsepower and propels the car to low 5.20’s on a regular basis with a best ET of 5.18 near 130 MPH. In the 1/4 the car has been 8.12 @ 169
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