The season-opening WANNAGOFast event at Ocala, Florida’s Jumbolair Airport was every bit as fast and exciting as expected, though possibly a little bit cold and windier than anyone would have imagined. From late model muscle to high-end exotics, virtually every make and model was well represented on what is quickly becoming known as one of the world’s fastest strips of pavement. While it was a bit chilly, the trap speeds were nothing of the sort, especially the 232.67 mph blast by Olivier Benloulov in his Heffner Performance-built Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale and a host of other monumental performances from a wide variety of hot rods in an environment dramatically different than that of your typical drag race. Here are 10 of our favorite moments, performances, cars and significant notes from WANNAGoFast’s first go ‘round of the New Year.
1. Heffner Performance’s 232 mph Sunday Bombshell – Few would be surprised to see Heffner Performance’s stunning Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale at the top of the sheets at the end of the weekend. Olivier Benloulov wheeled the 2,000+ horsepower, twin-turbocharged Lamborghini Gallardo STS to the event’s top speed with a 232.67 mph pass down the Florida half mile. Based out of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Benloulov and his OB Prestige Auto are well known for their high-end and even higher-performance automobiles and made yet another major statement at WANNAGoFast in Ocala.
2. Unparalleled Automotive Diversity – If these half-mile events have a prevailing theme it would have to be diversity. While you can bank on seeing a slew of Lambos, GT-Rs and Porsches – especially Corvettes – it’s really the odd first-generation Camaro or Fox Body Mustang or LS-swapped Mazda RX7 that makes the events so much fun. The cars are relatable, a majority of them attainable, and almost all street-driven and, obviously, that’s what we’re all about here at STREET/RACE Magazine. If it doesn’t hit the road on the regular, it doesn’t ping our radar.
3. Vengeance Racing’s Wicked White Wonder – With all of the power adders available today, ranging from roots and centrifugal superchargers to single or twin-turbochargers or nitrous systems, it’s hard to imagine making a conscious decision NOT to use one, especially in your quest for terminal velocity on the lawless half mile of WANNAGoFast. That, however, is exactly what Eddie Blackwell has done with his Vengeance Racing-built, 474ci LS-powered C5 Corvette. One of the few Pro Stock-ish on the property, Blackwell’s arctic white C5 Z06 laid down a stout 178.85 mph blast at Jumbolair, setting top speed for the event with a naturally aspirated combination, but almost a full mile an hour off his personal best. The combination, to the best of our knowledge, is mighty impressive: RHS 474ci LS short block, All-Pro cylinder heads, single plane intake, 4150 throttle body, ARH longtube headers and custom 4″ exhaust, RPM-built straight cut TR6060 with LPE torque cut box and load cell, RPM C6 Z06 differential, DSS propshaft/axles, RPS clutch and LG drag spindles on Weld Racing RTS and Alumastar wheels.
Photograph by Joe Alonzo
4. John Travolta Was Here (Well, he LIVES here) – As if the surrounding area at Jumbolair Airport isn’t beautiful enough, it’s also home to A-List movie star and well-known pilot John Travolta, who has a $5 million estate on the property – complete with his own Boeing 707 and Challenger private jet. Conveniently, Travolta can simply taxi out of his driveway and onto the 7,500-foot runway and head off to dinner or a private island or wherever the hell he wants.
5. KOOK’S Customer Headers’ “Pumpkin Eater 2” – George Kook Jr. and all the boys from KOOK’s Custom Headers were on hand for the WANNAGoFast season-opener in Ocala to check out all the action, serve as official sponsor of the half mile event, and get down with Poppa Kook’s nearly 1000rwhp Chrysler 300 SRT8. Featuring a HHP/BES 404ci stroker with a custom grind camshaft, ported intake, Thitek cylinder heads and ProCharger F1A-94 backed by a Paramount transmission, ProTorque converter, Driveshaft Shop 9″ rear and driveshaft, the family’s favorite sedan was good for 155mph trap speeds at what we believe to be 4,000+ pounds. The nostalgic whip also includes a Fore Innovations fuel system, Diablo CMR tune, JRI shocks and Bogart Racing wheels on Mickey Thompson rubber.
6. Andy McKee’s Viper is LEGIT – To put it plainly: 1,600hp puts you on the STREET/RACE Magazine radar. Power like that is just the right kind of metal to attract our media magnet. Andy McKee took top honors in Overall Domestic/RWD with a 212.46mph blast in his Shine Auto Salon/Heffner Performance/Elite Automotive Dodge Viper.
7. The Time Bomb – North Carolina-based Time Bomb Land Speed Racing had their slapper bar-equipped, stock chassis 1971 Camaro in Ocala for a slew of brutal half mile pulls. In full standing mile runs the car is good for 215mph with well over 1,000hp on tap with nitrous, but trapped regularly in the 173-174mph range at WANNAGoFast. The Time Bomb Camaro, driven by brothers David and Mike Matyjasik, is powered by a 364ci Buick-headed small block Chevy and while not a Lambo or a Porsche or any other mega-money Euro ride, was most assuredly amongst our favorite hot rods in Ocala. If you can maintain consciousness while listening to these 9,500rpm burnouts, well, you’re just a better person than we are.
Photograph by Joe Alonzo
8. World’s Fastest Bodybuilder? – PJ Braun, President of Blackstone Labs and Prime Nutrition as well as an absolute beast of a man, busted out his 850hp Weistec Engineering supercharged Mercedes Benz SLS for WANNAGoFast Ocala and had all sorts of legal high-speed fun. Braun was a consistent 160mph player behind the wheel of his legitimate ultra-luxury Benz.
9. Gigi Chamdi Busts Out “Orange” – Well known top speed and drag racer Gigi Chamdi of Diamonds By Wire Racing busted out his new orange Lamborghini Gallardo from Underground Racing and proceeded to make sure that everyone knew he was in attendance, setting Saturday’s top speed for Fastest Overall Exotic/Import with a 222.72mph lap in the twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive beast.
Photograph by Joe Alonzo
10. Cadillac CTS-V Gets Loose (at high speed) – Unfortunately, we don’t know a lot about this car, combination or driver, but we do know that someone might have been buying some new underwear after this wild ride.
