Motorheads Give Beast 2 Thumbs Up!!! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

alpywhite · 22nd March 2002, 04:59

The two mechanics that orchestrated the winter rebuild of my Tiger engine finally started the car today (please right-click save-as), and to celebrate, I took them out for lunch and beer.

These guys are TOTAL blue-collar, big-block motorheads...and very pleasant, brilliantly skilled, auto enthusiasts.

Dave, the particularly unkempt character who's briefly behind the wheel in the video, has a 1967 Corvette Coupe with a 1999 Chevy 502 cubic-inch crate motor (610 horse and unfathomable torque).

Anyhow, I drove everyone to the restaurant in the Beast. Before climbing in, they gently chided me for driving "this snotty Kraut wagon." All winks and nudges of course.

I've never really talked to them about the Beast because I assumed that 400 horsepower would only be "cute" or "neat" to them. So, this was my chance to pipe up.

I mentioned that the car weighs 4,000 pounds, and I had turned 13's over 100 on the strip; in fact, I had heard of someone (Ramses!) getting into the 12's.

They were VERY surprised and impressed. I booted it up a hill and they were even more suprised. Big-block Dave looked back matter-of-factly at Dana and said "this is a 12-second car all day long. I can tell by the seat of my pants."

Nice to show fellow auto-freaks something new.

We ate wings. We drank beer. And this weekend (weather permitting), the Beast is playing second fiddle...

Alps

greg · 22nd March 2002, 08:03

yeah, Baby!

Great story! So the tiger is all ready to go? Or is there more work to be done? (video still downloading.....)

greg · 22nd March 2002, 08:05

OK - saw the video. The car looks sweet. I forgot just how tiny AND good looking it is.

More video - PLEASE - SOON!

That car is going to ROCK!

VanCooper · 22nd March 2002, 09:27

Nice little car Alpy! It does have a wonderful color and a wonderful sound. Are you going to put on some collectors plate on it?

alpywhite · 22nd March 2002, 11:09

Thanks guys.

Jet: no collector's plates, the car isn't original enough (color for example).

Greg: mighty close. A few minor details to the body and interior and that's it - call it April 1.

With me and a full tank of gas on board, it's working out to just under 8 lbs/HP.

Alps

NYC_M5 · 22nd March 2002, 16:56

Nice car - I always liked the Tiger, especially the 289. Not sure if you know an old 60's TV series called "Get Smart", but Maxwell Smart drove a Tiger on the intro to each episode... I've had similar responses from big block guys with profiles akin to the people you describe - one guy has a '71 TransAm w/455HO which I would like to duel.... will post results if it happens

KKelly · 22nd March 2002, 18:43

I had a little fun with a Sunbeam a year or so ago. I was at a light with him next to me with about a mile of uninterrupted expressway in front of us. I didn't think he was going to get on it but he pulled away from the light briskly and I kind of stayed at his rear quarter panel. Then he nailed it and so did I. The torque of the V8 gave him a jump but I think I was pulling him a tiny bit at the top end. I think we got up to about 100mph. There was a car in his lane and instead of backing off and dropping in behind me, he cut me off and my big German brakes earned their pay. Damn, I was pissed and it made me realize how risky street racing can be because you never know what the other guy will do.

Anyway, cool cars and I saw a bunch at an autocross about a year ago when the Shelby club had an event at the same time as BMWCCA. Seems a lot of guys autox them.