A Different Kind of Spyder - Vinnie Barbone's 80 Monza Spyder Hits the Chassis Dyno in Prep for Hot Rod Drag Week
Despite making his mark initially the drag-and-drive community with an eye-catching 1995 Geo Tracker he refers to as ‘Project Samsquanch’, Vinnie Barbone couldn’t resist the calling of a model that truly inspired him, a Chevrolet Monza.
“Basically, I was born into having an H-Body gene encrypted into my body,” said Vinnie. “I’m pretty well known for the Monza models; I have ten of them.”
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The drive to build a Monza for the drag-and-drive community was sidelined for most of the time the Geo Tracker saw action, and ‘Project Samsquanch’ proved to be a fun ride, clocking a best pass of 9.07 at just under 150 mph with Vinnie behind the wheel.
After meeting his now wife Alexa and her experiencing a Hot Rod Drag Week, Vinnie stepped aside to let Alexa wheel the Tracker at the first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022.
By this time, Vinnie was well into the build on his next drag-and-drive ride, an unique Chevrolet Monza Spyder. Sidestepping the big tire treatment a lot of Monzas got when raced, this 1980 model Monzo still retains the factory firewall, floors, and wheel tubs.
Vinnie decided to use a more modern powerplant for his Monza, a 5.3-liter based LS engine. Sporting a gen-4 rotating assembly, a pair of 243 ported cylinder heads, a Holley Hi Ram intake with 417 Motorsports Air to Water intercooler and a Motion Raceworks Icon throttle body, the LS gets extra airflow from a Forced Inductions 76/105-millimeter billet turbocharger.
Vinnie selected Holley EFI to control the functions, and McBride Racing Technology did the fab work on the headers and hot side, the latter of which was made with Stainless Works components.
“It's taken 5 years with my work schedule and family life,” said Vinnie. “But it's been time well spent, and it's only going to make it that much sweeter when the new car comes to life for the first time.”
With a goal to return to Hot Rod Drag Week for the 20th anniversary this year, Vinnie is a big step closer to his goal when the Monza hit the chassis dyno recently.
With 93 octane pump gas in the tank and a fuel pump that limited boost he could use, the Monza returned 777 rear-wheel-horse-power. “My high flow pump took a poop right before we got to use it,” said Vinnie. “There's more in it, but met my limitations for the day.”
With just a few things to wrap up, as well as making some shake down runs, Vinnie is looking forward to the car debut at Hot Rod Drag Week. “I’m not looking to set the world on fire,” he said. “I’m just getting my feet wet. I set the car up for Rowdy Radial rules, so I think they’re going to put me in the Modified or the Unlimited class.”
His goals for the week are to complete the event, but eventually see 8.50-second passes in the quarter-mile, and 5.20-second runs in the eighth-mile.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Motion Raceworks and Vinnie Barbone.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com