Arriving in Style - Mark Barnes Pops the Cork on a Tuned Up Limo For Everything From Tow Rig to Drag-and-Drive Duty!
Although there are several proven models and chassis that have been successful over time in not only drag racing, but in drag-and-drive, we also see some unique examples from time to time.
We’ve seen everything from station wagons to milk trucks, Triumphs to T-bucket roadsters. But this could be the only limousine we’ve seen participate in a drag-and-drive.
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Mark Barnes isn’t a stranger to the more-common rides. He has an 8-second Fox Mustang. His daughter Mackenzie has raced a 1989 Pontiac Trans Am, and is working on a 1985 Chevrolet Camaro for drag-and-drive that we covered in a story for Sick the Magazine HERE.
But you look at this 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine, and while there some that might wonder why, there’s others that think ‘that’s cool!’
“This car is my do everything car,” said Mark. “I pull my boat with it, take my other race cars to the track with it, I daily drive it (putting about 17,000 miles on it in 2022), even give people rides.”
Yes, this limo has hauled a race car to the track before. “Best memory of the car for me at least,” said Mark. “I hauled my Mustang to the track with the limo, unloaded it, went 5.50s in the eighth-mile in the Mustang.”
He then decided to unhook the trailer on the limousine and cracked off a 10.20 in the 6100-pound Cadillac. “Then I loaded everything up and drove home with the A/C cranked in the limo,” said Mark.
When the car first appeared on Rocky Mountain Race Week (RMRW) in 2021, it was sporting a 4.8-liter LS swap with a single turbocharger, an overdrive transmission, and all the limo goodies still aboard.
The best that combination produced was a 10.02 at 144 mph with a 1.6-second 60 foot time off the foot brake, but unfortunately the limo has yet to complete a drag-and-drive event.
Mark decided to up the ante last year. The Fleetwood’s engine bay now houses a rod and piston upgraded 6-liter LS, a healthy 88/103-millimeter turbo, an air-to-water intercooler and a little nitrous as well. A 4L80E overdrive and Circle D converter send the power to a 14-bolt rear end with a Detroit Locker, and Holley EFI controls it all.
Between the Cadillac’s upgrades and getting Mackenzie’s Camaro done, Mark is ready to get back to a drag-and-drive again in 2024 hopefully. “Drag-and-drive appeals to me mainly because of the atmosphere,” Mark said. “I've done all kinds of racing, and it’s by far the most fun I’ve ever had doing anything motorsports-related.”
“I've met tons of people whom I now call great friends, who were once just strangers, it’s awesome that everyone is willing to help with just about anything; the parking lot ‘repair’ parties are awesome also.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of 1320 Video, Motion Raceworks and Sick the Magazine.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com