From a Geo Tracker to a Chevrolet Monza, the Barbones Bring A Unique Flavor to the Drag-And-Drive Community
Drag-and-drive events are an eclectic mix of cars and trucks, and you can usually count on seeing both the popular rides as well as some that beg the question “what is that?”
For Vinnie Barbone, his latest car build surrounds a model that enjoyed popularity in the drag racing world in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, but is rarely seen on the street.
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The obsession with quick street cars started for Vinnie started with his dad. “My father Jim has always been my inspiration and driving force when it has come to bad ass unique cars, including small tire Monzas,” said Vinnie.
“Small tire racing has always been a huge part of my life, from the early days of National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) and local small tire shootouts. The one thing that probably changed my life more than anything was Hot Rod Magazine’s Fastest Street Car Shootout.
With a healthy dose of adrenaline and gas in his veins, Vinnie was further inspired by father Jim’s Chevrolet Monza, a car he purchased in 1981 and has molded into a jet-black potent small tire ride that has clicked off a best of 8.30 at 161 miles per hour.
“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. I make parts for them, and even built one for a Discovery channel show once.”
Despite the love of Monzas, Vinnie didn’t make his debut into the drag-and-drive world with one, instead debuting with a Geo Tracker. “I was always intrigued by Hot Rod Drag Week as a teenager,” said Vinnie. “I knew one day I'm going to give that crazy road trip a try. In 2016, I made that happen with a crazy little contraption called ‘Project Samsquanch’, my 1995 Geo Tracker.”
That first drag-and-drive got Vinnie a best run of 9.85 at 134 mph on the final day, and a 10.18 average, to finish in the top ten standings in the Unlimited class. One year later, the Geo improved to a 9.20 average, and a best pass of 9.07 at just under 150 mph, earning the fourth spot in Unlimited.
During the back-to-back Hot Rod Drag Week appearances, Vinnie’s Geo got a lot of attention, and he met someone special in the process. “I met my wife Alexa, who also fell in love with not only the Tracker but also drag-and-drive events, in the process of those two years,” said Vinnie. “So, the decision was to hand the Geo to her, and start the build on my 1980 Monza Spyder.”
We saw the Geo Tracker at the 2022 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, participating in the Bulls Eye Challenge class. Alexa was behind the wheel, and Vinnie rode in the co-pilot seat, but he’s been working to get his new ride completed so he can join his wife at a future event.
The 1980 Monza Spyder still sports its factory firewall, floors, and wheel tubs, avoiding the big tire treatment a lot of Monzas got. But this silver stallion does have a host of upgrades, including a LS-swap based around a 5.3-liter gen 3 cast block, a Powerglide with a Gear Vendors Overdrive unit, and a Chassis Fab-built 8.50-spec chromoly roll cage.
The 5.3-liter LS sports gen-4 rotating assembly, a pair of 243 ported cylinder heads, a Holley Hi Ram intake and 417 Motorsports Air to Water intercooler, Motion Raceworks Icon throttle body, Forced Inductions 76/105-millimeter billet turbocharger, Turbosmart blow-off valve and 60-millimeter wastegate.
Holley EFI controls the functions, and McBride Racing Technology fabbed 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.”
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