Prepping a (Fire)Bird for Faster Flight Plans in 2023
Before flying south for the winter, a bird must take into account the necessary steps and precautions for months away from home to survive and thrive. Car enthusiasts can take the same approach to making adjustment to their vehicles before their racing, cruising or show gets under way.
Jason Hurley is well underway on plans for his 2023 season. But his bird didn’t fly south for the winter; instead, it’s getting a host of changes for quicker flight plans this season.
The 1985 Pontiac Firebird known as the “Meltdown Firebird” has already established itself as a formidable competitor in the drag-and-drive community, mostly at the Rocky Mountain Race Week and Race Week events.
In 2022, Jason took home the shootout win in the Fast As F*** 8-car field Rocky Mountain Race Week, as well as clinching the overall win at Race Week, on top of winning the Unlimited class at both events. “But we couldn't put the full package together at either event,” said Jason of missing the elusive “hat trick” at one event, securing the Unlimited class win, being overall quickest, and win the shootout.
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To get the Firebird in sleeker condition for this season, Jason is making some big changes in several areas.
“Updates include the new carbon fiber rear hatch and wing,” he said. Juggernaut Welding and Fabrication also did a new front-mounted fuel cell for the switch to methanol, as a brand-new power plant is in the works. We couldn’t pry the details from Jason on the new bullet that will sit between the frame rails, but he says “I may have lost my mind on the new combo. It is definitely a bit of a risk, but it is a sick risk!”
The previous combination was a 555 cubic inch Big Block Chevrolet with a pair of 88-millimeter Work turbochargers, backed by a Turbo 400 3-speed transmission and a Fab 9-inch rear end to get the power to whatever surface they race on.
Jason’s targets for 2023 are to run well into the 6-second range, as well as sustained flight over 200 mph, and he knows the challenge to overcome the near impossible is there. “I mean, we are talking about driving a car 1200 plus miles that was really designed to go a quarter of a mile,” he said. “But then, I’ll still ask it to go 200 plus mph at least 5-10 times in the middle of that. That's plain crazy, and a whole lot of fun!”
“We will compete in both Rocky Mountain Race Week and Race Week again,” Jason continued. “The goal is to take it all; the whole package: overall win, Unlimited class win, and the shootout.”
He knows it won’t be easy, with some tough competitors and the battles you face to keep a 6-second 200 mph capable ride on the road. “But I like it that way,” Jason admits. “If it's easy, it gets boring. I want a battle to the end every day of the week, I just prefer those battles to be against the competition rather than just myself.”
The community is also a big reason Jason keeps participating and pushing himself at drag-and-drive events. “The people, and the comradery is stellar,” he said. “I think of all the times people have helped me, and in so many ways. Like when Adam Dorey came down out of the tower at Tulsa to give me a hug, because he saw me losing it when I was in the lanes for my first return (to the track) after I hit the wall there the year before. Or when Jerome Courtney didn't hesitate to rip his intercooler pump out to keep us going last year. And I can't even count the number of times I've had the opportunity to help someone else. Parts, tools, advice, whatever I could do to help someone, I'm happy to! Those are the moments I love.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Jason Hurley and 1320 Video.