RANDY ADLER JR.

and I don’ t think I’ ve ever seen Lynwood smile that much. He’ s a very reserved guy, but he was smiling from ear to ear. It was like he found his long-lost brother or something. He was so happy to see that car.”

The Adlers took the GTO to Pat Powers to complete some chassis work to bring it up to 2025 safety specs. They also had to swap it back to fit a blown alcohol power plant, as it had been converted to run a nitrous engine. The car will also get its trademark flames back in the coming weeks to prepare for its on-track return with a schedule that includes the second annual Havlik’ s FSC Shootout Tribute Race presented by Red Line Oil, August 14-17, at Cordova Dragway.

“ We’ re actually going to make it to Havlik’ s race where we have a locked-in race with Annette Summer – eighth-mile, clocks off, run what ya brung,” Adler Jr. said.“ We’ re hoping to do some match racing at World Street Nationals, but we’ re definitely going to go run Super Pro Street there with me driving. I feel like that’ s something we’ ve gotta do. Al Tucci will probably fall off his chair in the tower.

“ We’ ll probably also run some Chicago Wiseguys races,” Adler Jr. continued.“ We want to get the car out and learn. This is going to be my first time really tuning a mechanically fuel-injected blower car. I have a lot to learn in a really short amount of time. I’ m really thankful to Robbie for working with me on that.”

Adler Jr. hasn’ t set any firm performance goals for the GTO just yet. It’ s a situation where the journey means just as much, if not more, than the destination.

“ If it goes 4.30s with us leaning on it, I would

be jumping for joy,” said Adler Jr., who’ s been as quick as 5.01 at 140 mph in the eighth mile.“ We’ re going to throw Dad in the car first. I would much rather have him shake it down, then I’ ll work my way there.

“ This is just something for me and him,” he continued.“ We both never thought we’ d even see the car again, let alone be able to drive it and tune it again. This is just fun. We’ re doing this because it’ s just cool. It doesn’ t really fit into anything, but it’ s just so cool to revive something that has so much sentimental value to the family and that paved the way for a lot of the racing we see today.” DI

34 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 194