vice to put together a 636-cubic-inch big-block powerplant based on an Energy Manufacturing billet aluminum block that is stuffed with BES / Ross Racing pistons and topped with a pair of Edelbrock BV3 cylinder heads with T & D rocker arms and a cast intake. While the big-block was a“ big” departure from what Rhodes normally runs, the single SPEEDTECH direct-port nitrous system bolted to it is not.
“ It was a great choice, zero regrets making the change,” Rhodes expresses of his engine combination change. As for the module-equipped transmission behind it, the automatic is now on its fourth year of service with only once-a-year refresh by RPM Transmissions.
“ It has the same drum and transmission, everything is so happy, and I’ ve been tickled to death with it,” Rhodes says.“ All of our other cars have the [ Smart-Tech ] drum. At the PRI Show one year, Tony Bischoff, my engine builder, was standing at the Sonnax booth and I went to say hi. Jim Widener was with him and had the [ Smart- Tech ] drum in his hand and I said,‘ That thing is badass, best thing I ever did to my transmission.’ Gregg [ Nader ] was on the other side of the counter. Gregg calls my phone a month later and asked if I wanted to do some stuff together. This has been my second year with them. They are so professional and great to deal with. Gregg calls me with ideas to try and we work with Rodney. I have that kind of confidence in those guys.”
That confidence and the teamwork among them led to another change to Rhodes’ racing program, that being switching to MoTeC engine management.
“ There were too many anomalies in the operation of the [ previous ] electronic fuel injection system which resulted into poor performance,” Rhodes notes.“ I often ask myself,‘ What do Pro Nitrous cars run?’ and I think about that with every aspect of the car.” As it turns out, many of the top Pro Nitrous cars utilize MoTeC, and Rhodes’ son Ronny also had a friend, Randy Shoener, who
Part of why Rhodes’ nitrous-fed, bright red small-tire Camaro is so well-known is that it regularly punches above its weight. Whether it is the nitrous combination in a field of superchargers or the leaf-spring suspension in a class of triangulated four-links, Rhodes puts in the work until success is achieved. Part of that work included a change from small-block to big-block, a change in electronic engine management, and changes to his transmission program.
was using it in the import world and steered him towards MoTeC.
“ I talked to Bischoff about the health of the engine and he said we really shouldn’ t have been having the issues we were having,” Rhodes says.“ I put MoTeC on the car and I could not believe how much happier the engine is. We are on our fifth race without having to take the engine apart. I’ ve never been able to do that until now. It’ s faster and healthier.
“ I’ ve been running Sonnax parts for probably 10 years now in other transmissions,” Rhodes adds.“ Sonnax is like the MoTeC of transmissions – you know you’ re getting the best. I am so blessed to be able to surround myself with these key people. I’ m willing to put in the work and these people back me up.”
Gregg Nader is the high-performance transmission product line manager at Sonnax. He noted that all of these components, including Rhodes himself, are key to optimum performance.
“ It seems to me there is a common thread between transmission( traditional big drum, lightweight small drum and Sonnax module), the engine( stressed small-block vs. big-block) and management system with the new one making the nitrous power adder more powerful and reliable,” Nader says.
“ Starting with the transmission breakdown costing the race and the record( lightweight, small drum did not have durability), it reminds me of the old car racing idiom,‘ To finish first, you must first finish,’” Nader says.“ There is a constant tension between being competitive by pushing the limits and being durable enough to be there at the finish line. It reminds me of another euphemism,‘ All I want is everything,’ and Ron has demonstrated with his program that it is possible to push the performance limits and be reliable. Getting there, though, requires change and other risks. I think it is safe to say navigating those risks of change is clearly Ron’ s‘ superpower.’”
Getting down track is the bare minimum a racer needs to be successful and it’ s also the foundation that is built upon when the goals are going quicker and faster. Rhodes’ switch to the Sonnax Smart-Tech drum module has provided him with that foundation, one that he has built upon and made his legendary Camaro quicker and faster than it has ever been. DI
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