Special Section
tions actually aren’t “perfect” in the
traditional sense. “In preseason
testing at GALOT last year, it was
1,800 feet (density altitude),”
Dobbins says. “Actually, if it can be
1,000-1,500 feet DA, I think it would
be easier than when it gets into
those mineshaft conditions like it
was in Virginia. It’s harder to do it in
those conditions. I’m confident that
we can get into the threes in up to
2,000 feet DA. It would be easier for
us than if it was 700 feet below sea
level or even zero. It’s too much ba-
rometer, too much power. It can get
too good.”
Whatever conditions present them-
selves at the 2019 PDRA season
opener, the East Coast Nationals
presented by FuelTech, April 4-6, at
GALOT Motorsports Park, Dobbins
and the Bear’s Performance team
will be ready to attempt the historic
“THERE’S A LOT OF PRESSURE WHEN YOU’RE TRYING
TO MAKE THAT FIRST RUN (IN THE THREES),”
DOBBINS ADMITS. “OBVIOUSLY, THEY’VE GOT TO BE
ONE OF THE HARDEST CARS ON THE PLANET TO DRIVE.
mark and answer the question,
“Who will be the first to the threes?”
“I really feel like we can run 3.96 at
182 and a half,” Dobbins says. “But
you’ve gotta do it. A lot of people
think they can do it, but you have
to actually do it. The data was there
(in Virginia). If we were perfect, we
felt like we could run .96.”
Intense reviews of data from last
year’s numerous low 4.0-second
passes have turned up previously
overlooked areas of the car’s per-
formance that should translate into
high 3.9-second runs. “That’s what
we’ve been working on over the
winter, trying to find the other stuff
that might help. And maybe we can
get the old driver tuned up,” Dobbins
chuckles.
While the minutiae of Dobbins’ op-
eration have been adjusted, the
major components remain un-
changed for the 2019 season. O’Brien
will continue providing the 830ci
Hemi-based engines and Dobbins
will continue to race with support
from the Curaçao Tourism Board and
the Curaçao Investment & Export
Promotion Agency (CINEX). His team
will also look the same when they
roll to the starting line for the first
test pass of the year.
“I’m fortunate to have the deal with
Larry going and I’m fortunate to have
a couple financial partners in the
islands to help me make my end
happen,” Dobbins says. “It’s a three-
way partnership, in my opinion. I
make the calls on the car. I got my
main man, Tom Coon. He’s just excel-
lent around the car and takes care of
a lot of things for me. Him and I will
bounce a lot of stuff of each other.
“I also have to thank, of course, my
whole crew, including my wife and
Larry’s wife,” Dobbins adds. “It takes
a lot of effort and sacrifice from a
lot of people to do this.”
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