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Crown Jewel Corvette?
Bruce Biegler - May 15, 2008
 Canadian Pro Modified fans are in for yet another big treat this season. The latest exciting class offering will come from a very impressive new machine conceived by Waterloo, Ontario’s Al Hinds. Hinds, who dabbled within a local Pro Modified class on a limited basis during the later 1990s, has commenced a comeback with an all new Corvette which is quite simply a mechanical marvel.
For Hinds, his deep high performance car history includes extensive show car circuit experience. That notion is very apparent in his newest entry. Hinds enlisted highly reputed Canadian race car builder Tom VanDerGeld and his expert staff at Lowdown Hot Rods (Cambridge, ON) to construct the machine. Power will come from a supercharged 526 CID motor built by Jeff Fowler which is equipped with the all new Alan Johnson “Muscle” cylinder heads. The team will also incorporate the same Corvette body style originally conceived by Australia’s Murray Anderson which was then subsequently run successfully for a few seasons by Jim Oddy and his driver Fred Hahn.
 “When I stepped out in 2001 the local Canadian Pro Mod scene had folded up so there really wasn’t a place we could go and play locally,” Al stated. “The establishment and the success of the new PMRA had a lot to do with my decision to make a come back. We will run some of their events as well as both of the IHRA national event races in Ontario this summer.”
At the track, a trip to the Hinds area pit area for racing fans will be a necessity. The attention to detail, serious craftsmanship and innovative enhancements found on this Corvette is simply put -- a cut above compared to many mainstream Pro Mod cars on the circuit. There is also a very high focus on driver safety.
 “As you know I was a Car Show guy originally and I think that is well reflected in the finished product,” Hinds added. “I told the builder (Tom VanDerGeld) that if my car could turn out only half as nice as the Corvette he built for Rod Saboury – I would be tickled. The paint is by Scott Jahren – who did an amazing job. The car is also very user friendly to work on. The entire body is easily removable and we’ve added some neat safety features like a Funny Car cockpit, the newest air launch parachutes and a fresh air system for the driver. To be honest we did not skimp on anything. This car has the very best parts and equipment.”
Hinds has always had a knack for successful sponsorship and his latest venture is no exception. His primary backing comes from Quaker State Canada’s Q-Horsepower brand and from Jiffy Lube. His current list of associates includes NGK, Suds Express Carwash, Medico, Modern Elevator, Schlueter Chevrolet (Waterloo Auto Mall) and Robert’s Box Meats.
 Given the quality of the investment, expectations are high for potential future performances. Al Hinds has assembled an impressive support cast for his race day efforts which include in addition to Jeff Fowler, Gary Irving, Tom VanDerGeld, Marc McCrea and Mike Wagner. While the 2008 racing season will be somewhat conservative, Hinds does have a future vision.
“For this coming season our goal is to have some fun and run good,” he explained. “We need to get this old/new driver back in the groove and get the car sorted out. If we can get the car to run in the low 6-teens I would be pleased. But I must admit looking at the aerodynamics of this car compared to what is currently out there running over 240 mph – that has me thinking. A 250 mph Pro Mod car is definitely a future dream I have.”
Al and friends did take the Corvette out for its first ever shakedown runs last weekend at Grand Bend Motorplex. They made about six startling hits and were rewarded with some impressive short numbers.
“We did uncover a few glitches which was to be expected,” he added. “We are going to make a few changes and creep up on this before we enter any races officially. I hope to have everything running smoothly come mid June.”
(Bruce Biegler Photos)
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