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Interested sponsors should contact:
John or Debbie Atkinson
Tel: 519-268-8549
E-mail: jatkinson@idirect.com
The husband and wife team of John and Debbie Atkinson campaign the World's fastest Outlaw 10.5 inch tire car. Their homebuilt 1971 Plymouth Duster is not only a technical marvel but is also a huge fan favourite with drag racing fans.
After first acquiring the car in stock form during 1978, their Duster has undergone a major evolution. It was initially raced in Super Pro and co-drivers John and Debbie claimed the overall track points championship in 1986 at London Motorsports Park. Over the next eight years the car underwent further changes as it was converted into an outrageous NSCA legal Outlaw car. The Atkinson's, in conjunction with Perry Tremblay designed and installed a tube chassis rear clip, a four-link suspension and updated roll cage system. John Atkinson and John Hutchinson then assembled a supercharged methanol-burning Chrysler Hemi engine, which was shoehorned, into the frame rails. That engine is in fact a 496 CID JP-1 (Top Fuel block) equipped with Stage V cylinder heads and produces an estimated 1600 HP. A 14-71 SSI Supercharger, a roller camshaft by Competition Cams, Arias pistons and Hooker Headers are employed. A durable Turbo 400 automatic transmission (also built by John Hutchison) transfers power to NSCA mandated 10.5 w x 33 rear slicks (Mickey Thompson)
Career highlights for the team include frequent track records, pole qualifiers and event wins at major Canadian Street Car feature races. Late in the year 2000, the team achieved international notoriety when it qualified on the pole in Outlaw 10.5 at the prestigious World Street Car Nationals at Orlando Speed World in Florida. The team ran a track record 7.541 secs while pacing that field and only some late round mechanical glitches prevented an overall event victory. John and Debbie Atkinson cite valuable assistance from Dave Mathers (London) for making that event success possible. The team now has plans to increase its presence on the N.S.C.A. circuit for the future.
John and Debbie Atkinson are a 100% self-funded team, however they are thankful for the valuable support they have received from associates Hutch's Transmission Services (London), Sikkens Canada, and Brown's Automotive (London).
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