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Interested sponsors should contact:
Jirka Kaplan
Tel: 403-236-5775
E-mail: jkaplan@telusplanet.net
During the 2002-racing season, the name Jirka Kaplan first rose to prominence within drag racing circles following a double-barrelled NHRA national record setting assault. Competing in his first season with his reconfigured 23T, now supercharged, the Calgary based racer set and reset NHRAs AA/AM national record twice during events held at Medford, Oregon and Las Vegas, Nevada. Kaplan ended the 2002-racing season holding both ends of NHRAs AA/AM class standard at 6.55 secs and 207.20 mph.
Kaplans Victory Race Cars 23T has in fact been campaigned since 1991. First with a big block Chevrolet for power, the car competed in Super Pro ET and then as a Top Comp class car. With nitrous-oxide injection the car was coaxed to a best run of 7.30 secs. Beginning in 2002, Kaplan switched both engine combinations and classes. He called upon the engine-building expertise of Brad Lastockin (Brads Automotive Machine - Calgary) who built and installed a 377 CID Rodeck Chevrolet in the 2050 lbs racecar. That engine features aluminium SB2 cylinder heads, a Callies crankshaft and BME pistons and rods. A Kobelco supercharger spun at 11% overdrive produces an estimated 1500 HP. Power is transferred through a 3-speed Lenco transmission to a 9 inch Ford rear end outfitted with 4:30 gears and ultimately to Pro Stock type Goodyear slicks mounted on Weld Wheels.
Both Jirka and his crew chief trace their racing roots back to involvement with legendary Canadian race car engine builder and tuner Les Davenport. Jirka in fact raced one of Davenports cars for a time and Brad worked extensively with Davenport at his Acceleration Enterprises facility. Les Davenport remains a team consultant.
The team is active at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Pacific Northwest Divisional events as well as select
NHRA national event races.
Both Jirka and his crew chief trace their racing roots back to involvement with legendary Canadian race car engine builder and tuner Les Davenport. Jirka in fact raced one of Davenports cars for a time and Brad worked extensively with Davenport. Les Davenport remains the team's chief advisor and currently runs Acceleration Enterprises.
Primary sponsorship comes from Bearspaw Petroleum, Brads Automotive Machine and Acceleration Enterprises.
Photos courtesy of: Rich Carlson
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