Do you agree that old cars are better, even though new ones outperform them in (almost) every way? It’s the emotion they convey, not so much the cold, unfeeling numbers returned at the end of a quarter-mile tango that does it. After all, when was the last time someone grabbed a pair of wrenches and said to their spouse, “I’ll be in the garage updating the EV to the latest firmware?” (For those who prefer their cars to be electric, the following video is strictly a “viewer discretion” type of entertaining documentary about combustion.)
With the notable exception of hockey, Canada is known the world over for its impeccable manners, courtesy, and general kindness in every single aspect of life (that doesn't involve a puck). Even drag racing is impeccably glazed in the maple syrup attitude of the second-largest country on the Piston planet. But that doesn't mean Canadians don't appreciate the sport at its true value; in fact, they know how to put on a show.
The good guys of 'WheelsThe YouTube channel recently traveled north of the border to British Columbia to film the old-versus-new car showdown at Mission. That’s the name of the town, Mission, and the track is appropriately located at Mission Raceway Park (go figure). A dozen races are just a click away, as shown in the video attached at the end of this story, and some of the races would make any big-block fan very, very proud.
The rule is simple and straightforward: one lane gets a fighter car that is ten years or older, and the other is reserved for classics (four decades or more from production date). There are about a dozen races in the video. Guess how many old cars have big winning smiles on their owners' faces? I'll give you a hint: that's double the number of new cars that came first.
Photo: YouTube/Wheels
Right away, a 1973 Chevrolet Nova SS set the pace with a wheelie, leaving the starting line next to a C8 Corvette and posting an Elapsed Time of 10.32 seconds at 128.21 mph. The 'Vette was left for dead, crossing the finish line a second and a half later (11.89 seconds) at a speed limit of 118.55 mph.
The second race was probably the coolest of the night, featuring a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T and its 2020s granddaughter, the Challenger R/T. Unfortunately, for this epic race, the Challenger driver probably backed out and completely botched the start and subsequent gear changes, losing badly.
The Charger managed a respectable 13.59 (at 90.25 mph), while the younger Dodge took three seconds longer to finish the day (16.48, 75.45 mph). The Charger's ET makes me wonder if it's hiding a Hemi behind those hidden headlights (and I'm talking about the awesome Hemi, the 426 from sixty years ago).
Photo: YouTube/Wheels
The classics continue their parade of exhaust screams with the 489-cubic-inch big-block 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS taking on a Challenger Demon. It’s one of the closest races of the day, with the old Chevy coming close to the win in 10.50 seconds to the Dodge’s 10.73. In no uncertain terms, the two clocked 126.8 mph and 128.17 mph, respectively.
Next up, a 1967 Nova SS takes on (and defeats) a Challenger T/A. Not the first-generation 1970 T/A, but a late-model with the option package. Apparently, the historically sacred decals don’t add 400 horsepower to the engine. The Nova edges out the Dodge by just under two seconds (12.21, at 111.28 mph. The Challenger stopped in 14.03 seconds, with a trap speed that will have it stranded until Thanksgiving: 98.77 mph.)
Another close race sees another Nova-Challenger duo in the 440-yard contest. A 1972 Nova SS with a 427, by all accounts, crosses pistons with a Demon 170. Finally, a win for the modern automobile, but a close one (12.03, at 136.45 mph over the Dodge, 12.96 over the Chevy, with a top speed of 103.02 mph). Not the best performance by a Demon 170, admittedly, but that difference in trap speed leaves nothing to the imagination.
Photo: YouTube/Wheels
When we talk about classics, we usually think of a Detroit product from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s (maybe even the early 1980s), but one of the competitors at the Canadian event took things up a notch. A 1929 Ford Model A put its 95-year legacy on the line against a C8 Corvette.
The mid-engined sports car has no respect for the future centaur and slaughters him to extinction. 11.71 seconds (116.07 miles per hour calculated on the finish line) is all Ford needs to get home, since it didn't take long. (14.72 and 98.25 are absolutely lightning fast for a 1929 car, but this one has modified, prepared, built and profoundly altered Ford's self-confidence.)
How about a GM fratricide for a change? The third-generation Camaro (1970, I'd say) is a hit with most brand loyalists, with an ET of 11.56 and 119.90 mph. The C8 is just three hundredths behind, crossing the line in 11.62, at 117.04 mph.
Photo: YouTube/Wheels
Another race, another Chevrolet vs. Dodge, Malibu vs. Challenger Hellcat, Mopar putting all the pressure in the world on a late 70s Chevrolet Malibu. The classic deserves a drink and earns another in 11.88 seconds, with a respectable run of 111.52 mph, narrowly stealing the win from Dodge, who only managed to beat it in 12.58 seconds and 105.66 mph.
We've seen the old Camaro, but how about a new one, but already old, since it's out of production, challenging a Pontiac Ventura (1971)? The last Camaro, the one with the cookie cutter, managed a sprint of a full ten seconds (10.84, to be exact), just behind the Poncho (10.18). In terms of speed, the two were pretty evenly matched, with the winner reaching 132.51 mph and the runner-up Bowtie clocking 130.97 mph.
Another very close race sees two Corvettes, a C3 and a C8, and only thirty thousandths of a second separate the winner of the latest generation of “America's Sportscar” and the loser C3. In absolute values, they are 11.59 and 11.62, with a notable speed advantage for the new “Vette” (119.08 mph, while the rival arrived at 103.28 mph).
Photo: YouTube/Wheels
The big disappointment of the day was a fierce-looking Pontiac Firebird taking on another Chevrolet Corvette C8. Unfortunately, something bad happened to the Poncho halfway down victory lane, as it quickly lost speed and took a four-second beating. 11.66 was the Corvette's ET, with the Firebird limping far behind (15.67 seconds) at 53.81 mph. By the time it crossed the finish line, the C8 was traveling 118.80 mph.
Finally, the oddity of this series of encounters is a Tesla Model 3 dueling with a 1947 Fargo FL2-33 pickup truck. Electric vehicle wins in 12.49 seconds (109.25 mph), but the veteran didn't make a fool of himself (14.20 at 105.04 mph). So, did you count the wins on both sides? That's 8 old timers, 4 newbies, which isn't entirely relevant for a variety of subjective reasons.
