All of this came to a head at that same event, when the eventual SSO class winner, Jason Cohen, stopped by to look at Jimmy's car. "It had been my ultimate goals to run 8.30s with that car," Jimmy told us. "But, it really bothered me when Jason came by and said, 'What a Mickey Mouse setup this is!' I told him that this was all that I could afford, but it really bothered me-it still bothers me. I finished up as the number nine guy in points that year, and no one realizes that I'm the lowest-budget guy out here. And, I still finished in the top 10 in points!"
Jimmy's greatest moment came during the '02 World Ford Challenge smack dab in the middle of one of the toughest fields of Outlaw racers ever assembled. As detailed in the pages of 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords, Jimmy was in the thick of things when he faced Dan "The Desert Eagle" Millen in the semifinals. He had done his burnout and was ready to stage. Dan had an uncharacteristic technical difficulty and couldn't start the car at the head of staging. Despite the urgings of his fellow Chicago street racers, Jimmy decided to shut his car off and wait for Dan. That gentlemanly gesture cost Jimmy the race as Dan would go on to win the event, but it did define him as a total class act with loads of sportsmanship.
For 2005, Jimmy has a renewed interest in this class as Vern House at Pro Fabrication has stepped in with a loaner motor so he can continue to chase his dreams. The new mill is a 400-inch, 9.5-inch deck Windsor that sports Edelbrock Victor Race heads and approximately 200 more hp than what Jimmy had been working with. He wants to run 7.60-7.70s and once again return to the top 10 in points. But, SSO is the most competitive class in all of Ford heads-up racing, so the road won't be easy for him. Luckily, Jimmy's crew chief and girlfriend, Megan, encourages him as only a tough Chicago chick can. Tony Sincore, Joey D, and Mark Enwia will also be put into play to push Jimmy to the top.
If you've ever dreamed of mixing up with the best small-tired racers in the world, but thought you couldn't afford it, take heart. Jimmy Dahl is just like you-scraping by with repaired, used, and borrowed parts, in an attempt capture his dream of going rounds against the best the NMRA can offer. So, if you're at an NMRA event, stop by the pits and give Jimmy Dahl's program a look. It might be something that you can do too!
Tech SpecsEngine And DrivetrainBlock R302Displacement 360ci (4.160x3.400-in bore and stroke)Cylinder HeadsTrick Flow Twisted Wedge R; ported by Mike Haley of Hi-Flow Heads; 360 cfm at 0.750-in liftCamshaft"Bad Ass Billy Boy" Cam Motion solid-rollerIntake ManifoldEdelbrock Super VictorThrottle Body90mm AccufabPower AdderProCharger F-3C supercharger (36-plus psi)Exhaust Vern House Pro Fabrication 2-in (non-stepped) headers with 4-in collectors and Dynomax Bullet mufflersFuel SystemTwin 2035 Weldon fuel pumps, -10 line with -8 return, Mark Enwia fuel rails, Ford 160-lb/hr injectors, Weldon fuel pressure regulatorTransmissionPerformance Automatic Turbo 400, Continental 5,800 rpm converterRearendFab-9 housing, Strange spool, Moser 35-spline axles, 4.10:1 Strange gearing, Strange driveshaft
ElectronicsEngine ManagementFAST tuned by Mark Enwia of Fast Times MotorworksIgnitionMSD 7AL (non-programmable), MSD Pro coil, ACCEL 300 wires, NGK-10 sparkplugsGaugesAuto Meter tachometer and Auto Meter gauges
Suspension And ChassisFront SuspensionK-memberPA RacingA-armsPA RacingSpringsAFCOStrutsQA1WheelsForce-VTiresMickey ThompsonBrakesStrangeRear SuspensionTraction DevicesVern House Pro Fabrication ladder bar suspension with wishbone linksSpringsAFCOShocksAFCOWheelsForce-VTiresMickey Thompson 28x10.5BrakesStrangeChassis StiffeningFull chrome-moly funny car cage with 25.1 SFI chassis certification tag