<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/w_johnson07.jpg" alt="w_johnson07" align="right"borders="0"/>
Sugar Hill, Ga., January 17, 2008 – Acknowledged as one of the hardest working men in motorsports, there is nothing unusual in the fact that Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson will be tending to a race car this weekend. After all, with the start of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing season just over three weeks away, virtually every team across the country will be hard at work making final preparations for the NHRA season-opener in Pomona, CA.
In this case, however, The Professor’s efforts will not be focused on his familiar GM Performance Parts Pontiac GTO, which he has left in the capable hands of his crew in Sugar Hill, GA. Instead, the six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion will take part in the sale of one of his former mounts, a 1987 Olds Firenza which will be auctioned off as part of the famed Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, AZ.
“I was originally contacted by Norm Bierhorst, who had bought one of my old Firenzas,” said Johnson. “After deciding he was no longer interested in racing Super Gas, Norm wanted to restore the car to its original condition, and asked what I might have. After looking around at the shop, I was able to supply most of the drivetrain from a Firenza, which I still had in storage. I provided him with a complete engine from the carburetors to the dry sump, as well as the clutch and other pieces that were totally unique to that body style.
“After putting it back together, he brought it over to Indianapolis last September for me to look at, and I have to say he did a remarkable job of restoring it. It’s close to a 100% original car, although it probably doesn’t have some of the scratches I put on it when I was racing!”
Freshly repainted in its distinctive black-and-silver GM Goodwrench Performance Parts (which was GM Performance Parts branding at the time) livery, it offers both racers and fans a glimpse into drag racing history. In addition, it stands as proof of the tremendous technological progress made by the Pro Stock division over the last twenty years, with Johnson leading the charge both on and off the track, as evidenced by his role in the development of the General Motors Drag Racing Competition Engine (DRCE) and his 80 national event wins, 127 final rounds and 122 No. 1 qualifying performance during that period (out of a total 96 career wins, 154 final rounds and 136 No. 1 qualifiers).
“It will be interesting to see what it brings,” said Johnson. “That particular Firenza was a Ness car that I raced early in the 1987 season before switching to the Rells chassis, which was the first Pro Stocker to run 190 mph, a magnesium-bodied car that unfortunately is no longer in existence.
“But we had our share of success with this car as well, including winning the Winternationals, which ironically is something we are looking to do with our current GM Performance Parts GTO in about three weeks.”
Entering its 38th year, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is an event unlike any other. Encompassing nine days, it offers a total automotive experience, from exhibits and displays of cars, automobilia and manufacturer’s displays to the auction itself, drawing over 250,000 attendees a year ago. Thousands of bidders from across the world will participate in person, by phone or on the internet, vying for a wide variety of spectacular and often notable vehicles.
In 2007, 1,250 cars crossed the auction block earning over $112 million in sales. The 2008 edition will feature unprecedented live television coverage, with over 39 hours airing on SPEED, which began on Tuesday, January 15. Assigned lot number 1295, WJ’s Firenza is scheduled to be sold on Saturday, a day which is normally reserved for the higher-profile and most significant vehicles that draw the highest bids.
“I have no idea what the car is worth, so I’ll be just as interested as any one to see how it turns out,” said Johnson. “The folks at Barrett-Jackson obviously believe it has some potential, as they have scheduled to hit the block on Saturday, which historically is the biggest day of the auction.
“I’ll be flying in on Friday to help in whatever way possible and I’ll try to take in as much of the show as time allows. This promises to be an interesting experience, but Sunday morning I will be on a plane heading back to Georgia. After all, the 2008 season is right around the corner, and there’s work to be done.”
A Vintage WJ Race Car to Sell at Barrett-Jackson with The Professor on Hand
WJ’s 1987 Olds Firenza Pro Stocker to be sold at noted Scottsdale auction
Sugar Hill, Ga., January 17, 2008 – Acknowledged as one of the hardest working men in motorsports, there is nothing unusual in the fact that Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson will be tending to a race car this weekend. After all, with the start of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing season just over three weeks away, virtually every team across the country will be hard at work making final preparations for the NHRA season-opener in Pomona, CA.
In this case, however, The Professor’s efforts will not be focused on his familiar GM Performance Parts Pontiac GTO, which he has left in the capable hands of his crew in Sugar Hill, GA. Instead, the six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion will take part in the sale of one of his former mounts, a 1987 Olds Firenza which will be auctioned off as part of the famed Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, AZ.
“I was originally contacted by Norm Bierhorst, who had bought one of my old Firenzas,” said Johnson. “After deciding he was no longer interested in racing Super Gas, Norm wanted to restore the car to its original condition, and asked what I might have. After looking around at the shop, I was able to supply most of the drivetrain from a Firenza, which I still had in storage. I provided him with a complete engine from the carburetors to the dry sump, as well as the clutch and other pieces that were totally unique to that body style.
“After putting it back together, he brought it over to Indianapolis last September for me to look at, and I have to say he did a remarkable job of restoring it. It’s close to a 100% original car, although it probably doesn’t have some of the scratches I put on it when I was racing!”
Freshly repainted in its distinctive black-and-silver GM Goodwrench Performance Parts (which was GM Performance Parts branding at the time) livery, it offers both racers and fans a glimpse into drag racing history. In addition, it stands as proof of the tremendous technological progress made by the Pro Stock division over the last twenty years, with Johnson leading the charge both on and off the track, as evidenced by his role in the development of the General Motors Drag Racing Competition Engine (DRCE) and his 80 national event wins, 127 final rounds and 122 No. 1 qualifying performance during that period (out of a total 96 career wins, 154 final rounds and 136 No. 1 qualifiers).
“It will be interesting to see what it brings,” said Johnson. “That particular Firenza was a Ness car that I raced early in the 1987 season before switching to the Rells chassis, which was the first Pro Stocker to run 190 mph, a magnesium-bodied car that unfortunately is no longer in existence.
“But we had our share of success with this car as well, including winning the Winternationals, which ironically is something we are looking to do with our current GM Performance Parts GTO in about three weeks.”
Entering its 38th year, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is an event unlike any other. Encompassing nine days, it offers a total automotive experience, from exhibits and displays of cars, automobilia and manufacturer’s displays to the auction itself, drawing over 250,000 attendees a year ago. Thousands of bidders from across the world will participate in person, by phone or on the internet, vying for a wide variety of spectacular and often notable vehicles.
In 2007, 1,250 cars crossed the auction block earning over $112 million in sales. The 2008 edition will feature unprecedented live television coverage, with over 39 hours airing on SPEED, which began on Tuesday, January 15. Assigned lot number 1295, WJ’s Firenza is scheduled to be sold on Saturday, a day which is normally reserved for the higher-profile and most significant vehicles that draw the highest bids.
“I have no idea what the car is worth, so I’ll be just as interested as any one to see how it turns out,” said Johnson. “The folks at Barrett-Jackson obviously believe it has some potential, as they have scheduled to hit the block on Saturday, which historically is the biggest day of the auction.
“I’ll be flying in on Friday to help in whatever way possible and I’ll try to take in as much of the show as time allows. This promises to be an interesting experience, but Sunday morning I will be on a plane heading back to Georgia. After all, the 2008 season is right around the corner, and there’s work to be done.”
