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While revolutionary at the time, none of 300 Corvettes handmade
that year could do what Kenny Lang's 1953 pro modified Corvette
can do. His covers a 1/4 mile in just over six seconds at
228 mph, subjecting its driver to forces equivalent to three
times the force of gravity.
Lang switched late last year from his 2002 pro modified Pontiac
Firebird to the '53 Corvette for a combination of personal
and professional reasons. Professionally, Lang predicted racing
rules are about to change, restricting racers in the pro modified
circuit to older body styles, leaving newer more aerodynamic
body styles exclusively to the pro stock circuit. Regardless
of any rule changes, Lang said he would have made the change
regardless.
"Whether there was a rule or not a rule, I wanted my
next car to be a '53 Corvette," Lang explained. "I
like the body style, they're unique and there's not many of
them out there. There are a lot of '63 Corvettes out there,
but not a lot of '53s."
Adding to the eye appeal of the new body style was the custom
paint and graphics covering it. "It's probably one of
the most photographed cars at the races," Lang described.
"The colour scheme is so bright and so colourful it's
really sought after for people taking pictures."
But drag races aren't won in the photo gallery; they're won
on the track, a place where Lang's Vette has drawn equal attention.
Despite having been restricted to only three or four runs,
Lang ranked the car within the top 5 in Canada in its class.
Recently, it qualified eighth out of a field of 30 in an event
in Texas.
"We're playing with the best in the world. The races
we go to are all national events, these are the best of the
best. You get to play with guys for who this is all they do
for a living. I do it as a hobby and still have a nine-to-five
job."
Even though Lang is pleased to be running 6.2 seconds in
the Vette, he said his goal is to run 6.1. And after that,
6.0 seconds. It's a chase that started 20 years ago for Lang,
right after he received his first timing slip.
"I got hooked it on it right away," recalled Lang.
"Anyone who is into it will tell you the same story.
You go there and your car runs 13 seconds in the quarter mile.
Then you want to see if you can make it a little bit quicker."
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