DSPORT

Performance without pizzazz. It’s the mentality of the street stalker-strip rocker that preys on unsuspecting fools that front with their “all show, no go” rides at stoplight encounters. But to do so while retaining the comforts for daily drivability have proven the greatest challenge for some of these street predators. In the search for ultimate performance, many mistakenly sacrifice the very features that make a streetcar.



In 2006, Wheatley was in the market for a new ride. Dealing with his local weather while commuting played a significant part in his selection. He became the second owner of a 2003 EVO VIII, which he bought from a friend. “This was a daily driver that could take me to work year round while also transporting four people to the drag strip on the weekends,” he said. Already equipped with mild cams, a fuel pump, clutch and exhaust, the EVO served its purpose well. Over the course of several years, the EVO progressively changed as Wheatley shot for loftier goals; first the eleven-second mark and then the tens. Running a 2.0-liter AMS engine producing 630 horsepower, the EVO’s best effort was a 10.6 second pass. As he prepared for the 2011 Buschur DSM/EVO Shootout, an injector failure compromised his engine, forcing him to be a spectator for the weekend.



After spending the winter preparing for the 2013 season, Wheatley was finally ready to make an official pass. At the IDRC Sport Compact Nationals presented by Buschur Racing, he achieved his objective, running several passes in the nine-second range. His quickest pass of the day was a 9.864-second pass at 151.24 MPH in the finals, his new personal best. Wheatley recalled, “Running 9.9 at the end of 2012 in practice, then placing second in my first competition while setting a new personal best were rewarding accomplishments that made the effort more fulfilling.