Fast Company Pickups

As we travel all over the U.S. from show to show, shooting multiple features, we are introduced to many folks that subscribe to The Fast and Furious lifestyle. We are talking about single-digit race times with nine seconds or quicker, quarter-mile, tailgate straight-liners, many of which are street-legal.

These trucks are not only fast as hell, but they are just as feature worthy as our show-quality, pristine customs. Nothing against show contestants, but driving or trailering their truck, parking it under a shady tree, then sitting all weekend in lawn chairs, knocking back a few cold ones, watching show attendees drool over their rides seems to be one dimensional. Meanwhile, speed freaks are getting the best of both worlds as they buckle up in tricked-out fast trucks, anticipating another breath-taking, high-speed adrenaline rush during their 1,320-foot blast that lasts nearly seven seconds at close to 200 mph.

A couple of years ago, we attended a Godfather's truck show in Atlanta at Atlanta Drag Strip, and we were blown away by Brian Dalton who was belting into his door-slammer pickup and making sub-eight-second passes down the strip all weekend long. Then we found him cruising later that evening in the same wacked-out truck at the local Wal-Mart and Shonney's parking lot.

We came to find out his ride is completely street-legal, with running lights, turn signals, mufflers, a dome light, a heater, a defroster, and even an AM radio. Opening the glovebox, we discovered an owner's manual, registration, and proof of insurance. Yes, wild, Pro Mod-style pickups are being created all over the country. They are built for only one thing in mind: to melt quarter-mile asphalt.

For example, Glen Kerunsky from Alberta, Canada, has built a '99 Chevy S-10 with a 706ci aluminum Donovan shoehorned between the framerails with a three-stage nitrous-oxide system, which produces 2,300 hp. The Reckenridge Excavating S-10 covers the quarter-mile in 6.41 seconds at 220 mph. Who says you need a trunk lid to go fast?

Last year, Truckin' magazine got involved with Greg Barone and driver Ron Fassle from Chandler, Arizona, as they fabricated and built one of these badass, street-legal drag trucks. Refer to the July '02 issue, featuring our World's Fastest Street-Legal Pickup Project. Being optimistic after all the bugs are worked out, it should be capable of sub-eight-second e.t.'s. Remember, it's street-legal. Be sure to check out Truckin's "Fast Company" pickups. Stay tuned.