Northern California Wine Country Lady has Driving Passion for Speed
- Sep 25, 2009
Girl Power dragster makes a reliable 1,000 or so horsepower at races in the Nor Cal Top Association Series
Melissa Westerman is currently 2nd overall in points in the Nor Cal Top Dragster Association Series
Sonoma State University Alumni Melissa Westerman has a special attachment to her 1966 Ford Mustang. It belonged to her grandfather and was her daily driver in high school
K&N sponsored racer Melissa Westerman took her first and second Top Dragster wins at Top Gun Raceway in Fallon, Nevada
1966 Ford Mustang makes more than 500 hp on the track
When Melissa Westerman is not racing, she is working in Northern California's wine country
Ten years later, Westerman is winning races. Her most recent accomplishment was in the Nor Cal Top Dragster class was at Top Gun Raceway in Fallon, Nevada. She won on both Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Westerman received her first ever Top Dragster win with a 7.713 (7.71 dial) at 177.85 mph to defeat Will Harrison’s 8.029 at 171.06 mph.
On Sunday, Westerman used a slight starting line advantage to take out Art Hoover. She ran a 7.717 (7.69 dial) to Hoover’s 7.252 (7.23 dial) for her second win of the weekend. The weekend of wins put Westerman second overall in points in the Nor Cal Top Dragster Association Series.
Westerman’s Girl Power dragster is a 454 cubic inch Chevrolet with an 8.5-1 compression.
Other modifications include:
World Product Merlins Block and Cylinder Heads
Cola Crank
Oliver Rods
Venolia Pistons complete with the rotating assembly
BDS intake Manifold
Enderle Injector Bug Catcher
Zoomies Exhast
K&N Fuel Injection Line Air Filter, part number E-3003
K&N Oil Filter, part number HP-3002
“My Girl Power dragster makes a reliable 1,000 or so horsepower,” said Westerman. “The rear end is a full floating Ford with 4.10 gears.”
Westerman also races her 1966 Mustang in bracket races. “Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to drive a Mustang,” she said. “I ended up with my grandfather’s Mustang. I drove it to high-school every day and began bracket racing at Infineon Raceway and Sacramento Raceway in Northern California.”
The Mustang is all about power. It has a 408 cubic inch Ford Windsor with a 12- compression.
Other modifications include:
Eagle Crank
Eagle H Beam Rods
SRP Pistons
Edelbrock’s Victor Jrs. Heads and Intake
850CFM Holley Double Pumper Carb
Hooker Super Comp Headers
Flowmaster Mufflers
K&N Oil Filter HP-2010
K&N air filter E-3750
“My Mustang makes more than 500 horsepower and the transmission is a highly modified C-4,” she said. “The rear end is a Ford with 3.90 gears.” Westerman races her Mustang in the Super Pro class of the NHRA Summit Division 7 series.
“I really like driving both cars equally,’ she said. “But, I have a special attachment to my 1966 Mustang because it belonged to my grandpa.” Westerman has used K&N products since she began her racing career. "We use K&N on all of our vehicles, on and off the track," she said. "K&N gives us additional horsepower and filtration and is also cost effective."
When Westerman is not racing the Sonoma State University Alumni has a full time job in marketing that allows her to help shape the taste of fine wine, in the heart of California’s wine country.
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