Courtesy Of: Rob Kozak
(10-18-05) HIGHLAND, MI - The Michigan based Duo of Brian Robbins and Keith Engling put on almost as many miles hauling their 72 Olds 442 this season as the car had on it before it was transformed into one of the baddest Pro Street cars on the planet. OK, not quite but damn close. (Yes! The Skinny Kid Race Cars built 442 started life as an all steel production model.) Beginning in January and ending in October while logging nearly 30,000 miles makes for a long season. Add to that two trips to Florida, one to Alaska, and the rebuilding of your race car makes the season feel even longer but, both Robbins and Engling wouldn't trade it for the world.
The Michigan duo's season almost began and ended on their first outing of '05. At the US Street Nationals in late January when at the held at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton Florida veteran shoe Brian Robbins lost control of the 442 after fluid got under the rear tires. The slippery ride sent Robbins into the wall and nearly destroyed Engling's work of art.
In the subsequent months that followed Engling and his talented crew at Skinny Kid Race Cars in Highland Michigan were able to resurrect the remains of the Olds and eventually return her to competition with Robbins at the wheel. Their first NMCA outing of the 05' season wasn't until the third event on the trail, the 4th Annual Lunati NMCA Hot Rod & Muscle Car Nationals, in Bowling Green, Kentucky where Robbins wheeled the repaired Olds into the winner's circle.