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Mike Schoenfeld has been campaigning his T-Bird doorslammer for many years but has recently added this dragster for double the fun! He and his buddy "Rotten Ryan" team up at events to take out the competition.
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Inside Track Magazine ran this article about Mike "Schoney" Schoenfeld's life and racing career to present. Below is a transcript
of the article Steve Heeb wrote for the magazine.
The Schoenfeld family takes their racing seriously. The patriarch, Mark “Sonny” Schoenfeld still drives his rear engine BBC dragster at 82. Son Mike, 61, races a ’84 Thunderbird and also has a dragster.
“I’ve been racing all my life,” the Kent-based racer says. “I grew up with my dad racing in the Salt Lake area.” Mike has two younger brothers who also race.
“It’s a family affair,” Mike says. “Steve and Matt both race out of Salt Lake.”
“I’ve been racing all my life,” the Kent-based racer says. “I grew up with my dad racing in the Salt Lake area.” Mike has two younger brothers who also race.
“It’s a family affair,” Mike says. “Steve and Matt both race out of Salt Lake.”
Mike raced a ’65 Falcon Sprint at the Bonneville Raceway, before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1969. During his 26-year Air Force career, Mike piloted F-4 Phantoms and F-15 Eagles while stationed at George AFB (Calif.), Bitburg AB (Germany), Kunsan AB (Korea), Luke AFB (Ariz.), Langley AFB (Va.), Elmendorf AFB (Alaska), and twice at Nellis AFB (Nev.).
“But I didn’t do a lot of racing then,” Mike laughs. In 1995, Mike retired as a Colonel while stationed at the Pentagon. He came to Kent to work on defense projects for Boeing. “I took up racing right away with the Thunderbird in Super Street,” Mike says.
For the 2007 season, Mike installed a new 390-cid Bill Elliott NASCAR motor. “It’s a Windsor block at Cleveland deck height,” Mike explains. The 347-cid motor that was taken out of the Thunderbird, Mike keeps on hand as a spare.
“But I didn’t do a lot of racing then,” Mike laughs. In 1995, Mike retired as a Colonel while stationed at the Pentagon. He came to Kent to work on defense projects for Boeing. “I took up racing right away with the Thunderbird in Super Street,” Mike says.
For the 2007 season, Mike installed a new 390-cid Bill Elliott NASCAR motor. “It’s a Windsor block at Cleveland deck height,” Mike explains. The 347-cid motor that was taken out of the Thunderbird, Mike keeps on hand as a spare.
The car also has Yates C-3
heads and a NASCAR spider intake
manifold. It runs on 85 percent
ethanol.
His best run in the car was a
Mike also has a rear-engine ’96
Neil and Parks dragster that he
bought from his brother Matt two
years ago.
The burgundy-colored dragster
has a 231-inch wheelbase and is
powered by a 555-cid big-block
Chevrolet
“I drive it part time,” Mike
says of the dragster. “The normal
driver at divisional and national
events is ‘Rotten’ Ryan Carlson.
Brian and I do most of the work
ourselves. We help each other a
lot.”
Mike adds that he occasionally
gets to bracket race the dragster,
which the two field in the Super
Comp and Top Dragster classes.
The dragster has made a best
run of 7.59 seconds at 175 mph.
heads and a NASCAR spider intake
manifold. It runs on 85 percent
ethanol.
His best run in the car was a
- 67-second lap at 136 mph, flat
Mike also has a rear-engine ’96
Neil and Parks dragster that he
bought from his brother Matt two
years ago.
The burgundy-colored dragster
has a 231-inch wheelbase and is
powered by a 555-cid big-block
Chevrolet
“I drive it part time,” Mike
says of the dragster. “The normal
driver at divisional and national
events is ‘Rotten’ Ryan Carlson.
Brian and I do most of the work
ourselves. We help each other a
lot.”
Mike adds that he occasionally
gets to bracket race the dragster,
which the two field in the Super
Comp and Top Dragster classes.
The dragster has made a best
run of 7.59 seconds at 175 mph.
The 2007 Northwest Nationals
at Pacific Raceways was the seventh
national event for Mike in
the Thunderbird.
By coincidence, both the
Thunderbird and dragster are
painted in a candy burgundy
paint scheme.
“They are very close, but it
wasn’t planned,” Mike explains.
The team’s racing takes them
to Northwest venues such as Bremerton,
Pacific Raceways,
Woodburn, Boise and Medford,
as well as north to Mission, BC,
and east to Montana. He notes
that he has made a lot of friendships
on the road.
“The biggest thing about racing
is making friends and meeting
people,” Mike says. “I’ve
been traveling together with Ron
and Tony Hopkins for eight
years. We all travel together, and
pit together.”
When he is not firing up the
Thunderbird, Mike likes firing up
the barbecue grill.
“My specialty is cooking,” Mike
laughs. “Especially my breakfast burritos.
They love them. They would be
skinny without me.”
at Pacific Raceways was the seventh
national event for Mike in
the Thunderbird.
By coincidence, both the
Thunderbird and dragster are
painted in a candy burgundy
paint scheme.
“They are very close, but it
wasn’t planned,” Mike explains.
The team’s racing takes them
to Northwest venues such as Bremerton,
Pacific Raceways,
Woodburn, Boise and Medford,
as well as north to Mission, BC,
and east to Montana. He notes
that he has made a lot of friendships
on the road.
“The biggest thing about racing
is making friends and meeting
people,” Mike says. “I’ve
been traveling together with Ron
and Tony Hopkins for eight
years. We all travel together, and
pit together.”
When he is not firing up the
Thunderbird, Mike likes firing up
the barbecue grill.
“My specialty is cooking,” Mike
laughs. “Especially my breakfast burritos.
They love them. They would be
skinny without me.”
Mike extends
great appreciation and
thanks for his and “Rotten”
Ryan’s two main sponsors
AVTECH Research Corp, a veteran-
owned small business in Las
Vegas, Nev., that provides services
to the US Air Force and
Master Wholesale Inc. Stone,
Masonry and Contractor Tools in
Seattle, Wash.
Mike also is quick to thank
Leon Elliott at Elliott racing and
components for his support, as
well as Arlin Staiger who has
helped with the dragster.
“We also ask a lot of questions
and get a lot of good advice from
Top Alcohol Dragster owner
Steve Ferderlin and chassis
builder/transmission specialist
Mike Roebeck,” Mike adds. “If
someone has a problem, everyone
pitches in. You have a builtin
crew, even though every one of
them has their own car.”
But most of all, Mike appreciates
the support he gets from
family.
“Thanks to dad and my
brothers for getting me into racing,”
Mike says.
“And for keeping me in this
wonderful sport.”
great appreciation and
thanks for his and “Rotten”
Ryan’s two main sponsors
AVTECH Research Corp, a veteran-
owned small business in Las
Vegas, Nev., that provides services
to the US Air Force and
Master Wholesale Inc. Stone,
Masonry and Contractor Tools in
Seattle, Wash.
Mike also is quick to thank
Leon Elliott at Elliott racing and
components for his support, as
well as Arlin Staiger who has
helped with the dragster.
“We also ask a lot of questions
and get a lot of good advice from
Top Alcohol Dragster owner
Steve Ferderlin and chassis
builder/transmission specialist
Mike Roebeck,” Mike adds. “If
someone has a problem, everyone
pitches in. You have a builtin
crew, even though every one of
them has their own car.”
But most of all, Mike appreciates
the support he gets from
family.
“Thanks to dad and my
brothers for getting me into racing,”
Mike says.
“And for keeping me in this
wonderful sport.”