My first time out. what next?

Cool Story, sounds like your hooked.

Other then the fan, exhaust, shifter etc.... You wont pic up much with them... maybe with the exhaust if its a mess and shifter if your missing gears all the time.... Don't lighten the car... get your combo working first.

Did the car hook or spin off the launch? I think you could do with a slightly higher stall, say 3000. The car will still be very street able. That's a pretty big cam, it might not make power at low RPM, especially with that intake. If you can get the RPM's up faster it will help. What RPM did you shift at and go through the traps at? Small tire and a 3.7 gear but I would think that little motor would want to scream.

I think you should change to a Holley 650. Vacuum secondary's probably be best but a like the double pumper so you don't have to tune when the secondary's come in. I'm assuming you have an Eddy 650... When I first had my car it had an Eddy carb... After the first time at the track I tossed it and put a Holley 600 at that time and the car picked up a bunch. I don't know why anyone used though carbs. Next time walk the pits and look and see how many you see compared to a Holley style. Then go to a car show and do the same thing... almost the opposite result.

That's were I'd start... If your buddies 383 was only a few tenths faster you might get him....