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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312922
11/22/12 01:19 PM
11/22/12 01:19 PM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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She pulled the Belvedere up to the ramps, and started to load it, but Dale gave her the cutoff sign.
"What did you do that for?" I asked him.
"It's got water running out of the exhaust! Figured we'd just push it up the rest of the way", he shrugged.
"Like hell! I said I would be thrilled if both of them would drive on the trailer under thier own power, and that's what is going to happen!"
Dale jumped behind the wheel, fired it, and we got it positioned on the trailer behind the Valiant.
"Why'd you lift?" I baited Rachael.
"Saw the red, and it was making strange noises, wasn't happy at all" she surmised.
So, after a week behind the wheel, my little girl was making good decisions and was able to give good feedback, that made me feel great, broken car or otherwise!
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312923
11/22/12 06:06 PM
11/22/12 06:06 PM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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I barely had the cars strapped down before the clouds opened up and put an end to the racing. Daily driver hadn't even finished round 1. Two years in a row that the biggest class would not race to conclusion, very disappointing.
Rachael's 6 time slips below:
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312924
11/23/12 01:21 AM
11/23/12 01:21 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
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After the racing was called, we benchraced with friends, and packed up the rig in preparation to leave as the Hot Rod and Drag Week staff prepared the presentation area for all the awards to be given out.
The evening was really starting to run long, and I wasn't looking forward to the rest of the night, as I had to be back to work Monday morning.
Dale, his wife and kids all bailed about halfway through the presentation. Dad and Mom got a hug and kiss right as the awards ceremony adjourned, and Boone snuck off at some point, before I knew it Rachael and I were in the 93 1-ton headed south on I-44, with Darryl right behind us. We rolled into a Texas rest area about 3Am, slept in the back of the truck until about 8AM, and hammered out the rest of the drive on Sunday. We shot this picture at the AZ/NM border, which was about the first time Rachael was really conscious for the first 20 hours of the trip home, she was wore out!
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312925
11/23/12 01:52 AM
11/23/12 01:52 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
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Ok, this concludes my attempt at a chronological approach to my story of the event, but there is still plenty to mention! The main narrative really requires me to narrow the focus of my tale, especially towards the end when the details start to get fuzzy 60 days after the fact, so many other anecdotes, and footnotes get pushed to the side. One of the reasons I took this on last year is because a Moparts member seemed to be bashing the efforts of the Mopar racers who were attempting this event, with comments about how they were bringing up the rear of each class. Rather than confront this directly, I figured if I told the story of what it took to actually tackle this adventure, more people would understand that the numbers on the scoresheet aren't as important as completing it with your fellow competitiors. That being said, I figured I'd run through the score sheet as far as the Mopars, and Moparts were concerned: Winner of the Fastest Mopar plaque and third place in Street Race Small Block Normally Aspirated was Mike Crow and his White 69 Dart with it's high rpm W-9/stick combo. Ksj knows more about the particulars than I do, all I can say is it is a pleasure to both the eyes and the ears to watch this thing rip down a racetrack! Tulsa 10.270-133.07 Ennis 10.100-135.20 Gilliam 10.134-135.33 Memphis 10.155-133.62 Tulsa 10.211-133.62 Final 5 day Av. 10.174-134.16 http://blogs.hotrod.com/hot-rod-drag-wee...l#axzz2Cuv7bXYs
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312926
11/23/12 02:06 AM
11/23/12 02:06 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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Our own sixpackgut, Ray, had the 2nd quickest 5 day average, but only because he was busy keeping the car out of the nines due to safety constraints, and the fact that he had his class well in hand. His flat black 67 Barracuda notch, with it's thundering tunnel rammed big block, made short work of the Modified Normally Aspirated category despite keeping all the good timeslips in his pocket.
Tulsa 10.021-135.33
Ennis 10.044-131.52
Gilliam 10.280-110.54 (Slowing down to avoid destroying his hood!)
Memphis 10.017-124.05
Tulsa 10.556-135.27
Final 5 Day average: 10.183-127.34
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312928
11/23/12 02:12 AM
11/23/12 02:12 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
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Romeo MI
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Good read Billy and good job at getting those cars ready and running the whole week  ... question... I see on Crows dart he still has his hubcaps still on.... when did the rules change ... as far as I can remember NHRA made the people take off wheel covers/hubcaps before they could run... maybe the rule changed... congrats... hope to see you in DW13
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312929
11/23/12 02:25 AM
11/23/12 02:25 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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Randy Heinselman, and his '70 In Violet AAR Cuda turned in the 3rd quickest average for a Mopar, but chose the wrong class to do it in!! He was in the SuperStreet Race Power Adder class and finished 6th in a class that featured 5 cars in the 8's or quicker!
Unfortunately, I have zero specs on this car, just looked through all my pics and nothing even with the hood up! I do know it was nitrous assisted, and a full weight car, but that's it...any body out there with more info?
Tulsa 10.568-128.03
Ennis 10.250-131.32
Gilliam 10.326-132.22
Memphis 10.247-130.87
Tulsa 10.452-129.89
Final 5 day AV. 10.368-130.46
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312930
11/23/12 02:50 AM
11/23/12 02:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,589
Topeka Kansas
ksj
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DW is an addiction.Some will get it some never will.DJ's Duster should be a contender next year.Hes got the right people helping him that have been there done that.Its a fricken cult I tell you.Seeing Billy and his daughter and family make do what they did was more than I would take on. Doesnt matter what brand you drive as long as you are there on the last day its a WIN.As for Crow and his hubcaps they passed tech. They are bolted on and not going anywhere.  Sitting around  you get creative.Tech guys were like "Really you did this"Mike just smiled.Cant wait til 13.Billy has created a monster with his daughter.Thats a good thing.
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312931
11/23/12 02:50 AM
11/23/12 02:50 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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Mr P. Body,
Let's just say that the tracks on Drag Week were usually operating with skeleton crews and an amazingly laid back attitude! I don't want to draw any more attention to it than that, for purely selfish reasons, but it was definitely not a rulebook thumping experience.
We will quickly brush past 4th on our list because (gulp), it isn't a Mopar! Moparts member BBR, James Pringle, brought his 83 four eyed, self-named Suckstang with it's 545 inches of BBF and managed to go home with the second place plaque in Street Race Big Block Normally Aspirated.
Tulsa 10.857-123.80
Ennis 11.10-127.35
Gilliam 10.56-127.38
Memphis 10.785-124.86
Tulsa 10.844-124.30
Final 5 day AV. 10.832-125.53
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312932
11/23/12 03:38 AM
11/23/12 03:38 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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Darryl and I were 4th and 5th among the Mopars, and 5th-6th repectively on this list:
Tulsa 11.436-117.49
Ennis 11.298-118.73
Gilliam 11.298-118.73
Memphis 11.272-118.09
Tulsa 11.431-117.12
Final 5 Day AV. 11.349-118.20
For the 1969 W-2 408, low gear set 904, 3.73 geared 8 3/4 Dart.
Tulsa 11.623-114.56
Ennis 11.408-115.72
Gilliam 11.428-117.51
Memphis 11.445-114.81
Tulsa 11.337-116.94
Final 5 Day Av. 11.448-115.90
For the 1962 389 J headed, low gear set 904, 3.89 geared 9" Valiant.
Saturday was the only day I outran Darryl, of course when I brought it up he immediately went to the street car guy mantra: "Yeah, sure, if you can even call it a street car! geez, wrinkle wall slicks, dropping the pipes, race gas, 200 lbs lighter than me, and you are gonna brag about a tenth?" Tough crowd out there I tell you!
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312933
11/23/12 04:02 AM
11/23/12 04:02 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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Casey Cunningham's, Amarillo based, white 63 Plymouth Fury was Drag Week 2011's Fastest Mopar, his 7th place numbers on this list were enough to claim the third place plaque in Daily Driver this year.
He certainly would have had me covered again this year if he hadn't dumped a bunch of ET on the last day to set himself up for the bracket race, a common practice in DD to make up for the tenth under average dial.
Tulsa 11.241-119.19
Ennis 11.291-119.59
Gilliam 11.357-120.26
Memphis 11.353-119.47
Tulsa 12.243-104.82
Final 5 day Av. 11.497-116.66
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312934
11/23/12 10:31 AM
11/23/12 10:31 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,202
aZLiViN
J_BODY
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,202
aZLiViN
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Quote:
So, after a week behind the wheel, my little girl was making good decisions and was able to give good feedback, that made me feel great, broken car or otherwise!
I was out in the desert "playing" on the quads with Kate yesterday. We got to a long stretch in a wash where I saw here bare down on the handlebars and leave me in the dust. Caught up to her and mentioned her little stunt and she shrugged and smiled..."because I can dad!"  there might be hope for you yet kid!
Nice seeing you at SCSN.
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312935
11/23/12 10:32 AM
11/23/12 10:32 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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Scott Abbott (Scott58, Moparts) and his 70 Plymouth are Drag Week veterans, and along with his wife Kim, they make it look easy. Thier 500+ inch BBM has plenty of power to tickle the 10's, but as a no-bar competitor in Daily Driver they really are limited to 11.60's to put the tenth under average dial-in right at 11.50. Scott worked that number to perfection, all while working hard to post big mph numbers to show off the power lurking under the air grabber hood. For his trouble he has the 8th quickest average on this list and qualified 4th in DD.
Tulsa 11.580-119.22
Ennis 11.612-120.36
Gilliam 11.645-121.81
Memphis 11.559-119.94
Tulsa 11.621-119.12
Final 5 day AV. 11.603-120.09
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312937
11/23/12 10:57 AM
11/23/12 10:57 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
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Romeo MI
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Quote:
Mr P. Body,
Let's just say that the tracks on Drag Week were usually operating with skeleton crews and an amazingly laid back attitude! I don't want to draw any more attention to it than that, for purely selfish reasons, but it was definitely not a rulebook thumping experience.
I know what your saying Billy.... was there on DW09-DW10
with my buddy but never notice some things
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: J_BODY]
#1312938
11/23/12 11:24 AM
11/23/12 11:24 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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Quote:
I was out in the desert "playing" on the quads with Kate yesterday. We got to a long stretch in a wash where I saw her bare down on the handlebars and leave me in the dust. Caught up to her and mentioned her little stunt and she shrugged and smiled..."because I can dad!" there might be hope for you yet kid!
Nice seeing you at SCSN.
Great spending time with you again, Jay. Darryl asked me on the drive down how long I'd known you, and I was forced to have another of those "How did all these years get behind us" moments like what occurs when we look at our kids!
ksj,
You are correct it is an addiction! Cult? I thought we took a blood oath not to mention that!
Rick Callahan's 68 Plymouth, would have slotted just inside the top ten of our list, and on the qualifying sheet of DD if he had been able to hang around for Saturday!
Tulsa 11.736-116.02
Ennis 11.76-116.97
Gilliam 11.679-117.81
Memphis 11.579-118.20
Tulsa Rain out friday, no-show saturday
4 Day Av. 11.680-117.25
Beginning to see a theme? Yeah, big ole B-bodies with stroker BBMs and no roll bars make great street cars to tour the country in, reach well into the 11's, and are reliable, plenty more examples to come!
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312939
11/23/12 11:34 AM
11/23/12 11:34 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
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Romeo MI
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Quote:
Quote:
I was out in the desert "playing" on the quads with Kate yesterday. We got to a long stretch in a wash where I saw her bare down on the handlebars and leave me in the dust. Caught up to her and mentioned her little stunt and she shrugged and smiled..."because I can dad!" there might be hope for you yet kid!
Nice seeing you at SCSN.
Great spending time with you again, Jay. Darryl asked me on the drive down how long I'd known you, and I was forced to have another of those "How did all these years get behind us" moments like what occurs when we look at our kids!
ksj,
You are correct it is an addiction! Cult? I thought we took a blood oath not to mention that!
Rick Callahan's 68 Plymouth, would have slotted just inside the top ten of our list, and on the qualifying sheet of DD if he had been able to hang around for Saturday!
Tulsa 11.736-116.02
Ennis 11.76-116.97
Gilliam 11.679-117.81
Memphis 11.579-118.20
Tulsa Rain out friday, no-show saturday
4 Day Av. 11.680-117.25
Beginning to see a theme? Yeah, big ole B-bodies with stroker BBMs and no roll bars make great street cars to tour the country in, reach well into the 11's, and are reliable, plenty more examples to come!
Rick is who I sold my B1m/c heads and mega block too...
I understand he is building a Dart... he doesnt live
too far from me
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MoparBilly]
#1312940
11/23/12 11:41 AM
11/23/12 11:41 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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Continuing that theme is R. Loyd Chuch's Indy headed BBM powered 68 B5 RoadRunner. He chose to compete in the Street Race Big Block Naturally Aspirated category, where he finished just off the podium in 4th place.
Tulsa 11.908-112.64
Ennis 11.764-115.48
Gilliam 11.649-116.70
Memphis 11.752-114.44
Tulsa 11.703-114.90
Final 5 day AV. 11.755-114.83
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: HOT ROD Drag Week 2012 : The Experience
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1312941
11/23/12 11:46 AM
11/23/12 11:46 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,160
Texas
dannysbee
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Texas
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Great job Billy! This event has been on my bucket list for sometime. But with your stories of the event it has really moved it the top of the list. On the stroked big block b body. I am thinking a 512 with repro maxi heads, intake and exhaust manifolds with a mild flat tappet, and 3.55 gears with a 30" tire.
All this in a 63 Savoy with no bar would be my weapon of choice.
Last edited by dannysbee; 11/23/12 12:06 PM.
Getting old just means you were smarter than some and luckier than others.
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