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Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: BBR] #1515911
12/03/13 09:48 PM
12/03/13 09:48 PM
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Phoenix, AZ
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MoparBilly Offline OP
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If it's any consolation, I believe Clark went red this year AND last year before the rain came.





Yes, when the semi-finals came around, I hadn't even decided whether to root for Clark or Lane, and it was over. Then he ran off the number and gave up third place. So after a week of driving through heat and rain, and abusing his little Barracuda at 4 different tracks in 5 days, he threw away a chance at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in less than twelve seconds! The other mopar muscle versus chevy pickup match went to Scott's Road Runner however, and then he sealed the deal in the final, just toying with Lane for the last 300ft!


"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: MoparBilly] #1515912
12/03/13 10:55 PM
12/03/13 10:55 PM
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Phoenix, AZ
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I was still strapping down cars and re-organizing all my stuff when Boone called and told us they were starting the awards ceremony. It seems like that portion of Drag Week lasted about 30 minutes in 2006, and grows about an hour every year, into the time eating monster it is now! I gave my camera to Rachael, and sent her on up with instructions to take pictures of Boone when he received his plaque. The sun disappeared behind the trees as I drove my 1 Ton and two car trailer up closer to the pits. I could see Steve's truck and trailer parked under one of the large trees near the back of the property, it was the only rig left that far out at this point. Darryl had used the fact that everyone was under the tent, to hit the track shower after working on his truck. He was in our pit spot, tossing his bag back in his truck when I walked up.
"Did Ken ever come back?"
"Nope, we had someone here the entire time, and we were looking out for his car."
We went to the edge of the tent, and watched as John Faraone was called up for "The Quickest Mopar" Plaque. Eddie Miller gave him a hearty congratulation when he headed up to get it, but then DF said, "I believe that 7.85 was the single quickest run ever by a Mopar on Drag Week". I glanced at Eddie as soon as Freiburger uttered those words and saw a vein pop out on the side of his neck, and his jaw harden like he'd just bit a persimmon. It took a good fifteen seconds before he could resume a his normal jovial persona!

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"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: MoparBilly] #1515913
12/04/13 01:13 AM
12/04/13 01:13 AM
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Tulsa OK
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Quote:

Quote:


If it's any consolation, I believe Clark went red this year AND last year before the rain came.





Yes, when the semi-finals came around, I hadn't even decided whether to root for Clark or Lane, and it was over. Then he ran off the number and gave up third place. So after a week of driving through heat and rain, and abusing his little Barracuda at 4 different tracks in 5 days, he threw away a chance at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in less than twelve seconds! The other mopar muscle versus chevy pickup match went to Scott's Road Runner however, and then he sealed the deal in the final, just toying with Lane for the last 300ft!




Yeah Yeah Yeah I know I threw that one away. I figured Lane would have trouble running his number because the blower would be hot from the somewhat quick rounds. But I went ahead and tossed that one anyways lol, I did roll through .12 under my dial on the brakes and setting a new best ET.....I think it liked the better air?

Last edited by Bad340fish; 12/04/13 01:18 AM.

68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: MoparBilly] #1515914
12/04/13 01:17 AM
12/04/13 01:17 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
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Finally, I motioned for Rachael to join me outside the tent, and had her look up and call all the hospitals in the Bowling Green area to see if Steve was a patient. Once we came up empty on that search, Rachael got with Tonya Turk and Donna Smith and explained the situation. They gave her all the contact numbers they had for both Steve and Ken from their registration files, once again no luck.

The awards presentation ended, everyone said their goodbyes to old friends and new friends alike, and a procession of trucks and trailers began to file out of the facility. Once again we were nearly last, huddled in a group near our rigs trying to formulate an exit strategy.
I told everyone that I didn't feel comfortable about leaving without a resolution to the Bowyer family's problem, that I felt guilty somehow that I didn't take a more assertive approach earlier. They talked me through the events and assured me I had handled it as best I could.
The framework of our plan was Dad, Boone and Darren would take the Kodiak and the 48' trailer and head to Memphis to pick up the Charger. Dale and James would take the 1 ton and the open trailer and go to St. Louis to pick up the Gremlin, while Rachael and I would head to Oklahoma, and see the rest of them before we made our way towards Phoenix. The part that I couldn't get an answer to was if we were going to stay at a motel in Bowling Green and leave Saturday morning, or if we were just going to drive as far as we could tonight and sleep in our respective rigs. I had handled all the motels up to this point, and now everyone seemed to be sitting on their hands unable to make a decision. To compound that, Darryl was waiting as well, he planned to drive Friday night, and would prefer company unless we decided to get a motel, and he would go on by himself. All the adrenaline of the adventure was burned off, and I was left with anxiety, frustration, and weariness from a long day and week. At that moment I was in a profoundly dark mood, so as a truck driver, the only cure I know for that is putting miles under the tires. I told Rachael to get in the truck, and I told Darryl that I was ready to roll, and a few minutes later I was headed out of Beech Bend Raceway Park. Two minutes later my phone was blowing up, I answered Dale's call.
"We decided we are going to get a motel and hang out here until morning, you are welcome to join us."
"Nope, too late, I'm rolling".
"You need rest as bad as anybody, just follow us and I'll find a place."
"I'm putting this thing on the big road and heading to the house", I hung up, and threw the phone on the seat, it quieted down ten minutes later.

Darryl and I made it about 125 miles, found a small truck stop, backed into a spot, and called it a night. He and Rachael each took the front seats of our trucks, while I crawled in the back under my camper shell. My bladder forced me up before the other two just as dawn was breaking, I went inside, washed up, changed shirts, and felt pretty good as I went out to get them moving. My phone rang as I reached the truck.
"This is Donna from Hot Rod, is this MoparBilly?"
"Yeah, what can I do for you?"
"Steve passed away last night, and his family would like to know if your offer to help is still available?"
I felt as though I had been hit in the solar plexus with a sledge hammer, and I leaned back against the truck as all my air escaped. "I'm a, I'm a hundred miles from the track right now...but yeah, we'll figure something out...uh, my family stayed there, so I can get them to handle it."
"Ok, I've been in contact with his sister in Minnesota, can I give her your number?"
"Certainly...yeah, have her call me, and I'll get in contact with my family."
I hung up, then noticed Darryl was standing a foot from me. "Steve's gone isn't he?"
"How'd you know?" I asked.
"Was thinking about it as we drove last night, only thing that clicked. You call your brothers, I'll go grab us some breakfast."

I called Dad instead, he didn't take the news any better than I had, and told me in a quiet voice to give Steve's sister his number, and they would take care of whatever was needed.
She explained to me that the keys were still lost and that Ken was too distraught to continue the search. I gave her Dad's number, and promised we would get everything to Arizona. Once again, my only solace was the road. I met Steve for the first time at Drag Week 2006, he was in a power chair, and had no legs, the disability did not define him in any way. His love of fast street cars in general, and Mopars in particular was what moved him, the chair was just a tool.


"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: MoparBilly] #1515915
12/04/13 01:26 AM
12/04/13 01:26 AM
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Topeka Kansas
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Billy. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID!I first met Steve in 07 when he ran the Dually.Continued to talk to him every year I went.He was stoked about the Valiant this year.One tough SOB!.RIP buddy.Again thanks for the report and helpinghis family out.Need to get a Kleenex.

Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: ksj] #1515916
12/04/13 01:28 AM
12/04/13 01:28 AM
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Topeka Kansas
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He is the Spirit of DragWeek.

Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: ksj] #1515917
12/04/13 01:39 AM
12/04/13 01:39 AM
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Romeo MI
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Quote:

Billy. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID!I first met Steve in 07 when he ran the Dually.Continued to talk to him every year I went.He was stoked about the Valiant this year.One tough SOB!.RIP buddy.Again thanks for the report and helpinghis family out.Need to get a Kleenex.




I first meet Steve in 09 then in 10 and again this
year.... he loved hanging out in the parking lots
talking cars.... its a damn same that HR never gave
him any award or even mention in the mag over the
years.... he will be missed

Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: ksj] #1515918
12/04/13 01:51 AM
12/04/13 01:51 AM
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Texas
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My brother and I met Steve this year (in fact that is my brother by my challenger talking to Steve, as we waited in the tech line), he was so fired up about driving the valiant in dragweek! He was great to talk too, one of those people who looked on the bright side of things, and that just made you feel better. I feel fortunate that I got to meet him.

Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: mprhound] #1515919
12/04/13 02:45 AM
12/04/13 02:45 AM
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Amarillo, Texas
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I first met Steve in the parking lot of a hotel prior to DW2010. We talked Mustangs for a while because we both owned one. Later, after I had to revert to driving the World Famous Dodge Durango instead of the Mustang, one of my goals for the week was to beat Steve's big red dually. I failed miserably. His big truck consistently spanked the Great White Hope at every track.

Rest in peace Steve.


Drag Week 2011 - 77th place - DD
Drag Week 2012 - 2nd place SRBB N/A
Drag Week 2014 - Kapooya
RMRW 2018
RMRW 2020
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: mprhound] #1515920
12/04/13 02:45 AM
12/04/13 02:45 AM
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Renton Washington
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Billy, you sir are good people. God bless.


-Dustin
67 Dart, 9 second, 392" G3 Hemi
68 Barracuda 340 F/SA
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: Triple Threat] #1515921
12/04/13 04:21 AM
12/04/13 04:21 AM
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Topeka Kansas
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Have to laugh.07 he had 2 spare trannys for the Dually in the bed.He grenaded both of them and had the 3rd rebuilt and made the week.The word Warrior comes to mind.

Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: ksj] #1515922
12/04/13 11:40 AM
12/04/13 11:40 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 158
Canada north shore lake Ontari...
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Billy You have private mail.

Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: ross] #1515923
12/05/13 12:48 AM
12/05/13 12:48 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
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Those who have read my tales on here, know that I try to stick to a chronological format, and I knew that would be tough when it came to this part of DW 13. Please allow me to editorialize a little, something I'll readily admit I'm not comfortable doing.

On my involvement.

I certainly don't think my family or I did anything extraordinary in offering our help. I just felt honored to be in a position to do something. In 1995 I was badly burned by radiator steam at the race track. Two racers were on hand immediately to greatly reduce the damage, then other racers and friends returned my rig and car home as I was hauled off to the hospital. On my next visit to the track months later, a racer's wife returned my shirt and pants, washed and folded (yeah, I was stripped to my tighty whiteys in front of the whole track), so this felt like a chance to repay those who helped me through that ordeal.


On Steve

That first Drag Week in 2006, Steve had came up and checked our 78 Dodge 1/2 ton over during tech, and then we made one soft 13.15 during T&T, I remember telling him it was a mild big block. When we finally got to race on Wednesday, it went 12.05-110 and he spun his chair around with a big smile on his face and said, "We need to talk a little more about that engine". We broke the truck and Steve came over and asked if we needed any help. I told him yes we did, and explained that we were short some tools. He was thrilled to go get them out of his dually for us, and I was impressed that he had a whole system so he could get to everything in the truck without any outside help. At that time I thought he must've been without his legs for many years to be so well adjusted, but when I visited with his long time (since third grade) friend who picked his rig up from my house, I was shocked to learn that he had lost his legs in a series of operations over a two year period starting around '03 or 04. I also learned that injuries from his war duties had left him with a plastic elbow as well, of course, he never spoke to me of any of this, he was simply a man who decided to look past his physical limitations and allow his indomitable will to push him to accomplish the things he loved doing. He would never ask for help, and was loathe to accept it when offered with the exception of good friends. Sympathy and coddling, would be rejected openly, but respect, and genuine comradry would be seized upon and returned in kind.

On the situation
Two of the first things that ran through my mind upon hearing the news, were, "this shouldn't have happened", and "how did this happen". In the time since, I have seen these sentiments repeated by many others, and even the very people who have filled in many of the blanks for me, have clearly been searching for those same answers. Sunday was very hot, and the tech line was a long drawn out process. Steve spent most of that time in his car, and drank very little. Monday was much the same story, and he finally decided he could not continue at the first checkpoint, then drove back to his motel in Bowling Green to try and recover. He refused his brother's requests to go to a hospital, and wanted to simply rest and try to make it back to Tucson and see his own doctors.

Beyond those points would be supposition on my part. I try to put myself in the position of his siblings, and I can't begin to understand their pain. I know that his sister Joyce who we were in contact with had supported his desire to do Drag Week every year, and had accompanied him in years past. His brother Ken, fighting ailments of his own, was there for him as well, but my belief is that Steve had become so adept at hiding and denying his own physical problems that no-one realized how serious it was.


"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: MoparBilly] #1515924
12/05/13 04:31 AM
12/05/13 04:31 AM
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Melbourne.....Oz-land
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Excellent piece of written work Billy - I hope Tom archives this.

Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: MoparBilly] #1515925
12/05/13 09:57 AM
12/05/13 09:57 AM
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Billy- This whole thread is great writing. And your helping Steve's family in their time of need- I am sure is greatly appreciated- you are a good man for helping out. I know from personal experience that sometimes the little things people do for you in your time of need mean more than they will ever know.

The heat at DW was rough. I almost gave up on Tuesday myself- and I have heard how a few other racers that dropped out at least partially because of it. I am sure that it magnified any underlying medical problems anybody had.

Your writing makes me kind of wish that we had had a chance to hang out. I met you and your family briefly on Sunday but never caught back up with you again. Thanks for writing this.

Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: orange65] #1515926
12/05/13 10:19 AM
12/05/13 10:19 AM
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United Socialist States of Ame...
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Great reading Billy! You are one of a kind!


The end is near.....
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: tboomer] #1515927
12/05/13 02:06 PM
12/05/13 02:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 235
Gilbert AZ
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I met Steve for the first time in the lanes sunday, he was excited to show me the controls and talk about the car and such, I asked him if he wanted help getting out and getting to some shade. He refused and said his brother was around and he was fine. He looked overheated, but he had water with him so I went on my way, at first I was upset that his brother left him there in the lanes all alone but I guess Steve was a leave me alone kind of guy so that explains it. Glad you could help out Billy.

Last edited by tsanchez; 12/05/13 02:07 PM.
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: tsanchez] #1515928
12/06/13 12:38 AM
12/06/13 12:38 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
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Thanks, Guys!

Thankfully the search for Steve's keys was over quickly, Darren had volunteered to look through the Valiant, and found them in the contents of the glove box. Dad, Darren and Boone went back to the track, and picked up the rig, then returned to the motel to load the car. Once they had everything ready to roll and let me know, I called Donna from Hot Rod to let her know that we had everything headed back to Arizona.
Boone followed Darren and Dad to Memphis, they loaded the Charger, and then all headed to Owasso. Darryl ran with Rachael and I all the way to Sallisaw Oklahoma, then we took the Muskogee Turnpike to Owasso, while he headed on down I-40 towards Phoenix.

7948742-100_0998.jpg (161 downloads)

"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: MoparBilly] #1515929
12/06/13 12:53 AM
12/06/13 12:53 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
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Rachael and I showered and went straight to bed once we arrived at Dale's house. Dale and James arrived a few hours later from their trip through St. Louis.

7948755-100_1001.jpg (133 downloads)

"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Drag Week 2013: The Experience [Re: MoparBilly] #1515930
12/06/13 01:06 AM
12/06/13 01:06 AM
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Phoenix, AZ
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Boone dropped off Steve's rig at Dale's and along with Dad and Darren, joined us all for a big meal around Dales' table, almost a debriefing session, before they took the Kodiak and the 48 foot trailer over to their place.

7948768-100_1005.jpg (160 downloads)

"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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