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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: Skeptic] #2383183
10/06/17 10:38 PM
10/06/17 10:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,471
Minnesota
Hemi_Joel Offline
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Originally Posted By Skeptic


I think it's a great point of discussion, but Lohnes and Freiburger are NOT running the show. They can say whatever they want to.


It is my understanding that Freiburger is the judge and jury of all things Drag Week. Turk and Grimm are the cops.

Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: Hemi_Joel] #2383186
10/06/17 10:43 PM
10/06/17 10:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,394
The Pale Blue Dot
Skeptic Offline
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The Pale Blue Dot
Originally Posted By Hemi_Joel
Originally Posted By Skeptic


I think it's a great point of discussion, but Lohnes and Freiburger are NOT running the show. They can say whatever they want to.


It is my understanding that Freiburger is the judge and jury of all things Drag Week. Turk and Grimm are the cops.
Really, He gave (me) the impression that he wasn't part of it officially anymore, since he left Hot Rod. Thanks for the correction. wave

Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: Skeptic] #2383199
10/06/17 11:20 PM
10/06/17 11:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
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StealthWedge67 Offline
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Puyallup, WA
Originally Posted By Skeptic
Originally Posted By StealthWedge67

What do you mean it doesn't say anything about tows on the track..... It says right there: "All vehicles must be driven under their own power during the entire Drag Week competition and may not be towed, trailered, pushed, or hauled at any time."

Explain to me how this does NOT mean on the track???
Good point, but the part you did NOT quote addresses that very clearly
Quote:
The exception is in the event of an emergency in which a
vehicle needs to be removed from the roadway or other dangerous situation, in which case assistance may be
used to move the car a short distance to a safe area
A breakdown on the track would seem to qualify. It doesn't say who can give assistance, or for exactly how long/far.
[/quote]

Wow, you really only see what you want to, don’t you skeptic...... it says right there “a short distance to a safe area”. That clearly means “get it off the road”, and it also is clear that a tow all the way back to the pits by a camera crew in a golf cart is WELL outside the rules.


LemonWedge - Street heavy / Strip ready - 11.07 @ 120
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383205
10/06/17 11:28 PM
10/06/17 11:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
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Tulsa OK
You guys realize that Tom Baileys motor was blown up? I am sure he was well aware it was busted and he was out of the event before the 1320 guys hooked on.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383219
10/06/17 11:48 PM
10/06/17 11:48 PM
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Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
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MoparBilly Offline OP
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Phoenix, AZ
Have you guys actually read any of my other stories?
For the most part Drag Week is live and let live. Protests are generally frowned upon by participants unless someone is clearly circumventing the rules with obvious intent.

I was trying to write these tales in an attempt to provide the texture and spirit of the event...apparently I have failed.


"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383231
10/07/17 12:22 AM
10/07/17 12:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,394
The Pale Blue Dot
Skeptic Offline
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The Pale Blue Dot
Originally Posted By MoparBilly
Have you guys actually read any of my other stories?
For the most part Drag Week is live and let live. Protests are generally frowned upon by participants unless someone is clearly circumventing the rules with obvious intent.

I was trying to write these tails in an attempt to provide the texture and spirit of the event...apparently I have failed.
Billy, the tales of you and your family are why I have any interest in Drag Week. Watching the live feeds and following along online with all the struggles (and overcoming them) have fanned the flames. I realize the rules are intentionally open, and for me this is just some bench racing between friends. We don't always see things the same way, but no bad feelings, at least on my part.

Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383238
10/07/17 12:32 AM
10/07/17 12:32 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 147
AZ
squirrel Offline
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squirrel  Offline
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AZ
I think the whole Drag Week thing is hard to understand, if you are not participating...

Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383256
10/07/17 01:13 AM
10/07/17 01:13 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,074
Manitoba Canada
67autocross Offline
super stock
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Manitoba Canada
The a only time during Drag Week anyone seemed to care about rules was when you went through tech inspection... once that was over it was just go time. The firebird that got hit got flat decked from the accident to the track to get fixed ...no one cared.


A new iron curtain drawn across the 49th parallel
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: 67autocross] #2383261
10/07/17 01:22 AM
10/07/17 01:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,394
The Pale Blue Dot
Skeptic Offline
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The Pale Blue Dot
My last thoughts on this issue. If Tom could have fixed his car, I'd let him continue. I can understand where someone would think otherwise. If it were me broken, I'd do everything I could to be sure I'd be allowed to continue before I'd let any non competitor move my car if there was any hope of fixing it. twocents

Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383270
10/07/17 02:01 AM
10/07/17 02:01 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,457
Sydney,Australia
tex013 Offline
top fuel
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Sydney,Australia
Billy ,
I love your stories/recap
I get similar from Steve a mate who goes
I think some are overthinking the whole deal

Tex


New best ET 10.259@129.65 .
New best MPH 130.32
Finally fitted a solid cam,
stepped it up a bit more
3690lbs through the mufflers
New World block 3780lbs 10.278@130.80 . Wowser 10.253@130.24 footbraking from 1500rpm
Power by Tex's Automotive
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383275
10/07/17 02:24 AM
10/07/17 02:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,471
Minnesota
Hemi_Joel Offline
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Minnesota
Billy, even if you're​ a failure, at least you're good at it. wink Please keep going on the DW stories!

Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383310
10/07/17 09:38 AM
10/07/17 09:38 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
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Tulsa OK
Yeah, you have left us without an entry for a few days and we have run amuck.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: Bad340fish] #2383356
10/07/17 12:15 PM
10/07/17 12:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,454
Glendora Ca.
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Just-a-dart Offline
pro stock
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Glendora Ca.
Billy please move the story forward.

Did the trailer wiring work out?
Is the Gremlin all one shade of White?
Are the brothers Gebhart still speaking to each other?
Is little Timmy going to get saved from the bottom of a well?



"Just a Bracket car dressed up like a streetcar"
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383479
10/07/17 04:46 PM
10/07/17 04:46 PM
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Phoenix, AZ
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MoparBilly Offline OP
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It was roughly two in the afternoon on Tuesday when I nosed the rig into Dale's back yard. Typically on Hell Week this would be a hub of activity, with my brothers and several friends thrashing away on multiple projects, but it was amazingly quiet, almost serene.
Boone was finishing up the installation of new axles under his small car trailer, a project he had abandoned almost exactly a year ago, when he realized if all his efforts weren't on the Ruster Duster, he wasn't going to need a trailer.
"Where is everyone?" I asked as I walked over to check out his progress.
"Dale had to work today, and it's his last day until after Drag Week...so it will be a long one I'm sure. Dad has been staying here at Dale's, but he gets up every morning and goes over to Darren's to work on the Charger."
"Why didn't he bring it over here?"
"Every year it's the same thing, he wants it over there so he has his own tools, but then he's constantly calling for help, or sending Dad over here for a part he doesn't have!"

Boone decided to help me unload the Valiant, so we grabbed the ramps out of the side holder and walked them around to the back of the trailer.
"What happened to your taillight?" Boone laughed as he set his ramp down in place.
"That Love's in OKC...the one right before you get on the turnpike, has a tight lot for someone with a two car trailer", I explained.
"Yes it does", he agreed, "hate buying fuel there."
"Well, I was trying to miss a car, and barely tale whipped the yellow pole at the end of the pumps. It caught that flimsy bracket just enough to bend it in and smash the light against the frame of the trailer!"
"Is that an LED?" he asked, bending over to examine the busted pieces that were still attached.
"Yes...I bought them through Amazon, installed them right before I left, and that one made it 24 hours and a thousand miles until it met it's demise!"
The amount of laughter he chose to use did not seem appropriate for my predicament, I felt, so I changed the subject.
"Are you going to help me unload this car or not? Lets get the straps off the back, then we will push it forward to undo the chain."

We pushed the car off into the grass, and had unloaded the coolers out of the back of the truck when Dale made it home from work. He came out of his truck like his hair was on fire and started grilling Boone on what he had set up for him to do on the Duster over the next few days to insure it would be ready to go.
"Where are you going to be?" I asked Dale innocently, not understanding his demeanor.
"I'm going to hook to my trailer, load up a bunch of parts and tools, and head to Miami so I can finish the Gremlin! First though, I have to run some parts over to Dylan's shop, so he can install them on Beehler's Duster!"
"Beehler? He's still trying to turn that Victory Chassis Duster into a street car and take it on Drag Week...THIS Drag Week?"
"Yeah", Dale shook his head, "and he wanted me to do the work, but I have too much on my plate already, so I hooked him up with this Dylan, who has a chassis shop in Tulsa."
"When are you going to be back?" I asked Dale, "I'd kinda like to put the Valiant on the pad in front of the shop, but if you're going to be back with the Gremlin, I don't want to take your spot!"
Dale shook his head and laughed, "You don't understand Dave...I'll be lucky to be back Thursday afternoon!"

Dale helped Boone and I get the Valiant located on the pad, and by the time I had it jacked up and on jack stands, he was leaving once again. A few minutes later Boone got a phone call from Dad asking for help to get the transmission in place on the Charger.
"Is he working on it by himself, where is Darren?"
"No, Darren has a neighbor that he roped into helping them, but he's not really a mechanic. Darren would have already left for work though, so it's just the two of them."
"Great, so Dad and another old codger are building the car, while Darren pops out there for a few hours each afternoon to check on them and order more parts", I shook my head, hands on hips.
"Yeah, that's pretty much it", Boone laughed. "You want to go with me?"
"No, I've spent enough time in a truck today!"

A few minutes after Boone left, Dale's Wife came onto the back porch to yell, "Got spaghetti and meatballs ready if you're hungry, Dave!"
Clearly a much better offer than I had gotten from Boone.

21617648_1575303275823753_3990649827435259222_n.jpg21317811_1560209447333136_7479344670060270223_n.jpgIMG_0083 - Copy.JPGIMG_0054 - Copy.JPG

"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383490
10/07/17 05:12 PM
10/07/17 05:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,478
So. Burlington, Vt.
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fast68plymouth Offline
I Live Here
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So. Burlington, Vt.
Uuuuummm.......Miami?


68 Satellite, 383 with stock 906’s, 3550lbs, 11.18@123
Dealer for Comp Cams/Indy Heads
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383492
10/07/17 05:20 PM
10/07/17 05:20 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 147
AZ
squirrel Offline
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AZ
There are lots of Miamis, there's one in Oklahoma, and one in Arizona, and probably several more

Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: fast68plymouth] #2383507
10/07/17 06:04 PM
10/07/17 06:04 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 15,118
85086
moparpollack Offline
Lil Herman
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85086
Originally Posted By fast68plymouth
Uuuuummm.......Miami?


Pronounced Myamah!
up


56 Plaza 63 D100 step side 67 Coronet, 68 Roadrunner, 69 Super Bees, 69 Coronet 500 convertible, 70 Roadrunner Post, 79 D150 360, and a severe case of Mopar a,d,d
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383844
10/08/17 01:07 PM
10/08/17 01:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
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MoparBilly Offline OP
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Phoenix, AZ
"What was going on over there?" I asked Boone, after he came back outside from eating spaghetti.
"They just couldn't get it lined up with the engine...those 73 Chargers are such a pain to work on, but I managed to wiggle it up on the dowel pin and get a couple bolts pulled up, so they should be able to finish it."
"Speaking of transmissions, what was the deal with the one in Michelle's Duster? I saw on Facebook they had to pull it back out."
"Yeah, it ended being a bad pump half, allowing fluid to bleed past and pressurize the front drum, so it was applied all the time." He shook his head, "I need more cores...I'm just running out of decent hard parts".
"Then there was a picture that looked like she did a burnout in the garage, and cracked the front bumper!"
Boone shook his head, ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, "Dave, don't get me started on those kids...they want advice, they act like they want to learn, but they just won't listen!"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the first time they were ready to try out the 727, I told them to put it up on jack stands, and run it through all the gears to make sure it was applying them before they put a load on it."
"Yeah, pretty standard procedure", I agreed.
"Then you seen the video where she was driving it through the back yard at like twenty mph?"
"On Facebook, yes I saw that."
"That was the trans test when they realized it was pulling forward all the time and would lock up in reverse", he shook his head again. "When I asked why they didn't test it the way I told them to, they said they couldn't tell if it was shifting or not, but I think they never had the back tires off the ground."
"How hard is it to jack the car up and put it on four jack stands", I shrugged
"It's like they are allergic to jack stands, or only own two", Boone surmised. "I went over with another valve body to try, and they had the front on stands, and the jack under the rear end with the tires barely off the ground, and I guarantee you it was that way when the throttle hung open and shoved it into their toolbox on the second test!"
"Wow, why'd the throttle hang?"
"Something with the way Will had the linkage installed, I'm just glad none of them were standing in front of the car, or under it!"
"So everything works now?"
"I think they took it out for a short cruise today, and so far so good."

I had unloaded most of the stuff that was in the Valiant, and the Truck, but it was pretty dark outside by this point in the evening, and my four hours of sleep the previous night was used up.
"What have you got left, Boone?"
"Honestly, I don't feel like fumbling around in the dark. You want to call it a night, and try to hit it again early in the morning?"
"My thoughts exactly", I agreed quickly before he changed his mind.

21167611_1926867010970263_6391266060783731991_o.jpg

"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks" 4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2383868
10/08/17 01:53 PM
10/08/17 01:53 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
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StealthWedge67 Offline
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StealthWedge67  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
Originally Posted By MoparBilly
Have you guys actually read any of my other stories?
For the most part Drag Week is live and let live. Protests are generally frowned upon by participants unless someone is clearly circumventing the rules with obvious intent.

I was trying to write these tails in an attempt to provide the texture and spirit of the event...apparently I have failed.


My bad Billy! I must have been in a pissy mood and a ridiculous rules squabble clearly has no place in your tale, nor in any real drag week conversation.


LemonWedge - Street heavy / Strip ready - 11.07 @ 120
Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2017: The Experience. [Re: MoparBilly] #2384190
10/08/17 11:38 PM
10/08/17 11:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
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MoparBilly Offline OP
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MoparBilly  Offline OP
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Phoenix, AZ
Wednesday 9/6

Despite a solid eight+ hours of sleep, Boone and I lacked any sense of urgency Wednesday morning. We stopped for breakfast at Waffle House, grabbed some parts at O'Reilley's, then grabbed a few 20lb. bags of ice for the coolers. We've found over the years that the best way to keep everyone hydrated during Hell Week is to have six or seven coolers under a shade tree in the back yard stocked with water, soda, tea, energy drinks and the like. This cuts down tremendously on the traffic through the house, meaning Dale's wife is less fussy and more inclined to feed us. It was around ten before we showed up at Dale's, and his stepson Cody was the only other person around.

The weather was fantastic, a good twenty degrees cooler than it was the day before, and coming from Phoenix it was a welcome change.
"We may have overdone it on drinks this year", I commented as we stocked the coolers with ice.
"Yeah, if this weather holds, and it's only the two of us", Boone agreed.
"Dale came home late last night", Cody informed us, "just to grab a shower, some clothes, and some parts, but he made it sound like he wouldn't be back tonight!"
"What did he say about the car", I asked.
"Said he had a bunch of work ahead of him", Cody shrugged, "I told him I would come up and help, since my girlfriend wants to spend some time in Miami anyway."

I pulled the tires and wheels off the Valiant, so I could take them to Robertson Tire in Owasso to get the new Hoosier Quick Time Pros mounted. I was in possession of the tires for over two weeks, but Phoenix is suddenly without a true full service tire shop, and no one there wants to touch anything with a tube in it. Boone had pointed out a large bubble on the side of my bias ply trailer spare also, so I felt compelled to replace it as well. I had them loaded up, and was working on the hard brake lines for the discs on the rear when Boone walked over and explained that Dad wanted him to come over and help on Darren's car again.
"I'll ride over with you", I quickly decided, since I wanted to see Darren's progress so far with my own eyes. "Did he say what the problem was?"
"He said the engine just locked up, and they can't turn it over, so he wanted me to take a look".

The Charger was sitting half in, half out of the shop, at a weird angle, with parts, tools and debris strewn all around it.
"What were you working on", Boone asked Dad, who was leaning on one front fender.
"I tightened the first two converter bolts, then when he went to turn it with a bar so I could get the third...it just locked up!"
"Dang it Dad! Why didn't you tell me that on the phone", Boone tossed his hands in the air. I bit my lip to avoid laughing.
"Well...I don't know what happened!" Dad stated firmly.
"You pulled the converter into the flexplate and caught one of the other bolts against the block. How many Mopar torque converters have you installed!"
"Yeah, that make sense", Dad looked at the floor, "so I'll have to back those two out, and bring it in slowly until all the bolts clear".
I stood there in stunned silence. Finally Dad pointed out that they had yet to conquer the bolt that held the dipstick and one of the bottom bolts that thread into the transmission. Boone managed to get the dipstick in place and the bolt started, but quickly realized that the bottom hole, where he installed the heli-coil in the trans case slightly crooked, and it wouldn't allow that bolt to start.

We were several blocks from Darren's place before I addressed Boone. "What's up with Dad"?
Boone drew in a deep breath and paused before answering. "He's slipping Dave...he's 73! It really only shows when he's tired or stressed, most days he's good. He knows it too, and he gets frustrated and angry over it...it's been tough, and it ticks me off that Darren depends on him like this!"
"How long? This is the first time I've noticed!"
"No, it's the first time you've had to come to grips with it! You're not around him daily or weekly like we are", Boone let the harshness in his voice trail off, clearly not intending to attack me with his analysis.
I let the silence hang for a few miles. "Twenty years older than me, you know, so I often look at his life as a road map for mine...I'm not sure this is what I wanted to see."
Boone gave me a sidelong look, "As fat as you are right now...you don't have to worry about seventy-three!"
We both burst into laughter. "Thank's a bunch little brother!"



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