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Post deleted by Defbob
[Re: hemiparts]
#557576
12/19/09 10:53 AM
12/19/09 10:53 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
#557577
12/19/09 03:57 PM
12/19/09 03:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
tubtar
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
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Quote:
The first time I met Ronnie Sox I was excited like a little kid at Christmas. What surprised me the most about the man was how truly friendly and sincere he was when he talked to you. Ronnie would put as much attention into a conversation with a 14 year old kid talking about the car of his dreams that he would one day build as in talking with Bill Jenkins or Don Gartlis. When I got to know him over the years one comment I would always make about him was " sometimes I think he doesn't know he's Ronnie Sox". Of course that was said because he was so down to earth and far from what people expect from a true legend
That was my impression of him........nicest guy you'd care to meet.
And I also met Warren Johnson that same week end for the first time.
Not the nicest guy you'd ever care to meet.
Being it was in Minnesota and Warren hailed from Fridley , Mn. and cut his teeth on local tracks , I guess I thought he'd be a nice guy.
I still have pics from the event.......Warren was driving for Jerome Bradford , who also came off like a real dink , so maybe it was contagious.
I think I have come to understand Warren a bit since then ( 1983 or so ), and he will never be what I expected , but that is O.K.
Ronnie was pedaling a Dean Thompson sponsored Mustang back then and he was a driver I idolized since my early exposure to drag racing.
It was such a thrill to meet him , and that he was so considerate and friendly to me left an indelible mark on me.
The pits are filled with both types of personalities , and you know who I will be rooting for come elimination time.
Bigger dink than Warren ?
Joe Amato.........followed closely by Shirley Muldowney.
They may both be wonderful people , but when you approach them with children who think they are the greatest........my 12 yr. old nephew in Joe's case and my 5 yr. old Daughter in Shirley's , and they totally snub them , that impression sticks.
But it was such a thrill to meet Ronnie that the rest of the week end was just window dressing.
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: tubtar]
#557578
12/19/09 04:38 PM
12/19/09 04:38 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
cheapstreetdustr
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
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I remember Ried Wisniat at atco... as a child i gained my affection for the duster because of that day.. I was standing in the staging lanes...i was knee high..."the back tire seemed soo big..." the car was gold and looked like something from Egypt to me.. (we were learning about king tut that week in school) My cousin told me that it was a plymouth duster....my family all owned plymouths...so i could relate... Ried was awsome to me that day..
i met him a few yrs ago in Georgia and told him this story.. he loved it...RIP Reid.. ...that was also a weekend when Jungle Jim was at the track.. that was the day.. for me...Jungle became bigger than life ... they had his shirts on sale in the gift shop.... those days at the track for me as a kid were overwhelming ...i wish i could get that feeling back just one more time...!.like the first time to the circus..only WAAY!! better.. Some time ..Later on... jungles crew was trailering one of Jims floppers over the Walt whitman bridge and a gust of wind blew the body off.... dad and i were by chance ...came apon them on the bridge.on the way to his office...(orgegon ave south philly...under walt whitman.) My father told them to drive it down to our trucking terminal/cold storage warehouse.. they could make arrangements to secure it properly ...for the rest of the trip... i knew that car right away...when i saw it. seem'd id seen that car everywhere in print as a kid after that..... .it just sticks out in your mind... i got more..  cheapst
365" Iron J heads,,3480lbs best 1.39 60ft on SS springs.10.54,124 mph ...6.67 1/8th et.average 60fts 1.46 w/ small cam &.063 no2 pill tagged & insured
[image][/image]
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: cheapstreetdustr]
#557580
12/19/09 04:55 PM
12/19/09 04:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
cheapstreetdustr
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
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I remember Shirley muldowney...showed up at the night of fire...?? now some of you older guys may confirm or dispute this..but i understood atco had Phenominal traction...back then..?here goes my story.. We were hangin around their pit..i asked him what he thought of the track..(her son,,I assume?) He said..it held that last past pretty good. We all stated.."yea this track hooks good" something to that effect.. what did i know at that age---10/12?so He says...we'll see..on the next pass.... I was askin him if he was gonna put more fuel in it ..or more clutch..i dont remember his response.. i was trying to sound knowledge-able....lol.. but the next pass the car stayed hooked....the whole way down...dont remember if it was a fast pass or not... ...but when i returned to the pits we asked him what he thought...(you know standing near them as they worked on the car) he said..while not looking at me... "NO &**& that thing hooked hard.it almost burnt up the motor...?" lean? i assume..? he turned..and realised it was us...the same kids from earlier.... he said." i didnt think it would take that much clutch....by golly it did..." he said he was gonna put a "tune-up" that was either gonna blow the tire off or run a hell of a number..." next pass it stayed hooked...lit flames 4ft tall out the pipes...all the way to the end... they announced over the p.a. it was something..a the fastest ET or the fastest MPH..for the track.. cant remember which.. we of course..hurried back over to the car.. and they were flabbergasted.... i got a picture of us there next to the motor.. ..somewhere..i havent seen it in yrs... fwiw... cheapst now its your guys turn....  still got more though
365" Iron J heads,,3480lbs best 1.39 60ft on SS springs.10.54,124 mph ...6.67 1/8th et.average 60fts 1.46 w/ small cam &.063 no2 pill tagged & insured
[image][/image]
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: cgall]
#557582
12/19/09 07:40 PM
12/19/09 07:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
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Fall of 1977 my wife and I drove to the Indy Nationals pulling an econo altered that a buddy owned. His dream was to make a pass at Indy. He was completely unprepared for the event, and after trying to help him for a while I concluded he was seriously out of his mind and gave up. I walked the pits.
The Valley Fever top fuel car was cleaning house running a big block Chevy. Watching those guys go through the car between rounds was unbelievable; they were having a ball! Laughing, joking around, answered any questions viewers asked. I remember commenting that they'd not port matched the heads to the intake. One of the crew members looks at me, smiles and says "why bother- it's a blower motor, the heads don't know the difference".
I walked around some more; hotter than heck out and I took a break sitting on the fenders of an enclosed trailer in the shade. A voice says "how're we doing today?" It was Don Garlits. We had a very cordial visit. Down the way my wife, 7 months pregnant at the time, was sitting at a picnic table visiting with Shirley Muldowney. When I got to the table Shirley was just saying "well, better get to work" She shook my wife's hand and left.
The only people we encountered that day that were rude were Don Nicholson and The Golden Greek. Don was still hauling his race car on an flat bed truck then.
A year later a business trip found me in South Florida and through contacts ended up at the shop of Dempsey Hardy, who at the time was running a Nova in SS. He acted like he had all the time in the world to visit. Let me look at anything in the shop I was interested in. I think that was the 1st time I'd seen gas ported pistons. Had a great time visiting the place. I'll never forget it.
Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: peabodyracing]
#557584
12/19/09 08:12 PM
12/19/09 08:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
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Last story and I'll shut up. 1972 in South San Francisco at Champion Dragstrip. That was an 1/8 mile track right smack in the Bay area. I was racing my 61 Lancer wagon. Beat out a guy in a Chevelle who was so upset at losing that he kept going through the lights, passed me in the shut down area, got in front of me and jumped on his brakes. I managed not to rear end him but ended up following him down the return road to the time slip shack.
He pulled up to the shack, got his slip and sat there waiting for me to pull up behind him. When I did, he unloaded his car, throwing gravel and crap all over the front of my car. I remember rocks bouncing off my windshied. I lost my composure at that point. I followed him to where he parked. He was sitting in his car laughing with a couple buddies standing by the door. I got out of my car, walked over to his door and literally dragged him out the window of his car. yelling at him the whole time about what he'd done to my car.
I then realized I'd gotten myself into a 3 on 1 situation. The 3 of them were preparing to pound me good. As I stood there, 2 guys I'd never seen before in my life stepped up next to me and said "this should even things out". Before it got any worse, the track officials showed up, threw the guy and his car out of the track and apologized to me for the trouble. By the time I turned to say thanks to my two guardian angels they'd already gone back to watching the racing.
Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: peabodyracing]
#557585
12/19/09 09:03 PM
12/19/09 09:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,761
A collage of whims
topside
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,761
A collage of whims
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My buddies who ran at Champion always have a fight story or two, so I believe ya.
In the '70s, I worked on funny car bodies, and spent a lot of time at a shop that Jim Hume & Pat Foster had.
I remember that McEwen's chassis' were wider than anyone else's they did, because he was wider.
There was a team out of Texas, VERY well known, who supplemented their income. Very creative modification to their Dually. 'Nuff said.
The chassis builders had their own rivalry going, and I remember a pick-it-apart session one night on a Brodie chassis that had tubes going EVERYWHERE. Mind you, Foster & Hume worried about the orientation of every fastener, every tube, and if the finished product wasn't a work of art, they'd probably have hung themselves.
Cecil Yother had a rocket car, and sent it to Dean Moon's shop for some work. It ended up missing. About 30 years later, he's talking to Garlits, who had the rocket car but didn't know it'd been stolen or that it was Cecil's.
I've told this one here before: Cecil & Sox are running their AWB cars, injected nitro by that time. Sox tries burning Cecil down at the tree. What Sox doesn't know is Cecil has a water tank & pump in his trunk for just this kind of stunt, so Cecil sits. And sits. And sits. Sox' car is now overheating, so he gives up & stages. Cecil sits some more, then stages. End of the race, Sox drives directly to his trailer with the motor literally smoking, only time Cecil can remember him angry.
A couple of years ago at MATS, Lindamood, Yother & Vanke were telling war stories & life-on-the-road stories, and I was alternately laughing so hard I couldn't see, and in awe that they were still around to talk. Vanke took us up to the starting line for the SS/A cars like he owned the place, and I'll never forget that either. Dart stick car had a chip malfunction and left nearly floating the valves.
I could go on for hours, including events at Lions, but let's just say I've been very lucky to be in the right place with the right people at the right time.
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: dustergirl340]
#557587
12/19/09 09:47 PM
12/19/09 09:47 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 916
Arizona
Chucklehead
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 916
Arizona
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About 5-6 years ago at Speedworld in Whittman Az , Bob Rigel(sp?) of the Hemi Under Glass took the time to talk and explain his car to my son who was around 14 years old at the time. Great guy, Same day a guy with a Challenger (I think his name is Billy) took the time to show and explain, demonstrate how the box shifted the car at set RPM to my son and I. He heard my kid ask me what the box was for and called us over to explain. Two great guys in one day.
Still Broke
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: Chucklehead]
#557588
12/19/09 10:56 PM
12/19/09 10:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,129
Cleveland
sunroofgtx
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,129
Cleveland
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My first time racing my GTX, back in 1983. I was 16, just finished building the 440 with my neighbor. Had it.030 over, 10.5 to 1, stock intake, TQ, ... Stock trans.. whatever..It was green, as in,, new, fresh, junk.. Whatever I could afford bussing tables.. I had my parents come, friends, everyone I knew. I really never could drive it on the street beacuse I HAD to have 14x32 FireStones, like every other "real" racecar I knew of..lol Anyway, I pulled into the water and smoked the heck out of those FireStones.. Boy did I and the rest of the people in the stands feel sorry for for the poor Mustang 2 in the next lane. My slicks made the GTX's rake look exactly like a Rat Fink Tshirt car. Anyway, we stage ...and my GTX sputtered and popped and vapor locked the whole way down. Ran a slower time than my VW ragtop. That Mustang must have ran a 14 and blew my doors off. We got back to the pits. I had no clue how to tune , just how to throw stuff together and go..My parents had it all on video. I pulled it right on the trailer after my dad asked what happened.. I told him I have no clue.. LOL
Join the quickest team in motorsports. Team FireCore. CustomWiresets.com
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: hemiparts]
#557590
12/19/09 11:12 PM
12/19/09 11:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,840
The Swamp
Sixpak
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,840
The Swamp
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Was talking to my machinist a number of years ago, who happened to be an old time Super Stock racer. He was telling me a story where, at one national event, a bunch of racers staying at a particular hotel would rent one hotel room amongst themselves. What went on in that one hotel room would be enough to make any housekeeper scream - guys rebuilding short blocks, honing blocks in the bathtub, etc. He vividly recalled a Rod SHop driver, who shall remain nameless, freshening up a 727, ON THE BED, opened it up right on the mattress, dextron all over the thing.... .
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: John_Kunkel]
#557591
12/19/09 11:17 PM
12/19/09 11:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 93
Indy
cjfordman
member
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member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 93
Indy
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Quote:
Quote:
Bigger dink than Warren ?
Joe Amato.........followed closely by Shirley Muldowney.
Glad to see others feel the same way as I do.
Shirleys nic name was ThunderCu^t 
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Post deleted by Defbob
[Re: topside]
#557593
12/20/09 12:12 AM
12/20/09 12:12 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
#557594
12/20/09 12:18 AM
12/20/09 12:18 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 729
Lebanon,IN
mr2performance
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 729
Lebanon,IN
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you mean "mean gene the fort worth queen"????
MR2PERFORMANCE RACE CARS
765 483 9371
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Post deleted by Defbob
[Re: mr2performance]
#557595
12/20/09 12:44 AM
12/20/09 12:44 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: mr2performance]
#557597
12/20/09 12:52 AM
12/20/09 12:52 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,379
MD
Kevins493
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,379
MD
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Quote:
you mean "mean gene the fort worth queen"????
or, given whats happening on the east coast right now, "snow blower"?
mods if that went too far feel free to delete..
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Post deleted by Defbob
[Re: sixpakdodge]
#557598
12/20/09 12:56 AM
12/20/09 12:56 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
#557599
12/20/09 02:15 AM
12/20/09 02:15 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,031
Raleigh N.C
hemiparts
OP
"Missile Pilot"
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OP
"Missile Pilot"
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,031
Raleigh N.C
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: hemiparts]
#557600
12/20/09 09:30 AM
12/20/09 09:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 506
Texas Afghanistan Iraq etc.
DakFink
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 506
Texas Afghanistan Iraq etc.
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Stories like this are why I LOVE DRAG RACING!!! The Nice Guys really do out number the Butt-Heads and from what I have heard a few names mentioned above are actually some nice guys away from the Heat of Competition. I haven't got any REAL big stories to tell. Just wanted to let all you Ole Timers know that you have made this the best Motorsport out there for a Family!! I take my Wife and 3 kids (2 girls, 1 Boy) to the track every chance I get. They all WANT to go. I don't have to worry about bad-attitudes or Nasty Mouths or them getting hurt as long as they keep their distnce from the cars while crews are working. I really admire the comroderary among the competitors as well. Seen a guy in Pro 5.0 loan a guy and helped him install a transmission. Little did I know the guy that loaned the trans was up against the guy that borrowed it for the Final Round. The Guy that loaned could have easily NOT loaned the trans and made the other guy miss the starting call, but he didn't he was there to race. The guy that loaned the trans did end up winning by a front fender and got his trans back. You just don't see that kind of stuff in other forms of any Sport. I'll just be glad when I finally get be on the track again myself!! 
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: sixpakdodge]
#557601
12/20/09 10:02 AM
12/20/09 10:02 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,873
Chicken coop
dustergirl340
Chicken Little
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Chicken Little
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,873
Chicken coop
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Quote:
Can anyone here confirm or deny a certain Detroit area Mopar racer's illegal substance funding?
I will not confirm nor deny such a thing. 
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: dustergirl340]
#557602
12/20/09 10:25 PM
12/20/09 10:25 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
cheapstreetdustr
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
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My Uncle tells this story..ive heard it many times..i feel like i was there...
Pre-face...My Uncle and Steve Kanuika where good freinds..Kanuika built motors for Jungle Jim Lieberman and claire Sanders in the early yrs..
the story goes...jungle was in a hurry to get to a race in fla..
at some point in the trip ..during a stop .
they realised that fuel had spilled in the trailer..
the fuel had gotten all over Jungles fire suit..
remember those shiney silver suits...they were not cheap either....?
so..they had the suit tied to the outboard mirrors and in the bed of the truck to try to air it out the rest of the the trip.
they get to the race...and the first pass jungle comes back and says..the fuel is BURNING the heck out of his Man parts....
you can image race fuel on that...and the amount of time he will have to be in that suit..
Jungle was well known for long smokey burnouts..
he stated...that "i am gonna have to do short burnouts this weekend..the less time im in the fire suit the better..
Well..the next pass...Jungle still does this Hairy burnout..as usuall...but this time..
he hauls butt in reverse to make it back to the stage.....
My uncle claims he was going 50 mph in reverse.
Jungle became famous for backing up after a burnout and going very fast doing it..
My uncle claims this is how that got started..
cause he had race gas spilled in the crotch of his pants...lol...
cheapst
365" Iron J heads,,3480lbs best 1.39 60ft on SS springs.10.54,124 mph ...6.67 1/8th et.average 60fts 1.46 w/ small cam &.063 no2 pill tagged & insured
[image][/image]
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: cheapstreetdustr]
#557603
12/20/09 11:05 PM
12/20/09 11:05 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,475
SW Ohio
cgall
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,475
SW Ohio
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Every year at holiday time I enjoy telling the story of when my wife and I went to the 5-day bracket races at Moroso in Jupiter, FL in 1985. My wife was only 19 at the time and had never gone camping or been away from home before.
My good friend Jack Balcom had won $10K in '84 down there, footbraking a 10.90 door car. This was unheard of at the time, so the result was that there were 11 teams from the Cincinnati area that made the trip in '85, it seemed like easy pickings down there. The final race in Super Pro in late October at Edgewater was won by Jack, I was runner-up, so we were confident.
I had a 2nd shift job, drove my '78 Dodge Tradesman Van and open trailer with race car and all my junk to work on Thursday. Back then, the races started on Friday and concluded on Tuesday. My wife met me at work at 11:00 pm and we planned to drive all night to make the first race Friday. I got to somewhere south of Orlando and had to pull in to a rest area to take a nap. After a short rest, I hear someone banging on my side door, I open up and it’s some old guy that says he needs a jump. I crawl out and jump the old [Edited by Moparts - Family Friendly Site - Keep it clean] from the race car battery, then look around and realize that it is like 3:00 in the afternoon! We had slept for 5 or 6 hours.
I had never been to South FL before, so I figger we are pretty close to the track. Wrong, the personal computer had not been invented yet, so Mapquest was not even an idea yet. You go down the Beeline Highway over swamps and lakes for about another day before you get to Moroso. Needless to say, we miss the first day of racing. My wife is tired but quite thrilled when we check in to the PGA Holiday Inn.
Saturday we pull into the track, all races are run at night. Coolest thing about this track is that it is 80 degrees all day, sun goes down and it goes down to 75 degrees…and it stays there until the sun comes up again! Put a dial on your windshield and forgetaboutit. I see my buddy Victor Rich loading up his car, blowed up last night. He pulls out and gives me his pit space. One cool thing I’ll never forget was that the Space Shuttle lifted off on a night mission from 75 miles South of us, it lit up the sky like a jet car.
The next three days and nights are the same, go to beach in the morning, go to track, lose first round, drink beer and have fun until late. The final day I get on a roll and win a few rounds. We are looking around and there are 11 or 12 cars left, 3 of them from Cincy. Of course, I have to run good friend Dave Loudon, I win and we are in the quarters. Next round, I lose with a .509 and run right-on at 11.66. I still have the ticket stuck to my toolbox. No clue as to what my opponent ran. My friend Earl Lee wins the race. I ran 9 rounds of eliminations down there and ran 11.66 dead on 6 times, $500 in entry fees and finally won $250 (buy-backs had not been invented yet either).
Now we are armed with cash and there is another race at Bradenton that some of the guys are going to. Somehow we find our way there with a gas station map and go to war once again. I win first round and go back to the lanes, David Rampy is two cars ahead of me with his “High Times” Opel GT. My wife has been a trooper all through this, but she is starting to think I am not right when all I can think of is racing Rampy. I lose, and am distraught at missing the chance to race one of the top bracket racers in the country.
We load up and hit the North road, get to Ocala and decide to see the Garlits museum. Gar is not there, but we talk to his wife and see all the cars. Days Inn hotel right off the highway, I think it was $16 for a room. Heading home the next day, now it is Thanksgiving day. Oh, yes did I say my wife was a kid and had never gone anywhere before, the cell phone had not been invented yet and she had not talked to her family for a week. We see a sign in GA at a Dennys that says “Turkey and Dressing Dinner $2.99”.
We go in and there is no-one there but a few truck drivers, order the turkey and they say it is sold out. I order a burger and my wife orders a French dip. All is well until the food is presented and the waitress says “Happy Thanksgiving”. That’s when my wife lost it and started crying, she finally realized that she was stuck with a racing fool husband.
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: cgall]
#557604
12/21/09 12:37 AM
12/21/09 12:37 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,994
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,994
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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In the early 70s I watched a pinto prostocker at Minnesota Dragways lose it, flip so high he landed upside down on a gorgeous roadrunner parked against the fence. Saw another pro stocker launch in reverse, talk about wheel hop! Ronnie Sox took the time to listen to what I had and give me pointers on how to run it!
Watched Captain Jack McClure go 212 mph in a little rocket powered, standard sized go cart! The guy was nutz!
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: rt66jim]
#557607
12/21/09 09:20 PM
12/21/09 09:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
cheapstreetdustr
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
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alright... my turn again..my cousin used to run smallblock chevy on model A rail.. with a dodge pu style T bucket body..car.. i was 16..and this was at Atco...his car was pretty fast...usually ..but they always seemed to have some major drama..every weekend.he raced it.. my cousin had a 75 amc pacer 3 on the tree..we used it as the pit vehicle... anyway..this perticular weekend..the rail car was giving them fits again...as usual.  and my buddy Mike's older brother Vince who ran a gto was pitted next to us..his car blew a head gasket ...so he never even got past the first time trial... so He said to me...use my number and run the pacer...  so i asked my cousin if I could run the pacer in eliminations...he said no,  ,at first but after a little convincing..somehow ...i got his approval.  I let Vince take it through tech and explain the change in vehicles.... i didnt have a license..but i knew how to drive.. and had put many of miles on the pacer anyway.. (driving it down kettle run road if you know the area around Atco/marlton) so first pass in the car..Vince says..just rev it to about 1700 then let go of the clutch when you see the green light.. well...i knew better and dumped it at the last yellow....cut a good light..and shifted the thing to 16 second et... a little wheel hop..but otherwise it went just fine.. I went 5 rounds in that car..winning every time. it was cool as....sheet...id seen it done so many times...figured it was easy...and actually it was that day.. every time i would come back to the pits..and with a win....everyone was really surprised... even my cousin took notice.. they/he only went like 3 rounds or so in the rail.. so late in the day..every one was done.... everyone BUT ME...THAT IS... i made it all the way and won the money. the only issue is they announced Vince as the driver and he had to go get the money... it was great...i must have been charmed... cause i won my fair share of races at atco as a kid...little did i know it wouldnt be like that forever....lol.... anyway...so now my cousin is all ...jacked up on the pacer..so he tunes it up ,changes the oil..washes it.. the next weekend i say lets enter the pacer.. he doesnt even hesitate and pays its entry.. ONLY this time he tells me that HE is gonna drive it....  he went out first round....HAHAHAHA.... that was a good time.... cheapst
365" Iron J heads,,3480lbs best 1.39 60ft on SS springs.10.54,124 mph ...6.67 1/8th et.average 60fts 1.46 w/ small cam &.063 no2 pill tagged & insured
[image][/image]
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: cheapstreetdustr]
#557608
12/21/09 09:45 PM
12/21/09 09:45 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,617
In the tower
RonTheAnnouncer
master
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master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,617
In the tower
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Back around 1993, Bill Bader Sr. asked myself and a few other racers to work security at the IHRA World Nationals. On Sunday I got to work at the head of staging..."Behind the yellow line, please!"...and had a pretty good view of the races all day. Two things stick out about that day. The first was during Pro Mod, when Bill Kuhlmann was doing a monster burnout. His car disappeared from my view in a massive cloud of smoke. Suddenly I see a small black dot. I then notice the dot is getting larger very quickly. I move out of the way as the dot whistles by my ear and hits the backboard with a resounding SMACK! It was a ball of rubber off of one of Kuhlmann's slicks, about the size of a tennis ball! That thing would probably STILL be stuck to my head. Behind the yellow line, indeed...
Ron H.
"Just when you think you have all of the answers...I change the questions!" "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: RonTheAnnouncer]
#557609
12/21/09 09:57 PM
12/21/09 09:57 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,617
In the tower
RonTheAnnouncer
master
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master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,617
In the tower
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The second story happened on the same day. Top Fuel eliminations begin, The crowd is going crazy and ZAP...the power suddendly goes out for the entire track. It's the middle of the day, but no PA for a while, and frantic calls going out to the power company. The crowd kept having fun, I remember a "Tastes great...Less Filling" battle going for a bit. Finally, someone brings a small portable generator large enough to somewhat power the PA. Bill Sr. Keys up the mic and says, "Well folks, that goes to show you...nothing goes right when your underwear's tight!" He tells everyone the power company will be there in 10 minutes for a simple fix, then he plays some music. Anyone familiar with Norwalk will appreciate this...He put on his favorite Frankie Yankovic polka tape. 20,000 people at a national event listening to "Hoop De Doo"! Eddie Hill was waiting patiently in his car, and Fuzzy Carter was standing near me. He looks up at the PA speaker blaring accordian and banjo, looks at me and says with a smile on his face, "Only at Norwalk!"
Ron H.
"Just when you think you have all of the answers...I change the questions!" "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: RonTheAnnouncer]
#557611
12/22/09 12:16 AM
12/22/09 12:16 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 266
iowa
rook440
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 266
iowa
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I guess my best memory of a national event was when Darrel Alderman and Scott Geoffrion were on top in Pro Stock,It was a friday afternoon at Topeka and I really wanted to get a picture with the Dodge Boys ,we finally found their pit and ask one of the guys there if we could maybe get some pictures with Scott and Darrel, he goes into the race trailer and comes back out and waves me in ,sayes to go in the trailer , once inside I see Scott and Darrel setting around talking to a couple of guys ,Darrel was pretty engaged in conversation so I started talking to Scott ,I had a couple of their T shirts so I asked if they would sign them ,and a friend of mine is taking loads of pictures ,Darrel got into the T shirt signing too and was also extremely friendly to ,got to be the 2 most friendly ProStock drivers I've ever met ,after all of this I thought I had used up enough of their time so I tried to excuse myself ,but Scott said ,were really not doing anything for a while hang around if you want ...The Best Experiance Ive ever had in drag racing and those guys were class acts ,,,,the next year I went back and they Signed the Pictures and talked again for a while ....Darrel was Great ,Scott was Awesome ...Rest In Peace brother
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: Chucklehead]
#557613
12/22/09 02:16 AM
12/22/09 02:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
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Quote:
....Same day a guy with a Challenger (I think his name is Billy) took the time to show and explain, demonstrate how the box shifted the car at set RPM to my son and I. He heard my kid ask me what the box was for and called us over to explain....
Chucklehead,
Thank's for remembering me, I've always tried hard to be a good ambassador for the sport...can't remember how many kids have photos taken by thier dads of them sitting in my car...
I've been blessed to meet, race, and enjoy a ton of special people and special moments in this sport..it just kind of sneaks up on you, and suddenly you realize you've been around this sport for 30 years, and seen many of the best!
It started for me at KCIR in the early to mid 70's, when my Dad took me to my first AHRA National event. I was a young kid, but the sights, sounds and cars are still fresh in my memory. Showtime was there, and the Tennesee Bo-weevil. I remember the fuelers were starting on rollers, and I'll never forget how the chassis would flex when the engines would fire. My dad was a street racer, never much for the track, and he was mopar all the way, so all day the mopars were the best, and the chevies stunk, that's what he taught he. Then later in the day a little white chevy did a burnout, and I said "Dad, does that Chevy stink?" With sudden reverence in his voice he said, "No Son, not that one, he's the baddest in the land". I was shocked by my Dad's response, and squinted to read the cursive on the door...it said "grumpy's toy".
That was my first drag racing lesson, and it has served me well over the years...respect the good racers, regardless of thier brand affiliation!
I could go on for page after page, but I'll leave you with one of my favorite stories about a super guy. I moved to Phoenix in 1987, just a young, country, okie with a wife, kid, and a 13 second street car. I was immediately in awe of the Loper's Speed Shops in town, I used to go in and buy a National Dragster just to have an excuse to look around. Of course, all the counter guys wouldn't give me the time of day..until one day, I walked in and they were out of ND's, and just as the counter guy was trying to run me off, John himself walked in and said, "what does he want?"...the counter guy stuttered, and said, "A National Dragster..sir!" John ushered me back to his personal office, took his copy off his desk, and gave it to me! When I walked back by the counter with that ND in my hand, the counter guy's jaw dropped!! Word must've got around because I always got treated like a top customer after that!
Fast forward ten years later to 1997, and I'm racing my first NHRA National in Phoenix, so I fly my youngest brother, and his best High School bud out to be my "Crew"...well, they are major pumped!! While they've been bracket racing for years, they've never even attended a National! To make a Long story short, Saturday was a total rainout, and they are bummed..so I'm trying to think of a way to cheer them up as we are leaving the track, and I off handedly say, "Loper's is still open if you want to swing by...". I'd forgotten that living in Small Town Oklahoma, niether had ever been to a real live speed shop, so both enthusiastically agreed. We arrived at the main store about an hour before closing, walk in, and John Loper himself is behind the counter, and no one else is in the building. I'm a little nervous, because I've played it up to my brother and his buddy that I know John personally, so now I'm on the spot. I walk up and smile, and say, "Hey John, I'm running SST out at the Nationals, and we got rained out..so I brought my brother and his friend over to see what a real live Speed Shop looks like..." He gave a big grin, and said, "You're in Luck, it's been really slow today"...and simply walked from the counter to the front door, locked it, and proceeded to give us the grand tour!! He took them to his office, and showed off NHRA, IHRA, and AHRA trophies, certificates of National records, old photo albums, went to the back, and showed of his COPO Camaro, through the whole shop, back shelves, everything in the place, dazzling us with story after story for 2 hours!!!
Since then my brother's friend has went on to drive some extemely fast door cars, and built quite a reputation as a top racer..but get him around a latenight campfire at a race, when stories are being tossed about, and he'll always say.."Have I ever told you about the time I met John Loper in Phoenix Arizona..."
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: rook440]
#557615
12/22/09 10:30 PM
12/22/09 10:30 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,384
Worst Weather USA
493_DART
master
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master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,384
Worst Weather USA
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Quote:
I guess my best memory of a national event was when Darrel Alderman and Scott Geoffrion were on top in Pro Stock,It was a friday afternoon at Topeka and I really wanted to get a picture with the Dodge Boys ,we finally found their pit and ask one of the guys there if we could maybe get some pictures with Scott and Darrel, he goes into the race trailer and comes back out and waves me in ,sayes to go in the trailer , once inside I see Scott and Darrel setting around talking to a couple of guys ,Darrel was pretty engaged in conversation so I started talking to Scott ,I had a couple of their T shirts so I asked if they would sign them ,and a friend of mine is taking loads of pictures ,Darrel got into the T shirt signing too and was also extremely friendly to ,got to be the 2 most friendly ProStock drivers I've ever met ,after all of this I thought I had used up enough of their time so I tried to excuse myself ,but Scott said ,were really not doing anything for a while hang around if you want ...The Best Experiance Ive ever had in drag racing and those guys were class acts ,,,,the next year I went back and they Signed the Pictures and talked again for a while ....Darrel was Great ,Scott was Awesome ...Rest In Peace brother
Cool! I think this was my first big race! was it about 1995?
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: B G Racing]
#557623
12/26/09 12:56 AM
12/26/09 12:56 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,031
Raleigh N.C
hemiparts
OP
"Missile Pilot"
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OP
"Missile Pilot"
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,031
Raleigh N.C
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Quote:
I started racing in 1963 and have a lot of good memorys and stories and still making more everyday.Some you don't want to know about.    
come on BG let's hear'em !!!
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: hemiparts]
#557625
12/31/09 08:09 AM
12/31/09 08:09 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 303
Staten Island, NY
RO23dave
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 303
Staten Island, NY
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don't remember what year it was, but somewhere in the 70's there was pro-stock match racing every wednesday nite at e-town. i loved the pro stocks, especially the mopars. went every wednesday nite and always took as many pictures as i could. one particular nite, i was wandering the pits and came across the motown missle. walked up and started talking with don carlton. even told him that i owned an original ro23 car. he wanted to hear more but had to get the car ready for racing, so he says, i have no crew to help me, wanna stay and help. my heart fell to the floor. here was a legend asking me to help him crew his car. the guy was so down to earth it was contagious. it was probably the first time being able to stand on the starting line and not racing my own car. he didn't win the race and i finished by helping him load the car onto the trailer. he thanked me and said come by anytime. took him up on his offer any time he showed up after that. it really hit home when i learned of his accident. another short story. i always was able to secure tickets to the summer nationals which gave me access to the front of the timing tower. well just so happened that the baseball strike had just occurred. i'm making my way up to the fence and bump right into mr october himself, reggie jackson. didn't know at that time he was such a car nut. another e-town highlight was sitting in the stands and video taping garlits when he made his famous blow over backwards run right in front of me. 
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: chris3]
#557626
12/31/09 10:31 AM
12/31/09 10:31 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,910
Eighty Four, PA
B G Racing
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,910
Eighty Four, PA
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Quote:
Have we ran out of stories? 
Heres one.HemiFred took me out for some tall tail and the next morning I felt like I had been in a war.
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: B G Racing]
#557628
12/31/09 11:12 AM
12/31/09 11:12 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 333
So. Jersey
Somerdale Flash
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 333
So. Jersey
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Quote:
Quote:
Have we ran out of stories?
Heres one.HemiFred took me out for some tall tail and the next morning I felt like I had been in a war.
Ha! It's like Fred never stopped being 19 years old...Still stays out all night.
Drinking Goose, chasing Women, and telling lies.
LOTS of lies. And those Women BELIEVE Him.
He just can't help himself.
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: Somerdale Flash]
#557629
12/31/09 11:23 AM
12/31/09 11:23 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,910
Eighty Four, PA
B G Racing
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,910
Eighty Four, PA
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Have we ran out of stories?
Heres one.HemiFred took me out for some tall tail and the next morning I felt like I had been in a war.
Ha! It's like Fred never stopped being 19 years old...Still stays out all night.
Drinking Goose, chasing Women, and telling lies.
LOTS of lies. And those Women BELIEVE Him.
He just can't help himself.
And to think I actually believed him I guess the "check"isn't really in the mail then? 
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: B G Racing]
#557630
12/31/09 12:11 PM
12/31/09 12:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 507
Illinois
Hurst390
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 507
Illinois
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I got 1...A couple good buddies of mine ran a hurst built SS car back in 69-72...One of the brothers was approached by miss hurst... and he went with her into their motorhome(they were one of the few that had a motorhome back then..with a/c no less)...some guys told him that her...well... was bigger than a beer can...Randy said...Thats alright it will stretch..
80 AMX Barry Allen 420 AMC Iron Heads Jerico 4-speed Advanced clutch 2950# street legal
5.97 115.73 Coles county dragway 10/28/07
9.42 142.96 best in 08(6.00 115.8 1/8)
5.97 116.2 in 09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXSr201-tmA
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: hemiparts]
#557631
12/31/09 02:30 PM
12/31/09 02:30 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,141
Phoenix,Az.
hemicop
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,141
Phoenix,Az.
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I waqs lucky enough to meet Bill Jenkins, Warren Johnson & Shirley Muldowney, all at different times. "Grumpy" I actually liked & obviously respected. Since he's an engineer, My "take" on meeting him--ask a specific, no BS question you'll get a specific answer--which proved true. I had a question about intakes & he took his time & thoroughly answered the question--AND THIS WAS AT THE TRACK!, so I can hardly say the "grumpy" moniker quite qualifies. A friend arranged for me & my race partner to meet WJ. When we were were introduced to WJ & his wife, my partner froze up & just stared at him. WJ looked at us like we were from Mars. Realizing what just happened I proceeded to ask WJ a specific question about the block in his car. Like "Grumpy", I got the same feeling & like "Grumpy" I got the same attitude & response--friendly, yet very specific & direct, so I was happy. Mrs. Johnson was very gracious, spending a few minutes with us, asking us about the local sites & some superficial questions. Ms. Muldowney is a genuine lady--kind & concerned with what we were doing with our (police) race project & willing to cooperate anytime, anywhere. She even remembered me some years later when she returned to Phoenix & I was doing a K-9 demo near her trailer. She invited me into the lounge area of her trailer, introduced me to her husband & son & asked how things were going. I couldn't have been happier. Since then I've met several of the original Ramchargers, Scott Shafiroff( he lived near my H.S. when I was growing up), Arlen Vanke, Shirley Shahan, Judy Lily & have become friends with Clyde Williams - a lesser known Afro-American P/S racer from the 70s who ran around with Ronnie Lyles & Malcom Durham a little, back in the day. All these people I really can't say I had a "bad" experience with & meeting them allowed me to learn how to "meet & greet" people who come by my pit & are good enough to show interest in my car--something alot of racers seem to forget. Remember without them we don't have support or get sponsors...
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: hemiparts]
#557632
01/01/10 11:26 AM
01/01/10 11:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
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1973 or so, in college after 4 years in service and I meet a guy at school (who'll I'll call Joe) with a GM manufactured car running SS. Beautiful car, best of everything. He had $10,000 in the thing, which seemed unbelievable at the time. We'd drive to Northstar dragstip; his car trailered, mine flat towed behind my driver car. He'd check/adjust everything, make a pass, have problems, come back and check/adjust/tinker, repeat.
I'd make a pass, lift the hood to make sure the engine was still there, make another pass. He'd scoff at my car, my apparent lack of dedication, or whatever he perceived. I beleive at the time I had nearly $1800 in my car. I didn't care whether he approved of mine or not, I was just there to have fun, but I was getting tired of the snide remarks. When we'd go to the staging lanes he'd go so far as to always pull into a different lane as far from me as he could get.
This particular trip my Dad had come and Joe's Dad had come. We introduced them to each other and they hit it off well. Apparently both of them picked up on the friction developing between Joe and me. We'd driven to the staging lanes and as usual Joe went way off to the right. As we got closer to the burn out area, Joe was about 5 cars in front of me and I saw the Dads talking to track officials. Joe was getting set to do his burn out in the right lane. The officials had him hold for a minute, and came back to wave me around the cars still in front of me, directing me to the left lane. Joe looked over and saw he was going to run against me, kind of set his jaw and hunched down to business. He did a massive burnout, I chirped the tires through the water as usual. Couldn't afford to wear out my used set of slicks.
We stage, lights come down and about halfway down the track I'm right at Joe's left rear wheel. As if in slow motion I see Joe look over his shoulder, passed my car, looking for me, figuring I'd be well behind him. He doesn't find me, his head swivels back toward the front and as he's doing so realizes I'm nearly next to him. I'll never forget the look on his face.
We came back to the pits and Joe was so mad he wouldn't even talk. The two Dad's were laughing and poking at each other. Joe wouldn't even talk to his Dad as he loaded up the car. He decided there was something wrong with the car and it needed to be put back on the trailer for repairs.
Dad died 4 years ago, but often would bring up that story. Rest in peace Dad. I sure miss you!
Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: chris3]
#557633
01/01/10 05:59 PM
01/01/10 05:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,109
Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,109
Byron, NY
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Here's a story about the first time I met Ronnie Sox.... I was at the Empire Nationals late 80's early 90's wandering thru the Pro pits, there was this Pro/Mod car there that Looked more like a Pro/street than a Pro/Mod (tons of chrome, Fancy paint job) Chevy Lumina I believe??? It was along side a small enclosed trailer pulled by a pickup, basically nothing over the top except.... the chic they had with them, she was a cutie, and was wearing a short midriff shirt that when she came to the trailer door and reached up to hold on to the top of the door opening...lets just say it wasn't a Midriff shirt any longer, She was wearing jeans with cuts in them, in all the right place's, even in the front.... you could see heaven... there had to be 50-75 guys surrounding this "Car" appreciating it for it abilities I'm sure. So being one of the 50-75, I turned to look over my shoulder to see Ronnie Sox and crew standing across the pit lane (all by themselves - No fans, no nothing )hands on their hips watching all of us looking at this "Pro/Street-Pro/Mod" so I wandered over, as I approached I said "Nice Car" meaning his Comet Pro/Mod, His reply was "what car???" I grinned and told him I meant his... His reply was still "what car ????" So when you want to have he baddest car at the track, just remember to bring the proper crew personel 
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: W.I.N. Racing]
#557634
01/03/10 05:53 PM
01/03/10 05:53 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,475
SW Ohio
cgall
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,475
SW Ohio
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Back in the mid 80's, just before the curse of the rear-engine dragster, 1/8th mile racing, and buybacks ruined bracket racing, I had a brand "C" car that ran 11.60's and did pretty well in Super Pro.
When I would run a "fast" car, usually a mid-9 second S/G car that came out to run brackets, I would dial down .01 from what I thought that I could run, go thru the traps without lifting, and take my chances. This worked real well back then, before they gave you 60 ft. or 1/8th mile times.
One Saturday night I made it to the final, slated to run one of the track's top drivers in a mid-9 car. I leave the line and look in my rear-view mirror as I pull second gear, he has redlighted and I'm a winner.
Fast forward to '94, I am running a local super class race in S/ST in my Duster. I make it to the final, and what do you know, I'm going to run that same guy from 10 years ago! He has a state-of-the-art car with electronics that runs 147 MPH, I'm driving off the foot and letting off in high gear to run 10.90 at 116. I tell the guys about the last time I ran this dude, one of them goes over and reminds him that he red-lit against me the last time out together. The guy says, "this time it will be different."
We stage up for the final, the .500 pro tree flashes, and I am on my way. I look up and my win light is on...he has done it again...redlight!
I have to go over to his pit area and bring him a beer, he meets me half way to bring me one.
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: peabodyracing]
#557635
01/03/10 10:15 PM
01/03/10 10:15 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
cheapstreetdustr
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
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Quote:
1973 or so, in college after 4 years in service and I meet a guy at school (who'll I'll call Joe) with a GM manufactured car running SS. Beautiful car, best of everything. He had $10,000 in the thing, which seemed unbelievable at the time. We'd drive to Northstar dragstip; his car trailered, mine flat towed behind my driver car. He'd check/adjust everything, make a pass, have problems, come back and check/adjust/tinker, repeat.
I'd make a pass, lift the hood to make sure the engine was still there, make another pass. He'd scoff at my car, my apparent lack of dedication, or whatever he perceived. I beleive at the time I had nearly $1800 in my car. I didn't care whether he approved of mine or not, I was just there to have fun, but I was getting tired of the snide remarks. When we'd go to the staging lanes he'd go so far as to always pull into a different lane as far from me as he could get.
This particular trip my Dad had come and Joe's Dad had come. We introduced them to each other and they hit it off well. Apparently both of them picked up on the friction developing between Joe and me. We'd driven to the staging lanes and as usual Joe went way off to the right. As we got closer to the burn out area, Joe was about 5 cars in front of me and I saw the Dads talking to track officials. Joe was getting set to do his burn out in the right lane. The officials had him hold for a minute, and came back to wave me around the cars still in front of me, directing me to the left lane. Joe looked over and saw he was going to run against me, kind of set his jaw and hunched down to business. He did a massive burnout, I chirped the tires through the water as usual. Couldn't afford to wear out my used set of slicks.
We stage, lights come down and about halfway down the track I'm right at Joe's left rear wheel. As if in slow motion I see Joe look over his shoulder, passed my car, looking for me, figuring I'd be well behind him. He doesn't find me, his head swivels back toward the front and as he's doing so realizes I'm nearly next to him. I'll never forget the look on his face.
We came back to the pits and Joe was so mad he wouldn't even talk. The two Dad's were laughing and poking at each other. Joe wouldn't even talk to his Dad as he loaded up the car. He decided there was something wrong with the car and it needed to be put back on the trailer for repairs.
Dad died 4 years ago, but often would bring up that story. Rest in peace Dad. I sure miss you!
this is a great story..thanks
365" Iron J heads,,3480lbs best 1.39 60ft on SS springs.10.54,124 mph ...6.67 1/8th et.average 60fts 1.46 w/ small cam &.063 no2 pill tagged & insured
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Re: War Stories and TallTales.....
[Re: hemiparts]
#557637
01/09/10 04:21 PM
01/09/10 04:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
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I've gotten some PM's on my last story about when my Dad "arranged" a race for me. Thanks for the feedback. In retrospect, it hit me that it's not the racing, but the darn car that prompts all the memories and stories. Allow me to go a bit off track with this subject: I'd purchased my beloved 61 Lancer wagon in San Francisco. I was stationed there 1970-73. The purchase broke up an engagement to the girl back home, who it turned out had a few other guys going at the same time anyway...somewhere there's a 650 Triumph money I'd sent home to her bought for another lucky guy.
I got in a fair amount of trouble with the car street racing in the Bay area. Lots of fun running at Champion. When discharge time came, Dad (and Mom) volunteered to come help me drive my collection of junk home. I put street gears/tires in/on the Lancer, put a trailer hitch on it and used it to flat tow my 33 Chevy coupe. Dad drove my 66 Valiant pulling my freshly made 2 wheel trailer containing spare engines, 4 speeds, dirt bike, etc. When it came time to leave, 2 of us couldn't lift the tongue of the trailer to hook it up to the Valiant, so I spent a few anxious minutes moving heavy stuff to the back to balance it out.
The trip home to Minnesota was a story in itself; Lancer broke down in Nevada, twice in Nebraska (nothing like dropping a cast iron 4 speed by hand on the side of the interstate) again in Iowa. At that point I parked the Lancer at a gas station, unhooked the 33 Chevy and drove that the rest of the way. Fortunately the Valiant and trailer made it through ok, other than nearly running out of brakes going through the mountains because the trailer was so heavy.
Dad was increasingly unhappy as the trip progressed, finally losing his composure completely at the second break down in Nebraska. By Iowa I wasn't sure we'd be on speaking terms once home. The final tests to his patience, needing to borrow his car to go back to Iowa and retrieve the Lancer and then taking over his space in the garage to effect repairs. By then he was really unhappy with me. Dad was the kind of guy who changed his oil every 30 days, religiously, so you can imagine how he liked his care sitting outside overnight.
A week or so later the Lancer is all repaired and I drive it out front to wash the dirt and grime off it from the long trip. I go down the basement to put the wash supplies away and hear the Lancer start up. I run up the stairs and out the side door to see Dad driving away in the car that had tormented him all the way back from CA. I was sure he was going to drop it at the local scrap yard.
Fully half an hour went by and finally I heard the sound of those old, leaky fenderwell headers coming down the street. Dad parks the car, gets out and walks up to me. "Where...why... what did you do?" I stammered. Dad just smiled, and walked in the house. He never did tell me what he did.
Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way
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. Anyone of the guys would stop on a dime to talk for as long as you wanted to listen.
