Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
#2165620
10/01/16 02:54 AM
10/01/16 02:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448 Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
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Forward The 2015 tale has been a tough one to write, and I'll apologize for that one more time. The thing is, the way Friday was handled really stuck in my craw, and I don't like being negative or critical of an event that I enjoy this much. I really don't enjoy being negative or critical of the people who put in long hours of preparation leading up to the event, and even longer hours during the event to make it all happen. I have tremendous respect for the Hot Rod crew, the Drag Week crew, and Lonnie Grimm the race director for the effort they put in to make this the highlight of our year!
Combining my disappointment with the end of the 2015 version, and the fact that the 2016 version was a 2000 mile tow, I considered sitting this year out. The problem was, Boone and I had both finished 3rd in our respective classes, so we were afforded an early entry, which is a privilege that is difficult to waste. I only signed up the one car, and informed Rachael I wasn't going to enter the Belvedere, and that I would be at the Bakersfield March Meet when regular registration took place, so she was on her own!
Now, why "the last Hurrah?" in the title? Maybe it's just me being overly dramatic, I'm not sure, but I do know that nothing lasts forever. My brothers and I attended our first "Mopar Only" race in 1992, and thought we would run those types of events from then on. We went to the "Monster Mopar Weekend" event at St. Louis every year from '96 to '02, then just didn't go in 03...we haven't been back since. I started running NHRA Super Street in '99, and chased the Divisional trail hard from '02 to '08... then just stopped, and haven't been back since. We weren't even born in the Gasser years, we were too young and too poor for the KOS era, but Hot Rod Drag Week came around at the perfect time for my family and I to jump in with both feet and have a blast! It has been especially rewarding to share it with my youngest daughter Rachael for the last five years, but my Father's Day present from her this year was the announcement that I was going to be a Grandfather for a second time, so maybe it's her last trip on Drag Week!
At the beginning of last year's story, I put a link to the past editions, and Boone tells me the views on those have doubled and in some cases tripled in the last year. That's very flattering, but I suspect everyone was just bored with waiting for the next installment! In any case, I hope you find these somewhat entertaining, even if just for the pictures.
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2165626
10/01/16 03:16 AM
10/01/16 03:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448 Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
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No March Meet for me in 2017. A little foreshadowing, but we had a REALLY good 2016 Drag Week, so Dale and Boone are fired up for next year already...we will see.
Since I didn't do a "build up" thread this year, I'll attempt to catch everyone up as quickly as possible as to what transpired the other 50 weeks before we really start preparing for Drag Week.
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2165661
10/01/16 09:02 AM
10/01/16 09:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,027 MN
JERICOGTX
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,027
MN
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Drag Week wouldn't be the same without you Billy! But I understand it is a huge commitment time and money wise. Life's priorities change, and sometimes it's just good to experience different things. Have fun whichever way you decide to go.
Jeff
69 GTX
68 Road Runner
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2165694
10/01/16 10:15 AM
10/01/16 10:15 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,027 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,027
Tulsa OK
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I believe that is one of the brothers, I forget which one. If you line the Brothers up I could pick out Billy and Dale, I would have to guess on the others lol.
68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2165737
10/01/16 11:07 AM
10/01/16 11:07 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,942 Metro Detroit
OUTLAWD
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,942
Metro Detroit
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It was great meeting the family Billy! Your tales are once of the major drivers that convinced me to give Drag Week a shot.
Faster, Faster until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death...
71 Swinger - slowly collecting dust/parts 66 Belv. II - just a streetcar 88 Mustang - turbo LS beater
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2165857
10/01/16 01:42 PM
10/01/16 01:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,027 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,027
Tulsa OK
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Yep, Hemi Joel's tails of riding with Jay Brown also really had my interest.
68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2166471
10/02/16 02:53 PM
10/02/16 02:53 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 860 lancaster,california
johnnycuda
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 860
lancaster,california
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I have to say that reading Billy's tales got me to want to try it, haven't yet but hope to. Before his tales, I didn't realize there were classes for the "average", guy, meaning the 10-second and slower crowd, I only remember HR articles about the unlimited type cars, I've never had a HR subscription, so only flipped thru the pages, or occasionally bought a issue. I got to meet Billy at Spring Fling one year, and at Phoenix last October for HR Drag Weekend, when I ran that. I look forward to reading his tales, as all of us here do.
1970 'Cuda,Lime Light,499 Indy S/R's 10.70's @125,street driven ALOT! 1966 Barracuda 360,now a 5spd,Hemi Orange,Hot Rod Air, New daily driver-2003 Ram 2500 Cummins 5.9 '69 Valiant 2-dr, sleeper! New project---1938 Dodge truck, plan is a 360 with a A500, AC, Calvert rear susp., rack and pinion front with coils.
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2173445
10/13/16 10:09 AM
10/13/16 10:09 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,978 Hilltown Pa
1967dartgt
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,978
Hilltown Pa
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Good to see the 2016 tale being spun.
Brett Miller W9 cnc'd heads STR Chassis fabraction
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2173545
10/13/16 12:37 PM
10/13/16 12:37 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225 Charleston
sixpackgut
Drag Week Mod Champion
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Drag Week Mod Champion
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225
Charleston
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One of the reasons I went this year was because of 131. I was there with Eddie in 06 and loved that track. But DW has changed alot since then. What was once a collection of guys with cars they claimed are street cars that would fall apart a few miles down the road has become a collection of extremely high dollar purpose built cars.
My goal this year was to go and compete with what I believe is a very bottom dollar built car but this year I would be prepared. Have a chassis cert and license. Give it my all. It turned out to be a geat time.Such an experience that I do not think can be beat. This may have been my last hurrah also
Last edited by sixpackgut; 10/13/16 01:32 PM.
Gen 3 power 6.22@110, 9.85@135 Follow @g3hemiswap on instagram
performance only racing, CRT, ultimate converter, superior design concepts, ThumperCarbs
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2173749
10/13/16 04:39 PM
10/13/16 04:39 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,255 IL
furious70
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,255
IL
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Somehow I had missed this thread - been anxious to read it. Saw some of the live feeds but didn't attend in person at all this year. With dad passing in May I just couldn't get up the gumption to go on my own.
70 Sport Fury 68 Charger 69 Coronet 72 RR
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2173765
10/13/16 04:55 PM
10/13/16 04:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,890 North Alabama
Monte_Smith
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,890
North Alabama
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There are two different kinds of Drag Weekers..........those who go to participate and have fun and those who go to WIN their class. The latter now and really always has been about purpose built cars for this purpose. Sure some guys get lucky and win their class with not so serious efforts, but that is usually because some of the purpose built stuff falls out. Each class has an ET range where you need to run to win. If you build to do that, more than likely it's going to be a serious effort piece and keeping it together a week will be hard work and require some luck. When these cars fall out, the more regular cars move up.
Ray mentioned Eddie. He is a prime example. The year he won the overall title, he was not near the fastest car there, nor even the fastest in his class. Just happened to be the fastest car that survived the week. Guys have learned a LOT since then and know more what it takes to keep one of these heaps together for a week. And that recipe is money, lack of sleep, hard work, ingenuity, never give up attitude and lots of LUCK and spare parts. Lutz put a strut on his this year on the side of the road. Maschmeier changed a cam on the side of the road in the middle of the night one year. That's dedication. Think about it..........most racers go home from the track if they break ANYTHING. These guys break any and EVERYTHING and fix it on the side of the road. It's damn HARD work to go fast for a week and drive over 1000 miles
And Ray can say whatever he wants, but a 9 sec N/A smallblock car is NOT a low dollar car. He may think it's a budget car, many would not.
Another thing we see now is guys choosing classes that are more or less "index" classes because of the chassis limits. Street Race big block power adder is an example. No funny car cages are allowed, so that means the class has an 8.50 cap because of chassis rules. Most of the "hitters" in that class have low 8 and high 7 sec rides if they really let them eat. So their goal for the week is take it easy on the equipment, keep it together and run as close to 8.50 for the week as possible. Doug Flynn is a prime example. Backyard built Nova, mediocre at best chassis, fairly heavy, but has a 1000hp best of the best big block on spray. With a tiny shot of nitrous it goes 8.50s like nothing. Has been teens with only a slightly bigger tune. With better shocks, a little chassis work and a healthy dose it would be a 7.50 car
Last edited by Monte_Smith; 10/13/16 05:05 PM.
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2173768
10/13/16 05:00 PM
10/13/16 05:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,027 MN
JERICOGTX
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,027
MN
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Monte, don't forget all the hours that go into prepping the car BEFORE Drag Week, and more likely then not, the long drive to get to the home track. Most are a walking zombie before the event even starts.
69 GTX
68 Road Runner
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: Monte_Smith]
#2173856
10/13/16 06:17 PM
10/13/16 06:17 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,179 PA.
pittsburghracer
"Little"John
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"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,179
PA.
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Yaa Monte but it wouldn't make for a GOOD story if you did it your way and wouldn't be able to write about it for MONTHS. LOL
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: MoparBilly]
#2173861
10/13/16 06:19 PM
10/13/16 06:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,027 MN
JERICOGTX
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,027
MN
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As Frieburger said at the Drivers meeting in 2015: "Welcome to the biggest gathering of cars that did not run 48 hours ago" LOL.
69 GTX
68 Road Runner
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Re: Hot Rod Drag Week 2016: The Last Hurrah?
[Re: Monte_Smith]
#2173865
10/13/16 06:21 PM
10/13/16 06:21 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225 Charleston
sixpackgut
Drag Week Mod Champion
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Drag Week Mod Champion
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225
Charleston
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And Ray can say whatever he wants, but a 9 sec N/A smallblock car is NOT a low dollar car. He may think it's a budget car, many would not.
You obviously never looked at my car. From my Dr Diff axles, past my $15 guages to my ebay water pump, radiator and fans. Its as absolute low dollar as it can get. I did buy some new wheels this year though. Billet specialties because they were cheaper than the rest
Gen 3 power 6.22@110, 9.85@135 Follow @g3hemiswap on instagram
performance only racing, CRT, ultimate converter, superior design concepts, ThumperCarbs
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