With the tornado’s all around us last week, did not figure the 1000 dollar Pro/No/E race, would not stand a chance of being run. But just like Arkansas weather, the sun come’s out and provides for a great weekend. The annual “Toad Suck” festival and car show, was on Fri, Sat and Sun. Went early to the show on Sat. and saw no Mav’s entered but some really nice vehicles, over 250 of them so they say. Headed to the strip afterwards, towing the Todd’s Mav, preparing for the big race on Sunday. Decided to run the valves on my Fairmont/347 alky injected drag car and also install new plugs. Removed old one’s and began to check valve lash, because of the location of the electric fan, could not use ratchet and socket, so use a box open wrench on the balancer and fuel pump drive stub, to turn the engine over for each cyl. Being of elderly age(68 in July) leaning over the fender is a back breaking job for me anyway. Got tired of cranking on that wrench so got out the trusty remote starter switch. Much better to bump it over for each valve position. Went to the other side and happened to look down and lo and behold, there is the wrench and drive stub lying on the ground. Forgot to remove it when hooking up the remote, “DUH”. The wrench had flopped on to the lower radiator hose and with each bump of the engine, began to unscrew the 6in long bolt. New this was not a good start for the upcoming big money race but replaced the drive stub and buttoned up the top end with adjustments made to valve lash. OOP’S, now there is anti-freeze dripping out of the bottom of the radiator, figure it broke the inlet with the pressure of the wrench wedged on it. Thoughts of retiring from this game and just helping Todd on the Mav, returned to my feeble and forgetful mind. Wanted to get the anti-freeze out and replace with water anyway so removed lower hose to drain and inspect outlet. Using an two core Mav radiator, found no crack or breaks so figured it had pulled the hose down enough to cause it to leak around the clamp which was the case. Refill with water and no leaks under pressure. The regular Sat. night TNT and classes were getting under way, so decided to make one pass and see if the old girl would check out ok. Had several spectators walking around the pit area and stopping to BS and ask the all to familiar question about the Ron’s injection system “What kind of carb is that” After a short explanation of the system and the “toilet bowl” shut the hood and proceeded to the staging area. Did the burnout and staged, caught a decent light and at the 6800 shift point slammed the PG into high. Bam, the hood is now against the winshield and forward vision is no more. On the brakes and pull to the side of the track. The ever increasing masses of spectators are thinking the same thing I was, you dumb a**, forgot to put the two hood pins in. Hood and scoop are trash as well as tearing the hinges out of the firewall and damaging the top of the cowl. Luckily the windshield was not hurt at all, been wanting to get a glass hood anyway. Still mad at by myself, remove hood and stuff and decide to run one more time to to check the valve settings and such, Had a 6.59 on the dial board from last race day, ran a 6.57 @ 104mph. Packed up and went to the house, more on the Sunday race and Todd’s runner-spot in the Mav, in another post.
I thought this was going to be about me. Sounds about like my day at the et finals in Bakersfield a couple of years ago. Got sick and was in the portajohn for aout 45 minutes. Came out and my class was in staging lanes. Last thing I had done was put the hood on. Only I use 4 pins. Hood went flying in the air. I saw it flip a couple of times in the rear view mirror and come down on the track. They waved me on. I came back with a friend in his golf cart to pick it up. They announced to everyone that I was here to pick up my hood. Embarrassing. Funny thing is that it's te same hood I'm using today. Hardly a scratch on it.
Dang, sorry to hear about the bout with bad luck. "Some days, it just be's that way." I always enjoy your writings. Thanks for posting and better luck next outing (with new and improved numbers with glass hood). Awesome numbers, btw.
And the story continue's Arrived at the track early Sunday to beat the crowd, had unloaded the Mav on Sat and fueled it and such for Todd. Time trials were about to start and I double checked the Mont for anymore screwup’s I may have missed. Todd did the same for the Mav and all is well so we got the call for No/e and to the staging area we went. Both of us ran a good 1/8th mile time and speed but the Mont was getting some tire spin on launch and at the shift into high. Figured it was the track and also suspension problems also. Second round is a dollar jackpot with those who want kick in a buck and the best RT for that round get’s half the pot and the other half goes to the points fund. Todd cut’s a .0004 light and gets 40 bucks plus a first round bye in no/e. With as many cars registered, no bye runs were made till the semi round with three cars left, so he just takes the light and motors down the track to save fuel and engine parts. After winning the second round of eliminations, the electric fan blows a fuse and he proceeds to trace down a short. Mean time he entered the rent a stang in Super Pro. With no box or brake, it is a crap shoot against the full electronics of that class but figured he might be able to get enough handicap to squeek out a win, with a god light. Running to classes is not an easy task to say the least. Draws a dragster first round and messes with the guy to throw off is delay program and crossover etc. Course the dragster is dialed at 5.29 and Todd is dialed at 6.93 with the little 306 engine. Tree come’s down and he has a decent RT while the dragster driver sit’s on the brake for 4 seconds then lights up the red bulb. Todd’s first win in Super Pro. In the next Pro race with the Mav, the Mav pop’s the fuse and shortly after the call is out for 2nd rd of Super Pro. I told him togo ahead and I would find the short and some spare fuses. Frustrated, he gets to the line and blows the tires off and loses. I have found a bare wire in the overhead switch box, going to the wp. Have it taped up and he reinstalls the cover after returning with the stang. Looking good until he is checking air pressure and notices the right rear slick is going down. Now this is a major problem with no tubes in the 12.5’s x 31 Hoosiers, along with no time to change it anyway. Fellow racer comes over and we find a slight cut in the center of the tire and with some glass cleaner, see the leak. Suggestion was made to maybe plug it and see if would hold. Had put a new repair kit in the trailer for truck or trailer tire use, against our common sense, he plugs it and it holds air. This can mess up your mind set knowing the pressure put on that plug at burnout and down track. Bye damn if it didn’t hold and he end’s up in the finals against a former champion driving a 7 second Falcon. They both agree to split the money and just race for the points, pot was 1300, 1000 to win and 300 runnerup. Track has heated up by now and they both have good lights .043 to .048 for Todd but the Mav spins off the line and he runs a 5.99 on his 5.91 dial in. The other fellow runs dead on his 7.50 dial. Turned out to be a good day anyway, now he won just enough to cover the cost of a pair of new Hoosier’s. Oh yeah, I won two rounds in the Mont and then lost on a erratic hooking suspension problem. Still had fun along with all the frustration. A bad day at the races is still better than a good day at the house, taking care of all the honey do’s.
congrats to Todd, runner-up in a big field is an excellent outing.....sounds like the maverick is gonna put the hurtin' on some folks this year!!!!!
Congratulations. I always think if you come home with a check it has been a successful day. Most people don't.
Wow... interesting stories. I missed you at the car show... lots of cars ended up showing up later in the day. No mavericks or Comets, other than a 60's Comet but had fun. I thought about coming to the track but was a weekend w/ no kids so we enjoyed it otherwise. See ya soon
