Drag Racing Discussions > Front Engine Dragsters

Dragster flys at Picton Airfield

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denverflatheader:
Don - hope you're mending well, and all else going smoothly.  Must give you a big smile when you look at your dragster and know it kept you safe.  Alan

p.s. I recommend not making any hasty decisions, just take some time for yourself : )

Dolmetsch:
Thanks, I am still pretty sore but a bit better each day..
Yes , The fact that I have no bruises other then my spine from the bonecrushing landing and the car is intact and nothing broken makes me think perhaps the rules are good ones. None of us intends to crash and I have been at the drag racing game since 1966. This was my first mishap.
 Other factors then the crash figured into my decision. I am just not good at the speeds I am now reaching. I didn't intend to cross the finishline under power about usually quit about 100 feet out. I knew I would probably not race next year in it and thought of that as I climbed in. I just wanted to complete the development on the engine combo with the tunnel ram. It had a wee problem top of first gear as it would almost empty the float bowls just before the shift. I figured I would give Er  just to make sure that was gone and retire from shoeing it. The burnout was awesome as we both burned through the lights. It feels like a big block, not a 246 six. I was smiling as I staged as I had done a long enough burn though  I had made the shift and knew the problem was gone.  Pat has a new motor now a hi compression 427 (I was saying 454 but apparently this motor is a 427. My error.) and it just loves it hilborns so I knew I had no hope. However I staged up on the converter and held him off till somewhere between a third and half track. I will never forget the hard, strong launch and pull as the little slant six gave its all to run the big Chevy.  That feeling alone brings a smile right now even.  I got far more back on the design and build of the tunnel ram and headers that I ever even dreamed. That will not go away. I am happy and satisfied.
There is a picture posted up on Quintecars.ca of me leaving him off the line. Time to switch to my gasser which at least I can get in and out of without groaning.
don

denverflatheader:
Your new gasser, logical direction.  Quintecar.ca picture certainly tells a story.

Dolmetsch:
Thanks. I have forever in my memory the feel of the burnout as we both burned through the line and then backed up. It was really working nice and I thought to myself how can a six make power like this. Mike was there to help me stage and he was and always is a big help on the line as he has been at it for years. I was able to come in at just under 3800 and set with the brake on full as Pat bumped in. That is fine I have learned because it warms up the trans a bit. When she dropped her arms I left. I was shallow staged but it didn't matter. The Converter , a lil 8 inch 4700 stall Frank Lupo made for me launched like a bullet. Bill from Quinte cars.ca caught it just at the leave. I opened the hole a fair distance right there and it got better till his top end charge took over. We are only 70 lbs difference in race weight, me being the lighter. I could feel the lil six pushing hard and could hear it roar. It has a deep distinct roar with this set up and not so much the old bumblebee sound sixes usually have. I use an A&A trans governor kit for autoshift at 6100 and it clicked off nicely. I could perhaps have left higher on the converter but it was early in the day and I wasn't sure of how much bite was out there as they are not allowed spray or resin. I am more then happy with the engines performance. It is far better then I would have expected from this induction/exhaust set up.  Several have commented both on line and in person since on how hard the lil six leaves and its sound. I am more then content with it. What to do with it I haven't thought about much yet. And the fact the the chassis kept me safe despite the speed and danger and flight also pleases me. I am tagging the whole deal a "success". I am working on a scrapbook , digital, of the day from early rising to the race. I had an idea that if all went well on the run I would hang it up Saturday so I took pictures from the moment I got up till right up before I ran. And I have the two pics of the run. One on the leave you just referred to and one just as he caught me. The track videos every single run and has from their first airfield race so I have that coming too. They also had a guy with a video equipped drone filming Sat . I don't know if it was up in the air or not when we ran. He could chase the cars down track so I heard some of the video  was awesome.  We shall see hopefully. Also a friend in TO was there and was using his go pro in hand held mode and videoed  the run from the starting line. Said he would let me know how it turns out. So I have a lot of good memories. The crash was not fun however takes nothing from the strong run and it looks like the pain is going to go away. The whole experience from building the original six carb intake then the four barrel days and now the tunnel ram days has been a blast.  Got to design two of my own camshafts and discovered much to my joy I was right on, on what I thought it needed. The two different heads were very interesting with the last one being phenomenal. The bottom end of the engine has never needed any service. Over the years the car has appeared in 8 magazines and been on TV (Gearz) as well. And I just built it so I could have a bit of fun and experiment in my retirement. Life is good. I have no complaints from the whole experience. And I met a lot of you folks as well.
The gasser will be a bit toned down power wise as it is time to exercise some restraint. But I wouldn't have missed this experience for anything. Soon I will be 65. I have nothing to complain about.
don 

afaulk:
Sounds like quite a ride. I've enjoyed following your progress and am glad you and the car both recovered  :D.

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