What did you do on your Front Engine Dragster TODAY?

[gregm784]

Got the car loaded up, ready to test again.  New canards are now glass bead blasted primed, painted, and lettered. 

[Dolmetsch]

Having a vintage style dragster and a 63 MAX Wedge street car I decided to build a matching trailer to arrive at Picton Airfield towing my short rail with my 63 Dodge. The trailer will be wired and done today or tomorrow. Tis already painted the same colour as the Dodge. Next will be to find or make a vintage safe bumper hitch for the 63 Dodge.  Trailer is low so just jack tongue and load. No ramps required.
Pics perhaps ths afternoon.
Don

[Sidewinder]

The Sidewinder and the Old Bros. made a long list of parts, that's going to be sent to Mike at Alkydiggers tomorrow:)

Kjell

[GlennLever]

The Sidewinder and the Old Bros. made a long list of parts, that's going to be sent to Mike at Alkydiggers tomorrow:)

Kjell

I have had similar lists, they can get expensive. When the boxes start arriving it is like Christmas.

[Dolmetsch]

I finished tidying up the wiring for the new tach (directly in front of me instead at the side. ) Checked all fluids and topped as required. Lubed the suspension points that require it. Gotta get some fresh fuel and give it a thorough warm up. then check of the winch still works for loading it onmy truck. Also have to get my safety gear out and make sure its all there. And my gas mask for the with "Beazer" photo shoot. Weather looks good for the weekend.
Don

[buickfed]

finally got the zoomies welded last night. came home today and took it for a spin in the driveway. WOW! what a VIOLENT launch. front wheels were off the ground. HOLY MOLY! and then I had a new brake line go bad. at least its a small issue. my son will have fun with this. 

[Dolmetsch]

I am grinning! Had a similar experience last fall when I decided to test the converter running from the garge out into the driveway. Took stall to 4000 released the brake and planted my foot. I knew I was in trouble when the front wheels came up in the garage. Went out the front door at about 55 MPH . Got er shut down before hitting the hedge but didnt have a helmut or my belts on and bumped my head when it landed after exiting the garage full tilt. Head hurts right now just talking about it.  Wife suggested I might be crazy.
Don

[Blind Mule]

Thats funny my wife said that about me too!

   Randy!

[buickfed]

mine too. I hit the wall at Lebanon with our Skyhawk going thru the lights. knocked out for a few seconds and had a mild concussion. drove home and told my wife, er nurse, what happened. forced to ride with her to the er. got a brain scan which came out ok, but she said to all her co-workers 'see, I told you there was nothing up there'.  I get no respect at all. 

[coupemerc]

Got my new rocker arms and my cylinder head back from T&D today. I was sweating this one out as it appeared for a few days that Fed-X had lost my cylinder head!

[Dolmetsch]

Did final check, Ran it for a 1/2 hour to be sure all was well. Preset tire pressure, loaded it and covered it for overnite. Bought fuel (94 octane Sunoco).Off to Picton Airfield in the morning.
Probably wont sleep all nite!
Don

[Blind Mule]

Now thats a ramp truck I like that!



   Randy!

[Dolmetsch]

Today I raced it at Picton Airfield. Made 4 runs. Three against a BB Ford Bantam altered , a probuilt car. Got one of the three in my pocket. Also ran a BB injected Chevy FED. Used to be able to beat him but he has is stuff together now . I would need another 40 or 50 hp to catch him.  Interestingly though I nailed all these out of the hole easily .(thank you Mr Frank Lupo for your converter)  I was carrying the wheels at a skimming level. Just an inch or so. The slant six ran like a dream . Singing relatively quietly away as it approached 6000 for each shift. Pulled all the way through the eyes too. They had a antifreeze down in the one lane so shifted the lanes over one width and continued running. On the burn out and through on that run I carried the wheels high and kinda burned through the lights a bit close to the rhs Infared.  Knocked it out of alignmennt but they fixed it quickly. Best thing that happened after that last race which I won there was a friend's 9 year old grandaughter standing there in pink with a pink feather in her hand. She stuck out her tiny hand and I heard "Congratulations Don". Grandpa was standing about ten feet away watching it all.  A couple of years ago I let her sit in the car while her Dad took a picture of her. I guess it meant more to her then I realized.  Made the whole day worthwhile.
Also heard my old boss and now old friend explaining to someone after I won the last race"What you just witnessed sir was 246 cu inches taking on 485 cubic inches and winning." One run in particular was as close to perfect as it could be. I could hear the little six singing away merrily as RPM rose and rose and rose till the finish line flashed by. Also had a photo shot with Bob Beazer flagging a couple of us Feds off on a run with old signage from Mohawk Dragway (1960s The Big GO North)  set up on the starting line as it would have been back then.
Don

[ricardo1967]

Big congratulations Don.

I like your style.

[Dolmetsch]

Thanks, What I forgot was I had to go and play fiddle at a Gospel Concert at 6.30 . I got home at 5.45. Wife was in a bit of a panic. We made it  but she said she was afraid I would fall alseep on stage between songs.
Somehow I survived. All in all a great day.  Old friends, old cars, old airport and old time gospel music. Hard to beat.
Don