Messages

Are you in any of the pix?

2nd from right of frame standing in front of the trailer at Jerry's place.

3rd from right of frame in crew shot on the lake.

My shoulder is just visible in the van shot of the sleeping beauties.

In all the others, I'm behind the camera.

Good try Carps , but not me . Anyone else want to guess ? This could be the speed week version of find Waldo !

With so many great whiskers in that frame it'll be tough.    

How about third person on that guys left, wearing a cream/off white baseball cap?

Are you in any of the pix?

2nd from right of frame standing in front of the trailer at Jerry's place.

3rd from right of frame in crew shot on the lake.

My shoulder is just visible in the van shot of the sleeping beauties.

In all the others, I'm behind the camera.

Any idea how badly the coupe was wounded yet?

Hi Charlie, Gary informs me there's a big hole in the block but the engine is still in the car so he won't know the extent of the damage until he's in the right frame of mind to pull it out and look closer.
We do hope the camshaft isn't hurt as it's a very rare piece and the secret to the engines power.
Whilst the engine has huge ports, the valve train uses all old ford stuff with very large valves.  Most of the flatty racers use roller lifters and a bunch of late/new tech stuff ending up with a very heavy valve train, this one is light and lets the engine rev like a modern engine.  It sounds more like a top fuel Hemi than a flathead, which is what surprises people when they hear it first then see the heads.

Thanks for the post carps. I am in your second picture of the crowd at the opening ceremonies. I am the guy in a hat and sunglasses with a grey moustache  

Hi Chimp, you just described almost everybody in the crowd.        The guy in the middle front of frame is Stu, who is a member of our team.  I'm thinking you're in the hat with lotsa badges on it and a camera around your neck?

I upload the video to youtube and post a link.

I'm old, I have no idea how to do that.

I uploaded the video to Photobucket but I have no idea where it is in there, it seems to have vanished.

Thank you for the pics! Sure would like to hear a video of the car running.

I had the Gopro attached to the roll cage but have no idea how to post video here.

On Saturday morning the fly in crew arrived and it was time for a team photo.



The car passed thru tech without a hitch and then it was off to the driver's briefing.





Much of Saturday was spent getting everything dialled in and each time the engine was fired it was obvious it was loaded for bear.  Or so we thought.





The access route to the start line was in terrible shape and the huge potholes were shaking the car apart.  Even at walking pace it was rattling Garry's fillings out and he couldn't really see where he was being dragged.  Unable to avoid the ruts I decided to steer the van onto what appeared to be much smoother salt only to be pulled up and told I couldn't tow the car that way.  I protested telling the officials that if we kept towing on the marked route, we'd have no race car left by the time we got to the start line.  He admitted that was a problem and we were not the only ones to complain about it, but his hands were tied.   We made the decision to unhook the car, return to the pit to bring the trailer out.  It seemed the only way to get the car to the line without tearing it apart.  Unfortunately, some damage had already been done and for the first time since 1991, a front suspension rebuild was required before the car could be driven.



While the car was off the ground everything underneath was double checked just to be sure.



As a result everything on the car was checked and tightened whilst we waited in line for the first run.



After a long wait, Gary finally got underway.  The car hesitated off the line and started to misfire in mile 2, so Gary backed off and went thru the third mile at around 120 mph.  Not a good start.  Back in the pits it was concluded that we had a fuel pressure issue.  So the system was thoroughly checked and parts were procured to install a fuel pressure gauge so Gary could monitor it in order to avoid damage to the engine as a result of starving for fuel.





By now it was late and the lake was closed, so we had to pack up and head home for the night.



We arrived at sun up on Monday morning, filled the fuel tank, buttoned everything up and warmed the engine before heading for the start line.  Again we had a long wait because track conditions were not ideal, causing many cars to have problems which in turn slowed down proceedings.



Ambient temperature was climbing to triple digits meaning it was far too hot to get Gary settled into his office.  So that was left to the last minute.



It had to be well over 120 degrees in here.



Finally it was time to get Gary suited up and strapped in.



After what must have seemed an eternity sitting in the hot cabin, Gary was finally sent on his way.



The car came out of the hole cleanly with just a little wheel-spin......



.....and it was on the way with the engine singing a happy song.  



It ran strong, but the slick track meant Gary had to pedal in order to minimise the wheel-spin, of course that sapped a bit of speed and the timing ticket was not what we wanted, or what the car is capable of.



So again we called it a day, tidied up the car and headed for our motel around 8:00pm.

Tuesday morning we were ready even earlier in an attempt to make the start line before the track got got too chewed up even more.  Gary suited up and strapped in early so as to avoid any delays.



Everything was checked and double checked.



And we waited patiently in line.



Then came the starter's call.



This time the car came out of the hole sounding really angry and with almost nol wheel-spin.  





Gary was on his way and it sounded good.









Heading down the service road to pick up the car after the run we got a call on our CB telling us to cross the track as the car had gone off backwards to the right side.  We couldn't see but it didn't soundk good.

By the time we arrived, the safety crew had the car hooked up and were dragging it to where it should have finished.  Following, it was obvious that something had gone seriously wrong, as the rear end appeared to be trying to escape out from under the left side of the car.  It was seriously hurt.



Around the 2 ¾ mile the car lost traction and rotated 180 degrees.  The runoff road was rough like the access track and as the car bounced around it commenced a 360 pirouette, standing up on it's nose and coming down hard on the right rear tyre.  Gary said when the nose came up he thought it was going over.  Then it crashed hard into the ground.  The engine was still running when it turned around, but the pool of fluid dripping from the exhaust pipes and beneath the car suggested it had let go in a big way.



For us Speed Week was now officially over.  The car proved it could run the speed to improve on its existing record, but the salt was not playing nice.  In fact it was so erratic that one car could run a record and the following two or three would crash and burn, it was insane.



We loaded the car into the trailer and headed for the car wash in Wendover to blow off all the salt and crud.  That done we returned to the lake, packed everything back into the trailer and made it back to our motel before dark.  





Next morning the guys dropped me at SLC Airport and continued on back to St Louis.

I hear ya Chimp, we too were victims of the poor conditions, almost wrecked a car that's set three records since it's first Bonneville in 1991 and has never even looked like having a spin.  Here's our story:

Back in St Louis after the NSRA Nat's it was straight to work to get everything ready for the trip to Bonneville.



First challenge was the trailer, Garry had purchased new wheels and tyres, keeping the two best old ones for spares, so we shouldn't have any trailer tyre issues as we'd had previously.  Problem was, with the wheels off salt damage to the brakes was clear, so a quick overhaul was in order..

That done the electric braking system wasn't working, more parts and another overhaul, including a major rewire, because part of the problem was much of the wiring had gone completely rotten thanks again to the salt.  After a frantic thrash the brakes were OK but it took the rest of the afternoon and much of the evening to get all the lights working properly.



Now the focus turned to making sure the car was right to go racing.



With St Louis humidity and high 80 degree temperatures it was hot, sticky work out in the driveway.



Once reinforcements arrived jobs got completed, checked off quickly and with the engine dialled in, it was buttoned up and ready to go.





Since we were ahead of schedule a couple test run seemed like a good idea.  Just to be totally sure that everything was right.  Now you gotta remember here this is a blown and injected flattie, with a unique camshaft and cylinder heads and it really does sound more like a top fuel dragster.  In the quiet leafy suburbs of outer urban St Louis, it sounds even better.



Fortunately most of the neighbours were at work so no complaints were recorded and satisfied all was as it should be everything was loaded for three three day road trip.



Still ahead of schedule, we were on the road early.



Our first stop was around supper time and after gassing up and a good feed and rechecking everything that should be checked, we took a detour to avoid Kansas City, sending us directly to Lincoln.  Where we'd pick up another crew member, catch a few Zees and eat a hearty breakfast before continuing



......of course that required another photo session.





We caught up with these guys in a gas station, headed for their first Bonneville Speed Week.
For a bunch of Bonneville virgins, they appeared to have everything they needed to run fast.

.

Tis pair are almost my favourite shots from the road trip, but I think there's a better shot showing everybody awake but in the same seats as when they are dozing.





This was a cool place to stop for fuel and lunch.













We dragged the big black box through the night ....



.....saw a couple of lovely sunsets......



.....and a few more gas stations.

[/quote]

After all that......



.... we finally arrived at the edge of Lake Bonneville.......



....and headed straight out to unload and set up our pits.

HEY   :!:  :!:    Another long time friend heard from ....   Good to hear from you Carps...I think the last time you visited, you were knocking down trees & tearing your house down  :?:  :?
Hope that all is well with you .... Bob..

Yup, missed the Nat's last year due to spending some time in hospital again, all good now after a minor little hiccup that say me drive a car at high speed under the back of a truck.  Walked away from it so nothing to worry about once the Doc's figured out what caused my excursion into darkness.

After almost a year of fighting the city council and trades people who promise the world, demand payment up front, then never show up when promised, not to mention over $50k spent, this is what I have.

from the top of the drive-way





From the left side of the block.



From the right side of the block.



And what covers the dirt once the retaining walls are built and drainage installed.

That seven window coupe still looks great Carps!

Thanks Mike and the wheelcaps are the set that C-9 sent me all those years ago, took me a while as things do, but they eventually made it onto the car and I like em better than the mags.

Hope all is as well as it can be with your tribe and it's great to see that little red Ford still doing snowman duty.

And on the score of catching up or staying in touch, i'm equally guilty, because I let stupid things get in the way of just getting on with life and being silly etc with my friends.

After the monumental change around this time in 2015, I make another big one that at least this time was my choice, december 17, 2017 will be the last time I wear formal atire or a watch on a week-day.  

1970



1971



Today and the 1970/71 wheels will be back on it as soon as the tyres arrive.



Yup, nothing but the wheels and tyres is different to 1971.





1978



1979



1980



1990



2000





Today.

Just packing my bags, going to a hot rod show a long way from home.

Thought I'd drop in and say gudday, haven't done so for a long time, been a bit preoccupied with other stuff.

Prolly got some pictures around the place if you wanna see what's been goin on around here.

Hey George, that is one wicked neat machine.  Please let you neighbour know I have a couple of small jobs for him if he's interested.    

Not really fun job of the week, eh George?

We had a bit of a possum traffic jam on the powerline to the house last night, seems it's now the only access route to the roof.

If they are upset with me now, the furry little blighters are gunna be really P*$$ed when the house vanishes!      

Got another week of packing coming up, it was always nice to have a good library with a bit of variety in the reading.  After packing 60 half tea chest sized boxes with books I'm not even halfway done and not looking forward to the unpacking and putten em on the shelves in the new library.   :cry:

It's heavy. I used 16 ga steel and 3 gallons of bondo.  

Man that's one great looking console, and only 3 gallons of bondo, that makes you some kind of master metal finisher, I'd have used at least six gallons.  

And it still wouldn't look so good.  :cry:

Carps, why are you taking down the house?

We were going to start renovations when Ann got sick, so it was put on hold.  Because I stayed close to the hospital and wasn't really paying attention to anything unrelated to Ann's well-being and comfort, on the occasions I went home to check the place I didn't see the warning signs and when I finally realised what had happened, the damage was done.

Because of the environment and National Parks my property is covered by every caveat that exists in the state of Victoria in respect to trees, forest fires and fauna (we're not even allowed to remove fallen trees because something might be living in them).  The council previously having stopped me from dealing with a number of the big trees when we first figured there was a termite problem or wanted to cut them away from the house to take out the possum 'bridges' (we have a hundred different possum varieties in the area).  Additionally, buildings may cover no more than 40% of any block and multiple dwellings are forbidden from the high side of Forrest Road (a mile west of my place) and throughout the Dandenong Ranges area.  Although some developers seem to get around those rules.    

So all things considered I decided after returning in September last year from my US vacation, to move to a smaller property where I could build a decent sized garage and life would go on.  After months looking at overpriced garbage most with obvious or concealed problems, marketed by unethical, to downright dishonest and shonky real estate agents, I gave up in disgust. (Too many of these people don't just give their industry a bad name, they make used car sales people look like saints, a property offered at say $500k would rarely be sold for less than $750 and if they could push the price up further they'd use every trick in the book or make up new ones.)

Developers (or as I prefer to call them, Vultures) are even slimier than estate agents, but I guess they are all in the same business and tarred with the same brush.  Since I first contacted an agent looking to buy, I've had more than a half trying to buy my place, despite telling everybody it's NOT for sale!.  The first was only a few weeks after Ann's funeral and when I enquired as to why the sudden interest in my property, the response almost knocked me flat.  They review the obituaries and funeral notices in the media, looking for leads to potentially lucrative properties that may be up for grabs.    :evil:   I even had one, who despite all the caveats was confident because of the dual street frontage and his ability to convince VCAT because one of my two 1/2 acre blocks allows access and the property could be subdivided into 4 quarter acres lots, that he would be allowed to construct four townhouses.  The deal was that they would pay me $X and take the property off my hands.  However, no money would change hands as I'd simply move into one of the new townhouses after it was finished.   When I asked what made him think that was a good deal, he responded by telling me that I'd be able to get out of my mortgage.  When I advised him to have another look at the title deeds he still didn't get it, or maybe thought I was just stupid.  Why would I give them a property I have owned outright for over 30 years and then accept one quarter of it back, just because they put a new house on it?  IF I thought that a good idea, I'm sure I could borrow enough money to do it myself and pocket the profit.  So now you have an insight as to why I hate slimy, greedy real estate agents and developers.  

The upside from this decision is that my daughter fessed up and told me she didn't really want me to leave the place where Ann and I were happy and she had grown up.  This lead to our first serious father/daughter discussion and now she understands where once it was her mother's job to stop me doing dumb stuff, it is now hers and she has to speak up quickly before I do anything I may later regret.  

The decision to rebuild will cost me a bunch of dough I would rather have spent on a wooden car and other things, but that's the way it goes sometimes and I need a home more than I need another old car.  So the wheels are turning and it's on the way.  I've always liked it here and one of the things that drew us to this property was that big old tree.  However, as I've learned, life can change quickly and nothing lasts forever, so it's now gone but I'm still here.  Another good thing is that my neighbours (and they are one of the best things about living here, all good people with diverse backgrounds and from many cultures) are happy to know I'm staying, which also pleases me.

Another aspect of cutting that tree down which bugged me came up when I investigated passing all the wood on to a firewood/fuel merchant.  They only want it if it's cut and split into saleable small chunks and knowing I didn't want it, they didn't want to pay anything for for it.  None would pick it up either, so the deal is I would cut it into 12 inch think 'wheels' then split or chop those into firewood sized chunks and then deliver it all the merchant who would sell it for a sizeable profit. Instead, my friend Craig came around with his 2.5 tonne lifting capacity skid steer loader and 12 tonne tipper and Steve the tree cutter used his ten tonner and by the end of Saturday they had removed 25 ton of timber to the local recycling depot, where folks who want it just need to arrive with the tools, cut up what they need/want and take it home free of charge.  Win/Win.  

Considering all the work was done at 'mates rates' and the cost was still a huge four digit chunk of change, I hate to imagine what it would have been if I wasn't a hot rodder and able to call on The Hot Rod Network for help.  

Here's a link to a promo for the neighbourhood for anybody interested in seeing how the other half live.

https://visitdandenongranges.com.au/

PS - Now you kjnow why folks will warn you about asking me the time.  You'll need at least an hour for me to explain to you how the clock works.