974 going to the Wilmington OH. Mile

[sirstude]

Hooley,

One more thing as the time gets here.  Let me know what help you will need, we can come down on Thursday if it will help.  Possibly even on Wednesday.  I know there is lots of time between now and then, but it helps on the planning.

Doug

[Hooley]

Thanks for the help offer. You know it is always welcomed.  A year goes real fast any more.

It is just a few days till the Wilmington Mile.  I could have went to Hot Rod Drag Week today but a water leak under the house took up most of yesterday and today.  And not finished yet ,there are a couple of drips yet.  Probably take most of tomorrow.

Hooley

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Crosley,  I had looked at the small RV idea before. After research I found that what I saved in motel bills by camping in the "new" RV was more than lost in the extra fuel, title, registration, and insurance. It was cheaper to stay in a motel. If you were going to buy an RV anyway it is an idea, but just for B'vill it won't pay.
I am considering driving my PU with a camper shell and roughing it in it. Even that comes close to not making financial sence. My little car gets 37 mpg. My PU gets 15 mpg. It is about a 3300 mile trip for me. Add the comfort of a real bed and a shower and it may be time to reconsider.
The first nights motel is cheap since I arrive for tech in. I would stay about 4 nights in the high $$ range. When I plan the trips I calculate staying a week, but I never do. When planning expenses I often forget the 2 nights motel bill on the trip. The RV does eliminate all the motel locating headaches and you don't have to use the porta-poties.

Let me know if my calculations are way off.

Not quite the long trip for me from AZ to Bendover UT. Fuel mileage would be lower on the RV than your truck, I suspect.

The hassle of trying to get a hotel room for Speed Week is a big pain and costly. Last 2 times we were at Speed Week, we rented a room in Salt Lake City and drove the 80+ miles each way , every day.  That makes getting off the salt for a short rest at the room difficult.

Also, if we decide to cut out early , we do not have to deal with the hotel BS if we are in the RV. It would be convenient  and that costs money too. LOL

It is a number$ game either way you travel and sleep over nite.  We looked into an RV rental and that cost was nutz!

We rented a small SUV in Phoenix one year and drove to SLC  hotel room.  That way my vehicle was not exposed to the salt.  We could also ''crash'' in the SUV for a short rest from the sun.

So ... for us the rental of another SUV is on the list and the small RV purchase is being looked at too.


I need to get to the salt in 2013, it's been too long

[Hooley]

My friend Jerry Pace who has been an inportant part of the 974 Team is having an auction and selling every thing. Here is a link to that . It is this Sat Sept.15,2012 at 10:00am.

http://www.billhortonauctions.com/auction/27/
or go to www.Billhortonauction.com   for more info.

Hooley

[Hooley]

Well it's a little more than a week till the Ohio Mile and I'm getting ready.
I changed out the electric panel that had corrosion from the salt.  

I took 450#'s of ballast out leaving 250# in.  If the car does OK the first run or two, I'll take the rest of the weight out.

The chute mounts are changed to angle the deployment toward the sides. There is also two new chutes to try.

Changed the oil and filter,  every thing looked good.  I figured I would find some water or alky in it.  

I have borrowed an air compressor from John to keep the tires aired to the 90#s.  Tried it out and it will do the job.

I better go over my list to make sure I don't forget something.  Now where is that list?

I ran into Bob Merickle [with the 689 Metro Comp Coupe] at Bonneville Speed Week. He has a very fast car. He I have a challenge to see who is faster.  There is an adult beverage riding on this.

Any body be able to be there?

Hooley

[GPster]

My wife has an eye doctor appointment early Friday morning and her eyes will be dialated so I'll be her driver. That should put me in Cincinnatti sometime later Friday. If you need any help getting set-up on Friday I canhit Wilmington on the way to Cincinnatti but iwould be later in the afternoon. Saturday can be an all day but on Sunday I'll have to leave early enough to get home before dark. Let me know what you need. GPster

[Hooley]

Thanks Joe, It doesn't take much to set the pits up for Wilmington.  Will you be able to be there Sat and or Sun?

I took care of every thing under the car and put the belly pan back on.

The crank shaft for the 572 BBC came back and looks like a new one. I'll try to have it built by Jan or Feb.  

There are old time Drags at Tulsa this week-end.I might go and watch for a while. There is also a swap meet.

Hooley

[GPster]

My reservations have been confirmed (at son's house in Cincinnatti) so it looks like I'll be available Saturday and Sunday. I'll check and see if there's a Catholic church in Wilmington and mass times but I'm sure they will work in. I should send a PM to Trackster and see if he's got that '39 Chevy "Stove Bolt" six running yet. See you there. GPster

[trackster]

GPster,  There is a Catholic church in Wilmington.  St. Columbkille,  73 N. Mulberry St.  Don't know the time for mass, since I don't attend there.   Phone # is 937-382-2236.   Haven't started the Stovebolt yet.  Sometimes life gets in the way of the hobbies!   May see you at the races.  Not sure about my schedule right now.    If you see a Model A pickup with "Abone Delivery, Inc."  on the dorr, that's me.  Stop and say howdy.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

Kenny and I will be there mid-day Friday if everything goes well. Looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Charlie

[GPster]

tractster, check your PM. The only warning that there is something there is when "You have no new messages" changes to "You have __ new message" GPster

[purplepickup]

I'll be there Thursday PM thru Sunday.  The long term weather forecast looks pretty good....cool and sunny.  See ya there.

[Hooley]

Hopeful the weather will be just right for racing. It is always right for having fun with friends.

I started the engine today. Had a exhaust gasket leaking ,I'm changing them out now.  All the data stuff is working and it sounds good. I have a couple of gallons of nitro if I get brave and think there should be a few more MPH in it.

We will be coming in Thur evening and try to get a pit area close to the Blue Room or Green Room,I can't remember.

Hooley

[Beck]

If anyone at Wilmington has online service. Updates of the 974 runs this weekend would be greatly appreciated!

[purplepickup]

I plan to update when I can.  Today was pretty laid back.  We went through Tech and did a lot of BSing with other racers and each other.  Crew present are Ken (a friend of Hooley's from Oklahoma), CharlieChops, OhioBlueTip (Kenny), GPster,  and me.  

The car doesn't need much of anything before the first run.  Hooley wants to make a slow run (210 mph) first to make sure the new chutes deploy the way they're supposed to.  After that it's balls to the wall.  Hooley showed us his jug of "secret weapon" and measuring kit that he mentioned above.  He got a grin like a kid with a new chemistry set.

Gates open at 7AM tomorrow and we'll be there.  Driver's meeting is 8AM.  The weather is supposed to be clear and cool.  There should be some good runs.