We realized that "The Black Hole" was a lot of car for an old newbie to tackle. We both agreed that a better plan was to buy a nice Super Comp dragster that was in good shape and start going to races as soon as possible.
The new plan requires that I slow down production on "The Black Hole" and spend the money that we were about to put into it on a dragster instead. This will push out the debut date for the "The Black Hole" significantly but will increase the odds of me actually making it down the track without ping ponging it off of the walls. If I do that, game over!
We found the new car on Monday and we are going to take "The Long, Long Trailer" to pick it up this weekend (Friday, April 14).
We have a bunch of stuff that is on our schedule until the 4th of July (including the Second Annual Harvey 4th of July Celebration at our lake house), picking up the new (used) tow truck, finishing a bathroom at the lake house, having a new grand baby, etc., etc.
I will tell more about the car on the new car page when I get the car.
Here are a couple of pictures of it.
Click on the Blog Archive hierarchy on the right hand side to see my posts in order. The ones at the bottom are the newest posts.
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ReplyDeleteInteresting plan of learning drag race cars. My sarcastic peanut gallery comment suggests an altered would have been closer to a Pro Mod. I have driven a dragster, but not a door car nor altered. I am sure you have had people tell you the seat of the pants feel is totally different in the dragster. See Troy Coughlin Jr in the dragster compared to Pro Mod. Yet different power as well. If you are in it this deep, I am sure you already know this, and not sure why I felt compelled to say anything. I am enjoying following your progress on the Corvette, one of my favorite body styles and Pro Mod is one of my favorite classes.
ReplyDeleteDarin, Walled Lake, MI
I keep thinking about my comments. I only have your best interest here. I appreciate the work involved and would much rather see someone do most of the work themselves within their abilities. As opposed to some people who have an engine shipped to the chassis builder. Throw a bunch more money at it for titanium and magnesium parts. Then have their worker go pick it up and take it to the track. I like your route much better. Plus I think building the project is almost an equal amount of enjoyment. But that's just me, and everyone is different. Darin
ReplyDeleteDarin,
DeleteYes I am aware that the cars will handle very differently. This part of the plan is so I can get used to the racing experience, learning the track routines, staging processes, data acquisition and evaluation, tuning for weather, and get everyone used to the process. My wife is my primary helper and she is worried about all the things she will have to do. When she saw how easy it was to go round after round in the Comp car, she thought it would be nice for her to be able to learn the whole process before moving to something much more intense.
It may not be the typical approach but I hope will serve its purpose for everyone.
As you have probably figured out if you read all of my web pages, the project is a big part of the fun for me. I love working for hours at my lathe or mill and making things out of aluminum. I am also looking forward to actually race something too.
I have been without any participating in racing something for many years. I have been doing motorcycle track days which is almost racing but is not the same as trying to win something, ha! The last tie I actually raced to win something was when I was racing motocross from age 12 to age 35. That has been a while, I am 56 now.
Again, thanks for your comments. How did you learn about my web page?
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ReplyDeleteI certainly understand the idea of getting laps and used to the procedure at the track. I commend you for your approach. And when you decide to part with the dragster, I would think you could get your money back. Maybe your wife will want to race it to maybe drive it a couple times anyways. You seem to keep your stuff immaculate. It is interesting to see how different tracks and sanctioning bodies work similar but different. I originally started helping a friend with a NHRA competition eliminator car in the 80's. Going to divisional meets was interesting. Then the whole process really speeds up at the National event level. Then at INDY U.S. Nationals they really speed up the process and you better be on your game. Then in the late 90's I helped another friend Gary with an IHRA Top Dragster car with a blown small block. Gary was only interested in their Quick 8 heads up program. The class was called Top Dragster Quick 8, Super Eliminator and then Pro Outlaw and some other names. It was comical how they kept the rules, but changed the name. That was the first time I was involved with a project from nothing to racing national event level. Acquiring trailer and outfitting the trailer. He originally bought a used dragster from Oklahoma and it wouldn't pass tech. Had the car front & back halfed. Then like your boat when you bought it, the engine had issues, cracked rods and crank. Different rods and valves mixed in. A real mess. Plus it just was not going to be competitive. So Gary ordered a new car and built a splayed valve tall deck small block Chevy. My point was it was fun starting from scratch and building the whole car similar to what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteSo to answer your question, I originally saw your posts on PerformanceBoats forum under Wild V-Drives. Then your thread "My New Project" under Open Water. And the "Got My Dream Boat after 32 years" under Oklahoma Hot Boats. On the phone app it brings up the latest forum posts irregardless of which category the post is under. And unfortunately it does not tell you what category it is, but you end up seeing different stuff you would not normally look for. Anyways, I saw the link to this blog page there. Last night after posting the above I went through and read some of the earlier posts I had missed or forgotten about. I have to say that is the first blown Schmidt engine I have seen. He does make nice engines. And a Rick Jones car with Tim McCamis parts should be the best of the best. It is a shame you were not able to enjoy your Cole after getting it exactly how you wanted it. But like you said, building it is half the fun. That is one of my favorite color combinations. I hope someday Shawn will take you for a ride in the Cole or let you drive it. It is too bad they made the Dean law. I thought things were bad in Michigan. I have become friends with Brian Hughes 'Trigger' and through Brian became acquaintances with Jeff Lawson 'BAM' in Oklahoma. I am darin_s on the PerformanceBoats forum.
Sorry for dragging this out,
Darin
Darin,
DeleteGlad you are following my trek to do my dream.
Brian is a good guy and was the first to contact me when I started the boat. We have kept in touch and I have a feeling he will be at some of my first races.
He hated to see me trade the boat but he understood!
I really feel good about this car and I have been going through everything since I unloaded it.
It is in great shape but needs some wiring redone. It has a brand new Racepak dash but did not have all the sensors hooked up yet or the dash completely configured. I got most of the configuration done tonight and the sensors are installed/working. The dash is a pretty neat setup.
I took the opportunity to start tidying up all of the wiring and replacing bad wires since I had all the clamps loose. I cannot stand messy wiring so it will be in ship shape when I get done.
Hanks again for following the blog.
Dean