Event Coverage The Official 2014 Meltdown Drags #5 thread, vintage drag meet, July 18,19&20 Byron IL

Ric I love the idea about adding extra cl***es..that would be cool plus give everybody a chance to win with driving ability. Just not a fan of a 10.5 or less tire... Thought of pie crusts on the current A/G cars makes me shudder.


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He's been a great friend,and an absolute genius at helping point me in the right direction while I try to get the Hilborn 4 port setup in the ballpark for my Model A/Hemi/HydroStick project.

Scott


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It would definitely make for some slippery,crossed up p***es!
(which in my book is a good thing!)

Scott


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They are plenty squirrely now brother! Plus the wheelies would go right out the window. Unless you want to add 300 lbs or more of ballast to the *** end. Quain has it as close to perfect as its probably ever gonna be. Now, I had brought up to Ric and Quain both the idea of bringing back the gas cl***es based on weight to cubic inch. It could be done these days much easier than before..the tool ONLY costs $1000 but there are ways around that too. I'd be down for that right now...just don't tell me I gotta run no sorry *** pie crusts! Haha!


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Yes sir, the fast crowd in SEGA, are definitly driving those cars, and take it from me, standing on the starting line watching, is a thing of beauty, even compared to all the video coverage. Bean, @ Thanksgiving, I'm gonna have some pies delivered to you without crust!, just so you can enjoy them even more.

 

I like the idea of a 11.5" tire rule. That would bring it up another notch toward "period correct". I am going to be building a 55 fairlane to hopefully run with the south east g***ers a few times a year. I doubt they would ever try running them cars on a pie crust tire making the power they do wouldn't end well in the long run I think someone would end up hurt. My coupe went 10.50 @ 134 on a radir piecrust slick skating all over and just putting m/t slicks on it went a 10.05 @ 138. and my car might have been making 500-550 hp then couldn't imagine trying to hook around 7-800 hp with a pie crust wouldn't work at all. On the other hand for cars making less power a piecrust only cl*** would be awesome I think there would be a ton of people running in the 11-12 sec range that It would work well for. My brothers "ALLHACKED UP" chevelle does a huge wheelie every p*** and usually runs mid to low 11's with no problems hooking he has gone high 10's with no problem hooking them. I think these are some great ideas guys keep them coming that's what helps get this event better and better.

 

Switching gears a minute, some of the coolest Lions pics I've ever seen, and this will make you feel like your there tonight.

 

I like Quains rules except the being able to use Jericos because I think that is unnecessary and a Muncie or t-10 that has been pro shifted or face plated would be more period correct. Mine has held up very well and very badly mistreated. I will give him credit, their group looks more correct than most of the rest. The hoosiers they run measure 11 1/4 I don't know what their rule is for width. Hoosier calls them a 10 1/2

 

all the talk of pie crust tires not hooking up or skating around is b.s. i have gone in the 8s on radir 10 inch tires at 170 mph. garlitts dragster went 200 plus on radirs. and have it on video. all that has ever been on my blown 31 coupe is radirs and it goes in the 9s.. if used properly they bite and bite hard. so hard in fact that i had to upgrade to 5/8 studs. after 3 p***es the 1/2 inchers were folded over. this happened ever time i ran. if the air pressure is kept above 15 lbs the car is safe at the top end straight as a string. i run 20 lbs on the street. to run the radirs properly a good burnout needs to be done. this means a hurst line lock is a must. second they hook harder without inner tubes. with the tube you add sidewall stiffness imparing the wrincke effect.. on a car weighing over 3700 lbs a tube may help. heavy cars need stiffer side walls. third a good tire softener helps. i have a brew i use on my tires that works great. pm me for the formula. with my durometer i can get my tires to read around 40-45. this is the same reading as my kids nitto drag radials. towel city tires are harder yet if any one was wondering about those. you have to get them hot to work. it is a must do thing. people are too quick to blame a particular brand or style of tire for poor performance. the real cause is ussually a poor suspension or improper use of the tire. under inflating tires to compensate for a poor suspension will cause handling issues down track.. fix your car and inflate the tires properly problem solved. this info comes from someone who uses the product with success. if any one needs proof i can send a pic of my car with the front tires in the air and the sidewalls rippled. the car weighs 3170 lbs.

 

Personally I like to see cars running both modern slicks and pie crust at the meltdown. With the cutoff being 1966, that was right in the transition from old style to modern slicks. One great thing about the Meltdown being 3 days is there is plenty of time to run small eliminator groups, like say the piecrust challenge, along with the Midwest g***ers, North V. South etc, That is if an individual or group was inclined to organize a sub event.

 

The jericos are VERY much necessary..Muncie with a super case ain't rated for the HP they are dishing out. Don't believe me then go to Wallace racing calculators and do the math. I'm done doing math for others

So far as pie crusts being "sticky" ...I ain't no Don Garlits or even Don Knots for that matter but I have smoked a set the entire 1/4 mile with a roughly 550-600hp engine in a STICK car. Popped a set of Mickey T's on and dropped almost a second and a half off my et. Ladder bar car with no other changes made. Eh...you can have em


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right off the ups truck regular slicks will work better. they are also lighter. and the perfect band aid for those who can't tune a ch***is. the early radirs that are four years old or older were a harder compound. the new ones are much softer. they also need to be worn in to make them flat. they were originally designed to spin down the track to simulate a fuel dragsters run. a few good burnouts or tire shaving will do the job. its a little work to make them get max bite on a higher hp car but if you want the look and performance it can be done. if the white wall look is not desired put the ww to the inside and use tire black on it. it will disappear. if tire softener is used on the tires wrapping them in plastic the night before a race increases the effect. radir now has 12 inch wide 32 tall available. they also have about four other sizes.

 

We always wondered why those tires left markers on the road like they do. They are around 8 years old. Can't wait to see what a new softer set does.

 

Perfect bandaid for those who can't tune a ch***is?

Racer X:

Most of these cars are built with non-adjustable ladder bars,buggy springs,and other **** from yesteryear that was the normal setup back in the day,not four links with 99 points of adjustment.

I think you're probably the only guy who has pissed and moaned about the Meltdown from the beginning,wanting to change rules,wanting to run for money,wanting to open it up to newer cars,etc.

You need to think your **** through pal.

What makes this the greatest event I've ever seen is that it is FUN.
Know why that is....?

Cause it's not full of loud mouth,cut throat,hyper-compe***ive,****ing-every-last-drop-of-fun-out-of-it-for-everyone-else ***holes that will throw obscene amounts of cash at it until it's no fun for anyone else,the cars have moved away from their original intent,and all of a sudden it's the 1970's again.

I know you're going to give me a huge blast of **** for this,but why don't you just show up,relax,and have a ****ing great time and abide by whatever rules the MDA see for to lay out next year,just like about 10,000 folks that had an amazing time this year did?

Everybody knows you have a garage full of very shiny,very fast ****.Good for you.
Does it make you any better than the rest of us?

Nope.

Does it make you eligible to walk in to an event you've never even run a car at and force your idea of what the rules "should" be down 500 guys throats and over ride the dudes who work their ***es off to put on this amazing event?

**** NO.

Although I love the pie crust slick IDE for some cars,you execution is really heavy handed Man.
Just show up with a ****ing car, race, have an amazing time,repeat.

You don't have to take over the ****ing place,just show up with a car and have some FUN dude!

Scott





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Uhhhh.... Ric, those really are some cool pictures. Made me want to go down to the concession stand and buy a burger. Anybody like a cool gl*** of lemonade? Man I sure could use some....

Eeeek...now you know when somebody says,"I'm not trying to start a **** storm,BUT.." what's about to happen! Hahaha!




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You're right Bean,Ric's pictures were absolute gold


Regarding the ****storm: I couldn't sit there and NOT speak up any longer....The direction that certain people are trying to force things in has bad news written all over it in 50 foot high neon letters.

I guess the important thing to remember about the Meltdown is:

Offering up suggestions is fine,but we're GUESTS at somebody's event that they work hard at all year long

I was a bit ranty,but what the heck.Its on my mind,and I'm putting it out there.

Scott


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We could start a new Shootout called Pannetons Piecrust a palooza ! Lol

 

BeeBee-

I like that idea... I will sign up now for a shot against "The Lakeshore Sharter"...

You up for it Scott?

 

I'm poor....I don't think I can hang with you fellas......
My junk is probably pushing about 325 hp.

 

I am with you Roothawg. I am lucky if mine makes it factory advertised HP.
I am going to show up like some snot nose punk in 1966 that wanted to go drag racing with a shoestring budget and have as much fun as I can afford.
And I am more than gracious that I was invited to the show.

 

I can tell y'all this, what ever rules y'all make I'll make the needed changes and be back next year if I can afford the trip. Most of my guy's will do the same. Pie crust no problem, but like Bean dip said the wheelies and faster ET might go away but will be replace with tire smokeing guard to guard rail runs. The melt downs is the best vintage racing deal going and it's because of the rules and it's only going to get better, the right people are running the show.

 

That's all well and good.....

....til my old Ford takes an "Okie DUMP" all over that chivvy!

Scott


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Damn what a difference a day makes! I am a surprised you'd run pie crusts Quain..didn't expect that. Hmm..I think I'm still going to build to your rules because I am a total fan. Best cars around!
I don't want any of you guys to change a thing because I think it's perfect as is and enjoy it so much. Just don't think I could sell the family on me running pie crusts though.


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Bean I didn't say that I would like running pie crust. I was just showing my support for the guy's that work so hard to give us a place to show off our old cars. We are a dying bread you know. The South East G***er rules are going to stay at 11.5, at least for 2015.

 

mines a ladder bar car also and it works just fine. there is no need to get so worked up getting called out on having a car that can't perform on pie crusts. this a family show here try to keep it clean. zettle the harder the tire the better the softener works. i use a old gear lube bottle. i fill it half full with diesel fuel one quarter laquar thinner one quarter non synthetic dextron atf. jack up the car and put it in neutral rub into the tire with a rag. wash your hands after using the brew. a little nitro increases the effect big time. wrapping in plastic over night really increases the effect. with old hard tire it may take a few times for the full effect. you will see the tires turn a darker black color. when burnouts are done at the track you will actually see your tracks because they will be darker than whats already there. this brew really works. the longer it has to work the better. i retreat after every p***. when I'm done racing and return to street driving the tires go back to the old durometer readings. the purchase of a durometer will help with consistency they go for around 100 dollars. for a dual propose machine it couldn't get better. if i only had a old bx-10 bottle laying around it would be perfect. have fun.

 

Now THAT is some really funny **** right there!

I'm still LOL...

 

Doh! I see now...reading comprehension is a not a strong suit.


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Like I said, I think you guys are one of the best things going. I just thought I would ask.

They are a pretty penny too, so who knows if I will even have the jack for a second set of tires.....


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I apologize if I hit a nerve. It wasnt my intention. It really was just an honest question.

I applaud the guys that put on these events. I have done my share and you always come away feeling like you could have done more......


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Glad you got a kick outta that one AJ....I can't wait to get to work on the old heap....I haven't touched it since we unloaded it from the trailer after the race.
Been too busy working.

Between the bigger headers,Holman/Moody LeMans camshaft,and deeper gears,I think the "Pokey Croaker" is gonna be doing a lot less racin',and a lot more followin'!

Scott

Ps:A nice man tried to sell me some weird intake that has another hole in it that looks like I might be able to fit a whole 'nother carburetor on there!
If I throw that on the Ol Ford look out!
She's gonna be full speed ahead on the Lakeshore Express...!

Scott


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