History 64/65 Comets old drag cars lets see pictures

Went and saw Dale Schroeder this afternoon. Recovering slowly but looked good.All he could talk about was getting back out there and racing again. Still fighting a Staff infection that settled into his back around the two compression fractures.He says thanks to all those who thought of him over the last month. Now its just time, the doc says no racing for 8 months to give his back time. First thing he told me after that " sounds like perfect timing for Bowling Green, HotRod reunion.He was getting around quite well , I bet hes ready by the March Meet. Good to see the fire is still with him.
Still dosent know what happened, Says he cant remember the run at all, remembers going up there but nothing after that.
Hung out in the shop, already two Thunderbolt projects started again, one wagon and another Post car. Tough old Bird, Good job Dale.

 

I know we are all glad to hear he's OK and will race another day, but I have to say no amount of baling wire is going to get that car on the track anytime soon. Just wish I had another body to give him...

 

High winds yanked the tarp off of my Cyclone this weekend. First time I've seen it in over a year. Noticed the paint has faded on the door and it appears to have had some lettering (maybe) on the door and the top of the door. Doesn't show up real good in the pics, but it looks like lettering that was sanded before the repaint. The car was white new and when raced out of the Clyde Felts garage in Nashville Tn in the late 60s. Then when it came to Clarksville it was painted red. Sure would be neat if I found a name on it.

 

There is a guy in Chambersburg, PA (Gary Mathews) who makes a complete fiberglass T-Bolt body. If the chassis is still straight, that might be a good way to rebuild. See pictures in the classified ads in the back of "National Dragster"

 

64Cyclone;you may be able to bring out some of the lettering by scuffing up the red,lettering seems to do some weird things to the metal.I helped a friend build a 65 Ranchero that had lettering on it and we had to coat the doors will high build primer and block them numerous times to get them to disappear. ROY.

 

Looks to me that even Christman's Comet had a dash pad or am I looking at this picture wrong?

 

Larry;you are seeing it right!!Or maybe I'm seeing it wrong too!!! ROY.

 

Isn't there an all original unmolested 65 bfx posted here somewhere? That would answer any questions.

 

64Cyclone;the one that Rick Kirk owns is an original,unrestored 65 B/FX,don't remember where it is on here.I have seen it in person along with four other 65 B/FX Comets,all red on red.Some of the B/FX 65s were dealer or owner built cars so all bets are off on what they may have had as original equipment! ROY.

 

How about this one?

 

Ken;after seeing the pictures of Dale's 64,it is unbelievable he was not hurt worse than he was!!!! I know as racers,we always complain about all the safety gear we are forced to use,but this shows why we need it!!!! Is the Fairlane back at his place?It looks like not much is reusable!! I hope Dale is doing better!! ROY.

 

I posted my car in this thread before but now it's done and we got to race it this summer. I want to take my car to the HAMB drags at MoKan next year. Here are some pictures of me at the the Mid America Dragway in Ark City Kansas this summer.

We got the transmission issues worked out. I made it to the third round running 13.02s

 

Analog Dog:

I've seen the PURVIS B/FX Comet car in person years ago at the Dealership in North Carolina. Wish I could have purchased it then, that car is way KOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fast Eddie

 

Y'all have seen AFX DAVEs' B/FX Comet...here's his A/FX Comet.He's kinda shy and doesn't like to brag about his Comets.But they sure are nice if ya ask me!

 

Hey Dave

What does the Beswick car weigh in at. whats the diff vs. your B/FX Comet. Just curious.


Arnie Beswick himself.Still need to meet him myself , just going to have to race in Ill. next year.

 

Not much can be reused. Engine looks fine, maybe a taillight. The roof and roll bar were cut on the driver side to help get him out, but all in all the roll bar looked in good shape up close. Looking at it though makes me want to tighten up the belts. The car is still out at the track, Maybe in the next two weeks pulling it home.

 

ReevesRacing;great pictures,your Comet looks good! What did you find that caused the issues? ROY.

 

Ken;I could see where they cut the A pillar,roof and roll cage,makes getting to the injured driver much safer.I always take one last tug on my belts just before I pull into the water box,watched a guy lose his life when he hit the wall and slid out of his belts,found him on the passenger side!All the safety gear is only safe if you use it properly,you never know when you will need it!!! ROY.

 

Ken:
First put the 64 Comet on a Diet.
Original from Stropp with a 427 SOHC steel heads 3210#.
When I got the car with a 427 wedge for Match Racing 2450#.
After putting the car back so it would look the way Arnie Beswick wanted to race the Comet with the fuel injection 427 SOHC and lighten up 2822# with a 130# Battery in the trunk, Front 1490# Rear 1332# or 52.8% front & 47.3% rear.
Now the 65 289 ci BFX Comet weights 2680# with 52% front & 48% rear.
Ken I think to put that car on a DIET this winter! That way you don't need to add that more horsepower unless you want to go FASTER! OK Let's go FASTER

 

Thanks I didnt know, I wonder from which event?

Looks like I'll be rushing to the newsstand tommorrow. You didnt see Fast Eddie in the pic did you. He always manages to get in the pic, I think hes been photographed more than my car.

 

Your right I need to dump 200 lbs of car and 40 lbs of driver. Looks like I've got work to do this winter. Thanks for the Data , My 65 with the Cammer 3800 lbs Whoa Almost Galaxie weight. Good thing it terrories the streets.

Wish I could of gone to the Larson Event, been wanting to see that one.One of these days I'll get to see your Comets up close.

Thanks Dave

 

Had an hour conversation with Jim, The owner of the Yankee Mercury A/FX Comet in Wa. Hes going to send some pics of the car and some history of it. He bought it in 79 and is the 4th owner. He still needs to finish it but is close. Trying to talk him in getting it done for 2014 50th anniversary of the Thunderbolt. I'll post the pics as soon as I get them.

 

Thanks Roy, its a fun car to have because I am usually the only Merc at the track.

When took it all apart we looked at everything. We pulled the valve body apart and found a stuck spool valve. Dad says it got stuck in two gears at once and the big slicks wouldn't slide when it locked up so the drive shaft and bell housing gave up.

It has a TCI valve body now, a JW Ultra Bell, a BDR 4200 stall converter, a Hays SFI flex plate and new balanced drive shaft from Power Drive. And probably most importantly a used case that hadn't been in a flood....

I hope to get the carb tuned in and hit the high to mid 12s next season. I think its too rich right now. Holley 600 DbPr with 68s in the primaries and 80s in the secondaries. This my first rodeo with a Holley carb too.

 

I was diggin through stuff and found these...

 

Steve;both those pictures are from the 2004 T-Bolt Reunion in Carlisle,PA.The McCoy 64 was in the tent with the T-Bolts and two old Comets from CA.,and the Thompson 65 was in the building with the T-Bolts! I had my 65 in the tent across from John Richmond's SOHC 65 Comet,I was in awe all weekend!!! ROY.

 

All this talk about losing weight...all we had to do was ask Fast Eddie.I guess they don't call him "Fast Eddie" for nothing!

 

Are you sure Fast Eddie knows how to lose weight?



That is a good article Eddie did for Legendary Ford Mag ( Sure miss that Mag.)

 

If you see pictures of Fast Eddie today he did lose weight,not just that Galaxy!!!He must have been passing the "SHINE" around back in those days too,L.F. seemed to let him do tech articles and show case his Mercs and Fords!!! I have not heard any news yet but there was to be a Match Race tonight at Irwindale between Todd Hoffman and his injected FE[500"+]powered 65 Comet verses Ernie Algorri and his truck motored[427W] 67 Fairlane.It should have been a good match,Todd has run 9.6s vs Ernie's 9.4s!!ROY.

 

Do You Want to Lose Weight or Not

A Original 65 Comet Cyclone Door with vent window, rollup window, all the inter pieces and interior door trim with handles weight only 70 pounds each.
That is 140 pounds for both.

Now a Fiberglass Door weight only 18 pounds each 36 for both, without the glass and hardware.

Original Factory AFX and BFX Doors were Lighter Yet! The AFX 65 Comets did no have inside window cranks so those plexglass windows didn't roll down.
In the staging lanes it was hot in 90+ degree days. I couldn't wait to get the race over Win or Not. I would hold the door open not like a BFX ware the window went down.

Now you loss a 100+ pounds!!!~~~~~~~~AFX DAVE~~~~~~~~