Hot Rods Dare to be different - 63 Scout

Wow you really are going all out !!! Like I always say go big or go home !!!
Just a heads up there are 2 things you may be interested in happening at SIR in Saskatoon this summer !!

1st is the vintage drags on Friday august 4th in conjunction with super run !!

2nd is SIR'S feature race August 16-19th 2017 this is the big once a year event !! even if you do not make it please spread the word to all your Manitoba racers and rodders !!
We really hope to maybe see you there !! remember the track was completely repaved last year for the 50th it has great traction !!!
thanks spike

 

Getting there for a Friday is awkward but I'll keep it in mind. I'm liking the Aug 16 -19 dates. I'll see what I can do.

 

thanks Saxxon yes a Friday can be hard to get out here !! we hope you can make it to the main event on the Aug. 16-19th the 16th is the Wednesday street legal and the Thursday 17th is for pitting and tech and main racing on Friday and Saturday !!! Sure hope you can make it this year !! we hope the fun and car count and crowds will be as good as last year 50th was !!! Spike

 

Yet another upgrade. After breaking a crank hub and a pulley last year and then finding the new expensive hub bolt had come loose and was sitting in the pulley after 2 passes I decided to buy a bit more protection and peace of mind and tackle the one really weak link in the blown sbc set up. I'm pretty sure the only reason I haven't broken the snout off along with the hub is the quality of the Callies Dragon-slayer Crankshaft. A little regret I didn't get a BBC end but Callies was asking us to wait 4 months at the time of the build.

Thank you Alkydigger for the crank support, remote drive mandrel and remote drive pulley. These will be added to the bullet as soon as they arrive. Yes it will make pulley changes a bit of a pain but I don't see me changing the lower pulley that often. I have pulleys for the top that will let me flip between 1-1 and 5% over.

 

WELL IT IS OFFICIAL THE NAME FOR SASKATCHEWAN INTERNATIONAL RACEWAYS BIG SHOW IN AUGUST WILL BE CALLED SOUTHWINDS SHOWDOWN !!! 2 DAYS OF RACING AUGUST 18 AND 19 2017 PITTING ON THE 17TH THERE WILL BE $20,000 IN PRIZE MONEY OVER THE 2 DAYS TO PRO AND SUPER PRO RACERS AND THERE WILL BE ALSO 20 PLUS FEATURE VEHICLES TO ATTEND !! HOPE TO SEE YOU COME OUT TO THIS WITH THE SCOUT !!
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR FELLOW RACERS AND HOPE TO SEE SOME MANITOBA RACERS OUT TO MAKE THIS A GREAT EVENT NOT TO MENTION THE GREAT PRIZE MONEY !!!
Please check out the SIR official facebook site for more details !!!
thanks spike !!

 

Nothing like being first round cannon fodder for the Bracket folks.

One of my sponsors asked me how many wins I have... I answered - "Three"... he seemed impressed so I continued. Stood up straight, squared the shoulders, and in my best "I'm pretty impressed with myself" voice explained ... Yup ... Three wins.
1 guy broke out by 3 tenths
Another guy fouled before I did
And one weekend I got the first round bye run.

How was I to know he meant event wins ??

 

As much as the above post sounds like a joke ... it's (unfortunately) the truth in every way. I don't bracket race much or at all if I can help it. I much prefer the Test n Tune atmosphere. But on the Long Weekend events where I decide to stay 2 days... I run the bracket event on the second day. That was back when I thought I should run the Scout during the big spectator day as it brought value to the track and the event. I don't feel that way too much anymore.

My 1st rnd win was against a Quick 8 Car that was testing. He dialed in at 8.70 and a ran 8.35 (ish). Sure looked cool as he went by at 160+.

A few years later I was the 1st guy in the lanes and the lane guy signaled me for the bye - assuming an odd car count. I got smoked the next round when Jeff Derkson's wife cut a .508 light and went 11.33 on a 11.30 dial in with the family tow car. (496 BBC Malibu wagon they used to tow the Top Sportsman Roadrunner)

A few years later I was matched against a really nice 10 sec Mustang who left first by about a tenth. He fouled / I fouled - but since he fouled 1st - I got the win. The guy argued for a long time that I had fouled by more so he should get the win... in the end we had a beer and a hot dog together - all good. The next round I was facing a low 9 second 4 door Chevy II from Regina Sask. I red lit with a .496 and he had nitrous trouble and coasted through with a mid 11 sec time. (Dammit !!). Killed me to see the video of that car a few years later stripped down to the shell and crushed at the scrapper.

In case you're keeping score out there, I do not have an official round win where both cars cut a green light - I get there first - neither car breaking out. In fact, my pathetic record for head to head match racing extends to my appearances with the Great Lakes Gassers at Meltdown. I'm 0-6 for those guys. The rumor that after the first year the invitation to run with the GLG group actually comes from the Nostalgia Gasser Group (the competition) may have some foundation... It doesn't help that my brother is 4-0 for GLG match racing...

 

But are you having fun?

 

That sounds like my bracket racing score card.
My good one was at Bowling Green HHRR first round...cut a good light and way out front and never lift and run 12.37 on a 12.53 dial in.

 

If i recall correctly I put you on the trailer then next round I was trying to sandbag and lost myself I just got lucky the first round so I'm no better than you guys lol


Chrome don't get ya home

 

Damn right I have fun. I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to build and race a car that influenced me in my youth. Not many folks can say that. The Scout brings me and others joy and goofy smiles. It has been worth every second, every penny and every bit of aggravation. It's been - and continues to be - a wonderful journey...

 

The Prep for the new season has officially started.

The snow is gone, threat of flood is receding so I've dug out the engine and drained the fluids. It's heading over to Brazier Race and Machine to have a few issue looked at, have the intake installed (correctly) and I've decided to get rid of the remote pump drive and go with a typical cam drive set up... this will be installed as well. I'm very concerned about the amount of wobble the Mag has with the new intake, George has a fix for that he has been using on Sprint Cars where he adds a tapered shoulder. We'll check bearings while it';s there. I'm not expecting any problems. The oil came out pristine and the filter cut showed absolutely no metal. There was mention of a set of used shaft rockers he might sell me for cheap... That would hard to pass on.

Just want to bolt it back together with peace of mind. I'm thinking I now have the correct manifold, better gaskets, the pan-evac / pressure issue resolved, some added security with a crank support and the mag set up correctly.... With the added security of the new wheelie bars ... I'm hoping this is the year I make a gazillion passes.

 

It's great to be able to follow your adventures. Living our dreams is what keeps us young.

 

"How was I to know he meant event wins ??"

Ya, but, Saxxon; the bb-mill provides fun esp w/the blower, but iirc, the Scout had n wants back, a hemi. Supposedly - according to the Chrys guys, then you'll win: everything!" .

No, I don't have a Chrys 392, or any other hemi to sell you, although I know of a few of the 331's. Rumor has it, it's all in the image... .

Glad to see this still is alive n kickin'. Good on you.
Marcus...

(PS: BTW - if you get anyone asking if you know of any early scouts for sale, I've got one. Needs new owner.)

 

Hey bud do not worry about it what you lose in the bracket end YOU DEFINITLY MAKE UP FOR ON THE JAW DROPPING COOL END !!! HEHEHE I ONLY EVER WON ONE MAJOR EVENT AT SIR IN ALL MY YEARS OF RACING !! I HAVE THE TROPHY TO PROVE IT !!! IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE A GOOD BRACKET RACER CHECK WITH RICH BEDFORD HE PROBABLY WON MORE RACES THAN I LOST !! HEHEHE we would love to see you come out to the big one and put on a great show and have a great time !!! By the way you just never know it could be your weekend and who couldn't use a big buck purse !!!! spike REALLY HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE !!!

 

Not sure why it is - but when a Facebook message pops up from your engine builder - you flinch hard

My engine builder is George Brazier of Brazier Race and Machine and he has become the go to guy in our area. I trust everything he has done for me (Which is a lot) and expected absolutely no problems - still - couldn't help but think bad thoughts for the split second before I read the message ... My fears were TOTALLY unfounded.

Crank and Rod bearings looked good and were rolled back in. Considering the abuse I've put this thing through it's a testament to how well George has built this engine. George will be cutting the intake a bit for better fit and it will be port matched to the heads. The keys on the crank were damaged and will be replaced - no surprise as we broke a crank hub last season and the new one with the really expensive bolt - moved - cuz some short fat broken old guy (me) forgot to add thread locker and torque it correctly.

Still cold and frosty around here so I've been procrastinating pulling the Scout out of hibernation. I keep telling myself I have time to do the little things - until I run out of time to do the little things... It kills me that Rock Falls is already up and running. Wasn't I just there ?? Once I get the engine back from George then the thrash starts for real.

 

You flinch because you know that you must answer the phone / text / communication from your engine builder before the wife (S.O.) sees or hears the message. That gives you time to formulate a plan / excuse / reason for spending that much money while still having not remodeled the kitchen.

 

I cant get find video of scout gasser, but if you look up PHOENIX DRAG REUNION 2016 on you tube. You will find a fast and very out of control drag gasser scout. Look it up and like it. its funny.

 

Amen to that...
My wife and I have an agreement that the bills on the race car are transparent and she sees my credit card statement every month. I'm married to an angel of a woman who puts up with my racing. Even at the expense of her new kitchen... I describe her as a beautiful intelligent and talented woman - with questionable taste in men.

She came out to Rock Falls for the MDA club meet last year and has already booked that weekend off to go back. last year I looked over and saw her refueling the Scout without my direction... The site of this 50+ young lady muscling a 5 gallon fuel jug over the front of the Scout might have been the sexiest thing I've ever seen

 

I don't know...sounds like you got yourself in trouble, and your hoping that she sees this online, and forgives you.

 

That thing was very cool... looks a lot like the "Short Bus" out of Texas but the launch tells me different. This one sounded very healthy !!

Cool Bronco in the videos as well

 

Saxxon, the guy drove it like a short bus. the bronco was super clean. it looked as clean on the inside as well as the outside. ran good too.

 

Parts rant - with a good ending...

The Bad Part:
I bought a new Blower Shop intake manifold through Alkydigger. I have never seen a part with so many issues... The blower mounting surface was not flat on 2 axis ( a LOT not flat), head to manifold surface was not flat, threads weren't finished, no room or surface area for some of the mounting bolts to go in straight or sit flat, ports are a mess and I cut myself badly on flashing left behind when they cut the distributor relief.

The blower mounting surface was so far out of whack that if I had mounted the blower I'm sure I would have cracked the case and / or seized the rotors on start up.

It's all repairable and my engine builder did the repairs as he found them. I am not blaming Alkydigger !! They were notified and I sent them pictures of the manifold and the measurements from the builder. Alkydigger passed on the issue and pictures to the Blower Shop. My concern was more about the next person making a purchase... not about compensation.

The Good Part:
Eric from the Blower Shop called me direct within an hour after I sent the information to Alkydigger. He was apologetic and sincerely concerned about the issues and my experiences with their product. I accepted his apology and we came to a very generous agreement (from their end) on how to make this right.

Calls like this go a long way to repair trust and confidence in a product and supplier.
Thank You Eric and the Blower Shop

Now that the intake is repaired and mounted properly I am looking forward to putting the Scout back together. I'm hoping we have all the teething problems sorted out and I can make passes like a bracket car.

 

More Good News / Bad News

Good News:
I got the engine back... George at Brazier Race and Machine did his magic on the intake. All issues have been corrected on it. It's flat, port matched and glued into place. I invested in a proper mag hold down and George adjusted the intake to make that work and then he set the gear height. The mag doesn't move at all !! (A good thing) He installed the fresh points I gave him and set those up properly. He re-set the valves and installed a front drive pump assembly. (no more remote belt drive). The he gave the long block a once over and certified it as "Very" healthy.

We bench raced about upping the compression, adding a more aggressive cam and a proper alcohol 6-71 - the number he came up with was 900 hp. Trust me folks - that will never happen. But it was fun to talk about it.

We also talked about dropping the Scout motor in the Prefect. You know - just for giggles and see what it would run with the boost turned up

Bad News:
My wonky back has gone out 3 times in the last 5 weeks. Work is talking short term disability and I am seriously thinking I wont be racing this year unless something healthy starts to happen. I have a few friends offering to come by and help put the Scout together with me sitting in a chair directing the effort. That way I'm not tempted to do something stupid and re-injure. We'll at least get it running. Maybe it's time for a surrogate driver (again)

 

Had back surgery a while back and had to have someone else drive my car. I towed 4 hours and got the call that he had a family emergency and could not make it . Not his fault I understand things happen.
Luckily another guy I knew was there without a ride and he drove for me and we won so it all worked out. Kills you to watch your car run down the track.

 

The first year I campaigned the Scout my back was very bad and I had my buddy Scott Brown making laps for me. he did well with it and had fun. But that was back when it was a simple 11 second race car. It's just a little different now.

 

Hey saxxon I know a guy who is brave enough to sit behind the wheel of the ol scout plus he has big wheelie experience you know the kind when all you see is the bright blue sky from the seat of his digger lol


Chrome don't get ya home

 

Sorry to hear about your back saxxon. But on the up side, it sounds like you have the perfect engine to set on kill, and let her eat.

 

After the intake was put on did you sand the deck?

 

Yes... once it was torqued down we did a sanding. Funny - he has the same heavy plate with emery cloth that you do ... I might have mentioned it to him a while back