Here's my new rail. The last owner named it the Gold Digger. I guess that name will stick for a while. The car was built in late 1966 and raced in the Top Gas Division in '67 - '70. After that it became a bracket car, around Indy and Muncie Indiana. I traded my '57 Chevy for it. Had to drive about 400 miles and back to get it, but I think it was worth the trouble. This something I've always wanted, so I'm a happy guy.
Yeah, it's been going 5.40's in the 1/8th with the current blown small block. Should go 8's in the quarter. I love the HA/GR, but I wanted more. It was built by a guy named Don Dean in Carmel In. which is part of Indianapolis. The front half and cage were redone by Spitzer a few years ago. The ch***is is chromoly and should have no problem being certified for 7.50. The original owner was Charlie Sewell. It ran a blown a 426 Hemi before everybody else did. It was called "Sagittarious" and had a far-out paint job. Here's a pic from the 1970's. It had lost the Hemi, but the full body and paint is still there. I really want to learn more about it. If anybody from Indy have any old photos, that'd be the coolest.
Cool ride! Keep the name as it has always been the Gold Digger. My 55 g***er has been the Gold Digger since 1959, Hence it will always be the Gold Digger as long as I own it any ways.
A few more photos from today as I unloaded it at the Speed Merchant's shop. Not sure where and how I'm going to run it. It has all the modern bracket racing electronics. I'm not real big on that stuff. I'll just test and tune and have some fun for now.
Very cool Rand Man dreams do come true if you work at them! Now get you motor running and get out to the Nostalgia Drags. It looks like a winner. Congradtions............ CRUISER
Such an awesome name for an old rail. My dad's first fuel dragster was called "Gold Digger" as well. That was back in the mid 60's. He also had one called "the Streakers", "Baby Huey" and "Groundshaker". Now it's all corporate sponsor BS. The old names ruled!!! C
Thanks Dave. For those of you who don't know, crowerglide is world-famous professional Top Fuel driver David Pace. I'll take all the advice I can get from him. I'm considering testing at the AHRA reunion at MO-KAN, on October 12th. I finally got a decent tow vehicle, but I still need a trailer. Here's some more shots.
looks great! the only thing I'd lose is the modern fuel cell,radiator & battery or have a nose put on it ...now thats ***S nice find have fun with it!
I'll be loosing the modern stuff soon. It had a full body on it when new, it will again. I do sheet metal work, so I'll be building the body myself. The nose-piece will be the hardest part, but I'm up for the challenge. I also build dragster wings, so this car will be fitted with a front wing over the nose and canard wings on each side, like in these photos. I've driven a few different drag cars, door slammers and an open dragster, but never a slingshot like this. I'm on a nostalgia Top Fuel team, so I get to hang out with great drivers like Pace. Maybe that will help. This thing wants to go straight, but it's also a whole new ballgame and I've got a lot to learn. I'll just start out slow. A few 1/8th mile squirts and keep my foot in it a little more each time. I won't go all out until I get my wings on. They make a huge difference at high speeds. The canards create so much downforce that we have to be concerned about them s****ing the track. The engine is a 355 on gas right now. I may switch to alky injection later, but gas is fine for learning. This engine is pretty mild in the big scheme of things, so it should be forgiving and easy on a learner.
Looks like the Gold Digger found a good home. Hope you enjoy it. I had been talking to Rick about bringing it down to our Nostalgia Race & Rod-A-Rama next March in Atlanta, but I guess that's out of the question now....but the invite is still open if you want to take a road trip down from Rogers.
My opinion is that your car doesn't need wing/s Randy, they will slow it down and probably CAUSE handling problems. If it ain't broke don't fix it. I would suggest to you that any smart racer only has a wing if the car absolutely won't work without one. I think Pace will agree with me on this. I am anxious to see some timeslips and hear about your first runs down the track! Brad
Great looking car Randy,you did good. With a few changes it could be a jr fueler pretty quick. Then mabe we could be racing each other again.
Ted, I am pretty sure Randy has some interest in the SW Jr fuel thing someday with it. Do you have a copy of their rules? Brad
I may end up running with the Southwest Junior Fuelers. Looks like fun. There's also the Nostagia Pro Comp ***ociation. I dont think they care if I run a blower. They are an index deal. I'd rather run heads-up. Lots of pros and cons to weigh. I took it out in the dead-end street at Brad's shop today. Just wanted to get a feel for it. It was fun, but I really didn't get on it. I didn't like the delay built into the trans brake system. I want this thing to take off when I let go of the ****on. We're gonna pull the electronics off next week. I'm planning on testing at the AHRA Reunion, (at MO-KAN) next Sunday, Oct. 12th.
I Just got back from the AHRA Reunion at MO-KAN Dragway. First time behind the wheel. What can I say, it was awesome! The first run, I spun the tires a bit out of the water box and came to the line. I hit the throttle when the lights came down. It spun hard and went a bit sideways. I let off and stomped again. I coasted down and drove back to the pits. No problem. Temp never got over 160. Second run, I did a pretty good burnout. Everybody I talked-to said it looked and sounded good. It felt great. I stomped it at the light, and it really took off hard. I had a little trouble with the shifter. It was moving toward the center, so I let off of it. I red-lit. This thing goes right now. No need to leave early. My sixty foot time was a 1.2, not bad. 1/8th time was a 6.38. It went 9.82 to 1000ft, coasting to 77mph. It was a blast. I was pumped for 15-20 minutes. I got the shifter problem figured out and was ready go out again, but a '55 Chevy blew and engine at the top end, flipped it, and took out a light pole. We waited for 45 minutes and I decided to pack up. Had to get home for business trip tomorrow. Will try to post some photos in a couple of days. What fun.
Great to hear things went well for your first time out. Wish you'd have been able to make one more p*** and really run it through hard - Oh well the season ain't over yet! Congrats again Randy! Brad
Here's one shot of my MO-KAN trip. Erik Anderson got some great shots of me at the line. take a preview, and buy something from this guy. http://www.erikandersondesigns.com/images/2008/10-12-AHRR/Slingshot/1966/index.html
glad you had fun on your outing! when you "petina" that rail (ie- lose or cover all the modern junk) get some pipe ,flanges & your welder and lay those damm zoomies back... those one's on the rail now look like fishing pole holders LOL Paul
Hi Yall Rick here creator of the Gold Digger, Randy got a hell of a nice FED.This was my 3rd and it was the best I've driven.The car was named Green Sling and was a dark green when I got it(rolling).A mild 327 on alka w/carb it went 570s.The blown 355 has a lot more than the dozens of solid 540s it ran.I'll be watching for some results. Rick in sunny Georgia Here is a pic of my 2nd FED CHAOS and it was!
Nice digger! But i thought this was going to be a discussion on chicks that try too get in your pocket.
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