Lot of folks click in the HA/GR thread... just hoping to see something new going on. Admit it. I end up here about once a day... just hoping to see a new pic, something clever, a neat idea. There are folks that have put together some nice stuff and got it to the track and turned some numbers. Can we get them a little credit? How many years has the records spot been empty on the following page? http://www.hambdrags.com/HaGr/rules.html Can't be that much work to post some info. How many legit HA/ GR cars are there? 20-30? If you want to preach the gospel, sometimes you have to thank the choir... I, for one, would like to see a page for each driver, standing next to his car, with a list of times he's done at the track. Could be a link to each driver coming to his thread here. Sometimes I just don't have the hours it takes to find that "one picture" that might help explain how somebody solved their particular cowl steering problem that I thought was a good idea. Just an observation about something I like, and like to follow. Kudos to anybody that's put a torch to steel.
Victor, I agree. We need more input on tech stuff, especially for the new, young guys that don't have 50+ years doing this or the older guys that are just getting their feet wet for the first time. I'm pretty strong on the tech stuff (engines, gearing, carbs, ignitions, etc) and if I can't answer the question I have people I can call that will have the answer. By the way, I think our car now holds the pure HA/GR record 12.10 @120.5 MPH set at KCIR at the nostialgia event last fall. Witnessed by Bob Hindman and Roy Merritt. Ron (goldenri@aol.com) PS...I had to brag a little there....sorry.
"Can yours do a burnout? roll call Please" That is where you can see how many cars have been built and where Ron Golden's record is listed, along with the west coast trophy holder. Check out the top of that thread, and let me know of any needed changes. And by the way all three of the first year cars got into the lower 12's at a later time. But Ron has the record.
vectorsolid,do you mean something like a "baseball card" of each participant? something that responses wouldnt be posted on? i think its a good idea. it may help the curious decide to become involved. do we have car #'s or just pick your own? or i suppose let the track do it.
Perhaps something like this? I didn't have a pic of Ron. Props to anybody that knows who's picture it is. In the original pic there was to much sunlight coming through in the upper left, so I modified the trees so it didn't distract from the car.
Did a few like that for some local buddies. I even took the all the original pictures below. They post 'em up in the garage or on forums. just a nice thing to do for a bud. I'm actually pretty proud of the vintage digger pic, that turned out pretty slick. I almost got run over laying on the ground in the staging lanes taking that one. ...lol... That's my wife and daughter in the bug. Check the smoke on that puppy! A keen automotive person will remember that the bug is front wheel drive and perhaps the wife was driving around the water box and maybe... I, uh...altered the photo a wee bit... I picked her car number that day. She didn't pick up on it till the day was over, I chuckled about it all day. Point I'm trying to make with the possibly un-related photos is I'd be happy to help get some images done if we can get a spot going.
been over a week... it would seem no credit to be given where it's due... *sigh*. There are over 72,000 HAMB members, In the last week, only 26 different people have posted to the entirety of the HAGR section. I hate to say it boys, but we're hidden way back in here. C'mon Ryan, help these boys out. I know we're all busy but you haven't even typed the word HA/GR in a post in 6-7 months. Let's get some records on this page. The guys deserve it. http://www.hambdrags.com/HaGr/rules.html
Accept it, we aren't mainstream and probably never will be. If you are looking for publicity and fame you are in this for the wrong reasons.
Vector, I really like your poster/card. It is very professional. Speaking only for myself, self promotion is way down my list of priorities. The HA/GR club is not an easy one to join. First, you really have to love the idea of having and racing an odd car that represents an earlier era of drag racing. Then, you have to build one, which is hard to do on retirement income. There is already plenty of information on this site to guide anyone considering building one as to how to go about it. All you have to do is read all the threads, which I did. And, if that is insufficient, there's plenty of builder/owner/racers here willing to offer advice. As much as some of us are attracted to HA/GR's like a moth to a flame, probably 71,900 of the 72,000 HAMB members wouldn't even consider it. The best way to attract new builders is to go racing (or showing if the car isn't done) Rocky and Dick in SoCal have created a lot if interest by being at events. While I dare not speak for Ryan, If I were him I'd say, "I had an idea for a throwback dragster. Anyone that's interested can run with it" If the idea has merit, it will self perpetuate without a lot of aggressive promotion.". Frankly, I hope there never is thousands of them. If that happened they would lose their uniqueness and appeal and become as common as red, sbc powered fiberglass Deuce roadsters or Camaro Bracket racers.
I'm just interested in the data. Some of it is REALLY helpful. If it looks like everybody with a rock stock 235 is running 89mph or so, then I know what I need to do for safety, and can plan accordingly for gearing and what not. Just helpful tips, conveniently sorted. I'm one of the luckier guys, I have a decent access to a lot of that kind of thing. And I can pick and choose a bit more. like a 3.30 gear ratio or a 4.56, one of them is better for a 235, if you know where others have run. gets a person more in the ballpark, saves time, money and frustration. From a personal perspective, we're building two, and I haven't posted one pic on this site. So that should tell ya that I'm not altogether worried about fame, or "in it for the wrong reasons". I do think it makes me a hypocrite though, I've mentioned that before. Bobw, We can't have aggressive promotion and hope that the class doesn't get big as the same philosophy. "...We hit a nerve... Still, this movement is so young it seems a bit presumptive to have a "history" page in this manner. Chalk it up to confidence and an absolute dedication to spreading the gospel. You will be hearing much more from us in the years to come...." Can't spread the gospel and wish to have no followers at the same time. I'm just saying there are folks that have made a commitment and have valuable information stored away. And we have a spot for that information and it sits empty. And it's cool information. Pics, stats, information. All helpful.
Joe's running a stock 235 and has run 99 mph. I'll ask him what gearing and tire size when he gets back, we'll see'im at the Spring ANRA, June 20th. I believe his tires were 28" and he was geared around 4.55 but I'm not positive of either. I know he was squeezing it pretty hard on the top end.
He's turning that 235 Chevy 5405 rpm @ 99 mph. He must have at least some better valve springs than stock. The best I remember they floated the valves pretty earily. I will say he's doing well with his mild combination. I agree with Vectorsolid about the info being helpful, and interesting, to know what everyone is doing. I agree that a lot of the info on building would be repetitive but too much info is much better than very little, or none. I'll gladly try to help anyone building one of these cars if they see something on ours they think will work for them. Ron
Vector, Are you thinking each car should have a page something like this? Owner: Bob W. Stillwater, Minnesota Driver: Same Car Name, Team Name, Team Members: N/A Chassis: Boxed Model T rails with 1 1/2" by 3" 120" wall rear extensions. 118" wheelbase. 1 1/2" O.D. .133" wall roll cage. 1934 Ford front axle, hubs & wishbone. 9" Ford rear with 3.70 Abburn limited slip diff. Driveline: Stock 225 Slant 6 with 2 Holley 1bbls. Homemade intake/exhaust. 4 speed O.D. Mopar transmission. Performance: N/A, still under construction. Features/Additional Information: See "HA/GR in Minnesota" Thread. This is a simple first attempt at having a single page representation for each HA/GR (US & Australia) and SDRA car. If everyone posted their car on a "form"" and all on one thread, and if it was a "Sticky", then newcomers would have a place to get a good introduction into what this is all about. I'm far too computer stupid to know if a "Sticky" with a "fill in the spaces form" is possible.
Thats what I would like to have for each car(team) that will be racing at Tulsa. It would sure make it easier for the track announcer to talk about each car as it comes to the line. Bring it on. Thanks bobw, great idea.
bobw i think thats perfect. it takes a long time to get to know who's who otherwise. sure there are build threads, and those are cool, but a stat/profile page would make it easier for new person. myself included.
Hell-of-an-idea! Now if I could just tie the names and faces together with the cars I'd be in fine shape. My memory is so bad I can't always remember my own name. Ron
Somebody needs to do it. Whoever is keeping track of the pages over at the hambdrags site isn't to concerned about it. And you guys seem to be kicking our asses with builds too. Might as well show us how a proper web page would look. -Vector
Sorry, don't agree, I'm dissapointed in that I've not been able to do the updates to our few mere pages as it's needing a dire update as life has other more pressing issues, so feel that the above comment is out of line and uncalled for as I can't begin to appreciate the dedication required to deal with all the other issue this site offers, and can respect that some area's are higher priorities than others. Sure, we as a group don't particuarly ask for much, but am extremely appreciative for what we do have, so treat the topic accordingly. Note: appoligies if I'm sounding a bit firm on the topic, but I do believe that we should support the people who support us, and assist where possible to help them help us, and that anything else is not part of 'the solution'. I might take you up on creating some 'info-photos'(tm), as I know I'd appreciate the assistance, and it might help inspire others, which is what I think the intent of your post was about. Cheers, Drewfus
you the guy helping do the hamdrags website? And I was absolutely being complimentary to the fine work you dudes have done down under. Great builds, great build threads, great pics, and getting them to the track. That's what I was on about. In my opinion, you guys have done the best job of showing off the class. Yep, inspire others, AND, give credit where credit is due, thusly inspiring others.
I would definately agree on the "Insperational" aspect. After seeing HAMBsters run at Dragfest and meeting Rocky soon after (props), I knew I had to build one. I was really suprised at how little there was on the JJ page. People new to the HA/GR class and unfamiliar with the HAMB might be a little disillutioned. Beside, you guys deserve a pat on the back. There's nothing wrong with a little self-promotion to broaden the base a little.
The owner of the Jalopy Journal, the HAMB, the Administrator, the guy that does the HAMB Drags website is Ryan Cochran. He is the reason we have this website, the HAMB, the HAMB Drags, and HA/GR. He works very hard to make this a great place for us to go and hang out and have our discussions. I think he is doing a fine job for all the thousands of members and special interest groups he has to deal-with, and there is no better site on the net.
The last person I mean to disrespect is Ryan. The only point I was trying to make, poorly, was that because the HAMB is the birthplace of HA/GR, I would have thought there would be more on that page. That's not to say there isn't plenty on this forum. Open mouth, insert ass.
Victor, First of all I want to thank you for displaying our car on this thread and listing out times and mph. I'd like to list my partners on the car and give them all the credit for everything on the car except the engine. I have to take any blame for it if things happen. Kevin Brodrick. Chassis, misc Dean Isackson, Body, intake, exhaust, brackets, scoop, fuel tank, misc Buddy Burnett, rearend, intake , exhaust, Misc Tim McLaughlin, wheels, tires, paint, details, dash, misc. Dwight McGowan, paint, tires, wheels details, misc. I'm sorry to say there isn't enough room or enough time (slow typist here) to list all the things my partners have done on the car. Without any one of them the car wouldn't even be. Specifications: 1952, 302 GMC out of a dump truck. Bored to 4.125" (321 cubic inches) 1950's, 308 Hudson rods (Thanks Terry Groff), 1940's Chrysler rod brgs. Pontiac wrist pins. JE custom pistons (OUCH on the cost) 11.5:1 CR Dema Elgin cam, flat tappet, custom grind for the long rod, etc. Roller rocker arms we built. (and they actually work) SBC valves 2.02 & 1.60 Ported 983 head Saginaw 3 speed tranny 4.10 gear 4x1 header & 3x18 collector 119.5 inch wheelbase Coker Classic rears Mickey Thompson fronts Obviously I'm pleased and proud of the end result, and thank all the other people that helped, even though I didn't list them by name. There just isn't enough room. Ron
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