Hot Rods Big Daddy's 55 2 door wagon gasser

According to finnegan, drag racing is the easy part.

 

The Drag Week is a fun deal, for a short time, for some of the guys that participate. I am fully aware of the festivities. For many, its a tremendous effort to accomplish it for one week. How many that start out on Drag Week actually make it through the entire week? Very few can honestly say they could (or would really try to) do it every week through all the summer months. For most, its a one or two time per year event. But like everything, there are exceptions around, and those guys are the guys that make the event(s) real. They are the few that can pull it off more then one time a year. Those guys deserve the recognition that comes with the accomplishment.

We can have a street car that is fun to drive, maybe even on the raged edge, or a drag car that can live on the street for an occasional joy ride. The reality is, doing both requires a lot of strength to accept the compromises required to pull it off. For most, those compromises cause more frustration then joy. That is why I don't recommend trying to do both with the same ride. One ride for the racing, one ride for cruising, its much more fun.

 

Having a hot rod that can legitimize itself by running down the track occasionally is the goal of many of us. When I started my project I didn’t really care if anyone thought the car could be respectable on the track. Now that the engine has changed and the car will have a drag car appearance, being respectable on the track is a must in my opinion. Lloyd’s car was a track car and he wants to capture that history. It then becomes desirable to establish track credibility to call the car legitimate. He has done that already but has set a mental bar that he wants to achieve to claim completion of his goal. Many hot rodders have similar goals. Lloyd’s primary goal, as is mine, is to have a street-able ride first and foremost. Not a show car. Not a purpose built drag car. His ability to make the car show or track worthy is not in doubt as he can certainly accomplish whatever he sets his sights on.
On a separate note, drag and drive cars are vastly different from what the average HAMB member actually wants to build. Most of the top tier cars are track legal more so than street legal. Yes they may have plates and can be driven on the road, but if the cops inspected them with anywhere near the same scrutiny as the tracks did they would never make it on the streets.

Lloyd, keep up the great work you are an inspiration to those of us without your level of skill, motivation, and most importantly determination.

 

I’d say it’s a respectable street car. As Lloyd said, next up will be gears and tires. Could be knocking on the door of 12’s next time out.
Also, I know it’s been said, but damn, pull a car out of the weeds and in less than a year have it on the track and running strong. Hell of a feat while running a business and working a real job.

 

Yep. Could not have said it any better.

 

That's why it's called DRAG WEEK, not DRAG YEAR....

 

I have done the drive and race in 2003. Drove my 65 Chevelle to the Booneville salt flats and made 10 runs down the 1 mile short course and drove it back home in central Missouri. My drivers license is what keep me off the streets and on the track. 13 tickets a the lose of driver license 3 times. I can't be trusted.

 

Some good points here. I feel that you can have a stupid fast drag car and enjoy the street and driving. I have one. there are several 9 second cars around here and several 8 second cars, all street driven and often during our season. My coupe has seen high 8's, prepped for the track and track tuned. I drive mine all over my area, we even take it out for dinner or ice cream. You can have a fast strip car on the street, you need to have BALLS, and give said car the attention to do so. Just my 3 cents. Remember, I am not the most sensible person.

 

Just keep working at it as you can Lloyd. Hey, it took me 4 years to get to low 9's. If it was easy everybody would do it. The hard, is what makes it GREAT.

 

Lol I have stirred the proverbial pot! it ain't easy being so damn perfect ya just gotta get up and do something. I used to bust my ass everyday, until 3am, then roll into the firehouse at 8am, but those days are done. I have to make a list these days, achievable list. For what I need to accomplish on each day that I'm at the shop. And once I've completed those tasks, and if I have any energy left, I'll do something to my junk. Even the smallest accomplishment will keep me motivated. And then I come on this forum and have 5 guys tell me what I'm doing wrong, but I keep in mind that most of my haters have a project that will never see the road again I'm joking, don't get all badass on me! I think most guys problem is they strive for perfection. And that's a huge task. Hot Rods aren't about perfection to me, that's restoration. I just wanna have fun with an old car. I walk right past all of those expensive paint jobs to look at a rusty beater that gets the shit driven out of it! But we're all different, and i respect that. As for my future in drag racing, I thought about buying some slicks and hitting the 1/4 mile at the tri five nationals, but they want to much money for that crap! Let's be real here, as long as I'm content with how my car runs, that's what matters, and the big bitch puts a smile on my face I'm glad I saved her from going back into the earth! Now with retirement coming up, I'll see if I can't make her sexy

 

Hey Brother @Lloyd's paint & glass

I stole these from Herman's FB Gasser Group page!

Not that Gene's opinion is wrong, but it is way too mature & makes way too much sense for most of us guys on here! I have a goal (when it is back together) of running my OT Nova on an 8.90 index (1/4 mile) which means to be competitive it must run 8.30-8.50 on a full pass. Whatever it ends up running, I will NOT stop driving it on the street as it is my original hot rod that I drove to high school & out to the track every Saturday. It is nice to get in something docile once in a while to go to a cruise though.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

I've been watching from the grandstands here, watching things unfold.........A LOT to be said, from my perspective....
First= I would never speak for Lloyd, or what he's doing. If some of you can't grasp what he's doing, then you've never done it........Lloyd and I share a bond between us that some wouldn't understand, and he knows. And don't get stupid, because we both are/were in the same business just different......
There is a fine line between a street car, and a race car...... Those who know, know. You can only go so far before your streeter becomes too wild. Let me elaborate a lil..... It isn't his dailly, but i'm sure he'd like it to be!
People are telling him to do this, do that........ Q for those= Have you really done it? I have, and once you cross the threshold, then what? With all the hype about going "racing", and if those knew WTF, it come's down to seat time, $, and real commitment.....He's having a blast, and great for him! There is way more in his car as it sits, without cash, and learning as he goes= going faster,being quicker, being deadly......... So, there A LOT of members here who know the deal. The REAL deal about what it takes, when you cross that line, and just going out and having your cake and eat it too........I might be full of it to some, but,i've done it...... Let's celebrate him doing his thing, and guide properly without blowing smoke out of your own ass for props...............

 

LOVE that smile!

Congratulations on RETIREMENT!! Lloyd fest still on?



Ben

 

Man, I leave the thread for a couple days and all kinds of stuff gets said. I’m with Lloyd on doing what makes you smile. And, I also like a fast car that is streetable. I had some guys ask me last year why I was driving a drag car to lead a 100 mile reliability run. I told them it was the most reliable old car I owned…. I did have to stop in the middle to get gas though because of the stupid fuel cell (and crappy gas mileage). Anyway, we all like different stuff in this hobby which is also what makes it fun. I did question my sanity recently when my son acted like I wasn’t a man if I didn’t drive my car on slicks to an event 30 miles away. I looked at the radar and thought it was sketchy. But, guess what I drove in the downpour all the way there?

 

If I'm alive, Lloydfest will be happening

 

What do you know that you haven’t told me???

 

Lmao! I mean in the future brother!

 

Never know, Melissa could wipe me out any day though

 

I enjoy the journey you are taking me on and have no problem how your taking me there.

 

Hey that's my friend Rodney Potter from up here, he routinely drives a thousand miles to race that old Ford somewhere, he's one dedicated mofo !

 

Back in the day, me and my buddies had a saying... "shine she may, run she must".

Lloyd is right on. Too many projects never get completed because people try for perfection. Just get em runnin boys!

The best part of Lloyd's build, he saved one. Way to go Lloyd, your car is bitchin!

 

It's funny, I kinda poked Gene a little here, but I know he speaks from experience. I have done the dual purpose deal, and I can say this much; a single, reliable fast car will cost more in time and money than if you built both a street only car and a race only car. But I like looking at what those dedicated guys can do!

 

There's an old saying that goes: Perfect is the enemy of the good.

Here's a short article on the subject that makes a lot of sense. Some cool graphics too help explain it:
https://mattk.com/perfect-is-the-enemy-of-done/

 

"Don't let perfect get in the way of better" was one I was told.

 

Old saying "good enough for the girl I go with"!

 

Good enough for government work , neat tighty , square plumb and level and gas tight . Was all I had to pass for many years .

 

Good IS enough...Great sounds like too much work.

 

HEY!!! I resemble THAT.

Ben