Event Coverage I fly at Picton Airfield in my rail!

The fall Picton Airfield event was awesome. This time they had a video drone following the action overhead. Reportedly the footage is awesome. BobW was there in the morning shooting some photos as was RustyO . Hopefully they will post some so you get the "Flavour" of the event. Beazer was also in attendance. My friend Pat Doornbos asked me to run him so we suited up and headed for the hot lane. In the hot lane if we come up running and paired they don't hold us but let us go straight through as the next pair. It is a big help for the vintage style cars and doesn't seem to cause any trouble. In the burnout I gave a good immitaion of a John Force burn through as did Pat. His injected BB Chev rail crackling with the characteristic Hilborn injected sound. We backed up , the track crew guiding us. I staged first creeping in at 3800 on the converter till my stage light just winked. Pat followed. The starter for our race was a tall young thing with long hair and short shorts. I was hoping Pat might be distracted (but knowing full well he is a solid family man and had his race face on.) She raised her arms and a soon as she flinched I was gone. Pat caught me some where between 1/3 and 1/2 track as the injected 454 was just too much for my leaning tower of power. Car weights are not that different. I am about 70lbs the lighter. My slant now with the new manifold doesn't even sound like a six and it was pulling like a freight train the whole way down. It couldn't have worked better. I had run it all year and sorted through the minor issues one would expect from a new design and combo. Today it was on KILL! However when I lifted in the eyes nothing happened. It stuck at full throttle and the brakes were no match for the slant six which didn't even care they were on as hard as I could shove. I reached up and killed the ignition fuel switch and it began to slow but I was already past the finish line by over a hundred feet and traveling faster then I had ever gone.
I tried a long sloping turn on to the east west runway as it is quite wide but realized it would roll if I persisted. I hit the weeds at about 100MPH and went for the ride of my life. I was doing not bad and then I hit something, perhaps a burm or such and became airborn. The landing crunched my already bad back together worse that a Turkish Chiropractor and I felt the pain immediately. Eventually the car slid to a stop, upright and me still conscious. Pat was there in a second , How I don't know, but he was. "Don, Don. Are you alright?" he hollered as he undid my arm restraints and harness. Minutes later the track crew arrived and the first responders. I was bleeding from my mouth but the medic determined quickly
that I had only bitten my tongue. I hope I wasn't using a bad word at the time! They got me out and helped me into the truck. I commented to the driver that I figured I was about 200 feet in the weeds. He laughed. "Try about 1000," he said.
Since I was ok medically they threw a tow strap on my rail and put a young volunteer in the seat then dragged us back to the pits together. There the medics checked my vitals and found me to be sore but actually OK. They cautioned me to sit a rest. A friend in the next pit is a nurse so I was under observation. If I felt anything odd I was to send for them. The dragster escaped unscathed. One panel has a minor tweak but it is so small I would have to show you. How I missed the trees and stayed upright is a miracle.
Now how about some photos from a great event?
don

 

That is an exciting way to have fun. Did they have clocks there? What did it turn. Hope your back isn't to tweaked. How is the car? Glad you seem to be OK.

 

They have clocks (cell phone smart phone feeds)but I never bother anymore. I run on the fright factor and even before the throttle stuck the meter was pegged! Why the throttle stuck I don't know. It was still jammed after it arrived in the pits. Maybe it sucked a carb gasket and snagged the throttle blade. I have run the combo all year and never had an issue. I also have EXTRA return springs just in case.
Me? Yesterday I couldn't walk because of the pain but this morning I am hobbling about even without a cane so I figure a week from now I should be ok. The slant feels more like a big block now and just loves to be turned loose. It sounds like a big block too. I think my days in the car are done. Not so much because of the accident but because it is now going faster then this old boy is comfy with. It is also getting too hard to get in and out.
don

 

Thank you for putting your run on paper while it was fresh in your mind. Great read! Feel better soon.

 

wow! glad your ok.
I would love to see a vid of it.

 

Glad you made out as good as you did and good thinking in a o shit second not to follow through with the turn.Could of been a lot worse.

 

So sad to hear you out, but so glad to hear you came out unharmed, or at least right way up!

I really love you rail, it's so simple and well build!
You have a talent for build, and just as big for writing about it!
And the fact it's slant six is even cooler.
The leaning tower of power is so awesome!
I went over you Web page a couple of times, and Re-read all the thing you wrote about it. Time and again.
Wish there was guy like you, around here.
That would be so awesome.

What are you running for intake/induction now? 6 snowmobil carbs?

 

Well that sounds like a good adrenalin trip Don. Thanks for the story, what a ride! Have you found why the throttle stuck yet?

 

Glad to hear you came out reasonable OK, Tim Jones

 

Don, I had a great time riding with you on that run, sorry to hear you are giving it up.
There's no fart like an old fart!!!!!!

 

Carbs,
I designed and built a tunnel ram for the engine and have been running it all year. It carries two 500 Holley 2bbls and works great. I got a way more in power then I expected. I would have been happy if it worked just as good as the other set ups. In the burnout and burn through it felt and sounded like a big block. I even saw the tire grow out of the corner of my eye. That got me pump and with Mikes help I staged up on the throttle just bumping in and sitting at about 3800 which is easy with this converter (4700 8 inch from Frank L).It left like jack the bear and I left the big Chevy sitting until somewhere between 1/3 and half track when he caught me. Actually right here in the picture he has just nosed ahead. His is a very good working car so be able to give him anything is a big thrill for me. His down track charge is unbelievable. He said when I went by him after the traps he knew I was in big trouble. The six has so much power up there the brakes seem almost useless as it was still building speed even though I was pushing on them as hard as possible. I don't know what caused the trouble. Right now I can barely walk so it will probably next week before I can have look.
don

 

That's one of those cars most would consider relatively safe...never know what can happen , and glad you are OK. (Enjoy the build posts, keep em coming.)

 

Don glad to hear you are ok and I know that when all is said and done you will be back in the car, it will be calling you if ya know what I mean and once again great writing as usual... KEEP EM BETWEEN THE WHITES DON

 

Don...Glad you're O.K.!
Man, a stuck throttle is something we talk about casually, but it gets mentioned...Kill switch is 'there', (or fuel shutoff, "unlikely something you'll never have to use") But when it happens, it occurs quickly.
A wild ride will ensue, the surprise element is hard to describe. (a 'bad word' comes to mind, "Oh, sh--!")

Please share what you find, as it may help a youngster to be cautious and avoid a similar 'rodeo ride'!

 

Damn scary to hear. Good that you made it out upright and walking. Curious to hear what caused the throttle to hang up.

 

Love that Leaning Tower of Power description. I bet that was a cheek squeezing experience. I'm glad you fared well through all the excitement. I really enjoy all your posts and your builds. I think there does come a time when our wisdom overcomes our young invincible mindset that keeps us alive. Hang in there,,, I'll be watching.

 

It would appear one of the carbs has got its throttle shaft bent and it was close enuf to the base of the manifold to hang up. Had clearance before because I ground it into the manifold to be SURE it couldnt hang up. I was just out there letting my brother get a head out of the shop for his kids shop project and we took a look. Maybe my size 14 got planted too hard. Seems weird and doesn't make sense at this point since it never gave any trouble before. I will check with a light later this week and see if that is right. Doesn't make sense to happen all of the sudden.
I had trained myself to know where the switch was and be able to hit it without looking as a failsafe.
I didn't really get too excited. My wife says I am very calm in extreme emergencies. When they checked my heart rate it was 115 which is not too high all considered what had just happened. My blood pressure was 152 over 92 and I am 145 over 90 normal. That surprised even me. And my undies were still dry.
And yes Carl it is true. the feel of that 246 cubed slant six pulling like a Big block is something I wont ever forget. The hole shot alone was worth the trip.
Still, you know when you head into the weeds bushes and trees it might be your last moment here. Nothing you can do about it then but hang on. You want your ticket stamped and approved in advance.
don

 

weird

 

As I see it, your driving days shouldn't be over. Just your flying days. I don't guess it backfired enough to bend a shaft or plate?

 

It doesn't back fire, it roars. I am guessing I had the cable too snug and bent it with my big foot in the excitement of the huge burnout. I will check it out later. Apparently the airport owner says I hit a stump which made me airborn. He says I went on over 1000 feet. They (airport owner and armdrop promoter) were out there today checking it out. There is possibility they will doze us a pair of cleared escape paths just in case. Normally our shutdown is fine.
don

 

Cable throttle linkage? I thought the gas pedal is supposed to have a return strap [so you can pull the throttle closed with foot] for just in case issues but that won't work with a single cable...

 

Whew sounds like you had a good run going. Happy to see you came out sore but OK. Now fix the problem and go get those BB chevies.

 

Here is the skinny. The front carb which is closest to the cable connection and lever now has a bent shaft and its lever catches on the manifold every time. The rear carb which is about 10 inches away on a 5 /16 shaft is still good but there is enough torsional twist in the long shaft to give some give. (I made sure they both had at least 1/8 clearance when I assembled them and had to grind into the manifold and trim the bottom of the levers to be sure.) Why? My fault plain and simple. I didn't set the pedal stop on the throttle pedal and in my excitement and after a year of running my big size 14 managed to distort the shaft. A seeming little thing that could have easily killed me. I had it floored and on kill during the burnout and I suspect that is when the damage was done.
Now as to my driving. I am a very poor pilot. I am really a engine guy at heart and usually always had a hired shoe in my cars other then for morning test run. I have a broken unhealed left side rib cage since 1990 and as I age now heading for 65 I found it very difficult of late getting in and out of the car. I also found I couldn't seem to remember to take my hand of the hand brake and was caught on camera several times pushing the brake harder as the car went faster. So That I already knew. I wanted one good solid run on the car after repairing the fuel delivery problem and actually thought as I climbed stiffly into the car Sat that this is probably your last time driving this car. The engine performed flawlessly as you will see when the videos from Sat hit. To be able to have anything for a 454 hi compression Hilborn injected BB Chev with a 246 slant six in a car weighing within 70 lbs of each other was more then I had hoped for. I am happy and I am sure Pat will tell you he was also kill to beat me.
If I had remembered to take my hand of the brake once again he would have had to work quite a bit harder but then I probably wouldn't be sitting here typing. I will repair the linkage making absolutely sure this will never happen again. And if I am satisfied of a perfect solution will find a shoe. For me it is just time. If you read my article in this month's Chrysler Power mag you will know I had already been thinking about this.
don

 

If you get a minute do you have a link to your article on Chryslerpower. I tried searching and couldn't find it.

 

Well Don ya know I do wish ya well on any decision you want to make. I can understand it as yep I am trying to get grandson to do the driving for me, as it is a real pain getting in and out of mine and by the third or fourth run of the day it takes two men and a crane to get me out............... but the other side is I still haven't beaten Elmer and damn I want that to happen some time before I'm 86 and he is 104...................so there is still hope

 

I don't think they post the Chrysler Power articles. I get mine a Walmart believe it or not.(pg 36) I have done tech for Roland(publisher) off and on for over 20 years. It was he who got me writing books and encouraged me so I "owe" so to speak.
Carl. I am hoping the gasser with its bench seat will allow me easier in and out and similar thrills. I am though very grateful for the FED experience. I think this is the 8th year. I winced just as you described the entry and exit. Once I am in I am OK but the entry and exit is so bad it almost kills the middle experience. Elmer is my hero. Unbelievable!
I have achieved all I ever wanted with this engine combo and am stunned at how well it works. Even today folks were saying it doesn't even sound like a six cylinder. I have to be happy with that.
don

 

Glad you are ok Don, and nice to know so clearly the cause.

 

Glad your ok Don, that stuck throttle stuff will damn sure get your attention!!

 

I believe now if I had taken the time to get someone to sit in the car and floor it and I had set the throttle pedal stop on the Mr Gasket pedal this very well might never have happened. A word to the wise just in case. I figured there was enough bend and the cable was not that big that doing this would be impossible however in the heat of "battle" with a good competitor in the opposite lanes adrenalin can flow pretty high.! I remember being warned as a teenager that I didn't know my own strength and to be careful because I could seriously hurt someone if I got excited. Didn't know I still had that even if just in my right foot.
don

 

Don there may be a way to get the broken rib to heal. Find a book called The Body Electric. A doctor discovered over 20 years ago, that it is possible to get bones to knit together using a mild electric current, even bones that have refused to heal for a year or more. Your doctor may have to refer you to a specialist.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/5360459/The-Body-Electric-Dr-Becker

See Chapter 1 Page 29 Failed Healing in Bone