Event Coverage Official 2016 Meltdown Drags Thread - What are you doing to get ready?

Scott do you know what your headers weigh? Mine are like 30lbs each - but at this point, if making a trans tunnel is out of my pay grade, then making headers is way out

 

If I get time tonight...I find and post the flyer with the 8 sec. ET....me and Mr. X had this same discussion(argument) on the altered wheelbase thread a long time ago.lol

 

Racing and "Match Racing" were worlds apart sometimes,too.
Some teams ended up with all their best parts in the "legal" car for Nhra or other sanctioned racing,and whatever was left over got used in the match race motor,where you got a guaranteed payout just for showing up,so why tear up your super-trick factory supplied whizbang parts for no reason..?

Scott

 

My headers actually aren't much lighter than the stock manifolds,but I'm guessing they'll run a bit better,Tony
I'm guessing you're selling yourself short Brother....If you started cutting and welding some bends and straight sections you would have a set of headers in no time.
Just look at how fast you got the rest of the car together!

Scott

 

That's the one I'm thinking of!!

 

I know arnie did eventually run in the eightes. He just was not doing it in july. No one was going that fast yet. Most of the top drivers of the era did get there eventually by years end. Its cool the arnie/ dyer slug fests also took place on a regular basis at byron. Their first match race there at night was with rented lights.

 

Except for the GM camp...only unofficial help...and Arnie was using old battle worn technology...believe it or not Mr. X said that nitro levels the playing field.????? a wedge head poncho against the Chrysler holy grail...level playing field.lol

 

True.GM didn't make it easy to be a racer back then,did they?
I often wonder how guys like Malcolm Durham pulled it off as well.He was always a pretty serious player back then,and was hindered the same way Arnie was,with lack of new,up to date parts and support,but always managed to keep his head above water.

Scott

 

It really turned out nice, when it was restored. I'd heard that some of it's "Battle Scars" were preserved......Such as floor damage from when the clutch exploded. Is that true?

Actually, my oldest brother has known Al since they were in high school. When Al first bought the 61, he kept it in my brother's garage for a short time.

It would be so cool to see it at The Meltdown, even just on display.

 

Yes nitro did level the playing field well into the 66 season. Take malcom in the northeast or grady bryant in the south west nitro deffinatly played a role in keeping guys competitive week to week. A little guy could beat a big racer if he had the balls to twist the mag and tip the can more than his competitor. Of course keeping it together was another thing. The local one time hot shot certainly had the advantage compaired to the touring pro that had a match race waiting the next day. It was a delicate game to play. The best resourses we have are the old magazines. Super stock ran box scores monthly covering the hottest match races. non hemi cars won there share no dought making for some exiting racing. In my opinion the racing world forever changed after the invention of the flip top and not for the better. On to another subject regarding local history. I ran into a friend i have not seen in some time. He bought a house in florida and spends winters there. I ran into him this morning. Twenty years ago i got a small peek into his photo collection of early 59-66 car show and racing action. I told him there is growing interest into preserving and documenting the local action. Of course i brought up the melt down and the impact it has made. He offered full acccess to everything he has. Including copying it all. The collection is truely stunning. Its very hard to find items that old let alone in huge quantities. Between a few older friends i have there is easily enough to write a book. It would provide enough mateeial were we could go back and forth til we die. I will be working on it. To gather it all up and organise it all will be a big project.

 

Koop if you are reading this and want to help out the guy is ten minutes from your house. There is a bunch of gasser stuff in the pile.

 

I may have found him on the Moonlighter thread.

 

No, there were no battle scars on the car. In fact I never heard of any clutch exploding with this car. Originally 4 guys including Alan, bought the car in 1965 from one of Arnie's mechanics, Andy Perry. As time went on Alan bought the other 3's halves out.

 

Sounds cool Brian. Hopefully it won't take as long as the old vintage footage of Byron that you promised us a couple years back.

 

I have two vcrs to make copies. One started destroying tapes so thats were things came to a hault. I have not gone out to buy another due to no interest in anyone other than you wanting one. Bring over a good vcr and we can make a copy. I will supply the beer. You just cant start yelling when arnie comes on the screen. The german shepards hate anyone yelling and might chew you up.

 

A little help for the Ford Guys, ( On the Hamb parts for sale )

 

Hey norb Scott is gonna need more than a tune up in a can lol

 

Ole Wenchlender is gonna a need a different kind of Willys, after the Ole Child has her way with him..,

 

All I'm gonna need is a bottle of Windex,and a roll of paper towels.

Gotta keep that rear view mirror nice and clean,so I can keep an eye on you and Norb back there.[emoji41]

Scott

 

Oh Man!.., I saw a thread here on the HAMB, some dude named ShaggedNasty. He has a build thread, some kind of import car, you know, the kind they do that drifting thingy with.., I think its called an Ashton Simmerset, or Audi Sunset, er uh Austins Swimsuit. Anyway, he's just finishing up his dash and gauges in preparation for the Meltdowns. It must be some kind of show car, or maybe one of the character cars for the new "Sorta Fast & Flatulent 8" feature film coming out this summer, cause it has carbon fiber dash inserts, and white face Auto Cheater gauges. Man, I'm starting to wonder if the blower is real, or it has one of those fake jobs with a single Carter 625 AFB hiding under it?

 

They are silver....and its not an AFB its one of those chrome Edelbrocks from O'Reilly....Lol!

 

Ha ha ha....so Scott how's the Mustang....hey I got log off and eat dinner.....uuummm.

 

http://giphy.com/embed/Wvo6vaUsQa3Di

Here is the child after she gets beat by the Willys

 

Here is Scott after he gets blown away by the Willys at least he will have a clean window to beat on
http://giphy.com/embed/hP3jU85zpjhN6

 

Jackson,my hair is way nicer than that.Its obviously not me.lol

 

You are alright! Figured you'd either get a laugh, or I'd get a horse head in my bed.

 

I haven't seen my car in weeks.Been working out of town.
I've got a buddy helping me get the motor back together while I'm up here.
Another buddy traded me a pair of slicks that fit a little better,and the new electrical parts are just waiting for me to put them in the car when I get home.

A little re-arch on the leafs,and stuff my new coils under the front to get it sitting like it should,and we're ready for the road

Scott

 

Not to be a smart ass but how do you know you need some spring work when you aren't even loaded yet

 

Man, you even have the dogs brain washed on that Mopar stuff. Can't believe that they would bite a guy that cheers on a living legend like Arnie!!!