What do you think

[tripowerguy]

This is going to be long. I went to Tulsa for the 4th and my cousin and I went to see some guys who have started a new racing association. SDRA, Senior Dragster Racing Assoc. There is 12 and I make the 13th. They built dragsters that are right out of the 50's and the rules are so tight that it doesn't matter how much money you have, everyone can be competitive. My number for the car is 348:D. I have started building an engine for the 58 or really just gathering parts but the engine in the 58 only has about 10,000 miles on it. I'm 68 going on 69 and I began thinking I don't have to many years left to do what I want. I love drag racing more than breathing but I really like heads up old fashioned racing with classes not brackets or breakouts:evil . So I'm thinking that I will sell the 58 and go all out on this racing stuff because it is a lot more fun than walking around looking at other guys cars and sitting in lawn chairs. If I get the 58 to go over a 100mph then I start racing it in bracket racing, I beat up the car and it really will never be a race car, air conditioning, hardtop and full interior. I have and engine and parts so if I sell the 58 I have the funds to really go at this quickly instead of drawing it out over a couple of years. Anyway if any of you have that racing sickness would you do it? I know if I sell the 58 I'll never get another but I have had the car for 10 years and I just don't like shows or show and shines. I like the adrenaline rush of racing heads up and where everyone is even. No sand bagging, no riding the brakes through the lights, just cut a good light and drive out the back door.:D What do you think.:dunno Roy

[Ronnie Russell]

Roy, Go for it. You are right, we aren't getting any younger. It is time to do what is important to you. I know the 58 has been enjoyable for several years but drag racing is what you really want. You have the opprutunity to race with some buddies on a regular basis. Don't get any better than that. I may even have to drive up and watch you guys when you get a car built. Got any definite plans yet on car and engine. Roadster?? Front engine dragster?? Keep us up to date on progresss you make. :clap

[walkerheaders]

i think that when you dont have a dream to follow..........you're done living.
I admire your will to race and i am trying to follow the same path. like you and many others here, i have a W powered X frame car that i adore. mine i have had 31 years now and dont intend to race it anymore. I have it setup as a crusier so, it's not too good for racing anyway.
so as i did, i would suggest you decide what year car you want to be seen in, and purchase a clean, cheap one. gut it, cut it, dont worry about it's feelings or value, make it safe and run the stinkin tar out of it.
i have had serious interuptions for a long time now, in fact, i am stuck in california again, had an uncle die this morning, and an 8 year old boy on my son's football team died yesterday. but i WILL NOT QUIT until my racecar is finished. i intend to race the rest of my life. my daddy was a drag racer and i would be proud if my kids can say the same.

[DaveFoster]

Go for it Roy, and the last time I checked the Old Farts Racing Team were constructing a old school front engine small block Chevy dragster with a chopped and highly modified early Ford body on it. They also have a Crosley drag car and other nastalgia dragracers. I get to meet a pony stock racer, who is in his 90's later this week, he needs the frame tweeked on his roundy round racer. Ninety years old or better and still doing what he loves, hope he will let me take his picture and do a story on him, will post it here if I do. Go For It, your health is your biggest asset, don't let anything else get in your way.

Bob Walker, sorry to hear about all the bad news in your life right now.

[Tic's60]

You know I had the same delima when I started my 60. Do I build a cruiser or what I wanted in HS.
I built my HS dream plus some:D
I'd go for it! Make sure the 58 gets adopted into a good family and enjoy life:beerbang

[tripowerguy]

Ronnie and the rest of you guys thanks a lot, I was afraid that everyone would say I had a senior moment and lost my mind. The rules for this is front engine dragster with an engine no later than 1960 and no OHV V-8. That means Flathead Ford, Chevy six, Buick straight 8 and a Chrysler 6. You must run a non-narrowed rearend and the wheelbase can't be over 120 inches. You must run a stock crank, so Flatheads are limited to 282 inches and a Chevy truck block is a good canidate. The Buick 320 cu. in. is good but I'm not sure if all the parts to make it go would be available. I'm thinking of going with a Chevy truck engine of the 260 cu.in. variety. A powerglide that my Cousin will build for me, he builds them for 10.90 to 8.90 bracket racers so they should work alright for a Chevy six. These guys have 6 races a year and all are in their sixtys and seventys. One is a Billionaire who owns QT convience stores. They race each other and are trying to get this thing to interest some younger people who want to have fun. Surprise! my wife is all for it and wants to trade the motorhome for a trailer that has living quarters in front and the race car in the back.:D Now I just gotta find me a motor, er, engine. I plan on finding an old Chevy pickup and put the 348 in and pull the trailer and push the race car. Boy I feel 19 again.:p Roy

[jim_ss409]

I guess it all comes down to what you like doing, but for me drag racing is where the fun is. And a dragster is a cool way to go. Easier to build, easier to work on, easier to trailer and you don't need a ton of horsepower to go really fast. I like car shows and cruse nights but if you ask me most of the really cool cars are at the drag strip where they belong.
The funny thing about the cruise versus racing deal is that when I go to a cruise night and see a really fast looking street car, I'm thinking... That would make a good race car. But when guys with fast street cars see my "race only" 55, they say... It wouldn't take much to make that thing street legal.
The heads up class sounds great but in defense of bracket racing I've got to say that it seems like 95% of bracket racers build their car to go as fast as they can and drive with the peddle to the metal. Win or loose it's a lot of fun.
As for selling one car to finance another,,, it seems like I'm always doing that.:beerbang

[bignbad60]

Sounds like you gotta pretty good plan.:cheers

Tim

[1958 delivery]

i think that when you dont have a dream to follow..........you're done living.
I admire your will to race and i am trying to follow the same path. like you and many others here, i have a W powered X frame car that i adore. mine i have had 31 years now and dont intend to race it anymore. I have it setup as a crusier so, it's not too good for racing anyway.
so as i did, i would suggest you decide what year car you want to be seen in, and purchase a clean, cheap one. gut it, cut it, dont worry about it's feelings or value, make it safe and run the stinkin tar out of it.
i have had serious interuptions for a long time now, in fact, i am stuck in california again, had an uncle die this morning, and an 8 year old boy on my son's football team died yesterday. but i WILL NOT QUIT until my racecar is finished. i intend to race the rest of my life. my daddy was a drag racer and i would be proud if my kids can say the same.


Off Topic: Bob I've often wondered why sometimes you're listed in Maryland then in Calif? If it's none of my business just say so but I'm just curious.

[walkerheaders]

Off Topic: Bob I've often wondered why sometimes you're listed in Maryland then in Calif? If it's none of my business just say so but I'm just curious.

i guess i shouldnt do that........... i didnt think anybody ever noticed. and i clarified it here once. i feel like i live here in the Santa Clarita Valley. I work for a major military contractor in the field of robotic vehicles. last year, i spent so many months in Nevada, i lived there. i pulled the trailer to and from coast to coast 4 times, and flew 8-12 times.
my home and my heart is in maryland, and i currently work in valencia, california. come home for 2-3 weeks, then here at work for 2-3 weeks.
i have been here since the end of march '07. and will probably miss norwalk because of it. i may even miss 2 funerals, luckily, my family will understand. now maybe you do too. where do you live? i may drop by.

[tripowerguy]

Bob you haven't had any of those Robots short circuit have you? :rofl :rofl I put together a 40 Ford 2 door sedan with a Chevy drive train for a man who made sniper rifles for the military. 50 cal. could hit a 6 inch bullseye at one mile. I got to go in his shop and he said if I told anyone what he was doing he would have to kill me. He is dead now so I guess I'm safe.:D Roy

[Tic's60]

Johnny 5 is alive!!!

7509

[walkerheaders]

Bob you haven't had any of those Robots short circuit have you? :rofl :rofl I put together a 40 Ford 2 door sedan with a Chevy drive train for a man who made sniper rifles for the military. 50 cal. could hit a 6 inch bullseye at one mile. I got to go in his shop and he said if I told anyone what he was doing he would have to kill me. He is dead now so I guess I'm safe.:D Roy


i wish i could say what we are doing other than a secret new vehicle. this is the only way i know to serve my country. i was too young for Nam and too old for the sand wars.
some of you have seen the robot cars that i could show. one day this new one will emerge and you'll know somebody who had a hand in it.

Roy..........get out there and race! man

[Ronnie Russell]

Roy, Only 2 or 3 weeks ago, during a rainy day ( that is every day around here ) , for some reason got to thinking nostalgic. One thing I had always wanted to do , but never got around to, was to dig up an old 261 GM 6 cyl and " sport her up". Probably still some old speed equipment on e-bay now and then. I wish I had taken the time to do it. You are gonna have a blast with than neat new class. A great idea. Good luck. It is a tough decision on which engine to choose.

[Phil Reed]

Ronnie and the rest of you guys thanks a lot, I was afraid that everyone would say I had a senior moment and lost my mind.

Roy............you did have a senior moment!!! You finally realized what you REALLY wanted to do and decided to do something about it. I ADMIRE YOU FOR THE COURAGE TO CARRY THIS OUT!!! I had a similar conversation about this very same type of subject with Candy about an hour ago.....before I logged on to read this!! GO FOR IT!!

It's like the guys who HAVE to work all the time....they don't have to for monetary reasons but "have to" for some other reason. The day before we die.........I doubt if any of us wished we had "worked" more instead of just living life to it's fullest!!

I know what you mean about bracket racing!! I quit going when all that came about. It was run what you brung...and first guy to the lights wins!!!! No hitting the brakes at the big end for me!!

Good luck Roy. Build it strong ....and FAST ...and BE SAFE!!! If you ever need a relief driver, my cell is 816-309----------------!!!!!!

[fatride]

Here is one place to look for speed parts and info, I know ther are others. http://www.stoveboltengineco.com/index2.htm Go for it :clap

[rstreet]

Off Topic: Bob I've often wondered why sometimes you're listed in Maryland then in Calif? If it's none of my business just say so but I'm just curious.

Bob please contine your robotic addressing.. I noticed last week you were over here at the beach. I should have gotten a banner plane to find you.
My uncle who lived near you over in Frederick did similiar work to what you are doing. He was usually in Norway and other far away places working on things like the SR-71blackbird and underwater navigation and the satellites and recieved commendations from uncle sam when he retired. Keep up the good work :cheers :cheers because when some of the things were made public that he could talk about my jaw dropped off. Have you read "Blind man's bluff"

Robert

[TomO]

Roy - It sounds to me like you have a great plan that will be alot of fun...and that's what it is all about.

If you do go with front engine dragster you might check out Neils and Parks in Burlingame, KS. I have been to his shop a couple of times. VERY VERY nice stuff and great to visit. He does have a stash of hard to find parts.

Go For It!!!!

TomO

[Tom Kochtanek]

Roy, you probably know what I'm going to say, but here it is anyway: DO BOTH!

(Sure, its' just that easy...)

By that I mean keep your '58 and start the dragster project on a shoestring and a lot of effort. RacingJunk.com has lots of already built dragster chassis', unless you need something custom. Often they are real inexpensive. Buddy of mine got a chassis, frame and the trailer for less than $5K. Stick your drivetrain in and go racing!

If I had all the money I needed, I'd buy your '58, park it inside, and sell it back to you when and if you ever changed your mind :). If it sat over at my place, you know one of those engines laying around the basement could make that '58 go over 100 MPH!

It seems that the bug has really got you, and we all understand how that can be :).

Cheers,
TomK