Just go back from the National Impala Association event held in Indy. What a great time!
I actually left last Friday and headed first to the Toledo, Ohio area for a bit of a high school reunion. Hit some golf balls, did a bit of water skiing on the Maumee River and went to a roundy-round event on Saturday. Sunday was another round of golf and later in the day I headed to visit my Mom in the old hometown suburbs of Cleveland. Spent Monday doing errands for Mom, getting the house in order, that sort of thing.
Tuesday morning I headed 350 miles to Indy and arrived around 2:ish, just after Allen, Denny and Bo got there with their ’62 race cars. Some really nice cars were in the Show-n-Shine. Ran into a bunch of new fellas who I had talked to and heard about but had not yet met. Hank Gabbert was there with that oh-so-fine 1963 Z-11 car, Jack Gibbs and his buddy Gary from Colorado Springs brought up the only ’62 Sport Coupe, and it was a beauty, Black over Red. Saw a neat 1961 black Biscayne post car with what looked to be pretty correct 360 horse 409. There were a number of neat station wagons, a few 58s and 59s, and Larry Barnes came out with his son and that sweet 409-powered 1954 Corvette! Verne Frantz made the comment that there were more 427 Impalas in one place than he had ever seen before! His buddy Tom Payne brought a sweet Silver over Silver 1964 SS car that they took to the track the next day.
I was somewhat wiped out on Tuesday from all the travel and didn’t take too many close up photos at the Show-n-Shine, but I did take a few from a distance. Tuesday night a group of us hung out at the hotel’s pub and spent four hours waiting to be served dinner. Luckily we had lots to talk about and they did manage to drop off a few cold ones… About 10 o’clock Phil Reed and his wife Candy showed up after riding 450 miles on a pair of Harleys. We played until maybe 11:30 then headed for the sack so we could get up early for the day at the track.
Wednesday morning we headed to the O’Reilly NHRA track around 7:45 and the weather gods let the guys play a bit, even though the skies were cloudy and dark and a few times we got spit upon. Allen and Denny unloaded their race cars, then put ‘em back in again when it looked like it might rain. Luckily it blew by and the sun actually came out, and Hank lead the pack with a “reserved” run in the Z-11 followed by a rather robust run by Denny Ford (I think he went something like 10.86). Allen made a great first pass, followed by Verne Frantz in his buddy’s 1964 SS car (327 four speed powered I think). Some of the BBC cars lined up and made a pass. Loren (Gearhead409) and his pall Jimmy brought their sweet 1963 Belair post and made a few runs as well. Shan’s buddy Terry, from Mishawaka showed up at the track also. Most of these guys were at Norwalk last summer and the summer before that.
The weather looked a bit threatening around 12 noon, and I had to get back to Missouri, so I took off and immediately hit rain on the freeway. Had the wipers on all the way home, especially in St. Louis where visibility was limited. Sucky ride home, but a fun weekend all the way around!
All total I put 1300 more miles on the ’62 SS 409 car. That trip alone took care of most of my “incentive check “ from the IRS. In the last two years I have racked up 7500 miles on the new build. Can’t think of a better use for it!
A big “Thanks!” to Hank Gabbert for his stories on how he found the Z-11 car, to Jack Gibbs and his buddy Gary for the engaging conversation and for answering all my silly questions, to Bob Walla for the cold Coors Light and allowing me to touch the aluminum block, to Bo and Denny for their sage advise and comraderie, to Allen George for the hospitality and the jump start when my battery gave it up in the parking lot on the way to the track, to Phil and Candy for bringing their road bikes and for joining in on the fun, and to a Jody Anderson and his wife for hosting the event. We were all excited when Loren and Jimmy showed up at the last minute at the track and brought that sweet Black ’63 Belair. We certainly all had a great time!
Enjoy the picks, although they were from a distance, you might be able to spot who was running at the time!
Cheers!
TomK
I actually left last Friday and headed first to the Toledo, Ohio area for a bit of a high school reunion. Hit some golf balls, did a bit of water skiing on the Maumee River and went to a roundy-round event on Saturday. Sunday was another round of golf and later in the day I headed to visit my Mom in the old hometown suburbs of Cleveland. Spent Monday doing errands for Mom, getting the house in order, that sort of thing.
Tuesday morning I headed 350 miles to Indy and arrived around 2:ish, just after Allen, Denny and Bo got there with their ’62 race cars. Some really nice cars were in the Show-n-Shine. Ran into a bunch of new fellas who I had talked to and heard about but had not yet met. Hank Gabbert was there with that oh-so-fine 1963 Z-11 car, Jack Gibbs and his buddy Gary from Colorado Springs brought up the only ’62 Sport Coupe, and it was a beauty, Black over Red. Saw a neat 1961 black Biscayne post car with what looked to be pretty correct 360 horse 409. There were a number of neat station wagons, a few 58s and 59s, and Larry Barnes came out with his son and that sweet 409-powered 1954 Corvette! Verne Frantz made the comment that there were more 427 Impalas in one place than he had ever seen before! His buddy Tom Payne brought a sweet Silver over Silver 1964 SS car that they took to the track the next day.
I was somewhat wiped out on Tuesday from all the travel and didn’t take too many close up photos at the Show-n-Shine, but I did take a few from a distance. Tuesday night a group of us hung out at the hotel’s pub and spent four hours waiting to be served dinner. Luckily we had lots to talk about and they did manage to drop off a few cold ones… About 10 o’clock Phil Reed and his wife Candy showed up after riding 450 miles on a pair of Harleys. We played until maybe 11:30 then headed for the sack so we could get up early for the day at the track.
Wednesday morning we headed to the O’Reilly NHRA track around 7:45 and the weather gods let the guys play a bit, even though the skies were cloudy and dark and a few times we got spit upon. Allen and Denny unloaded their race cars, then put ‘em back in again when it looked like it might rain. Luckily it blew by and the sun actually came out, and Hank lead the pack with a “reserved” run in the Z-11 followed by a rather robust run by Denny Ford (I think he went something like 10.86). Allen made a great first pass, followed by Verne Frantz in his buddy’s 1964 SS car (327 four speed powered I think). Some of the BBC cars lined up and made a pass. Loren (Gearhead409) and his pall Jimmy brought their sweet 1963 Belair post and made a few runs as well. Shan’s buddy Terry, from Mishawaka showed up at the track also. Most of these guys were at Norwalk last summer and the summer before that.
The weather looked a bit threatening around 12 noon, and I had to get back to Missouri, so I took off and immediately hit rain on the freeway. Had the wipers on all the way home, especially in St. Louis where visibility was limited. Sucky ride home, but a fun weekend all the way around!
All total I put 1300 more miles on the ’62 SS 409 car. That trip alone took care of most of my “incentive check “ from the IRS. In the last two years I have racked up 7500 miles on the new build. Can’t think of a better use for it!
A big “Thanks!” to Hank Gabbert for his stories on how he found the Z-11 car, to Jack Gibbs and his buddy Gary for the engaging conversation and for answering all my silly questions, to Bob Walla for the cold Coors Light and allowing me to touch the aluminum block, to Bo and Denny for their sage advise and comraderie, to Allen George for the hospitality and the jump start when my battery gave it up in the parking lot on the way to the track, to Phil and Candy for bringing their road bikes and for joining in on the fun, and to a Jody Anderson and his wife for hosting the event. We were all excited when Loren and Jimmy showed up at the last minute at the track and brought that sweet Black ’63 Belair. We certainly all had a great time!
Enjoy the picks, although they were from a distance, you might be able to spot who was running at the time!
Cheers!
TomK
Great to here a good time had by all.
bang
That was my first goal. I'm sure it will go 13.5 with some more effort. It should be good for 13.2. I was/is doing something weird at the top of each gear.??? I'l be checking valve springs, ignition, and fuel. I know of a few thing that need fixed.
So the second pass...just put it in drive and stomped the go pedal....this one has big "balls" so the pedal doesn't come off!! The car went sideways again for about probaly 50 yards or more so I got out of it...straightened up and mashed the go pedal again. Went thru the traps at 104.6 MPH even after all that!!! Just proved that I can take a legit 13 second car and put it deep into the 15:50s!!!!!!!!!!!