While the motor was running, they lowered the
body and I rolled forward for my first burnout
without a throttle stop on a nitro motor! I
rolled through the water, eased into the throttle
and did a weak, pedal-it-once kind of thing.
Here’s where I was in virgin territory
- right after I lifted and started to coast,
the cockpit filled up with smoke! This was new.
I grabbed a little too much brake and hopped
to a stop. I backed up and Bob brought me back
and took me to the beams. I staged, left, and
got the 330 cones! At the other end, I wasn’t
happy with myself. When the guys got down there,
Jeff lifted the body and in the tree was the
330 cone. We all had a laugh and went to get
ready to try it again. Jeff tried to tell me
that he lined me up sideways but I wasn’t
buying it.
We did a little service before the next run.
Pulde was in the house now, so he helped strap
me in. He and Godfrey offered some good words
and we towed up again and this time took the
left lane. The burnout was better this time,
no pedaling; I staged and, the next thing I
knew, I was headed toward the wall! I lifted,
corrected and made it down to a nine-something
that was good enough for my first of three runs.
We got back and started talking about how the
track might not be as good as it could be. I
made the comment that I think I might be “behind”
the car. After a discussion about tire pressure
and so forth we went up again. On this lap,
my burnout was a little better than before.
I felt better backing up; I staged and ran it
out to about half track and ran a 7.20 or so
(NHRA has my time slips so I’m guessing).
It was getting late and I needed one more run
for my crossover. The guys said, “Let’s
go for it,” so we serviced the car and
took it up. The burnout was okay. I backed up
and staged, left, and ran a 6.71 at 210 mph
and that was after getting out of it twice on
the run.
On the last run I actually felt like I was
with the car and my brain was getting back in
“race mode.” With the help of everyone
involved (including Godfrey and Pulde signing
my paperwork) I got my cross grade and was ready
for competition! A huge thanks to everyone involved!
While I love to read and write about me, I’ll
pass along a couple of cool things that are
coming down the pipe in Nostalgia land. There’s
going to be another new class brought to you
by the Adams Bros. Kin Bates Jr., the same guy
who brought us Nostalgia’s answer to pro-comp
(A-fuel), and the Adamses are working on another
new eliminator class that will have the wire
wheel set smiling. Here’s the poop on this
new dragster class they hope to get going.
- American Made V-8 OHV Engines 1949 through
1959
- OEM (49-59) Blocks and Heads (No Exceptions)
- NO CHEVY ENGINES, NO HEMI HEADS
- Choice of Engines, includes but not limited
to: Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Cadillac,
Lincoln, Ford, Packard, Studebaker (Chrysler,
Plymouth, Dodge,---Wedge Heads Only)
RULES: UNBLOWN--450 C.I.
Max
- 1425 lbs. Minimum Car Weight with Driver
- 3.65 Pounds Per Cubic Inch Limit
- Injected or Carburetors on Alcohol Only
- No Nitro, No Nitrous
- Powerglide Transmissions only
- 12 Inch wide Tire max.
- Zoomies or Weed Eater Headers only (No Collectors)
- Minimum Wheelbase 150 Inches
In an effort to curtail costs
their wishes are,
- No Computers, No Dry Sump Oil Systems
- No Carbon Fiber Brakes, No Vacuum Pumps
- No Cam Belt Drives, & Stock Oil Pump
Location
If interested in this class, call Gene Adams
(Daytime) (928) 636-5148 Or Kin Bates Jr. at
(530) 224-1360 P.M. or Gary Adams at (208) 777-0553
Daytime
Also we have heard rumblings about a Funny Car
circuit that Donnie Reeves and Virgil Hartman
are scheming on. Early rumors have a 50 percent
nitro minimum, pre 1980 body and an index to
curtail costs and enhance the show.
It looks like as many as 25 dates could be
had in 2005 with a Chicago-style format.
Want to go Funny Car racing? Here is where
you can ask your questions: topfuelvirgil@aol.com.
Next month, we go to my first
match race and my first night laps in a nitro
Funny Car!
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