 Let the FUN begin…
I'm not sure how many of you who read this column are also reading the "Project 4-Link" column but I hope you will check it out after you read this. You can see it from the beginning by clicking on the "archives" at the beginning of the article. It has been a very interesting four months. In general everything went really well and the frustrations have been pretty minor. This project has also given me a lot more respect for the racers who have multi-car teams. First, I want to tell you that building a new car from scratch is a huge undertaking from both the financial standpoint and the time elements involved. Actually, the time involved was lot more than I expected. The financial end did not surprise me but the delay in getting parts to my front door did. The "Project 4-Link" was just an idea in November of 2000 and started taking shape just before the PRI Show in Indianapolis. "Project 4-Link" happened because Jeff and Kay Burk, who own Racing NetSource (the company that produces www.dragracingonline.com) let me have the space in their e-magazine to write the series of articles. A very important part of "Project 4-Link" is the marketing partners that have supported me since the start. I know you usually don't read this column to see a bunch of manufacturer's names but bear with me for a minute. Their support was the ONLY WAY this dragster could have been completed so promptly and built with the best parts available. Here are the manufacturers that helped get "Project 4-Link" up and running already…..Oh yeah, did I tell you WE WON QUICK ROD at the first IHRA event we entered!!!!!! IT WAS GREAT! Go to "Project 4-Link" seventh installment for that story. - Indy Cylinder Head: 540" Bracket Master engine, running perfect. - Dragstar Chassis: The best working 4-Link, period. Jim had the setup perfect right out of the box. Thanks Jim, terrific job on the entire car. -MSD: Programmable 7 ignition control, Billet distributor, HVC Coil and plug wires. The Programmable 7 is THE BEST. As always, no problems with any MSD item. - DRAGTARP: Saved me from a real mess at Eddyville. Thundershower rolled through and I got the car covered in about one minute. That saved a LOT of wiping off and drying off work. Thanks Karen -- by the way, the purple color is way cool! - RCI: I won't race without the best safety equipment for my sons or myself and Call at RCI set us up with the best. - Mikes Transmission: For the "Ultimate 'Glide" which is exactly that and the bulletproof converter. - Dynatech Header Co: The race mufflers and header kit are EXACTLY what they said they would be and work great. - Auto Meter: Can't expect to win if you can't monitor temperatures and pressures. Auto Meter gauges let me do that round after round. - Demon Carburetors and BG Fuel Systems: Demon's Jerry Dooley was right when he said I won't regret using his fuel system. From the start is has been a "no-brainer." - Hoosier Tires: What can I say, my 60' times are more consistent than I am. - Bogart Wheels: Excellent "fit and finish". A nice addition to any car. - Moroso: Tim and Rick have been great. Their products fit first time - every time. - Titan Manufacturing: Once you have seen the Titan Oil pump you can't find much to compare it to. - CSI: Clyde told me I wouldn't be disappointed with his products, he was right they perform perfectly and look great. - F.A.S.T.: The Fresh Air System for my Bell helmet is a "race saver" in the heat and humidity. My glasses never fog over and the fresh air in the helmet let's me concentrate on the task at hand rather than when will sweat drip in my eye. - LO-KO Performance Coatings: They did a great job putting their great looking coating on the headers that Dragstar Chassis welded up for me. - Strange Engineering: For supplying the bulletproof rear end and brake system.  Copyright 1999-2001, Drag Racing Online and Racing Net Source | 
