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Post Info TOPIC: Front Engine Dragster and other projects


NORWAY

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Front Engine Dragster and other projects
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First of all, thanks again for all the welcomes in the introduction. You Canadian guys must be a bunch of very nice people :)

First, a little bit about myself ... the boring part .. aww 
Well.., im 36 and live in Norway, and me an my girlfriend/wife have lived together for around 17 yrs now. We got our first kid in -03, a lovely little girl, but she is now 11, and is just a bit taller than her mother...and shes into sports and almost the strong as i am, and tends to get a little bit angry over things... haha, she can almost beat me up biggrin
She like cars too (she was at her first dragrace only a few months old), and we are now looking to find a methanol Jr. Dragster for her.
Then in -09 we got more kids... two boys this time. They grow quick too...! Both boys have also been to the races since very small. Its the only way im allowed by wife to go... to take the kids with me wink

Here is one of my sons this weekend at the last race of the year on my local track: 

Funny Car

 

I dont have a huge shop, lots of money and unlimited skills, im just a normal guy working my ass off as an Network Engineer to keep the ends together. 
Last year we moved into a new (old) house with a little bit more than average property, and two garages (small though), and i also rent some space in a barn nearby. 
Lost count of all the cars and bikes i have had, most of them sold to fund another project... Always something new. But over the last couple of years somehting has happened, and im realizing i dont have enough time for my hobby. So, i decied i would sell some of my projects, and buy a racecar that was ready and in good condition - and the FED was a very good buy, and something i have wanted for at least the last 10 years. A short wheelbase Topolino altered was a good number two - and would fit my small garages better, but tend to be much more expensive for something that looks correct.

Anyway, Snake Bit became mine! 180" wheelbase chassis! Great, but my garage is too short! Well, what do you do then? Correct, you expand it a little bit. About to finish the roof and walls these days. Couldnt afford a huge rebuild, so i have just stretched the length enough to fit the FED and little bit more. 
Also have fully insulated it over the summer so i can keep the heat inside in the winter. I guess you are used to the same cold winters in Canada as we have in Norway?

Here is basically what i had: 

garage


20140413-162248.jpg  

Taking form: 
(have to take some new pics, but below is my "workspace", the car-parking is behind this wall)
20140416-162353.jpg garage2

 

Here is the Snake Bit in Virginia, USA, just before its loaded into the container for the trip overseas:

 

IMG_8842em.jpg

 

 



-- Edited by gasserx on Monday 1st of September 2014 05:24:45 AM



-- Edited by gasserx on Monday 1st of September 2014 05:26:20 AM



-- Edited by gasserx on Monday 1st of September 2014 05:28:27 AM

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NORWAY

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Had to do some edits on the first post, typing errors all over... and probably still a lot, but i guess you understand most of it smile

A little bit of history on the FED, everything "unconfirmed", and its very little to go by. But i have to give it a try. I might be lucky.

 

Previous owner bought it from a guy on the northeast of USA, Brunswick - Maine, i think. He owned it from 1999-2004.
Before that, it was owned by another northeast guy, Bob from Rhode Island, 1988-1999. 

Next owner is where you guys might be able to help me: He was from Canada! 
Bob bought the dragster in Canada in 1988, but unfortunatly he cant remember what city, or what the name of the owner was. Im trying to get hold of him so i can ask him what area of Canada he found it, and what it looked like back then. 
But its likely to believe the car was somwhere on the east of Canada, and probably on the closer side to the US border. Canada is a huge country, i know, but if im lucky, i hope that if i find someone that knew the owner, they would remember it beeing sold to USA that year.
And i think maybe finding the Canadian owner is my only hope to find out more about the car. 

 

I have been told by the previous owner (probably all Bob remembered) that the Canadian bought it from the original owner who was from Florida.
Car was built in 1967, and raced in Top Fuel between 1968/69 and 1974 - then sold to Canada somewhere after that.

There is no stampings what so ever on the chassis, so im lost. They say Woody Gilmore didnt mark his builds, but some of they guys that have seen pics says its not a WG chasis. 
Well, i dont know... that what im trying to find out.





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ST GEORGE, ONT

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Thanks for sharing Marius
I can't help you with info on the dragster but wish you the best of luck

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ADMINISTRATOR

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Cool car....and good luck with the search...It does sound like its an eastern Canadian you are looking for, but who knows?

You may also want to ask in another Canadian site...www.canadianrodder.com/forum/index.php....it covers all of Canada, whereas we are mainly Ontario.



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Don


PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

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After seeing the Picture it is possible it is Rini Racing Engine's of Kingston Ontario. If so I put the brake lines on it years ago with Roy Haman making them as he was an aircraft tech . The car was sponsored by Rinis and Quinte Dragway (Mohawk) and if memory serves me was a Chuck Webb car originally and by that I mean before that. If I saw a picture of the brake handle and the fittings on the brakes at the wheel I would know. The confusion could be that Jim Rini Lives in Kingston and Dan Rini now in Florida. If I saw the brake fittings and handle providing they hadn't been changed I would know for sure. If it is I can find a picture of it back then as I know where several are. The car would date back to late 1960s if it is that car. It kinda reminds me of it although it has had a rollbar update. It is up to you but it might be worth a look.
don



-- Edited by Don on Monday 1st of September 2014 12:57:03 PM

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NORWAY

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Don, thanks for replying. I guess i found the best place to ask questions.
Parts may have been replaced over the years, but its absolutely worth checking out :)

Here are a couple of pics from the ****pit, but i'll get more:

IMG_0608.jpg

 

IMG_0829.jpg



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Don


PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

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No, the office doesn't look right so it isn't that car.
don

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NORWAY

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Don wrote:

No, the office doesn't look right so it isn't that car.
don


 I didnt think i could be that lucky that quick either, but thanks anyway. This is fun smile

 

Here is another picture of it, this is from early 2000 i think. Got a response on Facebook from the owner back when this photo was taken. He is on atravel right now, but promised to get back to me when het gets back home.
He might have some more history on it, and can tell me how it looked when he bought it, changes made etc.

MikePBurnout.jpg




Oh, and here is one of my Pop's :)

IMG_7468-225x300.jpg



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NORWAY

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Some updates..
The above photo of the dragster, when it was black w/flames and a red chassis, is what it looked like before 1999 (dont know when it was painted like that though), but probably by Bob between 1988 and 1999.
Another thing is that i have finally found a couple of guys that knows Bob, and one of them actually drove a few of his cars - and he has agreed to call him and try to find out more. That might be a huge step forward in my search for its history. I really hope Bob will be able to point on a map approximately where in Canada he bought the car. Then i can start my search around that area and ask local rodders/dragracers.
My guess is that he found it somewhere between Toronto and Quebec since he was from Rhode Island, but i would need a little bit more specific details.
Also going to ask for some older pics if he has any, that might also be a good lead. I cross my fingers.

I have also received a load of bills/receipts from the previous owner, and it turns out there has been made quite a few changes and upgrades, like for example the brake setup has been totally re-newed. I got receipts for around $6000 (thats not included any engine related upgrades or parts).

If anyone on here has contactinfo on people with lots of knowledge about the vintage drag racing scene around the area mentioned above, feel free to send me a private message. I will keep looking and asking for information :)

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NORWAY

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Hi all, i have updates......

The car came from the area around Montreal.
Canadian owner trailered it down to Rhode Island, so he is not sure exactly where it came from (dont remember).
He also says it was a successful car in Canada, and made several wins. That means it should be well know by locals (thats pre -88).
It was a top fueler and had a blown hemi in it back in the days.

So guys, i need your help. Anyone here that has knowledge about Montreal-area dragstrips, websites, people etc etc ??


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BARRIE, ONTARIO

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I can't help you on your search but good luck.
Do you have an engine for the car?
Are you hoping to have it running in time to race next season?

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St THOMAS, ONT

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Getting info about a car in Quebec (Montreal) may be difficult, cuz its like an other country. Don't think anyone on here is from that area.



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NORWAY

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parklane wrote:

Getting info about a car in Quebec (Montreal) may be difficult, cuz its like an other country. Don't think anyone on here is from that area.


 Oh, didnt know that. But isnt Montreal very close to the Ontario "border"? You guys dont ever visit each others race-tracks? hmm

 

We are in the early progress of building the motor. Starting with a good 010 SBC 350 block thats getting machined and prepped. Forged crank and pistons, alu heads, hillborn injection etc... you get the idea. Not aiming for huge amounts of power, but somewhere around 600hp this first season.



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SCARBOROUGH, ONT

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If the car ran in eastern Ontario or Quebec back in the day it probably ran at Deseronto in Ontario, Napierville and Sanaire in Quebec. I had good friends that raced a front engine dragster at Deseronto and Napierville. They were based in the Toronto area and were Canadian champions once or twice. There is an old car publication in Canada called Old Autos that now and then has stories about the history of local drag racing written by Tim Sykes who seems to know his stuff. You might try reaching him at info@oldautos.ca

You may have some luck googling the above tracks for old photos, good luck in your search

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NORWAY

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This car originaly had shorter wheelbase and with a chutepack body.
Owner that "converted" it was Ross Arthur - anyone know the name?
Car might have belonged to someone from Dorval before it was rebuilt.

I know most of the story from late 70's/early 80's now.
Photos to follow...

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NORWAY

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10703831_10152366943541244_6354252144328225645_n.jpg

 

 



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NORWAY

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Oldest photos i have so far, early 80's:

 

1530343_1385881048333828_1652148152_n.jpg

 

 



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NORWAY

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numari15.jpg

numari19.jpg

 



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NORWAY

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Something got me thinking;
This car was rebuilt/fronthalfed. The reason could have been a damaged front.
The Rini's first car had a chutepack, and it was damaged in the front? What happened to it?

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New Member

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Since the dragster in question is the one from our shop,(zekes automotive) and joe roy race cars,that is joe driving the car in the black and white photo,with one of out shop guys.Now it could also be the car that george massey owned too.The car that joe is in was owned by dan maissecotte of quebec,and these cars where run from mid seventies to mid eighties.If you need more info on the car or the cars in this topic ,email me at : penstarperformance@gmail.com thanks mrmopartech/scott

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