Since I was pretty sure I was going to retire driving my rail after Saturday I started a picture of my last adventure with it. After my accident it got put on hold so any who can finish it with pics please do.
We all visit for awhile then Pat asks me if I want go for one. I like racing Pat. He is a good safe racer and I am comfortable anywhere on the track with him in the next lane. This is the second weekend on Pats new engine, a 427 Chevy in pretty serious style old school trim. I know I will get spanked with 200cubes less and only 70 lb difference but that's life. I prewarm the engine to about 150F and then we both climb in. I think again as I struggle to get into the ****pit "If this run goes well this had better be it for you, Don .This is just getting too difficult to do." I struggle getting into my harness and hand restraints, install my brain bucket and fire up, heading for the hotlane behind Pat.
We stage giving the crowd our version of a John Force style burnout. The slant six after the last mods to this set up surprises me. Feels more like a big block then a six!
I brake and let it roll to a stop and begin the long back up to the line. A track crew gets me started and Mike comes out and helps me stage in my tire tracks and just edge in. Pat is already back but lets me stage first. I bump in just winking the light on at just under 3800RPM. The trans was cold so I know I won't get too warm waiting. I have 4700 stall available but figure it is early in the day and the track bite may be just a bit light so decide to be happy at 3800RPM and push the hand brake as hard as I can to avoid sliding out of the beam. Pat stages quickly backing out once and restaging to be sure he was good. We sit awaiting the armdrop. She drops and we are off.
Pat gets the jump the first few inches then hazes the tires but recovers easily. I let go of the brake handle and mash the pedal at the same time. The big six surges forward with power I didn't know it had. I open up a huge lead off the line and by the shift I am getting a wee bit nervous and grab the brake. This car is getting too fast for me. Despite that I am able to hold off the big Chevy's charge till somewhere between 1/3 and half track as he begins to pull alongside.
-- Edited by Don on Wednesday 1st of October 2014 12:07:24 AM
-- Edited by Don on Wednesday 1st of October 2014 12:33:37 AM
-- Edited by Don on Wednesday 1st of October 2014 10:46:03 AM
-- Edited by Don on Wednesday 1st of October 2014 10:59:30 AM
Pat is already by by 1/2 track and I run with him as long as I can as we head for the finish line. As I near the end I am alone and I lift early already half scared of the speed and riding the brakes (AGAIN!) Nothing happens! The throttle doesn't release and despite the fact I am already braking the little six is still pulling and gaining RPM. I shove on the brakes as hard as I can and it makes a bit of difference bit not much. Having trained myself for blind ****pit switching I kill the ign /fuel and the motor dies. The brakes are starting to work but are already smoked from me riding them most of the way. I glance at Pat. He has seen I am trouble and is giving me room. I try a long slopping turn onto the east runway but can't get it done. I go into the weeds at about 100mph thinking "this is it!" I bang and bounce and slither what seems forever then I hit something and the car flies high in the air. It goes a bit sideways and lands with a thud. I feel the lower 4 or 5 vertebrae of my back crunch as the kiss each other. The pain is severe immediately. Suddenly I am stopped and it is quiet. Then I see a face I know pop up over the slick and Pat hollers at me "Don, Don, are you alright?" How he got there so quick I have no idea. He must be Superman's brother! Unbelievable! He knows what to do immediately and begins popping my harness and removing my arm retraints and gloves. "I tell him I need out . Right now!" I am afraid when my back injury starts to swell I will not be able to get out. I can't bend enough even now to get my helmut under the roll cage and so I have to calm myself while I undo it. A first responder is on scene and sees blood coming from my mouth. He checks me quickly but finds I have only bitten my tongue. They get me out of the car and Pat helps me out of the jacket of my fire suit. I am too hot now and the cool air feels good.
Eventually a four wheel drive truck is able to get to the spot and the help half carry me to the truck and stuff me in the passenger seat. The comfy seat feels good. I say to the driver that I figure I must have traveled in a couple of hundred feet. He laughs and says "Try about a thousand!" My back hurts and I just try to relax. They hook the rail up and pop in a designated driver and we begin the slow trek back to the pits. I take stock and realize I have broken no bones as there is a telltale thing the always happens when I do and it hasn't. I feel by lower back. It is sore but not swelling and it has been long enough now it would be. I realize how fortunate I am. Back at my trailer two more medical personal take all my vitals. I am told I have no choice in the matter so go along with it. My vitals are very good. Heart rate is only 115. I had thought myself it would be much higher. My blood pressure is only 7 on the high and 2 on the low above what is normal for me. my wife says I am very calm in severe emergencies. I guess she is right. They ask me a 1000 questions but it become obvious to everyone I am ok. I am told to sit and rest under the watchful eye of a nurse for an hour or so or else I have to go to the HP. I agree to sit and rest. They arrange if anything changes I am to let them know immediately. I agree. Brian Linden-Smith comes by to check on my and finds me some pills (extra strength Tylenol )I can take to put out the fire. Normally I have them with me as I have an old injury that requires their use from time to time but today I came away without them. I appreciate his help. I am sore but obviously otherwise Ok.
Eventually I am able to stand up and survey the damage. Damage to the car virtually zero. And to me other then from the landing I am fine. No other bumps scratches or bruises. Safety equipment kept me snug in the car and not banging around. I am impressed.
All in all a very interesting day. Not how I would have planned my last intended drive of my dragster but it is behind me now. Time to retire the rail and get to work on the gasser.
-- Edited by Don on Wednesday 1st of October 2014 12:13:19 AM
Maybe not to the rules but (however since putting on the tunnel ram I have never drove it through letting it go. I either lifted early or rode the brakes or both as it was pulling so hard up top and I wasn't comfy with it there.) Vern Christy an old friend who has managed tracks in both USA and Canada had suggested to me once that a Jr Dragster chute might be a good solution for this car. They are still a good size but not huge like the big ones and would give one the cushion of safety needed. They are about $125US brand new. Once you can get down to 30 or 40MPH you can steer your way out of trouble. The car handles very well. It goes straight as an arrow with no bad habits. don
-- Edited by Don on Wednesday 1st of October 2014 08:26:56 AM
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
HI DON : What a series of events , over the course of several days , up to now --- It would take pages to say it all , but I'll keep it short by saying that I am SOOOOOOOO happy you came away with only bumps and bruises -- and an unbelievable conclusion to your chosen " Last Run " in the rail -- WHAT A STORY !! -- LATER -- DON / fleet 51
Thanks Don, I have been out in the shop. The wife is out at a meeting so I snuck out. The pain of standing and tinkering is pale to the pain of being bored stiff watching TV. I have unhooked the linkage and the front carb still sticks every time. It is worse with the return spring on. Normally all Holleys have self return springs anyway. Sort of an extra safety device Holley uses on many carbs. So any Holley after service or new always snaps back on its own. The front carb no longer does and when I hook up the return spring which is even heavier it wont come back now without a lot of force. I must have bent it inside although I don't know why because I checked and the carbs were not hitting full anyway. Only about 95% throttle. I am going to remove it next oppourtunity. I will change the base plate anyway as new ones are available but I gotta find out "why?" and make sure it can never ever happen again. don
-- Edited by Don on Thursday 2nd of October 2014 10:55:33 AM
-- Edited by Don on Thursday 2nd of October 2014 10:58:20 AM
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
Hi Don; We have never met but I do read some of your posts. Sounds like that was some ride. Very glad you came through with nothing too serious. Be well, John
Turned out to be a shrunk carb base gasket that allowed the proud spot on the throttle shaft to rub on the base plate of the manifold. Despite my injury I had to know and removed the spot where it rubbed and the area nearby with a aluminum burr and my porting tool. The next day I reassembled it just to be sure and there is no sign of a snag. After a close inspection with a bright light I was sure it was ok so I refired it. All is well. I haven't been able to drive since the mishap.
After a quick test yesterday my wife let me drive our Dodge Journey to church and back. Went fine. Feeling brave just a 1/2 hour ago I decided to try taking the 63 Max Wedge for a drive as it has not moved since the accident. Not good! How I ever drove it home I have no idea. I had to two foot drive it and my back was in pain the whole trip around the lake. Has to be the first time I have driven it (without the rail in tow) that I haven't turned its 426 loose. I didn't even give it a poke. Gonna be awhile I see but I am improving.
don
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
The Armdrop folks brought me the track video tonight. I found my run fairly quickly. Pat was definitely on kill as he struggled to hang onto his rail which is now making HUGE power. The photog was following him as he was struggling to stay in control. I disappear from ths shot midrange but when I reappear as I approach the finish line and pass through at full throttle. I didn't know a slant six could sound like that as it is obviously at it peak. WOW! No wonder I was scared.
don
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
Thing I learned in Foxboro. Since some of our group are from there.
Once a month I play at the monthly concert at The Church of The Good Shepherd in Foxboro. Their first one this season was sept 20th day of my "adventure in off-roading " and since I am the only fiddle player my absence was noticed. Feeling a bit better now I decided to go tonight to see if I could play the whole session. Just got home. Our keyboard man. John Devries and a good friend wanted to know what happened. After I finished telling him he said, "Stick to Music , Don. Its a lot easier on the kidneys." I couldn't help but grin even though I intend to keep my hand in the sport.
don
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
That gold car used to be Red w/ black and white checkers on the bottom lip. That was my first home built dragster. I used to run 8.20's in that car. Happy to see it's still out there.
