Hi Everyone:
I think I'll put in my 2-bits here. The reason I don't get in on more
discussions is
because I don't even know how to send e-mail yet!! So I have to write it out
and then
Lona sends it for me.*(that way I get to censor his script).
First off.....rules and tech:
One of the first things I learned in life was that most of the time, I would be
playing on
someone else's playing field (mine just isn't big enough) so I had to pretty
much play by
their rules. So if I wanted to play, there would be times when I would have
to keep my
mouth shut, or I couldn't play. While I was building our car, Marlo and his
crew would
come by from time to time and look over the car and make suggestions according
to their
interpretation of the Rule Book. One thing about this list and about fellow
racers, we
can kick things around and butt heads and so on. But when we get to tech, if
it doesn't
satisfy the tech committee, we don't race!!
I've been told by more than one person that my car is over built, but its my
life that
depends on the car's safety. When my son climbed in the car at Bonneville this
last year,
many things went through my mind as we were pushing him off. The main thing
being-if
something happens and the car goes upside down or whatever, will he be ok?I
built the car,
but it's his life. This year my daughter has informed me that she wants to
drive next
year and go after ced's record. I guess what I'm saying here is its not just
me in the
car now, but my 2 kids. What are their lives worth, if tech says this needs to
be done,
I'll do it.. no questions asked. So far the car has been teched four times and
no
problems with passing.. However, when Ken Walky made some suggestions, I added
those
things before the next race.
J.D. has also made suggestions that have resulted in changes before we took the
car out
again. I don't know if Dan remembers or not but the first time we were at
Bonneville in
'98, he questioned the legality of our chute covering. I explained to him that
it was the
same as Chaven Evan's except our car is a center steer car and Chaven's is a
left side
steer car. After that there was no more questions about it and Dan has
certified the body
legal three times this past year. I, too, have seen cars run that I feel are
accidents
waiting to happen, but I'm only responsible for my own car ..unless they ask me
for my
opinion or there is something that is so bad that if I don't say something, it
will be on
my conscious for the rest of my life should an accident happen. Enough about
rules...
Now the good stuff.......Modified Roadsters!!
I would never have anything in the drivers compartment except what needs to be
there to
drive the car. Fuel tank at the front of the car, water and battery in the
back. I have
added a fire wall behind the seat back in front of the water tank, also, I have
a 2 lb.
pressure relief valve in the top of the water tank vented out the back by the
chutes.
As for gauges, tack, oil pressure and water temp...the only thing we look at
during the
run is the tack. Check water temp and oil pressure before we shut off the
motor -after
putting it in neutral and pulling the chute. This is the way it works for us.
And if
everyone did things the way we do, then you flat motor guys would be running
G.M.C.'s with
2 less pistons and going lots faster than you are now!! Ha Ha.
There is so many things I like about LSR that I can't think of them all and
it's a good
thing because it would take a year to read this e-mail. Wish I could be at the
banquet
this week end. Maybe some day.
Mike, Dan and everyone else, thanks for a great year of racing.
Russ Meeks # 902 XO Modified Roadster.
The garbage truck motor man.
P.S. The best time for spotted owl is the December white tail hunt. 10 to 15
degrees out
..a foot of snow and not many people. The only bad thing is that using a 54
Caliber
Hawkings, you need to hit them in the head or else all you have is a pile of
feathers.
But roasted over an open fire with baked potatoes in the coals you would think
it's
pheasant under glass. That's what's for dinner!!
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