I
took the easy way out this year in posting the pictures. I just divided
Saturday and Sunday and lumped everything into a big pile just as it came out
of my camera. IÕm no more organized than last year. There is one difference in
this yearÕs pictures Ð no trackside starting line stuff. Bob ÒWhiteyÓ
McDonaldÕs wife and pit crew Val couldnÕt make it this year and his grandson
Montey wasnÕt quite old enough to drive the support vehicle, so I helped out a
little in the pits. It cut into my picture taking freedom, but IÕd do it again
in a heartbeat. Tragically, Val died in a work-related accident a little over a
month later. She will be greatly missed.
SaturdayÕs Photos Saturday was the first day of action this year Ð
nothing on Friday except a little fellowship. Among the random assortment of
images are Whitey McDonaldÕs new primer for starting the nitro-buring dragster.
It it worked OK to fire it up, but there was too much fuel in the lines
dribbling out when the valve was shut off. He went back to the squirt can.
WhiteyÕs take-apart heads for cooling are once again pictured. This is a very
clever way of cooling a dry block flathead.
There
were three twin-engined cars in attendance. One was a modern ÒnestalgiaÓ front
motored overhead valve dragster, one was Garry LightÕs twin four cylinder dragster, and one was Wes Wix
and his sonÕs twin flathead. YouÕll find them among
the pictures.
Not
every shot is of a flathead or inline car. There were other interesting
vehicles there that caught my attention. My usual assortment of dragster
details and trailers are in the mix as well.
At
the end is the barbeque hosted by the local Early Ford Club. Also, take the
time to review the sponsor poster and see who is supporting this race.
SundayÕs Photos Saturday was qualifying and timed runs, but Sunday
was one last chance at a time trial, then the big race. Since it was the
Scotchman Reunion, the was a car show and, as I mentioned, a lot of nostalgia
about the Scotchman Drive-In.
Whitey
didnÕt see much sense in just putting more runs on the olÕ flatty since smoke
puffed out on the big end, so I had a chance to shoot some starting line
pictures from the stands during the morning time trial session. Then I wandered
around in the car show. There were many more cars than I photographed, but I
concentrated on flatheads and a few others of interest to me.
Shots
from the actual competition are kind of slim, but there are a few of Whitey and
Jerry Hall from my position as a crew
member.
Among
the competition was the altered of the late Kay Sissell who was famous for
racing six cylinder engines competitively in mainstream NHRA and AHRA
competition back in the day. There are a series of photos of that car and a
trophy from the NHRA Nationals.
Jerry
Hall and Whitey McDonald had the only two cars entered in the unlimited
flathead/early inline class. Weird stuff kept happening to them all weekend
such as unexplained fouls and so on. Jerry fouled on their official run, giving
the win to Whitey, but them they decided to do a two out of three series. Jerry
took the second round, which was expected since the overhead six was running
quicker than the flathead. Unfortunately, WhiteyÕs motor was a little too
wounded to make the final call, giving Jerry the well deserved win. Whitey did
run his personal high altitude best elapsed time of 9.13.
The
winner and runner up pictures close out the series.
I
had a great time as usual. I hope all of you reading this will show up for next
yearÕs event.