Thats A Wrap For Now.....

 Below Photos Courtesy Of Image In Time Photography

Well, 2017 Is drawing to an end and I couldn't be happier. This year has brought many changes to my life. Some Good, Some Bad...But as always I am trying to focus on the positive things.

We were invited to a great new event called "The Dragstrip Riot". It was being put on by Bill Hartzell a local racer and a nostalgia buff. He really hit it out of the park because we have needed a Nostalgia Race / Car Show in this area. Now I know what you're thinking, What does my car have to do with Nostalgia Racing? Nothing...except that its a Rear Engined Car that identifies as a Front Engined Car...Sort of a Transgender Dragster In Drag at the Drags....

I spent a week leading up to the race by trying to tighten up the tune-up on the car and spiffing it up a bit...I also dragged out our never used flamed crew shirts and "ItsJustDave" Hats...

It was a fantastic weather day to be sure and we arrived early enough to get pitted next to our friend "Back Motor Mike" . Once we got set up we had some problems with the electrical system.

It acted like a dead or dying battery so we changed it out for the trailer battery and while it ran, it didn't act right. I spoke to old friend and International Drag Racing Star Tony Morris who gave me some ideas. So we made sure the motor turned over fine, but we heard an odd sound...I cleaned all the battery terminals and connections to the starter and ignition. Once that was done it was back to normal. we warmed it up and got it to the lanes.

we pulled in and got bolted into the car. It started easy and made good power on the burnout. Stupidly for the second race in a row I left in high gear and it stumbled for 300 feet and took off to an easy low 10 second, 137 mph run.

I drove it back to the pits and refueled the car and made for the lanes again. This time the motor had a lot of heat in it and when I did the burnout it spun the tires like never before. It also banged and shook as I lifted. Dammit, it won't go backwards.  We broke the transmission so I drove it down the track and back to the pits.

We loaded up and headed for home knowing this would be the last time out for a while. I have been planning a tear-down and refreshening of the car. This will start around December or January. This will take a while because in addition the transmission, I need to fix a couple things on the chassis and the tin work. I plan to re-paint the car as well.

So "Phase 3" of "ItsJustDave" Racing is done and we are moving forward. I have lots of things I want to change and upgrade but have to be very careful of my budget.

So for now, I want to Thank EVERYONE who has helped me since day one. and I'm looking forward to getting it back to the track again.

Racing For A Cure: The Video

Racing For A Cure

For Kaleo.. We Miss You!!

Thank You For The Long Distance Tuning Help !

My Official Event Photo

Photo Credit: Payton Scheib

Photo Credit: Payton Scheib

Photo Credit: Payton Scheib

Photo Credit: Payton Scheib

Well, Here it is..Fall....We've been getting the car ready to run all summer and a September 3rd "Funday Sunday" Test was planned...Someone for got to tell the weatherman because we got rained out...except it never rained....Needless to say we were a tad disappointed.

Bruce and I picked up where we left off in 2006....He called it a "Dry Run" because we didn't find out until we had pulled into the track....Oh well...

Our next event was one I had planned on attending since before I had moved back home. The event was called "Race For A Cure" benefitting the local office of the cystic fibrosis foundation. I was looking forward to this race because Kyle had CF, my brothers wife Deb's dad had it as well. But even more importantly, 2 of my best friends grandchildren have it.  This was too important to all of us. So we had some special graphics made for this race and crossed our fingers for better weather.

Ironically it rained all the way to the track, but it slowly burned off and became a very moody, humid day. I arranged a special 1 run match race with good friend "Back Motor Mike and his wild Rear Engine Corvair Funny Car.

It became a family event as Jim's son AJ came with his kids, daughter Natalie and he hubby Mike came too. My employer (BLP Racing sponsored this race and helped us out with fuel & spark plugs) were also in the house.

We got it warmed up and it sounded OK, not great but waaaaaaay better than it has in a while. We were ready. I met the promoter at the drivers meeting and explained my gratitude for this race and why it was so important to the team.

Mike and I went to the lanes after the meeting and I got bolted in...It sure felt good to be back in Ol Blue...

I planned something for this run that I normally would never ever do. I told Jim & Bruce before hand what I was planning. I met with my co-workers son (who is an amazing young man and photographer)  and asked him he would make sure he could shoot my burnout.
I was hoping to get a good picture for my scrapbook. What he captured was far above anything I could have ever asked for.

I rolled thru the water and I stomped on it hard. I raised my right hand and pointed to the sky in tribute to the fallen angels we were racing for. After staging I left on Mike (pretty miraculous) but he came around me in short order and I got a tad loose and lifted. Being as we were only running 1/8th mile it was over pretty quickly.

I have yet to look at the ET slip because we came to make a statement .... I felt kind of ill from the heat and humidity and decided to load up and go home.

Normally this would be the end of the story but Payton Scheib, the young photographer posted the pictures he took on Facebook and EVERYONE loved them. The promoter said it may have been his favorite photo from the weekend. He called what I did (and why I did it) "Total Bad Ass". I was amazed at that...Back Motor posted an amazing video of our race the next day and I am sharing it here with the pictures.

This was, by far the best event I have ever done. We had a reason ...We had Love and we had FUN!!!...we were RACING FOR A CURE...and yes, we will be back next year.

Thank You is not nearly big enough, but for now..It's all I have. So here goes: Joe Hilerio & BLP Racing, Mark Scheib, Payton Scheib, Travis Green, The Wilkins Family and my special crew members Luke Wilkins & Amelia Rose Wilkins.

Thank You also to Jim & Bruce for their help, love and support. and Very Special Thank You To Back Motor Mike for the race, the pictures, the video, the shirt and most importantly for your friendship....

Deja Vu All Over Again....

Back Motor Mikes Crazy Funny Car

In Memory Of...

Well, It's sure good to be home in Florida..The job has been a struggle but I love it. Jim, Bruce and Myself have been keeping busy getting the shop set up and figuring out the tune-up.

We Plan on doing a Test N Tune on September 3rd (Labor Day Weekend) at Orlando Speedworld. Kenny Gonyo is coming over to help us figure out whats going on with the tune-up. My hope is to get it running high 8's at 150 mph..

We plan on running an event on September 3rd at our home track. The event is "Racing For a Cure" benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation here locally. This is a cause and a race that is very close to my heart. I will be racing in memory of Kyle Collins & My Sister in Law Deb's Dad...But more importantly, Racing for a Cure for my best friend, Jim's  grandchildren.  I don't think I could have better inspiration to race.

The Race is going to be fun because we are going to run against our friend "Back Motor Mike" and his wild Rear Engine Corvair Funny Car. Mike is a great guy who races from his heart and we're gonna have fun with this !!

So Stay Tuned for updates and pictures...

They Say You Can't Go Home....

The tarps didn't make it 15 miles..

Somewhere in Louisiana...I think

Even after the break-in, I really miss this place.

My home for 4 days

100 miles out, I discovered my front tires were toast. Penske Had a repair guy there in under and hour and fixed in 45 minutes. Nice young man too

Cali rode perfectly in her carrier. What a trooper !

Well, My long awaited move back to Florida has finally happened...I made 2 trips to haul the racecar and all my junk back....Both trips were great fun...and I'm happy to be home.

It hasn't been a walk in the park, but it feels good to be here. My friend Bob Hendryx flew out to help me with moving the car. We made it in a nonstop 3 day jaunt.

I had the Titan fitted with new tires, brakes, belts and plugs and greased up the trailer bearings. The track ran perfectly and despite the trailer lights not working, it pulled perfectly.

The second trip was just me and my cat Cali...Cats usually don't travel well, but she did great and we made the trip in just 4 days.

I love road trips like this because I love seeing our beautiful country and having time to think and relax.

But, the car is home, at my friend Bruce's. I like my apartment even if its pretty small. I love my job, but it has been extremely difficult.

I'm hoping to test the car on September 3rd, and racing it September 30th at an event called "Race For The Cure" benefitting The local Cystic Fibrosis foundation....Time and finances will determine if that happens.

Til Next Time.....