Found it. My engine blowing up in 1980

And it just kinda went "pop" and quit running. Just coasted to a stop, with a huge flow of oil trailing behind.............Funny, it does not seem like this was 27 years ago. Just found the picture. I think I know where a few more are that were given to me by different photographers over the years. I will keep on looking...... This was one of two supercharged cars I ran over a period of time. The carbureted car was the last one I had....
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At that point you do not really know what happened. About two seconds later when your mind settles in on it you kinda get frustrated then..............That just sent about $5000 down the toilet, in about three seconds...........That was in 1980 dollars. It would be more like $17,000 now...............One reason I was forced out. No sponsorship except little $100 to $500 pops for running their decal if you won and were featured.

I forget who took the picture. He walked up and handed it to me about a year after the fact. He took very good photos. I was running "The Strip Teaser" by that time and had given up on the supercharged cars due to lack of dependability. The Teaser never blew an engine on me in two years of running it............Just 6 transmissions (2 speed Powerglides).

 

Through the side of the block. Connecting rod was twisted like taffy. It is much better to lose the bottom end over popping the supercharger, especially back then when we did not use blower blankets that protect against exiting parts. It was the only engine in one of my old cars that ever let go. It is amazing to have the picture of it.

 

There have been several attempts at using a rear engine in funny car applications. I remember seeing one called "The Little Old Whinemaker" back in the late 60's-early 70's. I will go back through some pictures to see if I can find one or two.

The ones that were tried were said to handle really bad because of the short wheelbase as opposed to the the long wheelbase top fuel cars.

 

Yep, especially when you are not sponsored and only have one partner and both of you are just normal working guys who still have to live on that weekly paycheck. Work for months to get a car built and go racing on a shoestring budget only to have the engine puke itself and sideline you for a few more months while you build another engine.

 

These are the only two photos of my last altered, "The Strip Teaser" that I have. If anyone else has any of the car in action, I would love to have a copy. When campaigning a car you seem to never get photos unless you take them standing still as these two were or if a photographer will get you some. Unfortuanately, I guess any more photos of this car are long gone as is the car. I wish I still had it......................makes me kind of sad to look back through these old photos and think that that part of my life has passed by. Just cannot afford to play with the big boys anymore........
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You know, I guess I never thought about the danger then. It was just the thrill of the sound, speed and smells of that kind of racing. And look at that rollcage. It would not even pass tech inspection now, they are so much safer.

I cannot remember a time ever that got my heart beating stronger than when one of these cars launch, especially if it grabs some traction, lifts the front wheels skyward, hits the wheelie bars and then slams back down with the front wheels slightly cockeyed. The short 96 inch wheelbase offered no forgiveness and the car would immediately kick to one side and you either had to feather out and hope the blower did not pop or attempt to drive through it. If you could stay in it and drive through, the ride was really exciting. Covering the 1320 feet of a drag strip in under 8 seconds while jockeying the car around trying to keep it under control until you could hit the chute.

Remember, that was back in 1980. I know the cars today are much faster. They are also much more technologically advanced and safer. The cars back then were more homemade and did not have the advantage of the new methods and metals that are available now. We also did not have the wonderful fire retardant materials that the drivers have now. Look at the old facemask I had on. And the old silver reflective firesuits were heavy, hot and very uncomfortable to be in. Imagine trying to drive wrapped in a blanket of 1/8 inch thick plastic shower curtain. That is what it felt like then. But you know, once you started the car and began moving toward the staging area you forgot all about the discomfort of the firesuit.

 

I love the smell of the tiresmoke and nitro, eardrums ringing even after using earplugs and feeling like you need to wear goggles to keep your eyes from watering from the fumes. A relative of mine used to build the top fuel engines for Eddie Hill and when they would fire up the car in the pits I would love to get as close as I could. It made every nerve in my body stand on end.

!. photo Eddie Hill top fuel car
2. photo Pro mod vette being wrenched by Eddie's previous engine builder
3. photo Pro mod vette at Texas Raceway in Kennedale
4. photo Pro mod vette at Kennedale. Guy in blue cap is Gary Prater, builder of Eddies 4.5 second 330 mph top fuel engines.
5. aerial photo of Texas Raceway. Built by Bill Heilscher, Mr. Bardahl driver, owner of Green Valley Raceway. See the similarity in having trees in the pits to park under and plenty of pit area?
6. photo of altered running at Kennedale recently
7. phote of another altered at Kennedale.


An econorail is a good idea. They run a good number of them at Texas Raceway in Kennedale, Texas. It is a 1/8 mile track and they are running in the mid 4's there. They are so close matched as far as regulations that it is really dependent upon the driver his/her reaction times. I have seen them run round after round with only .01 and .02 seconds separating them. Makes for really close racing and does not require handicapped starts.

A couple of guys run econo altereds like "The Strip Teaser" and sometimes I think of doing something like that again and running brackets but I really love head to head racing.
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Yeah, I have caught a few top fuel cars popping the top of the supercharger and it makes quite a scene.

 

Need to add the photos, I guess.........
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