What I did all summer Part 2

[Kelly 1,028]

Well I was not on here much this year because of two things my son starting his racing career, and me building myself a new race car, you can read about Ryans part in the other what I did all summer post, this will be a very small look and my car build I did this spring.

   Well I've been racing cars since I was 16 and I just turned 49 so easy to say a Long time, but this was hands down the best car I ever built, LOTS of hours went in to this, I did every thing but the machine work on the engine and building the trans, I touched every bolt on this car removed and most of them replaced, Ryan helped on this build also, he welded the new floors in, and lots of other stuff.

   I started with a rusty 1974 Chevelle I replaced the floors, the roof, and reshaped the wheel openings along with many patch panels for rust, I welded the cage in after making it fit this car I bought it in pieces like a jig saw puzzle but was for a different body (yes cage is WH red), I added lots of bars also for safety as I race figure 8's, every seem in the body was welded for strength, I have near 50lbs of welding wire in putting this car together, and untold hours welding, hours up on hours of figuring out how I wanted stuff, trying to think 10 steps ahead, while doing the body I was also building the new engine.
    I sent the engine block out for machine work but I hand assembled it, with ARP studs, alum race heads 13 to 1 high dome pistons a very lumpy camshaft, MSD ing. and lots more, no dyno time but estimated at around 500 HP and drinks 110 octane fuel with ease, @ $7 a gal. and takes 6 gall. most nights not cheap, but OOOOHHHH so fun to drive. 

    I put all new brakes and suspension in it along with a disk brake rearend from a 90's cop car, with aftermarket axles a posi with 3.73 gears, huge sway bars upgraded everything, I cut no corners I built the best I could afford.    

  Trans was built by a local shop to my specs, it's a TH 350

after assembling the car and welding all the body panels on, again every seem welded fully, every light hole, door handle hole ect... was welded shut, I took it to work and painted it, the cage was done at home just the black done at work, a buddy cut the vinyl for it,  it turned out pretty good all in all, some things I would do different on the next one, but it runs strong and has held up well this season, with very few new car bugs to work out, this was a very brief look at the build I skipped LOTS of details I just hit and missed the big stuff.

  I was defending Champion in my class from last year, but in building this car I missed a key night in the points race and finished second for the season, but took home a few thropeys and the crowed loved the new car, I have been for years a fan favorite because I drive hard and pull no punches, the figure 8's can be very dangerous and very exhilarating at the same time.

  Any questions on the car just ask.       
 

[Sparky-(Admin) 19,641]

Its great to hear from ya Kelly!!
  Now about that car....its awesome! Spending time with your kid makes it that much better. 
Love the front plate, were they a sponsor  ?
Mike............

[Coadster32 793]

Way cool!! Like the Part 1 as well.

[953 nut 51,940]

            You and your son both have great looking race cars,   Next season is only a few moths off.                

[Ken B 3,116]

What a beautiful car Kelly! How bad is she banged up now? 

[Kelly 1,028]

Not as pretty now as in the pics, being the Champion last year and a pretty new car I had a target on me, I'll see if I have any current pics later. 

[Ken B 3,116]

AAHHHH the target. I see nothing has changed! My late best buddy used to race. He was fearless, but as you know most guys out on that track are. He was also a natural behind the wheel and could put on one hell of a show. and like you he pulled no punches.  The crowd always loves a guy with these qualities. If he has a bad ass car, well that is just icing on the cake! First time out with this car Kurt took the figure 8 win and was runner up in the feature race...I'm not sure if its like this everywhere but where we raced if you could drive and had a nice car and if you won the figure 8 race there was always a team of guys that would try to take you out... You were the target. He would have also taken that feature race if it wasn't for a team of 4 dirty drivers all running pre 78 purple Monte's with 400 plus hp mills under the hood. Kurt had at least that for hp but he had just a little more skill than most. Any time one of them guys got near Kurt they'd try to dump him and one by one Kurt would take them out, ever so gently.. On the white flag lap Kurt was running second and one of them dirty Burnetts in his purple 77 Monte  was right behind him constantly trying to take him out.. Kurt let him by exiting the turn and then you heard it... Kurt got that guy sideways and just kept it wide open, stuffed him in the wall wrecking both cars.  Kurt still managed to finish second... The dirty purple 77 Monte guy didn't finish... The crowd went wild, finally a guy that stood up to the dirty Burnetts and took them all out! The fights in the pits after the races were ALWAYS legendary. I miss those days BIG TIME. I really wish I lived closer to you, I'd love too watch you and your son race!

Edited November 3, 2015 by Ken B

[JC 1965 1,528]

Car looks great Kelly. Looks like you didn't take any shortcuts building it. I also like the safety features you built into it. The pics are great, thanks for sharing.