Got up early Sunday AM and Todd and I headed for the track. Takes about and hour but we took the senic route over Petit Jean Mtn. Full color in the tree's and great view of the Arkansas river valley. Got to the track and had to wait in line at the gate, knew there would be a big crowd for the big payout's this day too. Was kind of down because Todd was going to drive the Mav and also it was team race day. Our team(Miracle Racing) has won many of the two team races, each year. Got to the trailer and opened it up, to prepare for the battle. Todd was in sixth and I was way down the ladder because of being out of action, with the Fairmont and sending the Mustang 306ci, to it's grave(more on this later). Our team member, who also drive's a mean Maverick, has restored a 65 Comet grocery getter. Has been racing it in a 13.00 index class on regular Saturday night event's(1000ft). His wife also compete's in a 65 Fairlane in the street class bracket's, on Sunday. One of the other member's, a Nam veteren, is tied for 1st in points with a Falcon 4dr. John "Maverick" Norman and his wife Connie, approached me with the offer to drive the Comet in street class, to fill out the team and give me some fun again. Whooie, say's I and away I went. The Comet has a 351W with a small cam and C4 that I had built, a long time ago. 3.00 gears and peg leg diff. But the damn thing will run 13 flat almost everytime. Asked John about how to launch and shift it, he said leave it in drive and no burnout. Okie Dokie, first time trial is exciting, have a 7.20 light and being used to running 1/8th mile, let off the go pedal and turn a 13.29. What the hell, so now I have to get my head straight. Second time trial net's a 6.00 light and this time I spin bad off the line but run it out to 1000ft. Turns a 12.91 and another 12.91 in eliminations but get beat on the RT deal. Now this crap has got to stop, buy back in and get into the "got to win some rds. mode" Win the next two and go up against our fellow team member and Falcon driver, with 11.00 dialed, in the semi-finals. Decided that even if I beat him, will dump the brake's and let him have the point and the championship. Not my bag of tea to race like that but have never run in his class before and he really want's this 1st place. Took out the guy he was tied with, having a .012 light and another contender in the points, with a .014. We get on the track and he does his regular burnout, while I sit at the line in the trusty Comet, which having figured out the rpm and when to leave, is making it fun to race. We both stage, I have 12.89 dialed to his 10.99. His tree start's down and I am glued to the third yellow coming on. Wham, go pedal is mashed to the floor and immediately my win light come's on. New right away, the Falcon had popped a red bulb. Was mad as hell at him for doing himself in, but proud of being able to go to the final's. My slip show's .004 light and dead on 12.89 and change. His was a -.500 red, he said the brake's did not hold while up on the converter and pushed through the beam. Poor guy was in tear's, for doing it. By the way old men still cry(he is 60). Now it is dark and cold, so I dial a 12.88 and line up against my opponent, "Oh no" it's a woman in a pickup with a 13.29 dial. My night vision is not the greatest on the ultra bright tree bulbs but I concentrate on that third yellow again. The truck leave's and I catch a glimpse of yellos and nail the 351. Man that truck is hauling the mail and I shove as hard as I can on that floor board. Catch her at 1/8th mile and I think I can just barely beat her at the 1000ft stripe. No greater blow to one's ego, when her win light come's on. S**t, how did this happen? Slip tell's the story, I run a 12.89 and she runs a 13.30, her RT is .012 and mine is .072. She beats me at the line by .049. Still was fun and did not break anything in the borrowed car. Made some money for runner-up and had a blast. Team lost by 3pts. but we tried and is great fun. Will post a picture of the Comet, in next post. Almost forgot, Todd went three rounds and had a red light, still ended up in sixth for points.
Great story and great car. Dave had to rub it in also. lol I told him I was thinking about trading my truck for a almost fully restored 65 Comet and then he tells me this story and emails me the picture. lol I kick myself for not trading, but didn't have the cash to finish the car either. Seems Dave has all the fun!
