[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by The Champ

I guess if you don't understand anything about racin', I can understand why playing in the kiddie pool would be more interesting....

Of course; any straight man with a pulse would prefer looking at hotties, drinkin beer and riding in hot boats over sitting at a dusty track watching cars go in a circle.

Cousin and I are building a Mk II Ford Cortina for rally racing.
Only have one pic I could find was taken the day we found it in Oklahoma field. It's under construction.
Granted it's taking a bit longer then I like, but building a Ford Kent 1600 w/ Lotus head is a bit of a challange then another Chebby small block

Originally Posted by The Champ

Clunkers? That may be what they race down in the Ozarks (we don't have a class for ratty Crown Vic clunkers - or cars with a minimum 116.1" wheelbase).

That's my point: if you're that involved in racing you know rules vary greatly in different areas.
And, you're only kiddin yourself : anyone in that sport knows certain tracks will bend for certain buddy groups and locals regardless of the car make they drive.

Originally Posted by The Champ

The car I've worked on for many years, with Coach T behind the wheel:



A 6 or 7 time national champion, Craig Thatcher. Another car I have helped work on.



And another friend of mine, Steve Arpin (with his wife - under 100 pounds) who has run both NASCAR Truck and Nationwide races (10th place finish at Daytona).



Another shot of Steve holding my niece's little boy at Deer Creek Speedway.



Another friend of mine (my wife used to work with his mother) - Jimmy Mars.



http://www.marsracecars.com/index.html

Should I have heard of all these names ?

Lotta' braggin on your buddies there, Champ. Kinda weak. What have you accomplished ? What do you actually do to the cars you work on ?

Under 100 lbs ? I prefer a woman with some more meat and curves, myself

Originally Posted by The Champ

Another shot of Steve holding my niece's little boy at Deer Creek Speedway.

I do hope the adults have that child wearing ear and eye protection at those events -

Originally Posted by The Champ

Jimmy is the same age as you, but started racing cars in 1985 (when you were still riding a bicycle). He's an engineering grad, and has a racing resume that is very impressive as a driver, but he and his brother have owned and operated their own race shop building race cars for drivers all over the country.
....

Of course I was riding a bicycle, I was 15 !

Degrees don't impress me; they're a piece of paper. What an invidual can do impresses me. But, I have a black Belt in Six Sigma; not only does it require a degree, but years of training to get certification with real world accomplished numbers.

Originally Posted by The Champ

All the above cars are Chevy powered. All these friends of mine have won championships.

Chebbys are cheaper to build and the aftermarket supports them better. Takes more skill to build something that's not "mainstream" vs someone who orders parts off the net at the click of a finger.

Originally Posted by The Champ

FWIW, I wasn't referring to fighting courage. I was referring to having the courage to actully bet real money on the Ford engine you built to win a race up here at Deer Creek.

Oh, get real, nobody I know is going to drive up to Minnesota (or in that area) to settle an internet argument. That's not going to happen.

Originally Posted by The Champ

All the above cars are Chevy powered. All these friends of mine have won championships.

Chebbys are cheaper to build and the aftermarket supports them better. Takes more skill to build something that's not "mainstream" vs someone who orders parts off the net at the click of a finger.

Originally Posted by The Champ

That's not to say that people from down south don't come here, but they are real racers - not your "toothless white trash" from the Ozarks.

Jokes on you Champ: I'm originally from Frontenac, Missouri, not the Ozarks.
Frontenac is not for poor boys; next door neighbor had a Jaguar XKSS, one of sixteen manufactured; a $250,000 car 30 years ago
Wife inherited property here, and we prefer the privacy and the peace & quiet. It's nice to be able to leave your keys in the car, too.

Originally Posted by The Champ

When are you going to replace your Ford PU with the "longest lasting, most dependable" truck in America - a Chevrolet....

Never ! Chebby guys are card carryin A-Holes. Bought a Texas rust free Impala in 1988, factory 402 Big Block ; said "300 Horse Turbo Jet 400" on the air cleaner. Put in a crane 350 horse 396 hydralic cam, Chevy Rally wheels (had to use adaprters it had a truck pattern !)
It was really a damn nice car, but even the Chebby guys rejected it despite the fact it was a big block; it was not a Nova, Chevelle or a Camaro. A 305 Camaro was more respected in those Chebby a-hole crowds.
the car did have one of Chebbys many problems: starter motor drilled off from the flywheel. Ate starters constantly. You could not shim it correctly ! Found out later Chebbys were just slopply manufactured engines and that was typical.
Fast forward to 1990 : helped a buddy throw a 455 in a Trans Am. Really started liking Pontiaca after that. Havent looked back since. And Chebby guys are major A-holes to Pontiac guys. Besides, GM doesnt make a 4wd 4 dr truck that runs 14s and can do 22-23 mpg.

Longest lasting ? Says who ? Maybe in suburban use, but not when workin' 'em like a dog ! what survey ? What was the population size of the sample ?

Originally Posted by The Champ

Yup, my wife isn't as young as she was when we were dating each other in 1972 and going parking in my 1960 Bonneville and she is heavier today than she was back then. But she does have all her own teeth...

Your wife is very attractive in that photo you posted. How old was she when that was taken (as I don't believe you have a Bonneville at this time) and how old is she now. Why didn't you post a current photo?

Glad to see that you are so obsessed with me that you actually would go to another thread and copy a photo of me and my wife and take the time to make up an extremely lame title for the photo...

Never said a thing about her looks. I'm sure she must be find to keep her that long. That pic was taken in 2000. It's all I could access at the time. One from Christmas 2011 below holding our 4th.