[ponyakr]

ever thought about what you'd do if you won millions in the lottery or suddenly had millions 2 spend for whatever reason? i guess most, if not all, of us have. you may wonder what that has 2 do with my story. well, you may have noticed that many of my possible names use the words cheap or budget. that ain't cause i want it 2 be--thats just where i came from--have never had millions & most of the time not even 1000's. but instead of givin up on racin, i decided 2 do the best i could with what i had. that reminds me of a term i heard in army basic training--they called it the field expedient method. they explained it this way "even if you don't have the rite equipment or weapons--use what you have & figure out a way 2 get the job done anyway". that sorta describes most of my racin story--never had plenty of $ 2 buy the best of everything--had 2 make do or do without--not the ideal situation--but 2 me much better than givin up! yes, i would have prefered 2 have had mega-bucks 2 spend on racin--but that ain't the way it was. my story would be a lot different with more $ available for the best stuff i needed all the time--but, as they say it is what it is

[cuz68]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

ever thought about what you'd do if you won millions in the lottery or suddenly had millions 2 spend for whatever reason? i guess most, if not all, of us have. you may wonder what that has 2 do with my story. well, you may have noticed that many of my possible names use the words cheap or budget. that ain't cause i want it 2 be--thats just where i came from--have never had millions & most of the time not even 1000's. but instead of givin up on racin, i decided 2 do the best i could with what i had. that reminds me of a term i heard in army basic training--they called it the field expedient method. they explained it this way "even if you don't have the rite equipment or weapons--use what you have & figure out a way 2 get the job done anyway". that sorta describes most of my racin story--never had plenty of $ 2 buy the best of everything--had 2 make do or do without--not the ideal situation--but 2 me much better than givin up! yes, i would have prefered 2 have had mega-bucks 2 spend on racin--but that ain't the way it was. my story would be a lot different with more $ available for the best stuff i needed all the time--but, as they say it is what it is

how about Hillbilly old school Raceing, Or Old school Raceing?

[ponyakr]

(i like old school--still thankin on it) So--if i suddenly had millions, here are some of the things i'd do(after all the usual things most would do for their family & friends) (1) do all thats necessary 2 put several types of iron pontiac heads on the market, at a reasonable price--exact copies for #'s matching restos--& several stages of racing heads for those classes such as circle track that require iron heads. (2) set up a header manufacturing co(unless a reasonable deal could be worked out with an existing co) 2 produce good quality round port headers at a reasonable price.(2 me $700 is not reasonable) (3) set up a co 2 design & market hi volume pontiac blocks in several types, from hp street 2 lite short deck types for ct racin(sorta along the same lines as the sbc aftermarket blocks--& closer 2 their prices) (5) set up a local machine shop, including a dyno, with all the latest equip 2 work on nothing but pure pontiac motors. (hey this is fun!) 2 B contd.

[ponyakr]

(6) set up 2 race car building shops--1 for drag--1 for ct--both for pontiac powered cars only & have em for sale, both locally & nationally at resonable prices. of course, we'd race our own house cars at local tracks.(7) have all the big boys build a motor 2 my specs--then put them on our dyno 2 see who makes the most power--then examine each 1 carefully 2 help us design the best engine that can be built using pontiac style parts--then sell em for a reasonable price. (8) set up a resto shop for both resto car sales & resto project car sales--+ build & sell super street cars at reasonable prices. this would include locating & buying large #'s of cars--both project & parts cars & setting up a large sales lot & junkyard--pontiac only of course. & it goes without saying this business would use the net extensively for ads & car locating. well i could go on & on, but you get the picture. you may be thankin--thats totally rediculous--you'll never have that kind of money. its sorta like the 2 people who see the same glass of water--1 says its half full-- the other says its half empty. you may say "you've only got 1 chance in 175 million"--i say, somebody is going 2 win--it'll be me 1 day soon! Jesus said you can have what you say if you believe & doubt not(mark 11:23,24) i choose 2 believe Him--not the naysayers. if that makes me a wierdo--then so be it--i plead guilty! i've done it again--preached myself happy--PTL!

[ponyakr]

TJ whupped up some plates for our new bracket venture. the vanity plate is for the tow truck. more planned--you know--like a different comic strip every day--ya'll can either laff with me or at me--but i plan on enjoyin my remaining ponyak years!

[ponyakr]

all that hasn't happened yet, as of this writing, so i'll come back 2 current reality. i have & will continue 2 share with you how i did things & won races without enuff $ 2 do it rite. i've got a 68 bird bracket project in the works---$ is the only thing holding it up--& if i had an extra 10 grand or so, i'd just buy a 68 ready 2 race bird off racingjunk.com--but in the meantime i'll just keep plannin & workin towards gettin my bird on the track. 2 begin my new series, i'll start with the motors. i've mentioned some about them, but not in detail. as you guys know, many on this site are big on details & exact specs. so thats where i'll start--& i realize it will cause some 2 roll their eyes & say "you see, i told you he was an idiot"--so be it--here's how i did it & it sure worked good for me!

[ponyakr]

for '73 & part of '74 i raced using my factory stock ra3 motor--then pulled it out of the goat & put it into a '68 bird 2 get TJ started racin(don't think i posted those pics--will do so)used a longtail th400 w/stock convertor & 3.23 posi rear. best et 13.73. the only work ever done on it was 2 replace timing set when nylon teeth sheared off stock gear. & i didn't even know how 2 do that--hired a schoolmate gearhead neighbor(mopar street guy) 2 do the job for me--including replacing a couple of bent pushrods. this happened at about the 40k mile mark. then over the winter, after the 74 season i had a machine shop 2 build 2 400's--both 2 nhra stock elim specs. the 1st 1 which i put in the bird lasted a few races(won most) then busted a napa piston i'd used because gm was out. the 2nd motor was built for the 69 goat with gm pistons--just as i'd got it runnin good--i had 2 pull it out 2 put in the bird 2 finish the 75 season. i rehearsed these facts 2 say this--thru '75 i had not built a motor of any kind. for '76 i spent all the $ i had on 2 machine shop motors, which failed imediately. so at that point my racin operation was "dead in the water".

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

TJ whupped up some plates for our new bracket venture. the vanity plate is for the tow truck. more planned--you know--like a different comic strip every day--ya'll can either laff with me or at me--but i plan on enjoyin my remaining ponyak years!

That TJ is full of surprises isn't she?