A good night at the drag strip with OCA members...

[Lady72nRob71]

After the 2009 Olds Club Zone meet in Fort Worth on Saturday 10-17-2009, a big group of us caravanned up to North Star Dragway in Denton. (PICTURE 1&2)
I was not expecting a lot, but there was much more fun ahead of us...

Before dark, all the Olds owners got a chance to casually parade down the dragstrip for the spectators to drool over (PICTURES 3-5).
Lots of beautiful cars here. I slow raced a '68 and won, hehe... This is when I really got the desire to open her up later.

[citcapp]

Looks like you guys and gals had a blast.

[Lady72nRob71]

Further into the evening, we all got a chance to race if we wanted.
I took Lady down a couple times just for fun. These were my first two times on a strip, so my skills were lacking. Lady's peg-legged rear and her refusal to open her carb's secondaries further added to unimpressive times, compared to the high-dollar monsters that were running.

PICTURE 1 shows Lady racing the aqua car. Her top is visible through the aqua car's windows... Why Alice would not get up in the stands is beyond me...

We later watched as some other Oldsmobiles raced each other down the track (PICTURE 2). She thought many of them were slow compared to the other high dollar race cars we were used to watching and I had to explain to her why - ($+$+$+$+$+$=FAST!)

A couple hours later when Alice and I returned to the car to prepare for my second race, I was presented the "People's Choice" trophy from the dragway itself!! (PICTURE 3)
I did not know they would even judge or present awards so i was extemely surprised! Not sure why they picked my car either - there were many more that were cleaner and nicer...

On this second run, I was paired up against a highly modified Ford Pinto bracket racer... Just what are the odds of me racing a Pinto???
He was faster but I officially WON!!! (He jumped the light on takeoff...)

Tonight's other way-cool event was the Beat the HEAT World Finals, with police departments from around the country competing with some of the fasted cop cars around. (PICTURE 4) Lots of excitement here, along with some good education for the young folks. After
understanding the concepts, Alice was getting into racing more than I expected.

King of the Cops was a jet powered funny car which ran at 8pm and 1015pm. (PICTURE 5)

[Lady72nRob71]

This jet-powered monster was awesome - the star of the show, I'd say...

Check out the quick facts on the Pratt & Whitney jet engine - they will blow you away! (No pun intended...)

Alice really enjoyed this one, despite being scared by the intense sound waves of the afterburners. She was not expecting it to blow fire, either.

Later she wanted to see it more up close...

[J-(Chicago)]

We're all glad that you didn't fall out of Lady convertible when she did her wheelstands.

[Lady72nRob71]

Here is a video I took of the jet car.
I had to compress it a lot in order to post it.
I was standing in the bleachers and Alice kept grabbing me when the afterburner was fired. The soundwaves about blew us both down - ear pain occured on launch but you cannot even imagine it in the video.

On this run, the beast ran an impressive 4.076 second 1/8th at 196mph - faster than a speeding ticket! Take THAT, Batmobile!

In dark comparison, Lady only ran a tad over a third of that...
Just as surprising as me receiving the award, Alice did not even complained about walking all day in heels and giving her nice clothes the scent of burnt fuel and rubber!

She really enjoyed it and told me that for the next several days. She must has some high octane in her veins...

MANY THANKS to North Star Dragway for letting us show off and join in the fun at no charge - What a way to get new people into racing... I am sure we will return some time.

MANY THANKS to the OCA and NTOC for arranging such a fun event and to those who showed up and added to the show!

What a memory this is... SO MUCH better than a typical boring date at the movies - Alice strongly agreed!

[Lady72nRob71]

Originally Posted by J-(Chicago)

We're all glad that you didn't fall out of Lady convertible when she did her wheelstands.

That was the real reason why they told me to put her top up...

[wmachine]

Originally Posted by Lady72nRob71

This jet-powered monster was awesome - the star of the show, I'd say...

Check out the quick facts on the Pratt & Whitney jet engine - they will blow you away! (No pun intended...)

Alice really enjoyed this one, despite being scared by the intense sound waves of the afterburners.
She wanted to see it more up close...

You're hosed now, Rob. Now that you've run down track, you've caught the fever. No cure. Just continuing "have to race" symptoms.............

[cutlassgal]

Great pics Rob!! Thanks for sharing them!! Congrats on your award too! That is way cool! I love the caravan pictures - showing them all off!!! Glad everyone had fun and enjoyed!!

[dc2x4drvr]

Huh..I clicked on the link, but no joy...say's it can't connect, help!

[Lady72nRob71]

Originally Posted by dc2x4drvr

Huh..I clicked on the link, but no joy...say's it can't connect, help!

This has do do with firewall settings or internet allowances for media player...
When you click on it here, save to your computer and then open it with your media player. My PC at home has this issue because I do not give the nosey ms media player internet access...

[Jamesbo]

Very cool Rob

Thanks fer sharing 'em

[citcapp]

Way cool Rob and congrats on the trophy thats neat. Now you got the go fast bug, I can here it in you post

[Lady72nRob71]

Originally Posted by citcapp

Way cool Rob and congrats on the trophy thats neat. Now you got the go fast bug, I can here it in you post

Originally Posted by wmachine

You're hosed now, Rob. Now that you've run down track, you've caught the fever. No cure. Just continuing "have to race" symptoms.............

Enough to have me looking at new motors...

So far I found a few salvage yards online that have some really neat stuff...
One is Discount aircraft salvage - "You crash 'em we trash 'em" they say.
There are some good looking jet engines out there for sure.
Also a wrecked jet with luggage and clothes included - I hope all the bodies are gone...

[Bluevista]

Too cool! Sounds like a good time.
Congratulations on the trophy Rob, nice to know they like you, they really like you.


I think you need to do an engine upgrade too, duct tape that top down good so it doesn't blow off and have lots of money in the bank for parts on Monday.
Matching numbers?
Who needs stinkin' matching numbers??

I can hardly wait for the airplane boneyard jet engine installation thread.


I'm not surprised Lady won, she's pretty and her top goes down.

[cutlassgal]

I'm not surprised Lady won, she's pretty and her top goes down.

Spoken like a true... gentleman!

[German442]

What many don't know is that drag racing has become well-known in Europe. I was at the "Nitro-lympix" in Hockenheim in August. The fastest dragsters ran under 5 sec E.T. There was a rocket bike that set a new record- 5.277 @ 401.13 Km/H (~250 miles per hour). A real blast!

Ralph

[wolfman98]

great pic and vd Rob. Those jet cars are awesome at night I am not sure I could afford the 100 gallons of jet fuel per mile though could you imagine 6000 hsp sitting behind you

[dc2x4drvr]

The jet I fly only burns 4 gals. a minute/per engine

[Lady72nRob71]

Many thanks for the complements! We should do this more often!

Originally Posted by dc2x4drvr

The jet I fly only burns 4 gals. a minute/per engine

Just imagine if they installed afterburners on each engine!

I wonder what 5g's feel like on takeoff...