Phase 2 : The car was retired from daily use in 2003 and I started building it to have fun with, and run an Open Road Race event. I had wanted to do one of these ever since reading about Roger Ward's Classic Auto Racing Socienty (C.A.R.S), which started the whole Open Road Race series of events. Roger is gone now, and C.A.R.S is now under a new name and ownership, but there are now four different oganizations that run Open Road Racing events.
I found a rebuilt 440 motor home engine and 727 in a garage down the street and bought it for $1000. Checked it out to see if good work was done, added some exhaust and carb, and dropped it in.....
....built a roll bar meeting the rules requirements, added some lightweight seats, and some 5-point belts.....
......built a custom hood with a fiberglass T/A Challenger hood scoop, and air box, went through all the bearings, U-joints, and steering, and then drove it 850 miles to Wendover Nevada.....
....where, or course, you first have to visit the salt flats ! Awesome.
The three day event included going through tech, tossing on some decals, meeting a whole bunch of really fun gear heads for car shows, dinners, checking out all the great cars, and of course racing and an awards banquet.
Technical inspection.
Air support.
To top the weekend off, take home some hardware, party, dine and bench race like there's no tomorrow, and then drive home 850 miles without incident. My ass was numb, my ears were ringing, my skin was red, and my head hurt for two days, but what a blast. I'm hooked, and end up running two more events that summer, and now call it a regular hobby.
