by LRM » Mon, 18Mar12 17:48
<thinks WAY back to a time when my Javelin and I street raced>
Few things were more enjoyable than bettering someone in my Rambler...
I took her to Milan Dragway once in 1968 (factory tuneup), ran a Ford Torino in M pure stock. Turned in a 16.99, took my trophy and went home. 69 (N pure stock) went back with my tuneup, ran a 15.99 beat a Chevy Chevelle and a 307 deuce Chevy Nova, took my trophy and went home. 1970 just before being drafted, I went to Milan once more. It was O pure stock that year, the best time by any Javelin running a 290 V8 was 15.6 something in 69, felt pretty good about that (a Javelin weighs in excess of 3100 pounds, Mustangs and Cameros were out of my class). The Nova was back, paid his entry fee, saw me and left! There was also a full-size Plymouth Fury III and a Ford Galaxy. The only vehicle that ever pulled a holeshot was that Ford. I was more worried about a red light than beating him down the track. I took my trophy and never took her to a drag race track again. I sold her in 1980 with over 190000 miles on her. It was my favorite vehicle to date (a timing gear came apart at about 179000 miles, rebuilt her and everything was still within tolerance).
Had I been halfway through that ¼ mile, seen a half-naked cutie like her it would have been a DNF (Did Not Finish) for me.
I don't recall anything bettering me (street or even time trials) through second gear (she was a three-speed column shift manual transmission).
My Lady and I watched Steve McQueen in "Bullet" and raced a 351 Mustang with 4 occupants traffic light to traffic light through Toledo Ohio... The driver was majorly pissed that I consistently beat him! I think my Javelin had a heart and never let me down...
Ahh, memories... If only I'd met some half-naked cutie there would be even more.
Lou
She made 90 something MPH in second gear, down I 75 in Ohio.
Got Wood?