Projects Bad Banana Resurrection - 55 Chevy Gasser

Was wondering what you've been up to. Glad to see you racing!

 

I saw y’all at little river this last weekend! Absolutely amazing!


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Yup. Lots of great pictures and story !

 

Hey Russ, not sure if ya heard....
https://www.dragzine.com/news/new-owner-invests-2-5-mil-in-revitalizing-michigans-lapeer-dragway/
If I make it there, I'll let ya know how it hooks!!

 

Any connection between these guys and Your Banana?

 

https://www.mecum.com/lots/LS0918-331431/1955-chevrolet-150/
it didnt sell

 

Clearly that is not this car. Christ it isn't even a gasser. Not sure why that would even be posted on this thread.

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Are you going to be at Paradise today?

 

No. It's just too far to make those races. It turns into a 5 day round trip.

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No. It's been addressed before in this thread.

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Wow... its been over a year since I posted on this thread. Time flies...

I moved from Oklahoma to Texas so I've been a Texan since April of 2019. Nice here. A bit dry lately but no damn snow...lol. I didn't run the car much in 2018 due to the job change and moves. I slowly realized that the competition in SEGA was getting tougher and with me moving even further away it was becoming cost prohibitive for me to be competitive and also travel the long distances to the races. Also the job I have now requires me to travel a lot. So far in 2019 I have spent over 80 nights in hotels due to work related travel. That makes it hard to work on the race car.

I talked to Quain and told him my dilemma. I asked if we could develop a class that would still allow the cars to run heads up but limit the engine costs. He was willing to let me try it. I worked with Scoggin Dickey Chevrolet and we came up with a sealed crate engine that makes about 500 HP and will live a long time. Runs on pump gas. I have one in my car right now and it's a ball to drive and there is no real maintenance to it. I used the rest of the drivetrain I was running that is capable of handling 700 HP so breakage should be pretty much non-existent. The idea is to not allow internal engine modifications but still allow the rest of the car wide open (clutch, headers, carb, ignition, ratios, etc) and make it a true driver/tuner class without the fear of the engine mods needed to stay competitive year after year. The same engine will be competitive today and several years from now as it will stay the same. One engine and everyone runs the same weight. Run any SEGA legal body.

We didn't announce this class until May of this year. By then, most everyone that was going to run already had committed to their engine program for 2019. I talked to several current and former car owners/drivers that are looking at D/Gas for 2020 so I anticipate several cars will be running by spring. BTW.. I have offered $1000 to anyone who can beat me and the Bad Banana 2 out of 3 in legal D/Gas trim at a SEGA event. So far no one has taken me up. Below are two videos showing what it runs like and also talks about the class.

 

Yep.. one straight banana... 3250, dig it!

 

Thanks for the update.

 

Hell yeah! Awesome idea!

 

Figured I should update this page. I moved again from Oklahoma to Texas last year. But the big news is I crashed the Bad Banana this past Saturday night at Little River Dragway in Temple TX. It's fixable but it will take a while. I may post the repair pics here just because this is now part of it's history as well. I am looking for 61 Econoline front axle, springs, u-bolts and tie rod. I think my brakes are OK but I don't have it apart yet. Looks like 61-67 are similar but the one I had was 61. Please don't waste your time telling me about other axles. I am NOT interested. I want to repair it back as close as possible to where it was. So that means it needs the Ford axle.

 

Damn.

Glad you're okay. I know your dad would agree. Really sorry the car got hurt .. but God willing .. all will be repaired.

Good luck in this next chapter. Amen.

 

Sorry for your misfortune. Glad no physical injuries. Know the mental and financial injuries are tough.


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Sorry for the bad lucky, can the axle be straightened

 

Wow. They realy sucks. I hope you can get her back together as she was.

 

There's a '65 Econoline in McAllen parting out. CL.

https://mcallen.craigslist.org/pts/d/progreso-ford-econoline-65-for-parts/7128562988.html

 

That sucks I really enjoyed watching the car run and this thread. I have been there with a crashed car. Fix it better than it was. Glad your ok.

 

Sorry to hear about the crash Rusty. But glad you're ok. Looking forward to the rebuild! Miss seeing you and the Bad Banana back east.

 

It maybe could. It was bent before. My dad told me it was out of a wreck and a front end shop straightened it 55 years ago Its bent at least 2 places this time. I would like to find a fresh one.

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Tough luck but I know you'll get it back together better than ever. That's a great car and it will tear up the strip again. I've enjoyed seeing it run on video many times!

 

Hilborn fuel pump mount. Need one.

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Hate to see this Rusty - how bad was Danny's car?

 

Your well being is the #1 priority. Glad you're ok.
The greater majority of the car made it through the crash, you'll get it back together. Some more history for the Bad Banana's story.

 

yikes

 

I

I've talked to him every day since Saturday. He's pretty upset about it. I've made it clear he is not to blame. It was an accident. His car didn't look too bad. He says its mostly sheet metal but I don't think he's looked at it very close yet. He told me he doesn't want to be "the guy who wrecked the Bad Banana" and I told him jokingly that ship has sailed buddy..lol

Seriously.. I never blamed him for a second and never will and I tell him that every time we talk. The more video I see the more I think there may have been something on the track in his lane and he drove into it and the show was on. Still not blaming anyone. The car in front of us could have unknowingly spilled something and no one saw it. It was night and you wouldn't see it. That also may be why I didn't roll as I slid sideways down that lane. Afterwards, everyone would think anything there was from our wreck. Who knows.

My dad once told me. " You can't unring a bell". No sense worrying about it.

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Did you call on the '65 Econoline in McAllen, Tx. to see if they'll sell the front axle?