Cool, the car looked great making that pass. Now I can quit watching for you to run again and get something done. In other news I caught this early Valiant making a ten second pass.
That's Billy gebhart, s car. He passed away in 2019. His brother and daughter are racing it this year
I did hear his name, I thought it was pretty cool, A friend of mine ran a Valiant about that same year with a seriously hot slant six in it in the early 60's and then sold it to another friend. The car terrorized a lot of V8 cars in this area in the mid 60's. The guy who originally built the car was Jim Mathison who along with Bob Norwood (later the Ferrari tuner in Dallas) worked at Anderson Motors (Mopar dealer) in Grandview Wa and could build a Torqueflite that held up to anything including my Aunt's driving.
Joel i think its time for the gen two. It would be the right thing to do. They wont know what hit them.
I have been singing Squirrels praises and just realized Hemi Joel is the one running the Drag Week early hemi coupe with the 8-carb intake. That right there is, to me, a tuning nightmare It is also a stick I believe. I think Joel has been running mid-tens, normally aspirated. I am sending this "Well Done" to both of you Congrats
Joel got 2nd in the Hot Rod class, congrats Jay got 2nd in A Gas, congrats. but crashed his car doing it! bummer.
Jim, are you coming through Kansas City, or heading southwest on I44? If KC, there's a car show just a few miles west of us tonight, and I'll buy dinner. (913) 991-8728 if you need anything in my area.
I agree congrats to all of the HAMB competitors. Fun to watch. Jim is pretty hardcore to drive his car that distance. Good job all.
Thinking Jim might head all over and never see the same sites twice. Geesh, I thought it was an accomplished feat to drive 70 miles to the track and get back home. Lol
He does tend to destroy the concept of it being too far to drive a modified car. I'm thinking when he pulls in the driveway at home he will have put around 4500 miles on the car. I know some guys with mid 50's Chevys that won't drive the car 90 miles to an event because it is too far and they have pretty mild engines in them.
Once again, I’m amazed at everyone’s Drag Week accomplishments. Especially Jim. Would love to see the reactions of all the people in the cars he encounters along his cross country journey.
Only three in the class, I was last place My average might be 10.4something. I have to look. It's on my laptop. I'm on the phone right now. I stopped for the night in Oklahoma.
What an amazing journey in an amazing car, Jim is indeed the " genuine article " Thanks for sharing with us all and the great photos !
I got home last night, around 8 pm from Martin. I am happy to be home. I didnt do the drive Jim is doing but I did get about 2730 miles with the routes to and from MI. I am planning on this again next year. I had a blast spending a day following Joel, and talking with Jeff. Jim we had some good conversations, and never thought we would have that much time to talk, it was a good time. What Jim and Joel are not talking about is waking up in Norwalk, and the city shut the water down to the hotel. Wake up at 530 am looking to a shower and a coffee, with a big fat NO. The answer to this get in the truck and go race, if you go fast enough no one will smell ya. I traveled by myself until my wife showed up at Bryon then went to Martin with me, there is a certain challenge to doing Dragweek by yourself, but also a accomplishment. Jim safe travels on your way home and let us know when you get there. It is a great thing when you get to wake up in your own bed. Thanks to everyone for the pics and coverage of this event, it was also good talking to all of you. Im not sure who I talked to as, so many people came up and had questions about the truck. See you all next year for Dragweek. My final time but i know its faster. Thanks Tony
The Jalopy Journal
