1960 Chevy Belair Outlaw

[Mike-Casella]

I'll do my best, or as close to it as I can get.

[Mike-Casella]

This may make some of you sick to your stomach, but not more than me, so here goes.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 21 RACE REPORT

This was supposed to be a two day race, but we ended up only racing Saturday. After replacing a bad relay and going over every inch of wire in the car, we were ready for our last two races of the season. The track was a little on the cold side, so blowing the tires off on the launch was kind of expected. With the burnout complete, I was brought into the beams, and set for take-off. The tires refused to stick, but a quick pedal job got them to take hold and away I went. The first stage was delayed about 1 second to help with the launch, and it activated just like it was supposed to sending me to the finish line in 8.80 seconds. Everything felt great, and were got the car ready for the second round of qualifying.

This round we decided to move things along a little by turning on the first stage at the launch like we have done in the past, and bringing the second stage in at 1.5 seconds. If everything worked like it was supposed to, this should give us the number we've been chasing all year, that beloved 7 second pass. The burnout was brought out a little further just in case the track had cooled a little, and to give me some rubber to hold onto. Back to the starting line right in the groove where I needed to be, and everything was ready. As soon as my stage light was lit, my foot went to the floor, but the engine didn't follow and appeared to stumble a little. When I corrected, it was time to go! The launch was better but it still spun a little, so I lifted and went after it again. The first 200' of the run was a pedal-fest with me on and off a number of times, and the front tires bouncing off the ground. When finally it stuck it felt like a rocket despite using most of the track. The second stage came on and planted me in the seat like never before.

I passed my opponent at the 1000' mark and got ready to hit the chutes when something happened. I heard a rather loud bang, and the car started shaking like crazy! I knew instantly what that shaking was, I had hurt the engine. The chutes came out and like always I glanced in the rear view mirror only to see what looked like smoke billowing out behind me. The car shook so bad at that point, that the mirror loosened and tipped down so I couldn't see anything more. I eased over to the left side of the track just in case I was spilling oil, and made my way to the end of the track. When I got it stopped, there was smoke coming out from around the hood, from what I figured was just oil or water steam. When I looked to my right, all I can see is a Fire Truck and Ambulance heading towards me in a hurry, and emergency people running and waving their arms. I got out rather quickly at that point and one of the track safety crew was yelling that the car was on fire!!

What I couldn't see when I looked into the mirror the second time was a great big ball of flames following me down the track, the entire underneath of the car was engulfed in flames!! By the time I got to the end of the track, the fire had blown itself out, thank God!! After a quick check out by the EMT's, and a rather large oil spill clean-up where the car was sitting by the track crew, we towed the car back to the pits for inspection.

My wife, as everyone is aware of, takes the video for us. When this all happened, she was taping the pass while watching everything thru the viewfinder in the camera. In case you didn't know, on our camera, when you look thru there everything is black and white, so she couldn't tell I was on fire. Not until the track announcer said something about a huge fireball at the end of the track did she realize what was happening. Thankfully someone was nice enough to give her a ride down to where I was at the end of the track and make sure I was ok. I'm sure that up until the point that our eyes met, and she realized I was fine, she was a total wreck.

Not that it matters at this point, but the time slip read 8.75 @169.

Back in the pits, we checked out the damage, and my stomach did a flip flop. It appears as though it kicked out at least two rods on the pass side right at the starter location. The oil that followed them out got ignited by the headers and cooked everything underneath the car, all the way back to the taillights. Most of the damage on the rear of the car looks like just soot from the burning oil. The rear bumper paint is melted off, but it doesn't look like it actually melted anything. We'll be checking it out today to see what can be saved, but at this point it doesn't look good.

At the beginning of all this car building project, I was a little miffed about spending $400.00 for an engine diaper. After yesterday's mess, I can honestly say that without a doubt, that $400.00 engine diaper is what saved my life, as well as my opponent's. I shudder to think what could of happened if it wasn't there to keep all that oil and water from going under the tires at 169 mph.

In this Drag Racing game, absolutely anything can happen in a split second or less. I know that first hand.

Mike

[Gator]

The diaper is good for sure!
(been there...naked and with)
I'm glad You, the car are ok.
We'll get her fixed Mike.
The block is almost always repairable.
(i sent you an e-mail)
8.75...(not too shabby, considering......)
Cold tracks.....not good with your power (torque)

[Rapid Randy Baker]

Mike,

I am sure sorry to read this. I am glad you are ok, but blowing it up sucks!

The car can be fixed, just glad nothing happened any worse, or to you buddy.

Rapid

[bandit]

Geez, Mike. That sucks for sure. Like everyone said, I'm glad you're ok.

[jim sanders]

i WATCHED THE VIDEO a couple 3 times.. bet it did scare Margie to hear the announcer say fireball... jeez....

[flyinhillbilly]

bummer man, at least you've got all winter to get it fixed

[WildcatOne]

You're OK, that's all that matters to me and us, bottom-line, although it is a hell of a bad situation to have happen. I'm sure sorry to hear it blew up on you, Mike, but you'll have it fixed again by next season. You also have a lot of other things going on with that car that'll keep you guys busy non-stop...no doubt Gator's got some connects for you that'll help. All I can do is shake my head about it and wish you the best. WC1

[Mike-Casella]

Thank you everyone!! I agree with everything said. We pulled the head off the right side and found number 8 piston with a huge burn hole in it. We inspected the nozzles and found the fuel jet on that cylinder for the second stage was plugged with a piece of something. A little piece of something turned this entire engine into a pile of aluminum bits and pieces. Go figure. It sucks, but it is, afterall still just a material item, and it can, and will be replaced.

[Billy Mac]

Ouchhh...Sorry to hear of the mishap, Mike.....Hope the rebuild is a speedy one.