The Official H-Body Internet Community

spencerforhire wrote: I was wondering if anybody was actually following my "exploits".

Fear not, we are watching.

Ken

ive certainly been following, and learning. keep it up spence art

Hi Spencer, I've been following and enjoying since the beginning of your build, even though i don't race. always liked drag racing .
nick75vega

Nice to see somebody out there is reading my race reports; so far it's 3 guys from Ontario plus chevyart from NY. I guess that qualifies as a "local following".

I check in on the adventures of Spencerforhire regularly.

I too enjoy reading them. Thanks for posting and have a save winter

keep em coming

The photographer from the race track in Cape Breton did up a CD with all of his best pics of my car from this season; all I can say is WOW!
http://s331.photobucket.com/user/spence ... ges%202013

spence the car just looks so neat in primer. couldnt think of it any other color. keep up the good work art

After two seasons in primer, I think it's time to finish the body work and actually paint the car. Been thinking about a couple of shades of green and some wild stripes, Or dark green with traditional red/orange/yellow flames. Or rat rod semi gloss black with yellow/green/blue flames. Or,or,or......I don't know for sure; everyone wants me to just leave it alone.

spence i think they actually have primer paint,probably with different shades. probably would look nice in primer, with some primer ghost shadows(if thats possible) art.

Hey Spencer,

Fellow drag racer here and I enjoy reading about your adventures and exploits. I do not post very often as I don't spend a lot of time on the computer at home. I am usually working late or in my garage after dinner trying to fix or modify my Vega drag car. When I do check in I always look for your posts. I can relate to them in a 'been there done that' kind of way.

I only race at my local track, Winterport Dragway. I wish I could find the time and afford to sample other tracks. I know a few guys that race at Mirimachi. They have been trying to convince me to bring my car up there sometime. I would like to, but have yet to do it. It is much cheaper and easier to just stay local.

We just had our annual banquet and I brought home some trophy hardware, a jacket and some monetary awards for finishing 2nd in Super Pro and 1st in the Darling's Ford Gambler Series classes this year. It was a good year for me and the Vega. Actually, I was able to fund my whole racing program this year ( slicks, fuel, entry fees, repairs, etc. ) with my winnings. That is a first for me. The car was very consistent and I wasn't too bad either although I definitely had my brainfart moments. I refuse to call them senior moments, but that's probably what they really are.

I too ran my best times a few weeks ago. 1.275 60' and 5.875 in the 1/8 mile. It's very gratifying being very competitive against high dollar teams with my little Vega funded out of my back pocket.

Maybe next year I will post more of my racing exploits. I look forward to reading about yours, so maybe someone will enjoy reading about mine.

Keep up the good work and keep posting. Rick

Rick- You never know; we just might meet up someday, either at Winterport or Mirimachi. You're a little less than 300 miles from Mirimachi, almost the same distance as it is from here. Long hauls to go racing in Atlantic Canada are part of package; both our regional ADRA and Atlantic Pro Tree series have us racking up some serious miles. It's about the same distance for me to get to Mirimachi Raceway in New Brunswick, PEI's Raceway Park and the Cape Breton Dragway at the other end of Nova Scotia. At least Greenfield Dragway is only 85 miles away. I logged over 5000 miles just towing back and forth to 11 events, and I chose not to attend 2 points meets and 2 others were cancelled on account of rain. At an average race, a win just about pays for the fuel used in the truck and race car; almost never enough to pay for any luxuries(like new slicks, lol).
I will certainly look for you if I ever venture to Winterport; it's only 450 miles! Considering a bunch of local racers regularly make the trip to Epping, NH, which is 9 hours from here(635 miles), it's not out of the question.
P.S.- I would suggest a gear change if you ever make the trip to Mirimachi; I would recommend a set of 4.30's so as you don't run over your crankshaft at the stripe; it's all full 1/4 mile around here except for Saturdays in PEI.

Well I must say, you sure are dedicated to put on that many miles. I absolutely love racing, but don't think I could log those kind of miles for it. I'm quite sure my wife would not be very happy with me.

You are correct about the gear change. I changed from 4.88's to 5.38's this year to pick up my 60' times. It works great in the 1/8th, but no way could I run it all out in the 1/4. With the 4.88's it would hit the 7800 high rev chip at about 900 to 1000 ft., according to the previous owner. So 4.30's might be about right. The only problem with that is that I run a GM 12 bolt and it would be a PITA to change gears for a one time event. I would certainly make a change if I were to start racing at Epping, but I don't see that happening soon. My car does not meet all of the NHRA tech inspection requirements the way it sits anyway.

I used to race at Epping when I lived in NH in the late 80's, but only had my Sunbird street car at the time. My Vega has run there at the IHRA Fall Nationals before I bought it. I probably watched it run there, but don't remember it. I had a motorhome hill spot for the Fall Nationals for 10 years starting in 1999. That is where I met the group of racers from Mirimachi. They had a spot right next to mine. Nice guys.

I had a nice conversation with a racer from up your way at the NHRA Nationals at Epping this past June. He runs a Vega that had been stretched in the front for a longer wheelbase. I think it was red and black. I can't remember his name or exactly where he was from, but he races at Mirimachi regularly. I always try to find other racers with H-bodies at the National events that I go to. Been to a few on the east coast in the past 4 or 5 years - Reading PA, Englishtown NJ, Gatornationals in FL, 4 wide racing in the Carolinas. Always find a few H-bodies and the guys are always willing to talk shop with a fellow enthusiast.

Definitely give me a heads up if you decide to come this way or Epping. I will make sure to meet up with you.

The stretched wheelbase Vega belongs to fellow heads up racer Rick Nolan; he normally runs the car in Hot Rod(10.90); he only made one of our Pro Tree races this year. I LOVE that car; it used to belong to one of my best friends, and has had half a dozen owners in the last 15 years. Sometime between when my friend had it(powered by a 496 on alcohol) and Rick bought it, that Vega was sold during a messy divorce for $5000 as a roller. It was offered to me but I didn't have the money(bummer). rick had it for sale last year for $30,000. There were no takers; he still has it.