This weekend is VARA's British Extravaganza at Buttonwillow Raceway. I'm sorry I won't be attending, either as a competitior or as a crewmember. It's always a great event that includes special Challenge Races, a British Car Show, period dress-ups, and a bar-b-que. I'm getting a few little things done on the Race Wagon this week: mounting the hood pins, welding in the window … [Read more...] about WORKING ON THE LITTLE STUFF
Datsun Racing
FIBERGLASS REINFORCEMENT
We ordered a couple of fiberglass hoods in "race weight" down at The Moore Speed Co. They came in at under 10 lbs, but we found them to be a little too flexible at speed. So today I added a little rigidity using a balsa wood dowel and some additional fiberglass across the back of the hood. … [Read more...] about FIBERGLASS REINFORCEMENT
WAGON PROGRESS (REALITY CHECK)
When I started this project last year, I was thinking 6 months and $10K would do it. Well the reality is I'm gonna be in the ballpark of doubling those estimates by the time I'm done. I've been working on cars and motorcycles for 30 years, and felt like I knew what I was doing, but this project of building a race car from scratch has taught me I had a lot more to learn. I … [Read more...] about WAGON PROGRESS (REALITY CHECK)
LIL RED WAGON GETS A BATH
The rains finally went away, giving me a chance to give the wagon a good scrubbing. Living by the coast is great, but it leaves a lot of sand and salt on your cars. I also had to get all the fabrication grime off before starting the paint process, so I rented a 2000 psi pressure washer with soap hookup for a couple of hours, and gave her a bath with some POR Marine Degreaser. I … [Read more...] about LIL RED WAGON GETS A BATH
NEW TOY
Work on the goon has slowed down a little bit the past month, I've been working alot and also got a new toy, a '07 Husky 610 SM. My Lil' Red Wagon chassis is now done, it will get pressure washed this weekend, and the chassis/engine compartment/interior painting will finally begin. … [Read more...] about NEW TOY
510 WAGON FIBERGLASS REAR HATCH GOES ON
Today I welded on four 1/4 turn tabs and riveted on the four corresponding latches to hold on the fiberglass rear hatch. The bottom is held in place with a couple of external tabs. The idea was to make the process of putting the hatch on a one person job: drop it in place with the tabs and then secure the dzus pins. … [Read more...] about 510 WAGON FIBERGLASS REAR HATCH GOES ON