Since I have cut out much of the inner skeleton from the wagon roof, there would definitely be some roofline flex under race conditions. And this would be further exaggerated by running a plastic windshield instead of a glass one. So I welded in a few braces between the rollcage and the A-pillars, and then between the main hoop and the roof itself. I'm taking a friend's Lincoln … [Read more...] about ROLLCAGE SUPPORTS
510 WAGON REAR FLARES
I bought these fiberglass BRE style rear flares from Classic Datsun Motorsports. They cost a little bit more than other brands, but the quality and fit are definitely superior. Ya get what ya pay for... Since all the flares are designed for two-doors, you have to do a bit of work to get them to fit four-doors or wagons. I held them in place with a couple of pilot holes, … [Read more...] about 510 WAGON REAR FLARES
STRIP IT BACK DOWN
Now that most of the fab work is done, it's time to get ready for paint. Unfortunately that means stripping off all the suspension, steering, and brakes again. The good thing is that it makes you fix all the little problems discovered during the chassis fabrication phase of the project. Things like welding up cracks, replacing stripped out captives, and fixing broken hinges. … [Read more...] about STRIP IT BACK DOWN
MAVERICKS 2010
Do you think building your own race car and then trusting your life with it is kind of crazy? Then these guys are really crazy, they are the real extreme sport atheletes, the big wave surfers of Mavericks. Yesterday was the annual surf contest at Mavericks, a wave that takes special oceanic conditions to break about a half mile off shore of Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay, … [Read more...] about MAVERICKS 2010
VARA-U 2010
VARA had its annual Driver's School and Test & Tune at Buttonwillow Raceway this weekend. Attendance was particularly good considering the weather and the economy. We had almost 100 attendees, and dozens of club members attended as volunteers to help out. I spent the weekend as a "Wall Monkey" (aka driving instructor) and "Cone Boy" (aka track layout technician). The … [Read more...] about VARA-U 2010
GARAGE REALITY
For the past six months I have been in car guy's heaven. I have been able to use my good friend Paul Moore's fabrication shop to work on my Datsun Wagon race car project. I have had access to his lift, his welders, his tools, but most importantly, access to his talent and his tutelage. For this I am forever thankful. His shop is getting full with customer cars, so it was … [Read more...] about GARAGE REALITY