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FE Power Forums => Non-FE Discussion Forum => Topic started by: TomP on April 27, 2018, 11:56:53 AM

Title: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on April 27, 2018, 11:56:53 AM
A huge Told Ya So to the naysayers... sun is out here at Beaver Springs, LOTS of cool cars and great people...   always next year , eh?  :P
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: cjshaker on April 27, 2018, 12:25:34 PM
So this needs to be an annual trip for ya then! I know you'll be hooked now. Best FE gathering anyplace in the country. Glad to hear you're getting some good weather. Radar looks good for the rest of the day, so get your hair dryer fired up and get that track dried off!!
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Lenz on April 27, 2018, 12:53:13 PM
I was there in '14 and '15.  I learned that the same weather forecasters we use in Erie must be there too because they are equally unreliable.  Here's to a good weekend for all who could make it
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Katz427 on April 27, 2018, 12:53:31 PM
Looks like the track is drying out. Give a bone to that Wiener Dog!
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on April 27, 2018, 08:49:34 PM
You guys missed an excellent day. I am just getting back to the room now at 9:30 PM and they ran till darkness. A few cars didn't run, and some others didn't run as well as they should, but many did and tons of great cars and folks.

Had my beer and brats... err, brat and beers... across the table from Ohio George! What a great fellow he is and he had lots of great answers to my questions and told lots about his career in racing and after. An hour of chatting with him is a lifetime of great memories and even more respect for that hero of mine.

 All the fellow FE guys seem to be great. The cars are amazing just to see this many that are all FE. More and more kept coming in. The 422 team, Rich Allen, etc.

 I think you can catch and overnight flight and still make it.  C'mon, don't be LAME!!  ::)
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: cjshaker on April 27, 2018, 09:54:30 PM
Ohio George is a great guy. Very personable and a pleasure to talk to. I was lucky and happy as heck last year to have him autograph my 3 vintage unbuilt models of his cars. They're prized possessions of mine! They sit right above my computer on a shelf, along with some others. It made me happy that he was happy to see them, and especially still being unbuilt. He got a kick out of that.

(https://s19.postimg.cc/dpvymid77/IMAG3097.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Glad you guys had a good day. You're gonna get rain again soon, but hope it clears out for you guys again tomorrow. Did Vern make it with his Fairlane, and how did his car run if he did?
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on April 28, 2018, 06:16:20 AM
I have two die cast Ohio George cars right above my computer desk so he is always in my thoughts and line of vision.

Vern ran three runs. 7.98 , 7.86 then a giant wheelie slowed the last one to 8.13
     





 :P :P :P :P

OK, maybe that is today . He had starter trouble and that ate up time then three off runs, a 9.15 best
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Barry_R on April 28, 2018, 07:04:07 AM
Great day.

It rained all day according to the weatherman, but we were having such a good time that nobody realized so the track dried off and we raced anyhow.

I do not think we saw any personal best ets, but plenty of passes with awesome cars, great people, good food, and free beer.  What more could you ask from life?
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on April 28, 2018, 07:48:41 AM
Here at the track now, sunshine all the ay but a low fog here that will be gone soon.
I think i'll be at next years Doug Smith Memorial FE race too!! :P

Soug, stay away from sharp objects!
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: cjshaker on April 28, 2018, 10:19:52 AM
I may run with scissors occasionally, but don't count me dead just yet!
Yes, Tom, I regret not going now. Damn weather forecasters >:(
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Heo on April 28, 2018, 10:23:34 AM
To late to jump on the plane now ::)
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on April 28, 2018, 09:57:51 PM
A full two days of racing , no need for the rain date. It was great. Y'know even if it rained the whole time and not a single car went down the track it would still have been worth the trip.

Absolutely fantastic. Great location, people and machinery. Track food is less expensive than McDonalds and served by prettier girls, the whole staff from the cleanup crew to the owner are great people.

Eventually you will come to your senses and get on that plane, Heo. But it's too late for this year. I am sure you won't regret it. Sure there was some rain but that can and does happen in Las Vegas and Bakersfield too.
 Racing was great, several 8 second naturally aspirated FE's, several nice wheelies, even perfect to the dial ET's by elderly stick car drivers!

The show cars were amazing too, lots of variety and very nice cars.

Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: cjshaker on April 28, 2018, 10:35:04 PM
I'm really glad the weather turned out good for you guys! I was really looking forward to meeting you and Rory, and thanking you for all the help you guys have given me over the years. I watched as much of the live stream as I could, but the lack of sound just kinda ruins it. So, you comin' back next year?
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: GJCAT427 on April 29, 2018, 04:46:37 AM
Well Doug, it looks like we both should have gone, I could have just driven down there but I had really wanted to take the 56 down again. I did a colman lightup for you guys, and showed off my 3-427 model colmans on the engine in the 63 Galaxie. I`ll post pictures later.
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on April 29, 2018, 06:15:19 AM
And the swap meet, holy cow, a bunch of stuff, you had your choice from several vendors on most anything you could want, hundreds of intakes, maybe 50 or more 4 speeds. A big S 2V intake... yeah, so "GT only" eh?? Tunnel ports, stroker kits, lots of headers and cast iron shorties.
Plus Jay and Barry had tables of cool new stuff.
 Could have watched real Thunderbolts and "135" Winternationals Cobra Jets racing.
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: CDXXVII on April 29, 2018, 01:27:23 PM
I missed it. Was Steve M there with the Comet? Any pictures?
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: shady on April 29, 2018, 01:34:44 PM
Well I reprimanded the wiener dog for his weather prediction. The wiener said he was only trying to please me by telling me what he thought I wanted to hear. He then reminded me that although there was some rain, the event didn't rain out, everybody had a good time and... his prediction once again was more accurate than the big weather forecasters on tv. So... I gave him a treat. I had a great time, spent a ton of money on parts and look forward to next year, Lord willing.

BTW, I did see Barry rip off a 10 sec. run. Yee Haw.
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Barry_R on April 29, 2018, 02:44:54 PM
Best weekend I have had for quite a while.  Been a challenging time for a few months, and it felt pretty damn good to return to a race track again.

Saw Steve M with the Comet.  Really nice car.  Very cool to see somebody racing with a show quality car.

Another "Steve" with a nice 64 Fairlane won the Pro FE bracket running an engine we built a couple years ago - that was cool to see.

Finally getting a "10" out of the car with the four speed was a big deal for me.  Car had been much quicker with a big cube and C6 combo.  But getting any kind of decent pass with the 433 and H pattern had been really elusive.
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: BattlestarGalactic on April 29, 2018, 03:53:09 PM
Steve was pitted one spot away.  I can't say I had much time to admire the car.  My fault, so much going on you can still miss a lot.
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Dumpling on April 29, 2018, 03:58:26 PM
For those who thought it was too far, Tom Gustafson made a few passes...came FROM SWEDEN.

A few photos:

Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Stangman on April 29, 2018, 04:18:12 PM
That’s the car that beat me in the finals of hot FE. Good running car had no idea he came from Sweden. Nice guy
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Dumpling on April 29, 2018, 04:20:26 PM
A few more...
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Dumpling on April 29, 2018, 04:32:35 PM
Parts...
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on April 29, 2018, 09:04:05 PM
Glad you guys are posting pix, my internet connections haven't been good enough to load any. Still in PA, in Hershey, went to South Mountain Dragway today.
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: 66sevets on April 30, 2018, 06:16:09 AM
The blue Fairlane that won hot FE was Frank from Vermont, he was pitted between me and Larry. My cousin and I stayed till the end rooting for him, sorry Stangman! Frank is a very friendly talkative guy and kept us entertained during the rain outs. I got in 3 runs with my Comet but blew out a header gasket of all things which sounded like a rod banging around! Sure had a good time so many nice Ford FE's in the same spot. Talked to and met a lot of good people like Tom P, Jim W, and Faron.  Got some header bolts from Steve Mcbane  to try and get back racing but couldn't get the pipe to seal up. Just a great fun weekend! Steve M
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Stangman on April 30, 2018, 06:24:29 AM
Hey Tom P I was going to go to South Mountain raceway also, my boss Mike Natoli
Owns the track. Little by slowly he is cleaning it up and it hooks real good. Decided  not to go
Last minute.
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: cjshaker on April 30, 2018, 07:28:34 AM
Thanks for the pictures. Really kicking myself for not going now :(
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on April 30, 2018, 08:23:44 AM
Mike is a great guy, I detected an accent that sounded Longislandish. I will spread the word and hope he gets  bunch of Division 6 cars at every race!

Coyote Stock Mustang was cool to see there, last pass he did a decent wheelie
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: ec164 on April 30, 2018, 10:19:30 AM
Well I had a Great Time this year myself!  It was great meeting Tom P. and Rory McNeil enjoyed the visits and was glad to see you two having a good time. Steve M. was nice talking and getting to see your bad ass Comet run too! Great visit with Jay, and to see so many people hanging at his tent of parts! Barry, Jason Vosburgh, Larry and several others I also got to talk with too, so much to do and not much time.  Doug I looked around for you Fri. and early Sat. and then figured you didn't gamble on the weather, to bad you missed it, but won't rub it in too much you already know the good time had in Beaver Springs....
Getting to visit Blair and Vernon was super as well, pictures do not do Vernons car justice, Tim Lyons has TALENT. I really look forward to seeing the other gentleman with the 65'Falcon Marco chassis, and one of Blairs bullets in it next year, and your T-Bolt is beautiful!......................Al
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: preaction on April 30, 2018, 11:14:53 AM
Steve M had a best time of 8.79 this weekend and a personal best too.
Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: Dumpling on April 30, 2018, 04:34:55 PM
Best weekend I have had for quite a while.  Been a challenging time for a few months, and it felt pretty damn good to return to a race track again.

 ...

Finally getting a "10" out of the car with the four speed was a big deal for me.  Car had been much quicker with a big cube and C6 combo.  But getting any kind of decent pass with the 433 and H pattern had been really elusive.

Title: Re: Sunshine at the Beaver
Post by: TomP on May 01, 2018, 02:27:55 PM
That was real decent and i'm sure there are few tenths left to get out of it on a faster strip. He was wanting me or Rory to makea pass in it but i'm not sure either of us would be able to reach the pedals. ;)