T-bird is ready

Well I finished all the primer tonight..Yeah!! I can start the sanding once more to make the surface smooth. It should go to the paint shop next week .. "Super Yeah!" Wow.. I'll be glad to sell this car!

I've been wanting to go to the store to get some new CD's, but been getting pretty dirty at work and don't want to go in the store nasty. Maybe Saturday I'll shop.

I ordered a new camara yesterday. So I'll more then likely be putting up some crazy videos..

As far as the phone in message goes you need Quick Time Player to hear it. At least when I click on the link on my computer that's what works with it. When I go racing this Summer I'll be able to call in some of the things that are happening.. all good I hope!

Link to Quicktime: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html

Well going to go!

Slacking off

I had some messed up jobs today. I really don't like diesel trucks but for some reason they are showing up broke lately. I just gave myself the evening off..

So I spent this evening looking on E-bay for parts.. something cheap that's for sure.

I also went on Yahoo Music and listened to some music. I think I have another favorite, it's a little old but it was good to listen to again.

The song is by Lee Ann Womack.. I Hope You Can Dance

Here is the words and song preview link: http://www.wtv-zone.com/limeylady/pat/udance.html

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give fate a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
Time is a real and constant motion always
I hope you dance
Rolling us along
I hope you dance
Tell me who
I hope you dance
Wants to look back on their youth and wonder
I hope you dance
Where those years have gone
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give fate a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
Time is a real and constant motion always
I hope you dance
Rolling us along
I hope you dance
Tell me who
Wants to look back on their youth and wonder
I hope you dance
Where those years have gone
Tell me who
I hope you dance
Wants to look back on their youth and wonder
Where those years have gone.

Hey!! my phone in message

Lazy Daze Sunday

Back out to the garage..

Removed the rear seat and rear panels. I needed to do this so that I could remove the side pillar emblems on the outside. The emblems are held on by three little nuts. I had to sand and primer this area and this was the olny way to make it nice. I brought the rear seat in the house so it won't get dirty.

I also found a couple of small areas that needed a little more work. All is looking good now.

I have a friend that could paint my car, he wanted $800 to do the work. I had gone to a different shop and they gave me a quote of $500. I never seen any of their work but I have seen my friends. I was thinking of just showing my friend $600 and see if he will paint it for me.

How the paint comes out will be the deterniming factor on how much I can get for the car when I sell it.

Well besides the car today I updated my Aero Page on my web site. Areodynamics on my race car is important. I figured I'd add some pic's I had to it.

Yawn.. time to go.. I think I'll get a Bud and watch a movie.. I seen "The Skeleton Key" with Kate Hudson last night.. it was pretty good.. I get "Nightmares" from movies like this.. but watch 'em anyways.. One of these days I post some of my Nightmares.. it's like going to the movies..

Have a good one!

Les

Saturday!

Well, I didn't go to work today. I usually work half day but been staying home on the weekends to finish this car.

I got lucky today with the paint gun .. it worked real well. All most finished with the primer/filler. The next step will be to sand the car once more.

It's 2:15 and I'm gonna stop and let it dry. Sounds like Miller Time to me.. Lol!

Later,

Les

Still Sanding

Finished the roof tonight, it was easy. Kind of tired right now Had to install a Diesel engine and transmission in a truck today at work.

The nice thing about today was the weather. It has been unseasonably warm lately, which is fine with me.

Later,
Les

Drivers Side done

No pic's today.. I turned off the lights ... and kind of forgot. All that's left is the roof, hood and front bumper cover. The bumper cover is the hardest. You really want the new paint to stick to that, so prep need to be good. Like the Energizer Bunny.. still going..
Les

Progress

Progress and problems. I had a used paint gun and didn't notice that the vent was clogged.. hump. So I had problems yesterday getting the primer to spray correctly. It wasn't till I was done, that I found the problem.. (my luck Lol).

The good thing is I got the passenger door and front fender sanded tonight. I'll do the other side tomorrow.

I think I'll set my goal to have it painted in two weeks.. I don't for see any more set backs.. ;=)

I guess I'll go hang out in the car forums and see what going on there!

See you!

Les

More Delays

Ahhh set backs, don't ya just love 'em! yea, right! Lol

Well worked my tail off yesterday sanding half of the T-bird. I wanted to primer some this weekend then finish next weekend. Well I got everything taped off and noticed I'm missing the hardener to mix with the primer. I must of left it at work.

I'm just not having much luck getting this car finished. I see this car is selling for $4000 on E-bay. I'll have about $2000 invested so that means a profit of $2000 for a few weekends worth of work..

One thing for certain ... nothing is perfect. Plans never seem turn out quiet like you would have expected them too..

Oh well I'll get this car finished.. that's for dang sure!

Les

January What?

Gosh where did January go?

End of the month and have to pay bills.. uck!

Well in order to finish the T-bird I’m selling, I had to outfit my garage with some lighting and some heat. More money spent.. ugh! Good news is I’ll be moving my Race Car from the shop to my home so that I'll have time to work on it. I need some wiring and I purchased a MSD box to install. The latest Summit catalog has some really nice gauges so.. I’m looking. Still need to add the Lexon windows but that’s pretty easy.

I have one more car to build and sell to make some money and that’s a real nice 1984 Mustang convertible. I need to install an engine but that not all that hard to do. So is juggling my time and getting some time to relax as well.

See you!
Les

Seasons

Washing the dishes and looking out the window.

Ah Winter, I remember being in the Midwest and struggling to get anywhere because of the snow and cold.

While rinsing a cup I got to thinking on how life is seasonal.
You know Spring is a carefree state. No worries, no responsibilities. I’d say not much really matters.

When you move into the Summer, material things are important. Life gives you a tug and the everyday struggles start to fall upon you. I believe it’s work or a Job during this time has a large importance. I think that sometimes, it’s the monetary, material things that make one distant from friends and family.

Looking at Fall we see our faces in the mirror. Like the trees, losing there leaves. Hair gone thinner, changing to gray. The wrinkles on our face and hands. A realization that life is short. That there is no reverse or re-wind. While one was working so hard in the beginning now you notice all that was missed. If one would have thought about this in the Summer they would have made a special note to enjoy every day the most that you can.

Winter, quietness, empty. The things that were important to you during the Summer don’t mean as much now. One would only hope that they had made friends and kept close to the family as this will be the most important time for them.

Life is short, make every second count. Look at the clouds and smell the air. Those things are free. Smile when you meet people.

Just some reflection for today, Sunday.

Les

Superman

Gosh another Cool Song.

Superman by Five for Fighting

I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naive
I'm just out to find
The better part of me

I'm more than a bird
I'm more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train

It's not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home I'll never see

It may sound absurd
but don't be naive-
Even Heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed
but won't you concede?
Even Heroes have the right to dream

It's not easy to be me

Up, up and away: away from meIt's all right
You can all sleep sound tonightI'm not crazy or anything
I can't stand to flyI'm not that naive
Men weren't meant to ride
With clouds between their knees
I'm only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me

It's not easy to be me.

Link to a MIDI Version of the song http://members.fortunecity.com/akasha77/webgraphics/supermanitsnoteasy.mid

Web Site Blues

Web Site Blues..

Well down with the old web site and up with the new. It was time for a face lift and to better address my career as a driver.

I’m at a standstill because of the weather and a Thunderbird Turbo-coupe I’m working on to sell. Using the $ from that car to buy a few more items. Between my work at the shop on customer cars and my own stuff I don’t have any fingerprints to speak of. I can’t even open a trash bag or lunchmeat container cuz of no grip.

I am doing everything I can to finish the car real soon!

Keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck!

Les

A Song by Don Mclean

I relly like this song.. it was popular in the 70's.

Vincent

Starry starry night, paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer's day with eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills, sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills, in colors on the snowy linen land
Now I understand what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for you sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen they did not know how, perhaps they'll listen now
Starry starry night, flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue, morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

Chorus:
For they could not love you, but still your love was true
And when no hope was left in sight, on that starry starry night
You took your life as lovers often do,
But I could have told you, Vincent,
This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you

Starry, starry night, portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls with eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the stranger that you've met, the ragged man in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose, lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now I think I know what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for you sanity How you tried to set them free
They would not listen they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will.

Cost of Racine

Cost of Racing and Inner Feelings.

Racing is expensive but it does not always involve parts for the car.

The idea of racing was a life long dream. Something I wanted to do as a young person. As I grew up and got married I had responsibilities. The kids were more important and I sidelined any of my ideas for doing anything dangerous. They are now grown but still I have responsibilities to my wife. I knew I needed to learn about the car I was going to build and that took time. It took about five years of research on the Internet and talking with other racers. Those five years didn’t cost any out of the pocket money but time to research. It was Time that has no real dollar amount that you could give it specifically.

I can’t possible tell you the amount of time I gave to research but I did miss a bunch of things that most take for granted, like going out and seeing a movie or dinner. Going on a vacation. I keep my Focus on one thing and that was to build the best car I can.

I would only hope that the Time spent would pay off in two fold!

Christmas

Christmas..

It means a lot to me. It’s a time to relax and a time for me to be thankful of all the things I have. It’s a time that I get to rejoice and be with loved ones.. But most of all rejoice in our Lord.


God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking this sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it;

Trusting that you will make all things right if I surrender to your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with you forever in the next.

Amen

I truly wish everyone a safe and “Happy Holiday”

Les

Getting Busy

Time fly’s.. it been awhile since I updated this Blog.. I’ve finally made some decisions on which engine I’ll be building for my car. I had thought about a 520 cubic inch engine but the price is the same for the 545. There isn’t any rule on engine size so it’s just as well get more bang for the buck. For the most part the car’s chassis is complete. Just some needed safety equipment.

I have to finish the car by February 2006 so there is some pressure on me to move things along. Below are a few facts on the car and I’ll update the information as I go along.

1990 Mustang (Fox Body)
C-4 Ford Transmission
8.8 Ford rear end with 3:27 gears
S&W Roll Cage

My plans are to participate in the 2006 Summit Racing Series Division 7. You can read more about it here http://www.nhra.com/aboutnhr/etseries.htm

My goal it have my car run in the 10 second range at about 135 Mph.

See you!

Racing and being a Teen

I would say my teen years were different then any of my friends.  I spent most all weekends in the spring and summer at the track.  I felt dedicated to racing so when they were out having fun I was hanging around home or off riding my Motorcycle.  I did meet a very nice blond hair girl while visiting my sister.  Who would have thought some 15 years later I’d marry her.

As I approached the age of 18 I got a draft card and expected to go to Viet Nam. I remember watching the 5 o’clock news and waiting to be called up. I had got in trouble with the local town for street racing so I figured I’d better join the service then wait to be selected.

That was a turning point and it would be 20 years before I set my feet on the track surface.  You can walk away from racing but I believe once you have tried it you could never get rid of that feeling for speed.  I know I haven’t.

The journey continue

The journey continues

Please read my entry “Where do I start” first

Two years past, after my Dad and I built my first Go-kart build. I think being 12 years old was a great time in my life. My Dad allowed me to enter the school’s bowling league and although I was pretty good (two trophies) I got to meet girls.

My Dad took me over to a guy’s house he worked with.  The guys name was Don.  Don had an older go-kart he was selling and asked me if I would like to sit in it. This go-kart was not your every day you build it type but it was made for racing.  They gave me a helmet to put on and said what do you think?  I was speechless.  My Dad asked me “Do you want it?” I said Oh yes.

This go-kart was called a Sprint Kart.  It would go from 0 to 60 in two lengths of a car. It had a top speed of 90 Mph very unlike the one my Dad and I built.

My Dad allowed me to drive my new go-kart at a trucking parking lot to get the feel.  I was not afraid of the speed. Going faster only made it better.  It’s like a roller coaster but you have control of the roller.

After the practice my Dad determined it was time to visit a local track, something I never imagined.

The track was about ¼ mile and had left and right turns unlike an oval that some race at today.  This was my first experience of being around other drivers and showing I had what it takes to run with the best. I didn’t do very well but at least I felt I gave it my best shot.  I want to compare it to bowling.  You have a chance to roll the ball, how well you do it the out come of the race. Not every ball is a strike so I took this experience to heart.

My next post will go thru my teens..

Where do I start

Where do I start?

My earliest recollection of interest in the automobile was about age 4. My Dad was out in the driveway working on the family car and I was in the house bothering my Mother.

My Mother being the excellent cook was preparing our evening dinner. She told me “Your in the way, go out and help your father” so I did.

The front tire was removed and made an excellent place to sit and watch.  I seen my Dad taking the tools he needed from the toolbox and then laid them on the ground next to where he worked.  Alongside the car was a set of sockets in a green case. They were shiny and got my attention.  I tried a few of the sockets on the rear wheel lug nuts but none were anywhere large enough. I dropped one and it rolled under the car. I picked up another socket from the set and looked around.  I took it in my fingers like a marble and shoot it under the car as well.  There was a crack nearby in the concrete where some ants were traveling. The sockets made excellent rolling bombs to shoot at the ants.  Some of the smaller socket fell into the crack.  While being amused with the sockets I heard a loud voice from behind, it was my Dad. “Hey what the heck yah doing.” I jumped up and was startled.  After getting a few “What fours” he said pick them up and then sit over here and watch me. I now got my first lesson on working on cars.

As I was growing up I watched Stock car racing on a sports TV show called Wild World of Sports.  You only got to see one or two races a year so it was a big deal for me.  My Mom would make an early dinner of Fried Chicken and Potatoes Salad. I enjoyed those days tremendously.  

While in grade school I found a friend that like cars as much as I did and we always talked about car. My friends Dad worked on cars too so it was a natural to hang out at either one’s house to see what our dad’s were doing on a Saturday.

My Dad had raced Stock Cars in the past, but stopped when my sisters were born.  My sisters are a few years older then myself.  I remember seeing pictures of my Dad and his Stock Car in a scrapbook but he really never talked much about them.  I don’t know why I never asked about the pictures.  My friend Dad was a truck mechanic for a Ford garage.

When I was 8 years old my next experience with cars was building a go-kart with my Dad.  No one in my neighborhood had a go-kart, not even any of the kids I knew in school.  One Saturday in the early spring I went with my Dad to pick-up an engine. I remembering it being cold out and wearing a jacket. The guy at the lawnmower shop was kind to me explaining what type of motor oil I should use in my engine. I watched my Dad pay for the engine and thought to myself “That’s a lot of money.”

We got the engine home and my Dad exclaimed, “Would you like to hear it run!” You bet! I said. We mounted to the garage bench with some “C” clamps. My Dad wrapped the pull cord around the pulley and gave it a tug.  The engine went putt, putt, putt but didn’t start. We tried again but this time the engine wanted to pull loose of the clamps which were suppose to hold it down.  My Dad says, “Hold on to the engine and we will try her again.”  I did, but placed one hand on the spark plug.  He gave the pull cord a tug and I got instantly “Zapped” by the spark plug. The shock was the most unexpected thing and it frightened me. I would like to call this my second experience of working on cars.

Theses past years were a foundation to the next step. I’ll explain more in my next entry.