How I fell in love with drag racing...

[vamcaptain]

When I was in high school in Carrollton, Ga my grandmother used to have me help her pick green beens at a friends house. The friend was Doris Young, elderly lady. One day while picking beens her son drove up with a race car on a flatbed trailer. It was a blue and yellow Monza...and it was love at first site!

Seeing my enthusiasm and disbelief I was invited by her son to attend a local race for the weekend. Sort of the general cleanup boy but it was better than picking beans!

His name was Don Young and his wife was Pam. I attended a few local and National events. Don was a true engineer and he was moving up fast in IHRA racing. After graduating high school in 1983 I joined the Navy and it was in 1985 that I received word of Don's death in Bristol.

Don taught me that racing was more than just racing...it was about family and friends and having fellowship with all of them and helping out when you could.

Thanks Don and Pam, we sure miss you!

Mike


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[vamcaptain]

Dream coming true!

I saw a chopped '68 Chevelle with wheelie bars outside a local business just before Christmas last year. I didn't have time to stop but I didn't forget it. Last week I went into the business to see if they knew who it belonged to. The nice lady behind the desk said it belonged to a local who builds race cars and customs...his shop was right behind the building. I hadn't even known it was there.

I went behind the building to find a two-stall garage with a paint booth and office. The owner was there and we talked. I mentioned I was looking to get involved with a drag racing team and maybe he knew someone that needed help.

As it turns out there was indeed a man that ran a car that was looking for crew...sweet! He gave me name and a number. I called the number and left a message. About a week later a gentleman called back and said that he did indeed run a car and that he needed help. He promised to teach me everything and that only I show up on time for a scheduled race.

I met with him this weekend and it was more than I expected. The man is running what amounts to a Top Alcohol dragster with an outfit called the DC Outlaws http://hfrfab.com/DCoutlaws.html Here is the "car":




For me this is a dream come true and I am certain I can make every race as I can somewhat manipulate my schedule. I'm looking forward to some hard work and fun and I hope everyone has a safe season...see you at the track!

Mike

[vamcaptain]

UPDATE -

I wanted to give anyone who cares an update on my goal to race with a team this year. A lot has happened since March. April came quickly and the first race was coming up. I got a call from Joe and he said his original mechanic wanted to come back and since there was only so much room in the cab - I was out!

Joe felt bad but that was the deal he had with the other guy. Oh well.

Feeling a little frustrated I put an ad on a drag racing forum (not this one) for anyone looking for crew. Being an airline pilot affords me the opportunity to travel anywhere so that allows me to look for teams outside of where I live.

The next day I received a call from a guy in NHRA South Central Division 4. He informs me that he has a Top Dragster that he just bought. We talked at length about his operation and what he had going on. Mostly he was wanting to crew up this year for the opportunity to have a sponsored operation for 2010 season. This year would be for testing and looking for sponsor $$$.

That all sounded good to me. I asked him what position he was looking for me to fill. He informed me he was looking for a driver! Of course I said I would! About a month later I got my Class 4 license at Frank Hawley and I just need to get the Class 3 in the owners dragster. We are planning that soon.

Dreams do come true if you are the squeaky wheel!