I love the fact that your Mom is a hot rodder. She sounds like quite a character.

 

She's cool. That Malibu I had wasn't anything special. Just a 305/TH350 combo that was modified a little; and abused a lot (thanks to a young me). At that time I worked at a warehouse and befriended a fellow gearhead who had a 1967 Chevelle with a worked 406sbc stroker. One Saturday afternoon, he brought it over to their house on our way back from work. She must have heard us coming because she was waiting on the porch. That was the first time she met my friend. After the intro; she asked if she could sit in the car? He said sure; and then threw her the keys and said she could start it up and drive around the block. She felt uncomfortable doing that (nice car and she didn't know him); so she settled for just starting it up and letting it idle. He elbowed me on the side and said; "Yo! She's got it bad. She's a racer." I replied with the typical "Nah, she's a girl; and my Mom. She's not like that." Mind you; I'm a bit thick-headed; so the clues were all there; I just wasn't cognizant of anything.

A couple years later, her coworker convinced her to go to the Summer Nationals with us (my Dad and I). When we walked in through the gates; they were firing up the Top Fuelers. If you've been at the track when they fire them up; you know how loud they are. I thought that would be a deterrent. My Mom asked us what that was; and after telling her; she made a B-line to the pits. When we caught up to her; she was standing outside of a crowd of people surrounding a tent. They were just starting up the Top Fueler for clutch adjustment (I think that's what they do 1st thing); and with red-eyes (from the nitro); she exclaimed "This is awesome!" And she pushed her way through the crowd to the front to get a closer look. My Dad shook his head and told me to wait for her while he finds our usual spot in the bleachers. I waited for a little bit after the crowd dissipated before she came out of nowhere. I was a little annoyed; but also glad that she was having fun. a little later when the Top Fuelers were running; she asked who John Force was? After explaining to her with help from my friend; she said he must be related to Ashley Force. And then followed up with "she's a really nice girl!" I nonchalantly asked how she knew; and she said she had a good conversation with her. LOL That raised an eyebrow or two from my Dad, my friend, and I when she said that. My friend whispered to me; "I told you!"

Yeah, that's part of who she is.

 

Awesome story about Ashley Force. Maybe John will start competing this year. He bowed out last year due to the pandemic.

 

A lot of things are sadly going away with the pandemic. A friend told me that the Richmond VA dragway closed its gates due to the pandemic. I hope that it opens again; and John Force starts racing again.

I went through this with Englishtown Raceway Park a few years ago. Shortly after the start of the Crown Vic project; they suddenly closed their gates. I had hoped they would change their minds, but they cleared the track and paved over it. Part of the reason for building the Crown Vic up; was to have my Mom take a pass or two on a Test 'n Tune night. Now I gotta travel 2+ hours to either Atco or Island Dragway. I don't think she is up to that kind of commuting anymore. I'll have to come up with a solution to that.

 

In an unrelated twist of fate,

My wife examined John Force and gave him a new eyeglasses prescription while in Pittsburgh. Apparently, he broke his glasses and does not keep a spare pair with him.

She had no idea who he was. He actually asked her "do you recognize me?" She said "no I'm sorry I don't. I do know you are John Force because that is what it says on the chart."

He said" yes I'm John Force the drag racing John Force." My wife said, " I'm sorry John, but that's just not a sport I watch."

She said he was mega polite and did everything exactly as instructed with a smile on his face. Very personable. Pretty sure he was already missing parts of a few fingers.

Apparently a pretty nice guy in real life.

Don't know how you can have a dad who drag races for a living and not end up doing the same like Ashley did. Talk about modeling for your children.

She was probably rebuilding engines at 7.

 

John Force seems like a nice guy; but that is from a fairly unsocial person/perspective (me). When my friend invited my Dad and I to go to the summer nationals; we were hanging out at the starting line during the alcohol car rounds. At that time, Ashley was running in that class. John was standing by the barrier/wall watching Ashely run. After she ran and won that round; my friend (he's way bolder than I am) yells to a jubilant John Force; "when are we going to see a Force vs Force race?" John laughed and said "not too long from now!" I was surprised at the time; as in any other professional sport; you can't even get close to the athletes/competitors; let alone have a short conversation with them.

It was for that same reason why we were surprised that my Mom had a conversation with Ashley; despite them being complete strangers to each other. But, my Mom has no problem doing things like that; and the drag racing culture seems (to me) to be more open-minded than most other crowds.

 

I think it is because it is a thoroughly adrenaline rush based sport. Combined with exceptional skill and wicked fast reaction times. You will die behind the wheel at 300 mph if you do not know exactly what you are doing.

Being juiced on adrenaline tends to make most people a bit more outgoing, or should I say increases their level of braveness in dealing with everything around them including other people. Not necessarily in the same way they would deal with people or they not jacked on adrenaline.

People are not all stuffy and standoffish because the level of Fame is different. They do not seem to be a group that seeks Fame and therefore they do not attract The crazies, drunkards, ax murderers, etc so they don't see a lot of risk in interacting with the common fan. Because that's all they are. Fans. They appreciate what the drivers do and most are educated enough about the sport, the vehicles, the variables that they can have conversations without talking down their noses at anyone.

Probably the way a lot of sports were in their infancy as in before they gained a wide following. That is not to say NHRA racing does not have a wide following. I should say rather it keeps a low profile.

 

I worked on the radiator, electric fan, and trans cooler install over the winter months. I have it figured out; just need to get the time to get out there and semi-permanently mount them. After I plumb the trans cooler; I will finish up the wiring and start checking everything over before the 1st start.

 

 

Changed the look on my '05 Mercury Grand Marquis. When I got this car 5 years ago; I wanted to get '03 Terminator Cobra wheels for it; but since they can only be had in 17" sizes; I ruled them out. The next best choice (for me) were the Saleen wheels. So I decided to think about it.............for 4 years. Then I pulled the trigger and bought the Saleen wheels a year ago............for the Crown Vic; since it has the big brake upgrade and needed 18"+ wheels. As Uncle Murphy would have it; we got the summer weather way earlier than anticipated this year; and I had to get the winter wheels/tires off of my Mercury. So I pulled the Saleens out of storage and put them on the Mercury. Still up in the air on whether I like the wannabe drag look or not. Now I want to get that full dual exhaust conversion done; as that single exhaust no longer fits the look of that car. If it grows on me; I will keep them as the summer wheel setup for my Merc; and get the US Mags Rambler wheels that I've been eyeing up for the Crown Vic. We'll see.