Hindsight's a Bitch...

[Sixty8panther]

How many things would you do differently if you could go back with the knowledge you have now?

I can think of several major changes in my life that I would love to make if I could go back in time. But here's a recent one:














Instead of trying to pull a Hero Stunt J-turn in the middle of the racetrack after a half a lap in reverse at 40mph, I would pull off onto the grass and turn around safely and avoid a bone crunching rear end that disbled my Volvo and put me out of the Halloween Howler race. Here's a play-by-play photo journal recap of this years Demolition Derby race.




Here she is. 240,000+ miles, $100. - Replacement grill from the junkyard: $0





Okay, everything flamable and all the glass out of the car...





Yes, even the headliner





Makeshift "teeth" custom made from a sheet of foam aluminum $3.99





Decided to go with the Viking theme: T-minus 45 minutes





Yes, I got number 68. Wasn't even my No.1 choice. I wanted 69, 13, 44, 79, 78 and 666 in that order. (I knew I'd never get 666) :rolleyes:





That's the REAL New Brunswick license plate reading "ASS" on the Volvo. Ross was all pissed at me for using it on a demilition derby car, but I've got a spare. Bought a pair on eBay.





$12.99 at the Pheasant Lane Mall.





About 240 cars on the track already and still more coming.





This year to make things into even more of a clusterfu$k they lined us up 6 wide instead of 4 wide.





How romantic. We're all waiting for the start of the race so we can attempt to commit vehicular slaughter and the sun is setting. Of course I snuck a camera onto the track.





Well, that's that. Now it's time to take her home.

Edited November 2, 2005 by Sixty8panther

[Sixty8panther]

Next day in my driveway. BooYeah!





Ouch. Might want to get a Jaw re-alignment.





That'll buff right out.





Well, I have to reattach the bumper, big deal.





Broken Tie Rod

[ocnblu]

Aw man, the whole thing looks like a lot of fun though. It's a shame you were out so soon. Better luck next year, right? Or are there more races yet this season?

[Sixty8panther]

Nope, this is the "Last Hurrah" for the season. The Hallowen Howler is the last race and the main event. Total freekin free for all. There was probably about 280 or 300 cars this year. Less than usual because of the rain date. I think I lost consciousnes for a slipt second since I remember wipping the car around and grabbing the gearshift to put it into D one second and the next thign I remember is a severe hit pushing the car forward like the hand of God... after that I just remember laying on the floor of the car flat. The seat broke right off it's rails and I was looking up at the roof and c-pillar of thre car. When I sat up I was already in the infield. My passanger side rear bumper was interlocked (stuck) with a early 90s red & white Celica. His front wheels are spinning on the grass and yet he's not moving an inch. Finally he rocked it loose and separated while my car was crankng and cranking but wouldn't catch. The first red flag was thrown up only a few seconds after I got pumeled into the grass and since the car was cranking but not starting. I decided to bail rather than become a stationary target out on the track untill the next red. I was one more than 30 guys (yup, probably 10 or 15%) that were out in the first flag due to dead cars... many for much more severe damage than my Volvo. And yes, I plan on having my Volvo back there next year, although a roll cage, 5-point harness and racing seat is a good idea after this years damage. I might have gotten myslf disabled but at least I royally f**ked up a couple Japanese cars for good measure. I think I killed two cars directly and one inadvertantly. A nose to nose crash busted his radiator (89? Corolla) :metal: The Volvo is made like a tank. It dished out more than it took. Also, since Black & Blue Landscaper has not had a chance to chime in... he happened to be in the area on Sunday night and stopped by the Race Track. We arranged to meet up at Star Speedway and I'm sitting there on the starting line when my cell phone starts buzzing. It was BBL and BatmanVW... We ended up hanging out in the parking lot afterwards even mentioned Camino. :) Edited November 2, 2005 by Sixty8panther

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Dude!

You are so 'the man'!!!

I've always wanted to do something like that, even wanted to be a nascar driver for the longest time. But then nascar sold its roots out and all the yuppie/hippie scum around here raised enough money to BUY our local track (Which my family raced at for generations)

They wanted it so they could make a 'continuous river front park' called RIVERLINK. So now it's been converted into a massive playground/BIKE track.

<_< :angry: :bs: :puke: :angry2:

Anyway, the car looked great and I'm envious

:D

I might have gotten myslf disabled but at least I royally f**ked up a couple Japanese cars for good measure. I think I killed two cars directly and one inadvertantly. A nose to nose crash busted his radiator (89? Corolla)

:metal:

[Sixty8panther]

Thanks FoG. Winning your respect makes it all worthwile. Just the whole process of half dissmanteling an '83 Volvo is it's own reward. I agree 100% about NASCAR. Nothing like it used ot be. IN the 50s and 60s it was awsome, then in the 70s it got a little less cool but it was still a fun motorsport but the 80s and 90s turned NASCAR into a lame spectacle IMHO. Taurus, FWD Monte and Lumina shaped fiberglass over a tube chassis race car with RWD and pushrod power? It's about as lame as a Pro-Street CRX wiht the M/Ts in the FRONT wheel wells. :rolleyes: I'll post some more funny pics. later. Edited November 2, 2005 by Sixty8panther

[ToniCipriani]

[post="37524"][/post]

Is that a W-body Century/Regal I see?

[Sixty8panther]

As best I can tell the cars are as follows in that shot: Early 90s VW Passat, Escort ZX2 Cutlass Calais, Early 90s Toyota Celica ???, Cutlass Sierra

[razoredge]

Dude ! There is something wrong with your head !
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exactly my kind of guy !

Love the Volvo, Scandanavian iron !

As for "royally f**king up a couple Japanese cars for good measure"
just let me second that notion


:metal:

[tmp]

I'd go back in time and tell my youthful self exactly how expensive everything was going to be in the future and that maybe I should stay awake in science and grow up to be a dermatologist, ao maybe I could retire at some point. BV, are you listening? :)

[aaaantoine]

My dad has a '72 Chevy Van that would make a perfect entry into a Demolition Derby. ...As long as a chunk of metal that big would be permitted into a race.

[Sixty8panther]

Well, as far as the Enduro racing it's a total free for all. Crazy & Exciting. I have only ever raced the 4 cylinder race wich stipulates only that the car be a four cylinder. And this does not mean that you can drop a Iron Duke into a Caprice Wagon. Every once in a while a Rabbit P/U or Mazda/Toyota pickup will show up and get permission to race but it has to have a very low ride height. The 6/8 cylinder race is packed with huge BOF cars and even Hearses and Super Stretch Limos but Trucks and BOF Vans are strictly prohibited.

[capriceman]

If I could go to that I would bring a Fireo And put the radator on the roof so it wouldnt get smashed and bust or sumtin. eiter that or a old Impala with a Iron duke :P even an 37 plymouth with a 4 cylinder. nothing could break that brick.

[Sixty8panther]

If I ever have Bill Gates kind of money I'll try out my buddy Ross's idea for a practical joke. Pull up to the pits at the Demolition Derby and try to register a Concourse Delegance Restored Duesenberg worth $2,000,000 in the V8 race. Then after I tell the guy behind the counter that I'm just kidding and get him to join in the prank I'll pretend to get all get all pissed off and start screaming: "Are you kidding me? What's the differance!? Straight-Eight, Vee-Eght it's all the same! Fine, I'll take my $50 entrance fee to the Hudson Speedway Races!" Fire up the Deusenberg in front of all those perplexed people and drive off... We have also talked about buying a Stanley Steamer or a Simplex and driving it down the street with a buddy in a R.R. Engineer's overalls and keep yelling "MORE COAL!" while speeding through some yuppie town all while wearing welding goggles and an old 1930s leather Football helmet. Just imagine.... Smiles gallore all around.