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Sept 8, 2017 14:13:15 GMT
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Something has gone kerflooey in the ASD circuit of the Dodge....could even be the computer itself....or the fuel pump....or O2 sensor, or the battery temp sensor, or the fuel tank vent valve sensor, or the internal voltage regulator, or the cam position sensor, or the crank position sensor... you know, something simple...  JP |
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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Sept 9, 2017 14:16:01 GMT
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very nice Grizz. looks like great fun. are those "late models" that were there too? Yup "More for those who are still about." Yup, still here ... Cool. Something has gone kerflooey in the ASD circuit of the Dodge....could even be the computer itself....or the fuel pump....or O2 sensor, or the battery temp sensor, or the fuel tank vent valve sensor, or the internal voltage regulator, or the cam position sensor, or the crank position sensor... you know, something simple... JP Agreed, something simple. Corrosion Right.... Back to Sunday morning on the road trip. Been without a car for three days, and the Road trip turned itself into an Adventure. Which meant no updates as I was even more busy getting around Arkansas courtesy of Steve Hansen "Bib Overalls" and a load of other folks. But $358.00 later and loads of shouting by Dennis at Fletcher Dodge in Jonesboro (who proved themselves to be ultimately &#!7, sadly) the car has a temporary bypass fix to get me home for the Birthday Party, and Roger Orf's Burnout BBQ and party. Seems like today and tomorrow may be fuelled purely by beer. @ @ @ @ @ So we left Dennis' place with Danny to go to Mittler Bros Racing to pick up some spares en route to the track 120 miles away. When any of he 13 trucks get destroyed on track, they have to get rebuilt in the shop. Every track has a car built to specification for that track, now you get why it's such an expensive sport. Stripped down to a frame......  New sheet metal gets fabricated and a new carbon fibre nose added.  After which Dennis takes over for paint and finish, to get them all pretty again, just to be broken at the next race.  And for a hoarder with an eye for stuff that can be repurposed, a pile of race car panels outside that I would love to hang on my wall, tailgates and front ends, plus door and bed panels. I could have cried.  Then on the road, which included a stop for some "breakfast at midday, and these beauties, introduced to me by Danny King.  Over the Mississippi River again, something I seem to have done many times on this visit.  And back at the track. $40.00 per person for a Pit Pass, every day of the races, Thank you Dennis, for refusing to let me pay. But worth every Dollar as we spent 10 hrs per day there.   Preparation of the track is non stop, to get water deep into the surface.  |
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Sept 9, 2017 14:56:26 GMT
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OK........ Time for a bit of word writing again. I walked around the pits a lot over both days, speaking to various people. Saw this car that had been pretty well beaten up on the Saturdays races. Walked into the race trailer and asked who the driver was. I KID YOU NOT....... A 16 year old kid says "That's my car, I am the driver" WT actual F  Japanese boy, small built, confident smile, introduces himself to me "Ryu Taggart of Tagg Racing" We start chatting (for at least 30 minutes) and it turns out this is his first season on Ovals, he raced and was a champion in Japan for the last 11 years, started in Karts at age 5 years old. Eventually I leave, wishing him luck for the nights races. Of course I now have a car to watch as well, no 14 I watch I'm start from position 12 on a grid of 14 and in a very messy race with at least three restarts, he gains a position every time a restart happens and ends up a very respectable 7th at the end of the race. I predict that this boy is to be watched in future.  Ironic sponsorship.......  More views from the pits. I hope you guys still enjoy just random pics of how sh!t gets done.  Closer inspection reveals  Off to buy more pure Ethanol, racing fuel for 850 hungry, angry horses.  Relaxing in his new race trailer, Dennis, Adam on the Right and Danny King in the rear. No alcohol in the pits.  Always more inspecting..... Ensuring it all stays together on the track. Clint Conder is more of the brains of the outfit, ensuring things stay together and happen fast.  Amazingly these cars hit over 100mph on the "straight" of the short banked track, before being thrown sideways into the bend while trying to get as many of the horses down through the rear wheels. No quarter ever given. So how the hell does this keep it all together, it just looks impossible. Surely all those forces will tear this all apart.  Dennis spraying some magical formula all over and under the chassis and motor to stop all the mud from sticking to, and weighing the car down.  Shooting the breeze with Clancy Boots in the pits. These guys go a long long way back.  More later. |
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Sept 9, 2017 16:00:58 GMT
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Funny that you should be sat,waiting for recovery on the same day,that I did the exact same thing. First time in nearly twenty years I have travelled by recovery...Three hour wait after what sounded like the gears stripping / grinding in the gear box. Turned out to be the cambelt. I will give myself 100%, eight out of 8.......valves bent  But it did make me think of something maybe a tad more optimistic about what we chatted about before you went State side...  |
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düdo
Part of things
wide as house
Posts: 770
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Sept 9, 2017 21:15:49 GMT
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Cheers for the story and excellent pics of some proper deep-fried ve-hicles! Have a nice day y'all!
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Sept 10, 2017 0:27:47 GMT
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Cheers for the story and excellent pics of some proper deep-fried ve-hicles! Have a nice day y'all! Well said. Made me chuckle. JohnnyBravo, really sorry to hear that mate. Do you need a new motor? I may know where to find one. |
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Sept 10, 2017 3:05:49 GMT
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Back to Sunday at the races. Clint continued to work the car.  Danny and Tyler, actually busy, despite appearances.  Best ever use of a Suzuki bread van   Race is on.  Track after all the races. Check out the height of the berm afterwards  And suddenly it was all over.  In the trailer before packing up, Danny the teacher and I.  Hooked up and ready to go at 02.00 in the morning.  |
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Sept 10, 2017 3:30:28 GMT
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JohnnyBravo, really sorry to hear that mate. Do you need a new motor? I may know where to find one. No worries Grizz. Parts are dirt cheap. Less than £100 for gaskets,headbolts,valves,cambelt and waterpump. Will get it back together one night next week. Looked like the exhaust manifold gasket was starting to leak and the head gasket also didn't look too grand. Took longer to get recovered than to pull the head....😂 |
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Sept 10, 2017 3:32:48 GMT
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what terrific exploits, Grizz.... I made a scale replica of a race trailer looks a little like the ones where you were...Made it for a gentleman who used to drive it.....  enjoy the rest of your stay! JP |
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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Sept 10, 2017 13:23:49 GMT
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LABOR DAY........ Monday 4th September was the USA Bank Holiday or a public holiday. Spent in all manner of ways with friends and family. Dennis, Debbie and I headed out in his favourite old Chevy truck, with air conditioning to see his parents and collect a load of treasures, tools etc. Put him behind a wheel and you could drive clean across America.  Yes, two of the same. Happy me, in a truck headed down i70  Signs of patriotism everywhere. I love these massive flags.  Into O'Fallon where Dennis' mum n dad live.   Showed some of their interior decoration last year, but still love it.  Air conditioning thermostats.   Fully functioning kitchen. I absolutely love this as so much of it reminds me of growing up 50 years ago.   More in a bit. |
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Sept 10, 2017 19:51:30 GMT
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Continuing at Dennis' parents, we loaded a lot of treasures into the truck. Saw this collection of hatchets and hand axes in the garage too.  Cool brass pump handle and nozzle. Note the nozzle has a nut shaped tip to open drums.  As part of their purging, Dennis' mum was getting rid of about 7 vintage duck hunting decoys. She offered me as many as I needed, so I took one. Love it.  From there we went over to Debbie's younger son Bryan and his wife Katie and his buddy Johnny over the street. Within minutes we were having a Tailgate party, but with the tailgate up.  These guys are very keen bow, rifle hunters and fishermen. I got lucky and Bryan brought me less than 24 hr old, fresh Dove breasts and Crappie fish fillets that Debbie was to prepare for us later at home before dinner. Which was BBQ Pork steaks and a load of other food.  The breast wrapped in bacon did not even make the photo shoot. Both tasted just awesome. Thanks Bryan !!!  Eventually made it home via one of the neighbours.....  Outbuildings where Dennis found the 6 foot snake skin last year.  Dogs everywhere, just the way I love it. Tally and Molly in black.  Cinch.  Headed out now to play chainsaws and tractors and then pyromaniac. Trees to be cut down. |
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Sept 11, 2017 2:45:18 GMT
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One of the pieces we collected that Dennis was totally in love with is this wood plane.     It seems this is around a hundred years old. On Tuesday, after a late start around 10.30, I headed out toward Arkansas. First point was to see Donnie Wilson and his family. Along the way I "always" stop at McDonalds in Corning for coffee, wifi and a bathroom break. I had managed to drop my Opinel pocket knife in Danny Kings truck on Sunday night after the races, so I popped into the local Walmart for a new lock blade, crisps and some great Jerky. While in there, my mobile phone picked up its WiFi and delivered a couple of messages..... love technology. Chatting to a friend in SA she was incredulous that I had picked up free WiFi, and only a selfie satisfied her disbelief.  Loved this signage.  The. Headed out again and went through Pocahontas where you keep right, toward Strawberry.  Along the way I stopped at a random shop and managed to buy the large top arrow for a weather vane. Same guy had this '52 Chevy hood ornament for sale at $15.00 which seemed like a good price, if it was not free.  Got to Donnie late afternoon. His son, both their wife's and grand children were all there for an awesome dinner and specially fried Deer meat that he had hunted Possibly the best moment to date on this trip was when he offered me English Tetleys tea...... I had forgotten to bring my own supply this time.  After dinner we went and sat out on the front porch and just enjoyed the quiet, watching the humming birds use the feeders hanging out front. For some reason my YouTube channel will not let me load videos, been going on for weeks. Any ideas?? |
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Sept 11, 2017 3:13:04 GMT
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After dinner, we sat out till quite late, chatting all sorts, including trucks of course. Cowboy, who is Donnies new yard guard, watching out for Coyotes and guarding the chickens at night spent time with us. He also woke me at 04.00 and was certainly earning his keep.  After a great breakfast, we went for a drive over to see some cattle on Donnies land and then over to,Jimmy who has been building a new family home. Transport.  Part way there, we crossed this stream, how idyllic.  Yes, he can stop in the water for a photo.  Then out to the cattle. They are like kids, storming his truck inquisitively. Then following when we drove off.  For the sake of posting photos in a group, I will put these together. After the cattle we went to Jimmys place to look at some stuff being built, including his house. After this, we drove back to Donnies farm and up to his scrap pile, where I managed to rob two good radiator wings off him, a speedo clock assembly to add to the parts I have to try repair my very broken one, as well as a set of Custom ally side sails. While there, I saw other interesting stuff. Grasshopper  A very large and beautiful lady spider, unfortunately she turned when I tried to photograph her.  And of course Donnie Chevy truck. All tuned and sailed in now.  |
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Sept 11, 2017 3:32:33 GMT
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So back to the self built home. Jimmy and his wife milled their own Red Cedar and Pine trees at her dads sawmill to build this home. It is massive, has verandas or porches on three sides. Not everything will be to everyone's taste, but guess what.....? It's not our home. Bunch of photos, as I need to get to bed, today was a long, physical day. Cabinets.  Closer  So the question stands...... "Do bears poop in the woods?" Red cedar, cut and milled by the owners.    Kitchen   Outside view, not easy to capture.  After this we headed home to Donnies place as Wanted to leave his place by 11.00 as Jonesboro and Steve Hansen awaited. If there was time, Searcy was also on my mental agenda, to see Ta2Don for a bit. So we had a last coffee, then said our goodbyes and I headed out.  This is where the road trip turned into an adventure.
Next report will include a 3 wheeled Vintage EZ-GO Golf Kart and some Samaritans.Bed time now. Later for those still along for the trip or photos. Thanks for checking in. |
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düdo
Part of things
wide as house
Posts: 770
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Sept 11, 2017 7:03:13 GMT
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That house is quite something. Nice wood and certainly original. Here in Eu every kitchen looks pretty much similar - good to see something individual. Don't recall ever seeing a stuffed squirrel diorama in anyone's home!
Do you talk politics with these guys? What do they think of Donald (Trump not Duck)?
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Last Edit: Sept 11, 2017 8:02:17 GMT by düdo
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Sept 11, 2017 12:48:40 GMT
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That house is quite something. Nice wood and certainly original. Here in Eu every kitchen looks pretty much similar - good to see something individual. Don't recall ever seeing a stuffed squirrel diorama in anyone's home! Do you talk politics with these guys? What do they think of Donald (Trump not Duck)? Never talk politics or religion They are like the weather, it changes and sometimes you like it and some you don't, but you certainly are not going to change it. And yes to individual taste and execution. |
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Sept 11, 2017 17:33:55 GMT
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Thanks for the update, it's giving me a boost as I'm half way through a block of night shifts. 👍🏻 Pleasure mate, Waiting for Dennis to pick me up and take me to the airport, via Ethel's where Kelly should be on duty. I hope so for all our sakes. Then out at 18.50 US time, and stopover in Chicago and further to London at some crazy hour. So we left off just outside of Strawberry where Jake Brakes are banned. I had also made out like a Bandit with Donnie giving me some part for my truck that I did not have, or were badly damaged on my truck. Another big thank you.  From Strawberry, I was headed to Jonesboro to see Steve and his wife and Lulu the dog. About 15 minutes after leaving, and 4 miles through a town called Lynn, the Challenger cut out... I started it again, drove 50 yards..... Cut out again. Single lane road, sharp drops on both sides and gravel trucks hammering down it, with multiple blind rises..... The third time it cut out, I managed to start it once more and reverse up someone's driveway, just to have it cut out again, and then refuse to start again.  The road trip had just turned into a Nightmare I mean ADVENTURE. This was at exactly 12.00 midday. Want to guess what next?? |
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Sept 11, 2017 17:53:00 GMT
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crankshaft position sensor failure?
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Sept 11, 2017 19:58:49 GMT
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I've just caught up on your Stateside shenanegans so i'm along for the ride. Hope your luck with the Challenger improves.
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Sept 12, 2017 3:35:36 GMT
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Thanks for the update, it's giving me a boost as I'm half way through a block of night shifts. 👍🏻 Pleasure mate, Waiting for Dennis to pick me up and take me to the airport, via Ethel's where Kelly should be on duty. I hope so for all our sakes. Then out at 18.50 US time, and stopover in Chicago and further to London at some crazy hour. So we left off just outside of Strawberry where Jake Brakes are banned. I had also made out like a Bandit with Donnie giving me some part for my truck that I did not have, or were badly damaged on my truck. Another big thank you. From Strawberry, I was headed to Jonesboro to see Steve and his wife and Lulu the dog. About 15 minutes after leaving, and 4 miles through a town called Lynn, the Challenger cut out... I started it again, drove 50 yards..... Cut out again. Single lane road, sharp drops on both sides and gravel trucks hammering down it, with multiple blind rises..... The third time it cut out, I managed to start it once more and reverse up someone's driveway, just to have it cut out again, and then refuse to start again. The road trip had just turned into a Nightmare I mean ADVENTURE. This was at exactly 12.00 midday. Want to guess what next?? You swopped the Challenger for a Golf cart and made it back to the airport. The end.....😂😂😂 |
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Last Edit: Sept 12, 2017 3:38:48 GMT by Deleted
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