FSTR-THANU

iTrader: (9)

As many already know, I was in an unfortunate accident 3mos ago. The rear end took a direct hit to the wall that completely destroyed both rear frame rails. So the next logical step was to just take the plunge and go 10.5! With an already potent Billy Briggs LS power plant it only made sense to give a call to one of the nations best race car builders... Skinny Kid Race Cars. Keith took on the job of not only rebuilding a wrecked drag radial chassis but finishing a complete roller.







Then it was off to Reiter Metalcraft for the body work and to put it in prime.




And finally back to Billy Briggs Racing Engines to put it all back together again.






Special thanks to all my Crew and their Families for supporting the late nights putting everything back together again. Joe (Stenod), Kevin, Dan, Billy. Even Keith came by to help on a Holiday weekend!

I put my daughter Lauren to work too.



Thanks again to all my Sponsors and friends who helped make this rebuild possible in such a short period of time:

Lafontaine Automotive Group
Billy Briggs Racing Engines
Mickey Thompson
Mast Motorsports
Diamond Pistons

nmass399

The car looks really good, like a first class build. Lookin forward to seeing some times and videos.

Broke EF

Glad to see the car back out, and better than ever! I was wondering what is up with the back window. It looks like a bunch of dzus fasteners along the bottom, and two in the middle, is it hinged at the top? It kind of looks like the top edge slides into a channel, but I cant quite tell. Same goes for the "deck lid", which BTW is a great idea! This has been one of my favorite cars to watch, so many little details and tricks. Everyone involved should be very proud of this car. Good luck with everything.


Sean

tektrans

iTrader: (23)

Wow! Awesome! Best of luck-keep the flat black side up!

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

Looking good Tom!! Keep us updated; hope the beast stays hooked up and nets some quick e.t.s!

Derek

RUQWIKR

iTrader: (11)

Glad to see you coming back, and your previous cage work obviously did it's job. This weekend, something happened that had not in just under 30 years of racing to me...I crossed (completely) the center line during a race. Having driven and raced 7 thr. 11 race cars of mine and others over the years, I have been lucky.

I got out of the groove and hooked a left about 330' out (luckily in right lane), racing a much slower car in a bracket race. So, I did not have to do anything but lift and let it go over there.

It's times like this that I am glad I have a good cage, a fire system, a HANS device, etc. All that won't help in all wrecks, but, we are way too quick to spend 'x' to save a hundreth or a tenth of a second while overlooking safety.

Once again, car looks very nice, and I am sure I speak for many, we can't wait to see it run again.

Take care. Dave

Timmy P

iTrader: (3)

My Favorite Car !!!!

98 grmrpr

Very good quality build!! Good Luck.

FSTR-THANU

iTrader: (9)

Thanks guys! The rear window slides into a channel so I do not need fasteners all the way around. Same for the deck lid. Bonded the deck lid the the quarters but I did not cut the line back in yet. When it gets painted I can work on the details but the window and deck lid came out great! I would never want to do another lift off hatch after doing it this way.

Broke EF

That's awesome! Was it like that before the wreck? Are you going to Ducks race?

Sean

JRracing

iTrader: (35)

Very nice man.

FSTR-THANU

iTrader: (9)

No, it was not like that before. I am gonna try to make it to shakedown.

Thanks,

98 grmrpr

Thanks for the rear hatch tip. I actually missed that!
If I had thought of that, I would have done it the same way!

Great Job!!

FSTR-THANU

iTrader: (9)

http://www.dragzine.com/news/out-wit...look-trans-am/

Thanks Dragzine!

fergymoto

iTrader: (129)

Look awesome. Mine used to look like that before it was painted QSL colors

BlackScreaminMachine

iTrader: (17)

Like the CF for the tubs should keep everything nice and clean and no rocks to dent up the underside. Matte finish looks killer.

FSTR-THANU

iTrader: (9)

Well, we made it out yesterday and there was a little bit of good, bad and ugly. For he good part, 4.52 at 164 on the first hit to the 1/8. Left on 10lbs and peaked at 28lbs. Honestly it was an effortless run, the car was awesome. Joe did a great job getting the tune up there and skinny kid had the car working on demand. The bad, when we try to leave on more boost the gates seem to bleed of the boost. It spikes at 14 as soon as I hit the brake and drops right back down to 10. Need to play with the AMS and check the valves for corrosion. Now here is the ugly! I made 1 hit to 1000ft and when I hit the chutes one of them grabbed a wheelie bar wheel and the other bloomed and spun me out of control. I hit the driver front pretty hard. In 20 years of racing I have had 3 accidents, one when I had a blow out on a front wheel in 2007 and now 2 within 4mos and both times on brand new builds. Somebody has put a curse on me because I have not been able to sleep or stop beating my head against the wall wondering what the hell am I doing wrong. I am beyond frustrated mentally and financially but I am still not ready to throw in the towel. The potential is there! 4.30 or better is possible, 6.60's or better is possible. We will start to tear it down again next week and asses the full damage.

Thanks!

Tom

studderin

iTrader: (28)

glad you hear to read the update.
good or bad car updates, sorry to hear about the car

FSTR-THANU

iTrader: (9)

Here is a video for fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=5qvwZLO2SBY


Tom

FSTR-THANU

iTrader: (9)

Thanks all for the kind words of encouragement! Monday we will take the car back to skinny kid to make a game plan. I know the entire front suspension and front clip needs to be replaced. Looks like one door and maybe another rear quarter but hopefully that can be repaired.