Question for the old guys

[Jeff Niceswanger]

Only 3. Last time was a rod and piston.

[jimmyparker]

11 for me, first one in '69 at Gainesville and last one at the '97 all-star race in Columbus.

[Lyn Smith]

Too many to remember. Had to pull a piston at Indy one year. This is back when you had to use the GM stuff. One year i got my head to the head checking bench and saw 2 Buick valves sitting there. One of my fellow Buick racers supplied the tech guys with valves to compare mine to. Everything was Ok as usual.

[John Osborne]

Originally Posted by Lyn Smith

Too many to remember. Had to pull a piston at Indy one year. This is back when you had to use the GM stuff. One year i got my head to the head checking bench and saw 2 Buick valves sitting there. One of my fellow Buick racers supplied the tech guys with valves to compare mine to. Everything was Ok as usual.

That was 1984 Southern Nationals. You, me, and Jimmy Lashley went to tear down. We were all running the same car-engine combination. Our fellow racer was running the same combo and felt since we were quicker than him, we must be cheating. He provided Bill Holt with a pair of correct valves and a pair of cut down larger valves. And as you said, after everything was checked, there was no problem!
The first time I went to tear down was 1974 and the last time was Indy class win in 1987. I don?t remember how many times I went in between!
Donnie Beeler would be another candidate for the most number of times that he has been to tear down!

[Bob Shaw]

I never kept score but over the last 50 years I probably was torn down 100 times with 13 different cars and trucks. National records, class wins, and #1 qualifiers.

[Lyn Smith]

Originally Posted by Bob Shaw

I never kept score but over the last 50 years I probably was torn down 100 times with 13 different cars and trucks. National records, class wins, and #1 qualifiers.

And the Fel Pro gasket corporation thanks you dearly.LOL

[Larry Merk]

When I started reading this thread I really chuckled because Cal Method and I are friends and we've talked about tear down and records many times. In one 2 year period I recall going through tear down 12 times with him.

So a few minutes ago I got a text message from Cal. And I quote: "I can document 150 to 200 in 65 years, you have my permission to post that."

For the less-seasoned members of this forum, you've got to remember that years ago you got points for setting records. And it wasn't uncommon for another competitor with the same combo you ran trying to set the record at the same points meet you were attending. And this occurred at every points meet every year. And since the race was run off the National Record, not indexes, everyone was constantly looking for more horsepower. Kind of makes the AHFS look like child's play.

[Paul Wong]

Originally Posted by Bob Shaw

I never kept score but over the last 50 years I probably was torn down 100 times with 13 different cars and trucks. National records, class wins, and #1 qualifiers.

Proud to have shared your last year down with you!

[Chuck Norton]

It's not easy to remember them all but I'm guessing just few less than a dozen beginning in 1971 and ending in about 2004. That's not counting helping friends or cursory checks of casting numbers, etc. I'm waiting for Cal Method to come up with a number...

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