"Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Hello everyone, I just finished loading up and I'm ready to hit the road. Unfortunately I could not get my Shelby ready for this race. Fortunately I was able to get a car at the last minute. Thanks to Sal Biondo, I was able to take his 77 Firebird. It’s usually at my house or close by, so it was easy choice.

I should be rolling in tomorrow afternoon. I will have plenty of photos and as many in car cams as can get done for this weeks race. Then weather looks great and I'm so looking forward to a road trip.

Talk to everyone tomorrow.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Since you are the PHD of reporting, we will look for exciting reports. Have a great trip.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

you could have taken the tbird

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Jeff, thank you sir. Vic, thanks for the offer, it was a last minute deal.

Just pulled into the stacking area behind the circle track. Only 50 rigs inline and they are pulling us in as I type.

Red is in the house so parking should be a breeze. Parking a day early will make it go so much smoother for the next two days. I don't think there will be much of a wait for anyone.

Be back later.....

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

A Ford powered 77 Firebird Stocker? :)

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Ford powered....hmmm

Not many cars out and only about a 100 rigs here. I did find a few along with Mike Skinner's 2014 AAA/SA Cobra Jet #17 driven by his son Kevin. The new 14's are vey cool and I love the flat black paint. Ford did allot of nice little touches and upgrades from the previous models.

The 14's CJ are also very fast right out box, should fun watching the new combo run. I will try to get an in car cam for tomorrow.

Tech opens tomorrow and the weather looks great for this weeks race.

Going out to get some food, I'll be back with more info tomorrow.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

How about a picture of that 'old school' Pontiac you hauled down there?.. I have it all waxed up for you.. LOL

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Right on Ken! I have to believe that you must be having that great GM feeling! Maybe a Mr. Goodwrench tattoo!

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

"Rigs" being the key word. Don't you miss the old days of a tow bar behind a station wagon or driving your Stocker to the track?

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Sal, you detailed it well and I will post one tomorrow.

James, I'm okay with anything that has four wheels, but no tattoo's for me.

Tom, I don't miss open trailers one bit. Give me a Motorhome and enclosed trailer any day. Now driving a stocker to the track, that could be fun.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

I think the message from Ken about the mh is right on. Since the 50's, I have slept in the race car, in the bed of the tow truck, under the tow truck. My idea now is at least two roof airs, at least an 8500 genset, and adequate beverages. Remember towing hubs? I think you can still buy them.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Sleeping in race cars. No wonder why all of us old farts have bad backs.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

I thought I had really arrived when I got my towing hubs. No more pulling/putting in the drive shaft. Take off the tow bar, put on the slicks and race that sucker. First time Carroll Caudle, Pete Peery and myself all went to Pomona together we were all on towing hubs and tow bars. I skipped the open trailer later, and built myself a ramp truck.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

If todays weather is like the rest of the week it will be perfect race conditions. I can not remember having so many nice days in a row for racing. A light breeze with blue skies and the temps in the low 70's.

As you see lots of maintenance going on. Tech was light with only a few cars every so often. Looks like NHRA has lot of help an things are running smooth. They have been prepping the track for last two days.

I will be back later with more photos, and hopefully some interesting stories.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Ken make sure you have a spare spindle for the Firebird, and have a pit crew lined up to change it.

Good luck!

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Hey Larry, I don't have any spindles, but I do have lots of help.

Here are some shots of the day. David Ficacci's 1969 Camaro with fresh paint, and it looks great. I noticed lots of D1 regulars, along with some car as far away as D5 and D6.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FREEWHEELERZ...274ff8&vxp=mtr

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Wow $950. for the pair of the towing hubs!!!My first trailer only cost $750. brand new!!

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

I have been unable to find any other source. I remember them from going to the track with Glenn Young when I was a kid back in the late sixties...he towed a '67 Nova Stocker with a '68 BB El Camino.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

The NMW freewheeling hubs and tow bars and tow tabs were manufactured in New Jersey.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Tow hubs would be easy to make nowadays with a lot of cars having sealed front wheel bearings that bolt to a flange on the spindle. Wheels with a ton of backspace are also simple to get.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

I still have my set of NMW tow hubs, haven't used them since 1982 !

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Hey guys, I hate to hijack this thread, but I'm going to do a "Live From" at the 4 Wide if you don't mind.

Here is my new ace photo specialist Sal Biondo with the eye in the sky photos of zMAX Dragway. Sal could not resist this photo op as he flew over the track.

http://classracer.com/photo1.JPG

http://classracer.com/photo2.JPG

http://classracer.com/photo3.JPG

The next set of photos are Ron Matcham's 1965 one owner Shelby GT 350. Ron's here racing his CJ, but will stick around next week for the 50 anniversary of the Mustang and will be part of the show.

The Shelby is very cool and perfect in everyway, just like it rolled of the showroom in 1965.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Good morning Ken,
Re-take the thread...................... and can anyone let us know if NHRA is going to audiocast this event. The site is still displaying the information for the Gatornationals. I hope to hear all the e.t.s while I'm working.
Thanks Ken and all have a safe and successful race weekend.
Walt

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Didn't look like a hijack to me (no more than tow hubs anyway), for those that haven't been to zMAX it is one amazing facility...everybody on asphalt and a great layout. Just hard to believe they only have two events at the track all year! The NASCAR track has something going all the time, it's a great track and you can't appreciate the elevation changes and corners without being there. Missed going to their Spring Auto Fest last weekend, big turnout of about every car club and vendor in the East.

Thanks Ken for the pics and reports. Good luck with the firebird, sure it knows how to find the winner's circle.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Thanks Walt.

Good morning everyone, stock should be called to the lanes very soon. We start at 8. They started working on the track early morning, 5 or so. The weather for you weather nuts is as follows.

Temp 58
Humidity 49%
Bar 29.56
DA 786
Wind tail 2-4 mph


Be back later...

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Who is the division 6 guy there? We in the northwest are pulling for WHO ever is there from D6.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Is anyone else having Audiocast issues?

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Nothing on Audiocast .......not sure whats going on .

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

they dont care its only the sportsman !!!!!

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

audiocast issues here too really making me mad its the only reason I joined NHRA this year and ND is getting better but that last announcer at Gainesville during Stock ELiminator was terrible he put me to sleep a few times during the event.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Not sure why the audio cast is not on and I see they have not posted the qualifying for Stk/SS. The track had super bite this morning, and there was a sight tail wind, 2-4mph. Lots of car were lifting, its fast here. If I find qualifying sheets I will post it.

Here is some random shots of Stk and SS from this morning. I have three in car cams and hope to have them edited and upload buy noon.

Thanks Jim, yes the car is a winner, but driver needs help.

Be back later.

Just posted on DRC.... Stock Qualifying

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Audio cast is screwed because of the implementation of there mobile app - what a bunch of idiots

I know since I can see the error message and know what is wrong

Fatal error: Cannot redeclare class Mobile_Detect in /home/ndragst/public_html/templates/bnrbranding/Mobile_Detect.php on line 27

Ron

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

The in car cam is brought to you by Sterling Simmons driving his 98 D/SA Camaro. I'm working on more but the internet is starting to slow down as more people come in.

They Just called SS for the first round of Class.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMH-GUNgfNI&feature=share&list=UUIPkN6w3aT8XGT1a4QTqU6 g"]1998 Camaro D SA Sterling Simmons zMAX April 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Next in car cam is brought to you by Bob Cupp in his 65 SS/KA Chevelle. Bob just won the D1 race Virginia.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UciCqBED8H0&feature=share&list=UUIPkN6w3aT 8XGT1a4QTqU6g"]1965 Chevelle SS KA Bob Cupp zMAX April 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure that NMW stood for New Milford Welding and I though they were in CONNETCUT
We used their hubs and a home made tow bar untill 1978 when I bought my first trailer we used to sleep in the back of our pick up or a tent way back when we could not afford motels.

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

What? ANOTHER GM RECALL??? :rolleyes:

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Go Ken...

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Guys WTF ?

Would you rather I just change the name of the thread. I'm trying to do a live from and you guys want to talk about free wheeling hubs..... jeez how about a little respect.

I guess I'm wasting my time, but I will post another video anyway. This Frank Maiolo in his 1987 CT CA Camaro.

be back later........maybe.


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_RvgCEzyXc&list=UUIPkN6w3aT8XGT1a4QTqU6g& feature=share"]1987 Camaro GT CA Frank Maiolo zMAX April 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

Re: "Live From" NHRA 4-Wide National zMAX Dragway
 

Ken Thanks for the reports and in car camera shots. They are appreciated Keep up the great work. I would love to see an in car shot of Daren Poole Adams new COPO.