Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together?

Carguy49 · 08-26-2011, 11:55 AM

Good morning Jeff. I totally understand where you are coming from. I last raced in 1997 and it is very frustrating sometimes. I fix some of it by going to events and helping/visiting with old friends. I was at the N.W. Nationals and the division 6 race at Pacific and had a great time. I vivited with Toby and Jody Lang, Mark and Gary Faul, Don "the worm" Elgin and many, many more. This weekend I will be at Bremerton for the Nostalgia race and cacklefest. I was there last year with Ken Martin and his funny car and had a BALL. To put everything in perspective, I was going to visit a friend, yesterday, who has cancer. I called and his wife said that he didn't want any visitors and he stayed in bed all day. I hope this helps, but hang in there, your time is coming soon, Ron.

P.S. I first started racing in 1969 and had a stocker for a brief while (1973).

Jody Lang · 08-26-2011, 01:30 PM

I don't want to put words in Rod's mouth, but I think he'd be happy to help get the wagon going again!!!!

It might cost you a dinner at Olympia Pizza to nudge him though!!!

For those that don't know Rod Stults bought the wagon from Jeff. Ran it for quite a few years then sold it back to him after I bought Jeff's Malibu that I run in Super Stock now.

Stay positive Jeff it'll happen!!!

Jeff Goss · 08-26-2011, 09:38 PM

Thanks everyone! It was really great to come home after a bad day at work and see all the positive posts!

I have a little of my Faith back!

Rob Petrie E395 · 08-27-2011, 04:45 AM

I will give you my story and it might make you feel better. A couple of years ago I took my bracket car down to be dyno tuned. While I was there the owner of the shop took me to his house and showed me his super stocker. Right then decided to build a stocker instead of the super pro car I had been planning. I have been working on it for a couple of years now while still bracket racing when life did not get in the way. This spring I was 99% done and was ready to go make some test runs and planned to run a couple of local bracket events with it before I went to a div. race. Then may 25 my shop and home took a direct hit from a tornado for the second time in less than 5 years. Among many many other things the car was destroyed. Three months later I am still sick when I think about it. It could have been alot worse nobody was hurt and we so far seem to have plenty of insurance. Two of my neighbors homes were not so lucky. I just keep telling myself to keep digging and sooner or later I will get there. The bad part is untill my shop is rebuilt next year I am somewhat unemployed. So I have a ton of time on my hands to build another car. The really bad part is I have no shop to build it in LOL. One of these days I am going to run stock just not this year but mark my words I will one day.There is always something that gets in my way of getting it done just so happens this year for me it was a F2 but you name it over the last couple of years it was always something holding me up. You have to just keep digging till you get there.

Jeff Goss · 08-27-2011, 10:01 AM

Rob, I am very sorry for your loss.

That really puts things in perspective for me. I kinda feel bad for complaining now (LOL!)

But, I would almost put my Wife and 2 teenagers up against your F2 Tornado-they seem to have comparable destructive power! Hahaha!

I really admire your positive attitude!

OK! Let's get our cars going!

Jeff Goss · 08-27-2011, 06:32 PM

Today's update....

Just as I am about to do something with the Wagon, my Central Air Conditioning unit decides to fail. There goes the $400 I was going to put into the car!

Everyone see how my luck goes? If I ever get to the track, Karma owes me a string of win lights.....

I appreciate all the positive thoughts for me. This alone will get me back to racing again.

Bob Gullett · 08-27-2011, 07:55 PM

What parts do you need to finish the car?

Chris Barnes · 08-28-2011, 10:50 AM

This thread really reinforces something that I have noticed about drag racing in general and stock in particular:getting to the track with a car that is ready to run is 99% of the battle. It took me a few years to figure out why I my hair would stand on end when someone would say something like "I'll just put a 440 in it and go run tens" or "If someone would just let me run their car I'd win for sure". This crazy sport that we're hooked on is tough!

So pat yourself on the back, you're almost there. As Nietzche said "whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger..."

Good luck,
Chris Barnes
Stock 6621
Wagons of Steel

PS I just got my wagon back on the track after a two year "vacation" and it was worth the wait!

Jeff Goss · 08-28-2011, 11:11 AM

Thanks Chris!

I've been racing since 1991, so I'm certainly not new to the struggle. It just never seems to get any easier.

I just had to vent the frustration I have been having lately. Talking to my racing friends-on and off the Internet-has really helped me.

I put an ungodly amount of money to get the Wagon running, only to have it break on the very first pass. That is unusual, even for me. To double and triple check everything during assembly, then find the one thing I missed, really bummed me out! It could have been catastrophic-luckily I got off fairly easy.

I'll get to it, but Family comes first. Sometimes I wish I could bump my priorities up a few pegs-but that just doesn't seem to happen.

I'll quit ranting now. I really appreciate you guys listening and supporting me.

The fact that I have even been a part of the racing community has been a high spot in my life. Looking at my one Wally on my shelf reminds me of all the great times and great people I have met. It pushes me to get this damn thing done and back out there.

Good luck to everyone the rest of the Season!

08-26-2011, 11:55 AM	#1
Carguy49 VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fife, Washington Posts: 1,978 Likes: 2,469 Liked 2,946 Times in 708 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? Good morning Jeff. I totally understand where you are coming from. I last raced in 1997 and it is very frustrating sometimes. I fix some of it by going to events and helping/visiting with old friends. I was at the N.W. Nationals and the division 6 race at Pacific and had a great time. I vivited with Toby and Jody Lang, Mark and Gary Faul, Don "the worm" Elgin and many, many more. This weekend I will be at Bremerton for the Nostalgia race and cacklefest. I was there last year with Ken Martin and his funny car and had a BALL. To put everything in perspective, I was going to visit a friend, yesterday, who has cancer. I called and his wife said that he didn't want any visitors and he stayed in bed all day. I hope this helps, but hang in there, your time is coming soon, Ron. P.S. I first started racing in 1969 and had a stocker for a brief while (1973).

08-26-2011, 01:30 PM	#2
Jody Lang Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 306 Likes: 28 Liked 89 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? I don't want to put words in Rod's mouth, but I think he'd be happy to help get the wagon going again!!!! It might cost you a dinner at Olympia Pizza to nudge him though!!! For those that don't know Rod Stults bought the wagon from Jeff. Ran it for quite a few years then sold it back to him after I bought Jeff's Malibu that I run in Super Stock now. Stay positive Jeff it'll happen!!!

08-26-2011, 09:38 PM	#3
Jeff Goss Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Burlington, WA Posts: 361 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? Thanks everyone! It was really great to come home after a bad day at work and see all the positive posts! I have a little of my Faith back!

08-27-2011, 04:45 AM	#4
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,092 Likes: 162 Liked 216 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? I will give you my story and it might make you feel better. A couple of years ago I took my bracket car down to be dyno tuned. While I was there the owner of the shop took me to his house and showed me his super stocker. Right then decided to build a stocker instead of the super pro car I had been planning. I have been working on it for a couple of years now while still bracket racing when life did not get in the way. This spring I was 99% done and was ready to go make some test runs and planned to run a couple of local bracket events with it before I went to a div. race. Then may 25 my shop and home took a direct hit from a tornado for the second time in less than 5 years. Among many many other things the car was destroyed. Three months later I am still sick when I think about it. It could have been alot worse nobody was hurt and we so far seem to have plenty of insurance. Two of my neighbors homes were not so lucky. I just keep telling myself to keep digging and sooner or later I will get there. The bad part is untill my shop is rebuilt next year I am somewhat unemployed. So I have a ton of time on my hands to build another car. The really bad part is I have no shop to build it in LOL. One of these days I am going to run stock just not this year but mark my words I will one day.There is always something that gets in my way of getting it done just so happens this year for me it was a F2 but you name it over the last couple of years it was always something holding me up. You have to just keep digging till you get there. Last edited by Rob Petrie E395; 08-27-2011 at 04:51 AM.

08-27-2011, 10:01 AM	#5
Jeff Goss Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Burlington, WA Posts: 361 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? Rob, I am very sorry for your loss. That really puts things in perspective for me. I kinda feel bad for complaining now (LOL!) But, I would almost put my Wife and 2 teenagers up against your F2 Tornado-they seem to have comparable destructive power! Hahaha! I really admire your positive attitude! OK! Let's get our cars going!

08-27-2011, 06:32 PM	#6
Jeff Goss Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Burlington, WA Posts: 361 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? Today's update.... Just as I am about to do something with the Wagon, my Central Air Conditioning unit decides to fail. There goes the $400 I was going to put into the car! Everyone see how my luck goes? If I ever get to the track, Karma owes me a string of win lights..... I appreciate all the positive thoughts for me. This alone will get me back to racing again.

08-27-2011, 07:55 PM	#7
Bob Gullett VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,106 Likes: 57 Liked 507 Times in 116 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? What parts do you need to finish the car? __________________ 68 Chevy11 327 F/S

08-28-2011, 10:50 AM	#8
Chris Barnes Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? This thread really reinforces something that I have noticed about drag racing in general and stock in particular:getting to the track with a car that is ready to run is 99% of the battle. It took me a few years to figure out why I my hair would stand on end when someone would say something like "I'll just put a 440 in it and go run tens" or "If someone would just let me run their car I'd win for sure". This crazy sport that we're hooked on is tough! So pat yourself on the back, you're almost there. As Nietzche said "whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger..." Good luck, Chris Barnes Stock 6621 Wagons of Steel PS I just got my wagon back on the track after a two year "vacation" and it was worth the wait!

08-28-2011, 11:11 AM	#9
Jeff Goss Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Burlington, WA Posts: 361 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Anyone else bummed that you just can't get it together? Thanks Chris! I've been racing since 1991, so I'm certainly not new to the struggle. It just never seems to get any easier. I just had to vent the frustration I have been having lately. Talking to my racing friends-on and off the Internet-has really helped me. I put an ungodly amount of money to get the Wagon running, only to have it break on the very first pass. That is unusual, even for me. To double and triple check everything during assembly, then find the one thing I missed, really bummed me out! It could have been catastrophic-luckily I got off fairly easy. I'll get to it, but Family comes first. Sometimes I wish I could bump my priorities up a few pegs-but that just doesn't seem to happen. I'll quit ranting now. I really appreciate you guys listening and supporting me. The fact that I have even been a part of the racing community has been a high spot in my life. Looking at my one Wally on my shelf reminds me of all the great times and great people I have met. It pushes me to get this damn thing done and back out there. Good luck to everyone the rest of the Season!