Damn it, I knew I should have checked first….

Ryan W31

A couple weeks ago myself (and family) and Al Corporon (and family) both brought our old cars to our trailer for the weekend (Sauble Beach Lake Huron) and Saturday evening brought the cars to Sauble Speedway (a small local circle track) and they had a car show, and let all the cars take a few laps on the track. I assumed there would be a super slow pace car but not so much.

They did mini interviews with people on the infield as the rest of the group circled around the outside. After we chatted with the interviewer he said “it looks like Ryan is going to peel out” I got the hint but not Amy…. I reved it up, dunked the clutch, got the tires spinning and Amy started screaming….. “Ryan NOOOOO” though we were going to run into someone….. nope she was just chicken…. So I didn’t so much of show for the crowd but we laughed about this for hours later.

So nice to have Al and Leslie (Part of Team Weaver Racing) over to the trailer, and so fun to go to Sauble Speedway.

Ryan W31

PS: I need to make a list and do some little items to my Cutlass. Passenger side mirror flew off, etc.

Some Sauble photos.

Ryan W31

‘

Fun for all, nothing better than cars/girls/sunshine!:biggthumpup:
Here’s a fix w/ your sideways pics…L:eek2:VE Al’s DD Hat!
:beers:
~ Pete

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Thanks for the edit!!

Ryan W31

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jUcavyfz2x8&feature=shareb

Cars and Zebras covered Doug and my shootout at PSMCDR:-)

This guy is crazy!!

Ryan W31

:3gears:Love it

I made good use of the car this weekend past at PSMCDR 2023!!

I took 15 trips down the drag strip, some faster than others :-)

Casey Marks, Diego Rosenberg Several of the MSU Project W31 “students” came to visit and one brought a 1968 Firebird 400 auto and we raced several times. (Foreshadowing) we were matched perfectly.

Later I was paired up with Chris Smetana’s 1968 Firebird 400 auto and we had a perfect shootout.

I will post the three time slips and those of you that know about drag racing will appreciate the hard fought battle. I won race #1, and Chris won #2 and #3. I wanted to win so bad but reaction time was my issue.

I reached a new personal best ET 14.15, and mph 98!!

My wife and Mom came to make sure Team Weaver racing was well represented.

I saw so many friends!!! And made new friends!!

I even had the opportunity to visit Bill Porterfield he is part of MSU Project W31 not as a student but he was an Olds Engineer from 1967 to 1999?

Since I turned 40 and made the life decision to get involved in my passion/hobby I have had so many incredible experiences… such as Bill Porterfield watching me drag race and checking on me each round….. he even found a loose nut on my steering rag joint…. We barely skimmed the surface of his decades of automotive experience, ZL1’s, Dick Harrell, Mid Engine cars, 200mph cars, I won’t forget this visit ever!!

Ryan W31

Psmcdr 2023

Awesome

----Have been friends with Bill P since 1990. We have raced each other and been at the same vintage meets on several occasions. He is the real deal and just a good guy. You couldn't have a better guy to mentor you, Ryan!.....Bill S

I would have bet a dollar you guys know each other. :-)

At some point during MSU Project W31 talk I shared a link to this/my build thread and Bill (Port) was reading through it over a few days. He made notes and had questions that weren’t answered in the thread with page numbers for reference (once an engineer always an engineer)

Ryan W31

During PSMCDR one of the MSU Project W31 group sold me a set of MotorWheel Spyders for the front of my Cutlass.

15 X 4.5’s with nuts and centers!!!

Now I need a set of drag tires/front runners.

:-)

I have wanted a set of these for a long time!!!

Ryan W31

This weekend Al Corporon and our wives all attended a car show close to our trailer on Lake Huron

Super fun!!!

We even had the opportunity to chat with Wayne Smith. He bought a Garnet Red, Parchment bench, 4 speed COPO Chevelle at Central Chev Olds when the car was traded in at three months old as it was too slow. (The lady that traded it in bought an L88 Vette)

Ryan W31

.
 

.

When do we get to see the new wheels Ryan????

OMG, I'm drooling over the Parchment interior in that Garnet red COPO. Same color combo as we had in my wife's old 69 Impala convertible. Thanks for posting, Ryan!

I am handing in my Birthday and Christmas wish list this week, (2 front runner tires) so I hope to show and tell in the new year!!!

Van Hurst and Dave Siltman have helped me pick out proper size tires.

Ryan W31

Those 4s are super hard to find. Congrats!

I have been very focused on getting a tow vehicle and enclosed trailer to be able to attend more drag race events and shows. (Other thread about buying a 2 tone truck)

Now that I have the major pieces of the puzzle solved I need to work out the little details and start using it for the intended purpose.

If I can get all my ducks in a row I am going to attend the FAST/Factory Stock event in New York Empire Dragway. (I am always amazed at what I don’t know……. How did I not know there is a Factory Stock drag race 3 hours from my house……. PSMCDR is 6 hours, so this is a perfect race to add to my annual event list!!!

Another life bucket list item is to Attend the Super Car Reunion and I am making plans to attend that this year as well.

PSMCDR is always on my list!!!

I will also try to fit in one or both or the Olds Club Of Ontatio drag race events (TBD)

Have Fun!!!

Ryan W31

Nice Ryan.

I hope you make SCR. We could use some more people showing up. Seems like many of the older ones are not coming anymore.

W31 Success!!!

I didn’t do any preparation to my Cutlass as I spent all my time focused on truck and trailer and all thinks hauling related.

My truck and trailer worked very well, and got tested big time as Empire Dragway is in a very hilly part of NY!!! On one hill OTW home my truck downshifted into first gear and was reving 4-5 grand for 4ish minutes, and of course followed by a 10% grade downhill right after, and every hill has a hard turn at the bottom!!!

Saturday was rained out but Sunday we got two time trial runs and then a quick 8 shootout (9 cars actually) also FAST were racing 9-10-11 second runs.

I was thrown off by a couple new things….. they use a Pro tree Vs a Sportsman tree…. My first reaction time was 0.8953 :-) I was so surprised, you stage and then all the lights flash and you are supposed to be racing…….. I was literally looking around to see WTF just happened :-) They also hose down the burnout box which makes a burnout easy (I still have yet to use the brakes for a burnout) but one time I didn’t burnout enough and spun off the line like I was on ice.

ET’s were 14.4, 14.7, 15.2, etc but I was so focused on towing that racing was very secondary.

I was so happy to tow my car to the track, race, and tow back home without issues!!!

Now I can fine tune things.

W31 Success!!!

Ryan W31

Empire Dragway
 

Empire Dragway

Glad to hear things went well - congratulations.

Thank you!!

Ryan W31

Great photos and congrats on the maiden voyage and return. Now get that thing in the 13's!!

Well said!!

I’m getting a few loose ends wrapped up with the truck and then I’ll get racing again.

Ryan W31

Scr nocc
 

I am sitting out NOCC and I was going to go to SCR this year but have decided to wait till 2025 for SCR.

I have had more work done to my truck and want to get some miles on it before a huge road trip like SCR.

Safe travels to all, and have a great time at both events!!

I think my next event will be late August Grand Bend drag strip. A local L89 Camaro owner invited me to a test/tune with his friends :-)

I know Camaro guys will want to know: B&A Toronto sold, L89, TH400, 4.10, Cortez Silver, I saw it and the VVS docs many many years ago so I remembered it fright away. Owner has owned it since 1971 bought for $1600 :-)

Hemmings Motor News
 

My Cutlass made it into HMM while at the race in NewYork.

Ryan W31

I’m packed and headed to PSMCDR 2024!!!

This time truck, trailer, and Cutlass!!!

So many friends and family and Project W31 students are coming!!!

Should be a hoot!!

Ryan W31

Congrats on the ink, Ryan, and I’m sure there’s plenty more to come! Have fun, pics!!! We need towing pics!!!

Cheers
Dave

Good luck Ryan!
Get those ETs down.

Really Good Stuff! Have a Great Time! I often live vicariously through you!
Sometime soon, I really need to slow down and consider taking the "OG" (69 F-85 W-31) and of course "Mr. Jones" ('69 Cutlass S W-31 ) to an event or two.
Safe travels Ryan.
-steve

Hi Steve, I hope you and Joe will bring the OG and Mr Jones to PSMCDR 2025!!

I am trying to attend Maryland MIR Nostalgia Drags Oct 26, maybe that is close to you?

Ryan W31

Another September is upon us, and I just got back from PSMCDR 2024!!!

Another awesome weekend, Dan Jensen, Dennis Jensen, Lyndon Hughes, and all the other helpers really make a kick ass weekend for us car people!!

My wife and Mom came with me, and friends Des Ryan, Al and Leslie Corporon, and we always hang out with Gary Place, Thomas Payne, Ron, Animal.

So many MSU Project W31 were there, Bob Senk, Bob Sedlak, Bob Dennis, Fred Bowen, Margaret, Bill Porterfield, Casey Marks, Diego Rosenberg,

Also so many friends like Bob and Ian Ashton, and and and and ….

I hate to list names as now I could sit here and list names for an hour and miss many car friends.

We reunited with Gary Pain and Sandy (their 1969 Buick GS Stage 2 4 speed 18K mile car was my pick at MCACN a few years ago) and had a great chat with them at the hotel party.

I made a chilli for the pot luck and no complaints :-)

My truck and trailer and Cutlass all worked well, no major issues. (That feels very good)

Ryan W31

Psmcdr
 

I was matched up with a King Kong Ford!!!

1970 Torino Cobra 429, SCJ, toploader, 4:30 Detroit locker, the pinnacle of Ford!!

We both had 14.2, and 14.3 second ET’s so a good pairing.

Chris Jones won the first race as my slow reaction time handed him the win, my ET was lower but he crossed the line first….

Round 2 and I’m back in the game, he red light so I won, but I am 90% sure I shifted from first to fourth…. Seems unlikely but I am quite confident at that is what happened.

Third round I decided I was going to get going at the third yellow light and I red light by 0.054 of a second!!!

Damn fun!!!

Fun Fun Fun

Ryan W31

Psmcdr
 

Psmcdr 2024

I have considered this Maryland race and it is too much for this year (time, cost, etc)

I am making 2025 plans!!!

I will get to race with Dave Siltman one day but not in 2024.

Ryan W31

Congrats on a job well done.

So, did you beat the guy on the Schwinn? How many lengths did you have to give him?