Dragginwagon467

Edit: Guys and Gals, to be clear, this is not an official First Generation Monte Carlo Club-sponsored event. This is a group of like-minded individuals attending an already existing, pay-per-entry event and you will be required to sign a waiver to enter the track facility. Update: 1/21/2023, 47 officially registered, 25 more say they are going either in Facebook events or face to face. Just under 27 weeks to go, might see 70+, who knows? Please register to ensure we have allocated space to park as a group. Building on our successful Inaugural First-Gen Monte Carlo Takeover at Summit Motorsports Park’s 21st Annual Blue Suede Cruise, the dates have been announced for next year - July 28-30, 2023. Bill Bader has already agreed to provide us the same location near the grand stands for next year. This is a prime location in regards to proximity for fun runs and watching the races from the stands. We fielded 18 First-Gen Monte Carlos at our inaugural event in 2022, let’s see if we can reach 40+ cars and really blow the announcer’s mind. Summit Motorsports Park is at 1300 State Route 18, Norwalk, Ohio. For more information, visit summitmotorsportspark.com or call 419-668-5555. Photos from the 2022 event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10224388515074039&type=3 I created a public invite for the event next summer... Hope to see you guys there! https://www.facebook.com/groups/835462189844838/permalink/5762037523853922/ Click here to Register

The dragstrip, large car show, nostalgia drag racing, and facility is why I go. The event is also well photographed, and shared Photos https://www.facebook.com/1040357933/posts/pfbid02b3HsimZWeVrfND9Eub3HhurXYQBHwJynks4MjGJm2HTsu9CoyFkcweZz393UeBEnl/?d=n&mibextid=tKF1Ph https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10224388418071614&type=3 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10224388515074039&type=3 https://www.motolenzphotos.com/dragracing/SMP2022/baccut/BSC2022.html

I’m not aware of any First-Gens who didn’t just drive in for Saturday, other than those with RVs who stay at the track. Great link for the hotels.

This year, I planned on attending all three days, but very few people (read, Paul and his son Jared) staying, and I was traveling for work this week and racing again next weekend, I ended up heading home. Surely they are racing and showing on Sunday. Paul could comment about Sunday further. In order to get your trailer inside the gate, it must be brought in Thursday night, or before 10AM on Friday, after that, I doubt they're letting it in - there are far too many people to navigate. I'm driving distance (about 60 miles), so I could go either way (camp or go home). You can pay to camp on-site and they have pay showers. It's a huge event, I would imagine the local motels sell out quickly. There's a very nice car show in my hometown on Friday night, so I drove home to attend. There are hotrods at most hotels on the way to the track...try these two (you might not find them without digging, but don't shy away from a bed and breakfast location either. Norwalk Inn 283 Benedict Ave Norwalk, OH 44857 +14196688255 Bellevue Hotel and Suites 1120 E Main St Bellevue, OH 44811 +14194835740

That’s part of why Norwalk is a great facility for the meet and how they help seed the future of the sport. FWIW, and to be clear, this relaxed environment does not fly for the weekly points racing.

Oh she has the itch to go racing…Mom and Dad will help her get started, I’m sure. It will be a Dodge product though.

On an unrelated note…I took several people for a ride down the track at Blue Suede Cruise…my Son, my Dad, several friend’s, a couple fellow First-Gen Monte Carlo owners. and a friend’s, friend’s early-20s year/old daughter. Since it was her first time riding down the track in a reasonably quick car, I recorded her reaction…what do you think (I shouldn’t have to say this, but respectful comments only, please)?

I sent a message to Bill Bader (the track owner) thanking him for the space this year and asked him about next year…he said he’d be thrilled to be the host facility for our Midwest First-Gen Monte Carlo event and offered us the same space. The space has room for about 26 cars (two deep with pop ups between). Overhead photo is easy to manage (might need to close the pop ups for the photo) and it’s very close to the starting line and big bleachers. I can think of a few things I’d like to improve next year, others probably have ideas too. I guess it’s not too early think about next year, right? 😂

15 of 20 photographed.

First one in, three total now.

Day 1, successful. 7 First-Gens. Paul, Kaleb, and Jared Sniezek then there were three others, a Charcoal colored one for sale, and two red ones-one red one was hotlapping the fun runs 👍 Bill Bader messaged with the details for Blue Suede Cruise tomorrow…the First-Gen Monte Carlo section will be just inside the gate behind the main grand stand on the west side. It’s literally only a hop, skip and jump from the grandstands. He’s doing us a solid favor here, I hope many of you make it out tomorrow. He texted this photo of the area. I’ll be there about 7:45 or so.

Yeah, I considered that too (runs on 12V, 60W [60/12=5A]) but with the kids devices and such it’s simple. Plus, it has an internal controller to charge from a 100W solar panel. The price at Costco was $499 ($399 one month ago). That part stung.

Solved my CPAP power supply issue at the primitive camping site. Costco for the win and highly portable. https://www.duracellpower.com/products/duracellpower-powerblock-500 The time is short now and the excitement builds. Weather looks like it will be in the low-80s Saturday with sunny skies. I sent Bill Bader an update this morning to let him know he should expect 20+ First-Gen Monte Carlos in the car show Saturday. We’ll see what he has planned to allow us to park together. At this point, we have nearly an equal split between the years. I FaceStalked most of those who signed up to determine where you all are from, the year, color, and what you're running under the hood of your Monte. There are going to be some nice Monte's there this weekend. There are twelve more, who said they're going but have not returned messages or filled in the poll. If anyone knows them and can get them to respond, that would be great. @jim Casella Ruben Craddock Greg Crouse James Denuit Rich Ermacora Frank Herciga @Thomas Hurns LeRoy Kniece Randy Rhine John Sepos Bill Smith Willie Wright If everyone shows up that indicated they probably would on Saturday…

Less than a week to go….if all goes well, we should have about 20 on Saturday alone.

My thoughts…my 100K TH350 with factory converter, lasted behind my 465 hp, 467 for two years (best of 12.9 @ 109 mph), and about five low-to-mid 12-Second passes behind my 580 hp, 496. The original transmission stopped shifting 1-2 so I swapped in a TH350 which was rebuilt with good clutches, sprag, and shift kit back in the early 2000s. The rebuilt transmission has seen a dozen mid-11-Second passes at 3800 lbs (406, on nitrous, in another car) and eight 11-Second passes in my 4115 lb Monte Carlo in addition to 10 low 12-Second passes at Midwest Drags and 5K miles (running on 7-Cylinders. Trust me, my 510 CID makes 680 ft-lbs at 4200 rpm, if the TH350 was an issue, I’d have found it. It sucks less power and weighs less - if you’re chasing ET, stick with the TH350.

https://www.facebook.com/149496698402785/posts/5648519048500495/?d=n&mibextid=tKF1Ph Music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s will play as cars from those eras pull in for the 21st Annual Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Blue Suede Cruise presented by Cometic Gasket, Inc., July 29-31, 2022 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. The event is a dedication to days gone by, and has been enjoyed by enthusiasts from across the country for decades. This year’s offering is sure to be outstanding. In addition to a very colorful and chrome-filled car show, there will be fun-runs, Nostalgia Drag Racing League competition and an autocross. Fans can check out all of the items available for purchase in the manufacturers’ midway, Women’s World and the park’s popular Quarter Mile Clothing Company. Additional features of the longstanding event include the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Make-A-Wish For More Horsepower Eliminator Spec Engine Raffle to benefit Make-A-Wish of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, opportunities to meet and see Dave Kindig and Kevin Schiele of Kindig-It Design, the 348-409 Nationals presented by Anything on Wheels Customs and much more. The evening of Saturday, July 30, will be super-special, with a concert by Phil Dirt and the Dozers, a parade of neon lights and a dazzling display of fireworks over the park. “The Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Blue Suede Cruise presented by Cometic Gasket has been one of our most popular events for a long time, and it certainly has a faithful following,” said Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park. “In addition to seeing so many fantastic cars in the show field and on the track, fans will be able to check out special displays and meet special guests. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” Tickets for the nostalgia-filled event are available now. Summit Motorsports Park is at 1300 State Route 18, Norwalk, Ohio. For more information, or tickets, visit the event page at summitmotorsportspark.com or call 419-668-5555. Mary Lendzion Summit Motorsports Park Media and Public Relations mlendzion@summitmotorsportspark.com (To view story on website, click https://is.gd/mcecmX)

Are you attending this year, Michael?

X20 on Saturday confirmed, my guess is that we could see at least 2-3 more (not on Facebook or other social media).

As it sits, we have x15 First-Gen Monte Carlos coming on Saturday, a few others on Friday and/or Sunday. It will be a decent turnout and Bill said he will accommodate us parking together in the car show. I know a few will be into the fun runs…which are low pressure and they allow passengers. It will be a fantastic time.

Larry is a heck of a nice guy, he'll give you the shirt off his back. Hopefully see him this fall, but if not, maybe in the spring.

Blue Suede Cruise at the end of the month, 7/29-7/31.

Not well, had #8 plug wire half off. 12.04 @ 118 mph.

The bad starter caused an idle issue, so I dug into that over the weekend. Swapped out the front power valve and reset the four-corner, idle mixture screws. Interesting, adjusting the rear screws out 1/2-turn achieved the highest vacuum (about 15” at 840 rpm). Fronts ended up at about 1-turn. Although both rear idle mixture screws certainly affected the idle negatively when screwed in, I’m contemplating swapping out the rear power valve as well for this reason. Put the car in the local Memorial Day parade after swapping the carb work…the engine is so docile. Getting ready for Midwest Drags…they don’t allow hard tires so I swapped to taller 275/60-15 tires (ET Streets). While I know it’s not needed, it’s tempting to try a set of 295/55-15 ET Street on these 5.0” BS, 15x8 wheels, since I can easily get my pudgy fingers between the chrome trim and the tires. Also fixed the hard starting problem with a new starter. I specified an AutoZone lightweight, gear-reduction starter DLG9990S from a ‘97 Suburban with a 454. This starter spins over the 510 CI engine with 35° locked timing like that’s what it was designed to do. The starter even comes with correct 3/18”-16 starter bolts.

A collection of my passes over the two day FAST event. Looks like there should’ve been an 11.6X hiding in there, if I could’ve found it. Taller tire next time out, it should keep the rpm down and let it eat out the back door.

It’s as easy as creating a Google email account. Easier if you already have Gmail.