Return of a Big Hitter.
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 15 10:53 pm
Well, I guess it’s time to start a thread on this piece of Mopar recent history.
I have always loved this car in terms of its stance, and sheer performance brutality, it seemed to me it was a long time ahead of the competition.
However, I never for one moment dreamed that I would own it.
For those of you who do not know the car, Duncan “Cannonball” Watts campaigned the car with a 572 ci “Conversion” Hemi with a manual valve-bodied A727 backed up by a Dana 60 with 4.56:1 gears and a Spool. It sported Susperstock springs.
It ran hard and strong and (with a lot of rpm) managed a 9.44 pass at around 142mph. Pretty much a full weight car too with a 6 point cage. And Wilwood brakes, Fuel cell, etc.
I have seen the car perform so impressively at Santa Pod and sadly saw the motor lunch itself at Shakey.
It had been performing strongly and I saw the car launch as I was pushing a car in the fire up lane right next to the action when I noticed the nose drop mid-track. At first I thought it had missed a gear but a conversation with Duncan revealed the motor had blown, and had done so catastrophically.
Boy! Do I know THAT feeling. I have lunched one of these and know the cost and heartache………..
Duncan got the car on a lift, pulled the motor and stripped it, and there is sat for several years while Duncan played with his many other toys….
My mate Roydon is restoring a 1970 Challenger and I contacted Duncan Watts to pick his brains on a couple of points in terms of rear suspension. One thing lead to another and we started discussing the old Bruiser.
To cut a short story even shorter, Duncan cut me a deal and I became the very proud owner of the Challenger – thanks Buddy!
To relatively new members of the club / board; they may not know my racing history and the fact that I rolled a 700bhp ’67 Dart at around 125mph at Santa Pod, thereby becoming a fully paid up member of the Geof Hauser Upside-down club.
Needless to say, as the car will see some track action (whilst being road legal), I had a conversation with my wife and the result was the clear need to upgrade the cage.
Duncan very kindly transported the car to Pete Smith (Chassis Tech Race Cars in Cheshire - http://www.chassistecracecars.com) and Pete has set about refreshing the safety aspects of the car.
I have known Pete (Bedford) for several years and was always impressed with his work and enthusiasm and liking for “Old School” style cars and is prepared to work with a dinosaur like me…..thanks Pete, big respect!
So, the “Journey” has begun.
The biggest single problem for me at this stage is that fact that Duncan had thought of pretty much every trick in the book in terms of suspension, performance, chassis work, etc; and I am struggling to find ways to improve the fundamentals of the car.
I would hate the car to come back out and go SLOWER!!!! At this stage that is a distinct possibility……………
More to follow…
..and I am still thinking of a name for the car (Blue has given me a few tips and pointers for a Period Colour scheme but that will have to wait for while due to the pennies...) Any other ideas on a name for the car would be appreciated, thanks!!!!
I have always loved this car in terms of its stance, and sheer performance brutality, it seemed to me it was a long time ahead of the competition.
However, I never for one moment dreamed that I would own it.
For those of you who do not know the car, Duncan “Cannonball” Watts campaigned the car with a 572 ci “Conversion” Hemi with a manual valve-bodied A727 backed up by a Dana 60 with 4.56:1 gears and a Spool. It sported Susperstock springs.
It ran hard and strong and (with a lot of rpm) managed a 9.44 pass at around 142mph. Pretty much a full weight car too with a 6 point cage. And Wilwood brakes, Fuel cell, etc.
I have seen the car perform so impressively at Santa Pod and sadly saw the motor lunch itself at Shakey.
It had been performing strongly and I saw the car launch as I was pushing a car in the fire up lane right next to the action when I noticed the nose drop mid-track. At first I thought it had missed a gear but a conversation with Duncan revealed the motor had blown, and had done so catastrophically.
Boy! Do I know THAT feeling. I have lunched one of these and know the cost and heartache………..
Duncan got the car on a lift, pulled the motor and stripped it, and there is sat for several years while Duncan played with his many other toys….
My mate Roydon is restoring a 1970 Challenger and I contacted Duncan Watts to pick his brains on a couple of points in terms of rear suspension. One thing lead to another and we started discussing the old Bruiser.
To cut a short story even shorter, Duncan cut me a deal and I became the very proud owner of the Challenger – thanks Buddy!
To relatively new members of the club / board; they may not know my racing history and the fact that I rolled a 700bhp ’67 Dart at around 125mph at Santa Pod, thereby becoming a fully paid up member of the Geof Hauser Upside-down club.
Needless to say, as the car will see some track action (whilst being road legal), I had a conversation with my wife and the result was the clear need to upgrade the cage.
Duncan very kindly transported the car to Pete Smith (Chassis Tech Race Cars in Cheshire - http://www.chassistecracecars.com) and Pete has set about refreshing the safety aspects of the car.
I have known Pete (Bedford) for several years and was always impressed with his work and enthusiasm and liking for “Old School” style cars and is prepared to work with a dinosaur like me…..thanks Pete, big respect!
So, the “Journey” has begun.
The biggest single problem for me at this stage is that fact that Duncan had thought of pretty much every trick in the book in terms of suspension, performance, chassis work, etc; and I am struggling to find ways to improve the fundamentals of the car.
I would hate the car to come back out and go SLOWER!!!! At this stage that is a distinct possibility……………
More to follow…
..and I am still thinking of a name for the car (Blue has given me a few tips and pointers for a Period Colour scheme but that will have to wait for while due to the pennies...) Any other ideas on a name for the car would be appreciated, thanks!!!!
