Build Purist Step away. Mint 400 2023 FJ45

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So happy to have been a small part of this record setting event!

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Its been nice being able to focus on other projects. Last week Josh & Andie came by for a visit. I finished a carb rebuild for @rockcod and we put it on the 55 for test run yesterday I got so motivated I upgraded the alternator to a later FJ60 alternator . Looking forward to going out to his place next week for some Cruiser time. I also dug out this Non USA 2F 4 speed combo. My plan is separate the H41 and split case and use the motor for Emma the FJ25 project with a 3 or 4 speed combo. The 25 build is just for fun kind of like the old LV project. I sorted through everything I have collected the past few months and I hope to start the LS 6.0 swap in the Troopy sometime in December, We are still set to be at El Mirage on October 19th for some speed runs.

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El Mirage Update. I went to my first Road Runner club meeting Tuesday. Great group of people. Lots of El Mirage racing experience . Sadly due to the heavy rains we have received this weekends speed runs are cancelled. W hope we will get another shot in November.

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Great news from the Southern California Timing association and the El Mirage Road Runners club. The lake has dried out and they started prepping the course for next weekends Speed runs. This will be our final Event of 2025 with the 45. Its a 2 day event 11/08-11/09. The El Mirage course was established in 1937 so there is a ton of history out there. And another first for the Race FJ45

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We arrive Friday and got camp set up. Within minutes we are surrounded by the older gentlemen in the club I had signed up with El Mirage Roadrunners. Mike the Club President has been racing out there since 1978. Once on the lakebed all racecars must be towed. You are only allowed to drive on course during your run. Tech was intense, understand this is a 1 mile dirt course with rigs hitting speeds at 230mph ( In a Mile WOW ) SCTA rules are close to NHRA. When the list was done we were missing Engine compartment fire suppression system, window nets not attached to roll bar, inercia fuel shut off valve, no outside kill switch, roll bar side and rear helmet pads, and arm restraints. After a 2 1/2 hour tech session and everyone from the President of SCTA, Tech Director and Event Manager. They even had a Zoom call with their Event insurance provider. They agreed I could run limited to 75MPH. Now the Big issue Arm restraints ! The ones I was loaned were to short I couldn't shift into 2nd gear. I spent all day Saturday trying to find something that would work and getting to the point I was just going to call it. When I did find a pair they were out dated LOL Weather conditions were perfect and seeing the other rigs racing down the track was amazing. I knew I might never get another chance to run here so I started going from camp to camp. After 11 tries a fellow races had what we needed. Arm restraints long enough and within the rule guidelines. This was Saturday and by the time I got everything together the course was closed for the day. Everyone was excited in camp, tomorrow ( Sunday ) we were going to get to make a run. I had the best night's sleep. This was another bucket list item for the 45. Run at El Mirage during a sanctioned Land speed event.

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Sunday morning. I was up before 6am and getting ready for the morning drivers meeting at 7. Wendy and I were at the Start tower in time and after a 35 minute review we headed over to the registration trailer to pay our entry fee and finish our paperwork. By the time we got back to camp everyone was up and ready. Josh, Andie and Annaliese would stay in camp, Rob, Corina and the guys from the Roadrunner club would follow us up to the start line. Before I left Andie came over with Annaliese and put a good luck footprint on my race suit. I felt really good the 45 was warmed up and running Great. All the safety stuff was checked off and this was really happening. We were going to run El Mirage. We had invited some new friends who had never been to El Mirage or been apart of anything like this, at one point they mentioned " I am starting to think this is a pretty big deal " I had to smile Yes it kinda is. This is where racing started in So Calif. The beginning's of NHRA, drag racing and land speed racing. With Wendy in the FJ60 they towed myself and the 45 up to the Rookie staging lane where I would wait my turn.

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I will let the videos speak for themselves. Think about this : El Mirage's racing history The scene was organized in 1937 with the formation of the Southern California Timing association. 88 years of racing history. This is where land speed got its start and eventually NHRA was formed, After a final safety check I was pushed up to the start position. I took a quick glance around just soaking in the moment. I watched the starter and got the hand sign to close my visor next was a thumbs up. I signaled I was ready and the starter turned and pointed down the track. The first 300 feet was very loose I eased into the throttle and pushed the 45 into 2nd gear. Everything felt Great and sounded Awesome. I really had no idea what was going on around me, 3rd gear looking over at the GPS I was already at 73 MPH with a 1/4 mile to go. I had been allowed to run with a max speed of 75 MPH the last thing I wanted to do was get in trouble of burn those who had given me this opportunity to run. I was going to hit it over 70 I backed out and held it close to 71 MPH through the timing trap. I slowed down and made the turn off onto the return road where I would wait for Wendy to tow me back to camp/pit. Next thing I know a group of SCTA Official's are next to me smiling and cheering me on. We had done it. A timed run during a SCTA Land speed weekend. 71.633 MPH. I realized later after watching the video the SCTA Official's had pulled out behind me an followed me down the course. Kind of a Burt Monroe ( World Fastest Indian ) moment LOL What a Great experience and another bucket list achievement for the 45 and Rusty Nail racing.
 
Metaphor?… off into the sunset?

Hope not.
 
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