Indy 1988

[Jeff Niceswanger]

Originally Posted by Jeff Taylor

I was runner up in super stock and I believe the guy who won stock might have been the pipe smoking transmission guy named Ken Shaver

Ken helped me win class at Indy one year. Couple races before Indy week Ken told John and I about his "secret". He told me to go to Tractor Supply and buy a 2-inch water shut off valve. Stick it in the bottom radiator hose. This was before anyone was using dry ice. He showed me how to fill the radiator moments before pushing it to the ready line. Fill the radiator with the coldest water you can get your hands on. After chilling the motor, and more importantly, the radiator...close the water valve. We used the leftover water in our cooler. Do not open the water valve. Leave everything "off". While at the ready line, have John open the hood and open the water valve, but don't start the engine. When told, fire the motor and quickly do your burnout. Pre-stage. THEN...reach down and turn on the radiator cooling fans, but do not turn on the water pump. Durning this period the water temperature is skyrocketing.... but the water in the radiator is still ice cold. The instantaneous cold air flowing out of the radiator is now streaming across the top of the carb. A couple seconds later your off and running. Ken was right it was almost a tenth quicker, especially if it's a hot day outside. At the end of the track "baby" the water pump off and on as you try to get the heat out of the engine. This took a little while as your trying not to crack a head. But eventually I did. I just recently threw that valve away. It laid under the bench for decades. Every time I think of Ken, I think of his help. And of course, that Sir Walter Raleigh tobacco blend in that pipe of his.