1973 Nova I/SA Chasing the Dream

rboyle · 03-16-2015, 10:05 PM

I've been around the sport of drag racing since I was young. My dad had a '59 Corvette gasser that he used to race when I as a little kid. (my brother has it now as a street car). I can still remember the first time I went with him to a race and some of the times since then. I became friends with some of the other kids who's dad's raced with him back then and am proud to say still friends with some of them so many decades later still. One of those friends lived around the block from my grandma and shared the same fence. We became close and even closer as the years and life experiences went by. When we were young adults his dad started taking us to the races with him to help him out as his crew. When we weren't getting into some trouble we did our best to help and it ingrained in us some good hard work ethics and planted the racing seed deeper. My buddy and I started with street racers and eventually into some better cars, he picked it up very quick. I had the desire but lacked the dedication that he had. He since won many national and divisional events and a World Championship and I basically went into early retirement from racing. We always remained friends no matter the distance or time that lapsed. Anyway fast forward to this year. I went to Maple Grove with my oldest daughter because her tournament nearby got day 1 cancelled for poor field conditions. Frank took her around and let her get the experience of being in the lanes and on the starting line and in the pits. On the way home she said she thinks she could do that. I told Frank and said keep an eye out for a decent affordable stocker. (easier said than done right?) Well after the holidays he sent me a link to a car I had seen earlier and had some interest in. It was still for sale. I went back and forth and hesitated and finally made the call. The car was in Fla. and I am in NY so I thought that was going to be a deal killer. Frank said, Rich if you want it I'll be at the race in Gainesville and have room in the trailer, we'll take it to Belle Rose and you can race it there, then we'll take it home. How could I turn down an offer like that? The deal was struck, the plan was laid, tickets and licenses and many details worked out. I'll drive it until she's ready and work out the bugs. My friend and his dad and race partners did me a favor that I can never repay but I guess if opportunity knocks you have to answer. The car's in the trailer, the butterflies are in the stomach and Frankie, Frank, Phil and Steve have an IOU for life. Thanks for the opportunity and hoping for a smooth first National Event.

03-16-2015, 10:05 PM	#1
rboyle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 603 Likes: 1,453 Liked 586 Times in 162 Posts	1973 Nova I/SA Chasing the Dream I've been around the sport of drag racing since I was young. My dad had a '59 Corvette gasser that he used to race when I as a little kid. (my brother has it now as a street car). I can still remember the first time I went with him to a race and some of the times since then. I became friends with some of the other kids who's dad's raced with him back then and am proud to say still friends with some of them so many decades later still. One of those friends lived around the block from my grandma and shared the same fence. We became close and even closer as the years and life experiences went by. When we were young adults his dad started taking us to the races with him to help him out as his crew. When we weren't getting into some trouble we did our best to help and it ingrained in us some good hard work ethics and planted the racing seed deeper. My buddy and I started with street racers and eventually into some better cars, he picked it up very quick. I had the desire but lacked the dedication that he had. He since won many national and divisional events and a World Championship and I basically went into early retirement from racing. We always remained friends no matter the distance or time that lapsed. Anyway fast forward to this year. I went to Maple Grove with my oldest daughter because her tournament nearby got day 1 cancelled for poor field conditions. Frank took her around and let her get the experience of being in the lanes and on the starting line and in the pits. On the way home she said she thinks she could do that. I told Frank and said keep an eye out for a decent affordable stocker. (easier said than done right?) Well after the holidays he sent me a link to a car I had seen earlier and had some interest in. It was still for sale. I went back and forth and hesitated and finally made the call. The car was in Fla. and I am in NY so I thought that was going to be a deal killer. Frank said, Rich if you want it I'll be at the race in Gainesville and have room in the trailer, we'll take it to Belle Rose and you can race it there, then we'll take it home. How could I turn down an offer like that? The deal was struck, the plan was laid, tickets and licenses and many details worked out. I'll drive it until she's ready and work out the bugs. My friend and his dad and race partners did me a favor that I can never repay but I guess if opportunity knocks you have to answer. The car's in the trailer, the butterflies are in the stomach and Frankie, Frank, Phil and Steve have an IOU for life. Thanks for the opportunity and hoping for a smooth first National Event.