minilite wheels

[Pantera]

The '69 Vette log books (2) start on May 22, 1972. First entry was a Drivers school at Mid Ohio June 9, '72. Won 1st overall two times and the 1 nat was 2nd to Greenwood in A/P. Sold to second owner Oct '77. I bought it in Nov of '79 and first race was 3/29/80 and my last one was - May of '84. About that time it was not fast enough and I tried some faster racecars. I was also working on my T-400 Lola Frisbee Can-Am car and let this car just set on jackstands ever since.

I about went broke the next year when I hired a guy to get it ready for the Dallas GP and was not able to get it ready for that race. After that I just lost interest and everything is still sitting there waiting for me to find time to finish it up and take it out to play.

I have a 36' Chaparall gooseneck Trailer with a 1 ton Dually chev truck to pull it. About that same time I shut down my Bodyshop and used car operation (Called Super Car Center) as the economy was horrible and devoted my time to my Swimming pool business and all of a sudden I am a old man with a lot of old toys and memories. Where did the time go? Just seems like yesterday.

Then came the divorce in '93 and about had to sell everything to pay that off. Sure glad now that I didn't. I just locked the door on all these cars and forgot them and untill about a month before the St Louis, Labor Day show.

For the last 4 years I was heavy into Honda Valkyrie motorcycles. (4) of them. I was so excited about finding out that anyone even knew what a Baldwind Motion car was and to suddenly find out that they were so rare. It appears that I was wise to have kept so many of the cars that I did. I am getting up in years and yet don't feel like it. I had to set myself down and decide to hell with working so hard. I am getting old and I want to have fun for what years that I have left.

My mother just passed away a few months ago and left me enought to enable me to get by and so I am going to devote the next few years to working part time (Easy and quick sales only) and the rest of the time I am going to get all these cars restored where I can show them and have fun driving them.

I have everything I need to do the work and I love to do it to boot. I am not rich like most of the guys on here but can do more with less by doing the work myself. I see the frustration of many on this site having to farm out their restorations and I never could trust anyone else to do the work the way I wanted it so I had to learn to do it myself. It is very satisifing to do it that way.

First off, I am going to build a huge (7200 sf) garage on the back of my home. That will be two stories tall for storage on the upper floor with a car lift to be able to put some of the lighter cars and bodys only up on the second floor. That Can-Am car is so big and takes up a lot of room so it will go up there for sure. Only weighs 1700lbs. 600 hp 302ci. It is nothing but a moving wing. I can't wait to get to drive it one time. It is really a new car built out of everybodys spares and un raced as it is. The chassis is one of only 2 left in the world. (Ex- Ongias) Horst Kroll in Canada had the other one and it was a fast car.

I have also owned a S-2000 (Ex-Rayhal when new) and a Formula 5000 chev powered formula car but it was a hand full to drive fast. Handled like a turd. 88" Wheelbase was too short! Too easy to spin out so I sold it less the motor which I kept for a spare.

Sounds like I will have to do too much to take my vette back to 72 spec's. That would take the fun out of driving it for me. I have been to The runoffs with it and I like it just the way I have it setup. I have some Yongblood wheels for it and they are awsome and light. but they are 10" and illlegal so I will just have to go harass the Porches out west.

Think I will bring it to Collinsville next year and make a pass or two with it.