With the auto shows completed, the next thing on the list with the streamliner was to test it at our local dragstrip, the Darlington Dragway. Toward that end, Mike began the task of checking out different components on the car and making a few minor tweaks. Once that was done Adam, Mike, the kids and I gathered at the shop one afternoon to crank the motor. Mike wanted to actually put the car in gear and move it forward ever so slightly. That is tricky for such a powerful motor and in such a confined area. Mike had cleared a path the length of the building on one side for this purpose. (I was much more nervous about attempting this than I should have been but everything went fine and the car did NOT shoot out of the building into the back of the trailer at the other end.) One fact revealed to Mike during this test was that the manual steering needed to be replaced with a power steering system to ensure that he can maneuver the car in an emergency.
Following this realization, Mike spent the next two weeks chasing making the steering change. After expert advice from Jones Racing Parts and Sweet Engineering, numerous parts being delivered and the machining of one spindle by Mike Kopchik of Rage Fuel Systems, the power steering was completed just in time to test the car at Darlington. It seems that every milestone must be accompanied by a 24-hour day put in by Mike on some just-in-the-knick-of-time task that must be completed and this time was no exception.
Run number one done and prepping for number two.
We had quite a group show up at the dragstrip for testing. The crew that had gone to Bonneville with us last summer were all there . . . son-in-law Adam, friends Trey, John and Joey and Mike’s brother Marshall. We had the pleasure of having David Skipper, our great-nephew, come down with Marshall. Close family friends Sammy and Janie Campbell and Don McFadden came over. Our daughter Shannon, Trey’s wife Amanda and everyone’s kids rounded out the group.
Joey and Trey packing the parachutes.
Mike had arranged for us to have the dragstrip to ourselves for testing. We had a rescue squad on site just in case of an emergency. Rhett Gardner, the track manager, could not have been more accommodating. Mike had explained that what he hoped to accomplish was to make three passes. We needed to validate all of the engineering that has gone into the car overall as well as test the clutch and transmission changes he has made and the new steering system. Testing the parachutes was another item on the checklist. It was great that the whole crew was there so we could all get comfortable with the routine of prepping the car for a run, strapping Mike in, starting the engine, communicating via radio, pushing him off with the truck, etc. I have to stop here and say that all of this can be done WITHOUT me. I am humbled that somehow this team of folks are interested in the project and talented in the areas that allow for Mike to hopefully accomplish his goals and in as safe a way as possible. I am not capable of performing (or even understanding) most of the duties these guys are doing. A HUGE thank you to all of you!
Check, check and check! The day was a resounding success. Things could not have gone better. We tested everything Mike had on his list and had no major issues. (I feel kind of funny typing that . . . as if I might CAUSE something to go wrong by mentioning the success. I HOPE NOT!!!)
Let me back up and mention one scary situation averted the night before the testing. God’s protection was very evident once again. In order to crank the engine, it must be connected to a remote battery. The last thing Mike did before leaving the shop the afternoon before was to hook up the battery to the charger. As I mentioned, he had been up all night the night before so he was tired. He went to sleep but woke up just before midnight remembering something he needed to do at the shop. I don’t even know what it was but he got up and drove down to the shop to take care of it. When he opened up the shop he smelled a strong odor. He determined that the odor was the battery. Apparently the charger had not shut off once the battery was charged to 100%. The battery was red hot and had expanded so that rather than being rectangular it looked more like a watermelon! I shutter to think what would have happened if he had not been awakened. What a blessing he got there to unplug the charger.
We are now about 9 weeks away from the next Bonneville Speed Week event. With the testing complete, Mike will take the car apart again to check it thoroughly, put it back together and then wait. Maybe he can focus on some other things. You think?
Mike Welch Modifieds 