Looks like we'll be needing lots and lots of pop rivets.
The hood was pinned, which seemed like that might be a real pain at the track, so I hinged it - lightened it up and made it look real purty! My first checkered for my Rookie Year.
JAMES BIVINS - ROOKIE YEAR! Lakeside Speedway - here we come! Peeps who know us probably figured it wouldn't be long before we were on the dirt track instead of beside it... Well, I'll still be in the stands, but this time my main focus will be on James and our Dodge Demon! I will let James tell the car story - I have to start working on Autograph Cards! C'ya at the track! NASCarla
I've reworked and fixed up the racer front to back, but when it comes to my safety I want my Dad (Terry Bivins) to weld in the seat brackets and seat belts. He has been building race cars his whole life, and knows how to do it right. Just in case of the big one... which we all hope never happens! With a borrowed truck from my boss Scott Crystal, and a trailer from Fred Pullen, I headed down to Lebo. Dad went over some of my welding that was questionable. He also setup the caster, camber and toe so she will go left. This is my first dirt car - so much different than setting up a drag car! Added bonus - Mom made her famous Taco crunch, which was well worth the trip, throwing in some snickerdoodles to go. My Dad looked over the whole car and said it looked really good, and should be ready to start the season at Lakeside. Thanks for all your help Mom and Dad!
Next step was to have our favorite Graphic Specialists Pam, Sheryl and Pauline from Finish Line Designs come over and do a little measuring. Pam got a kick out of the Demon's escape hatch (hopefully I will never have to use it!). I keep threatening to use it during the parade lap, just to wave to my family and fans, I mean friends. Who knows, Childress might be watching one day, and give me an opportunity to race NASCAR, just like he did for Clint - it could happen! Anyway, NASCarla is designing the graphics for the car on her computer, Finish Line will cut and apply them. Blue is my favorite color, and we wanted to keep the body white for now. Graphics are a very important part of a race car - just gotta look good - know what I mean? At least for the first lap. If I said I wasn't nervous about dirt racing at one of the fastest half-miles around, I'd be telling you a lie. But it's a good nervous!
Here's a little video for your entertainment, also, so I could practice my Winner's Circle thank you's...
We had seen a flyer with a race car for sale at Christy's (in Turner), but shrugged it off. I wanted a Monte - thought I needed that Chevy Power! After some serious prodding from Pam and Sheryl - I called the number on the flyer, mostly to ask about the trailer he had for sale. Don Johnson said the trailer was gone, and he had come way down on the price of the 1971 Demon. So, after a quick call to my wife, NASCarla, we bought a factory stock! Don lives a few blocks south of us, so I stopped by to pay him for the car. He turns to me and says "When do you want to pick it up?" I said "Hell, I'm gonna drive it home!" The look on his face was worth the price of the car... He also gave us a Hot Wheel of the original 1971 Dodge Demon 340, along with a Hutchinson Device (required at Lakeside). Don raced the Demon in '07 and a few races in '08, so we know it's been on the track. Don and I have become friends, and he wants to be on my Pit Crew in the '09 season, and hopes to see the car do well. He likes the changes I've made, and thinks it will be a lot faster. Since being away from drag racing several years - it feels really great to have a hot rod in my shop again!
Had to call my boys and tell them to come over and check out Dad's new ride! They were so excited that I'm finally carrying on the Family Tradition.
Gotta mention all the friends and family who helped make our race dream come true - need a bigger hood and trunk!
When the race is over and the car is up on the trailer, one of a driver's most important duties is to take care of their fans. James obliges, feels good for fan and driver alike!
From the looks of this photo you would never believe how tough it was for NASCarla to get her daughter Shannon out to the track on a Friday night - now we couldn't keep her away if we wanted to!
Had plenty of expert help painting - you the Man Don! Thanks to my brother Scott too - I really appreciate all the help and hard work. My Uncle Randy Fritzshall donated all the paint materials, including clear coat - that was AWESOME, thank you Randy! Also, my lovely wife NASCarla kept our energy levels high by baking white chocolate chip cookies... A week later the graphics team from Finish Line Designs (Sheryl, Pam and Pauline) showed up with 3 Papa John's pizza, freshly cut graphics - and we went to work. Taking a little over 4 hours, it was well worth the time - the car looks better than we could have possibly imagined! I'm thinking about calling JD Green at Lakeside Speedway and asking if he would let me be the pace car for a few races... I know it will get some beatin' and bangin' - but damn, we'll look good on that first hot lap! All that's left to do at this point is a little work on the trailer we're borrowing, and try to ease these butterflies flopping around in my stomach. It's going to be a blast!