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I think back to the time I thought I would build a race car. A 67 Chevelle, former frame from a car Hutchinson legend Dick Hendershot drove in the early to mid 70's. It was built and owned by Vic Mitchell. Vic is probably more famous for maybe owning the longest running bar in Hutch. Vic's Place on east 4th. Or at least I think he still owns it? I think I give $75 dollars for the frame a roller has they say. Even the great Dick Hendershot couldn't make that car go or win. I had NO clue. Bought this 67 Chevelle for $50. Bought this trailer for I think $100 from Frank Sell. The kind made from probably 24" pipe cut in half (they were the norm) where the tires sat. As I get older and think back I had NO idea what the H--- I was doing. I remember building an engine with all new high dollar parts. I had NO clue. But the very first time I hit the starter button, it started and like to scared the crap out of me. You know open headers, 11.5 dome pistons Isky racing cam cut for 1/4 to 3/8 mile tracks. I'm thinking my heart condition may have started on that day. I had NO clue. Well two years went by and it never made it to the track. I don't remember if it ever made it to a track again. I had No clue.
I think back a couple years before that. I decided I was going to rebuild a 6 cylinder 51 Chevy pickup engine. I had NO clue. I tore it apart in the truck. New rings and bearings done in the truck. I had NO clue. This is how much I new about it. I did the ridge reaming on the cylinders. I had NO clue. I had to hammer (with wood handle end) the pistons with the new rings into the cylinders. Actually left indentions in the pistons. Oh yea I got them down and new bearings installed. Put the oil pan and valve cover on etc. I had NO clue. It wouldn't turn over. You couldn't even pull it with another vehicle to get it to turn over. I had NO clue. The shop I took it to could not help but laugh behind my back I'm sure. If I remember right the only thing they did was take it apart and clean the RING grooves. Oh you need to do that? I had NO clue. Anybody laughing behind my back out there.
Just a little humor in the life and times of big time want to be racer Warren. Was there ever a driver named Warren anyway, anywhere?
Oh yea this is all true you couldn't make this up and what american male would admit this. One photo survived on the 1st page of the Kansas Late Model Section. It was going to be canary yellow with white numbers and lettering outlined in black. I liked the #99 or 55. Of course they were both taken. This was before the days 99w or 55v. You didn't see a lot of 99x even back them. Only when some cherry picker came from far away. Or the nationals or winternationals maybe.
Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes
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