Chilly Willy Drag Racing Blog

 The racing was a complete succes last weekend and all cars made the rounds making it one of the best organized races ive ever been in.  The heat was brutal for the 3 days. The sun poured down on the tack and it was tricky to get a good hard launch. The stick cars spun out of the hole slightly and some got into trouble  grabbing  second gear which made crew chiefs scramble for tire adjustments. The fans got to see  the qualifying and eliminations all happen in a  sweet short  time. We hot lapped the cars in 45 minute intervals, only to return  after our pass with time to refuel, check tires and put a cool drink down to cool off and  then “YOUR UP AGAIN” was heard. Dave Mathers, owner of St.Thomas dragway had a rock and roll beat happening.  This small show was very well organized and was a great success.  Chilly Willys ended up being 2nd fastest qualifier with a 6.19 ET in the 1/8 mile  and had to race the #1 qualifier with his 6.11  ET. What luck!  I took him out of the hole but spun 2nd and he drove away. The big Rossitter horsepower in our car didnt have enough time to catch him and lost. We went out with our heads high. We lost to the champion Ed Wisely in his 34 Ford who was on Team USA.  There are those who put out for this race and need to be thanked. Special thanks to all the Team USA members  who drove the miles and are truely wonderful people, Nelson Bilyk for organizing this event, and whom I  recieved fuel money to help cover some of the  costs. Dave, Linda, Paul and Jen Mathers for having the faith in these racers  to put on the best damn gasser show since the seveties. My crew Ed Vastokas and Lee Pinylo who sweated it out. If you missed it, you missed it. Up above are some of the ones that didnt

The Chilly Willys will be racing this  weekend  at St. Thomas dragway on Sat Aug 15 for one day only as the Can/Am Gassers Match Up will  showcase   with the Big Rigs in their “Truck Nationals” on their 3 day event..  www.stthomasdragway.com  This is a charity event fund raiser for the local hospital and the weekend weather looks hot and sunny. The gassers will be running on the track early afternoon qualifying, and going into the evening with the show down in eliminations. The line consists of 4 Americans and 5 Canadians. Tim Timosyzk of the Great Lakes Gasser Club says he has the 4 American cars that are planning to KICK SOME BUT…. Nelson Bilyks reply “Guess what Tim,  In your dreams.  We have 5 Canadian cars waiting.” Nelson is responsible for forming this racing series and campains his realy bad (Gone Beserk) HEMI Willys.  This track has been in existence since 1962 and has been a major promoter of Nostalgic racing events in Southern Ontario. We expect these events to grow into full fledged Gasser Wars. Hope to see you there….Dyno Dan

Bob gets the quick shot

Well, the car keeps on getting faster and the spark plugs say no ones home yet. First pass at the track  on Friday was fast and hard with a 6.16 ET beating our Thompson Ohio pass in June with the 6.20 ET. We were all happy because the furnace is starting to warm up.  We then ran again the next day and had a big wheelie in second gear and unloaded the chassis on the wheelie bars which  moved the car out of the groove and pushed me over to the wall at about 80 mph and I thought I hit it. It was so close. I can laugh about it now,. but its taken me a couple days to forget the scare. After an incident like that you shake for a bit. We couldn’t close the day off without trying to settle the car down for the next run. We did a shock adjustment and pumped the tire up one more pound  to 16, believe it or not and WHAMO.  That car left like a bullet and ran a 6.08/114 MPH.  Still did the big air in first gear, second gear popped the nose up and the wheelie bars just kissed the track and rode straight out with a long gentle wheelie. What a feeling. Shifting third, then fourth gear to get  the job done are the last little breaths you take under tension. Then its all over and you slow down and then get your report card.(time ticket)  I know in that pass the engine revved over 8000 while power shifting. We just did a valve lash check and everything is perfect. I think we are going to put the camera in the car next time we go down the track and show you what its like. Im also trying to get  a video of the near crash from someone who recorded it at the show and post it.  Here are some pics from the event taken by my friend Bob Wenzelburger,  P.S. if anyone has any pics or videos  to offer, im always interested, thanks and enjoy… Dyno

WHR 2009

Always smiling.

We love Chilly Willys.

Bill with his Chilly Willys shirt on

Smilin and profilin

I got free beer cause I had my Chilly Willys shirt on

Its hot outside but cool here.

The Johnson family that owned Niagra Drag Strip.

Yeah, I love this car.

Fans crowd the barriers to get a glimpse.

There were so many  people walking around, lots of smiling faces and here are some of them. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello.We enjoyed your company. Oh and if you were wondering how the car went, that will be the next post.   Thanks, Dyno

Thanks for the calendar.

Taking a break for a picture.

In memory of Chuck Finders car getting ready to fire up

Once again the Willys home Run at Dunn Raceway park in Lancaster, Buffalo, has begun. Some call it the “Meca and it runs right beside I-90 Interstate where the big road trains haul” This year the event opened up a day earlier.and the line up at the gate  started the night before. The Willys Home Run is exciting for the racers and fans as they get the real feel of the cars pounding down the 1/8 mile strip.  The racers pits and grand stands face each other on opposing sides of the track. We watched the cars Thursday eve, some ripped by clocking under 6 seconds. . Its cool to see the acceleration and  speeds reached before they have to shut it down.  The end of the track comes quickly with a sharp right turn, slamming  the brakes right after you stop the clock is real necessary or your going in the woods. Quicker cars like to pop the chute.  Ones that don’t have that option, hold on tight  and clean off their sidewalls. The track is well prepped and the grounds are clean. The beer tent serves Molsons, the souvenir shop is loaded with lots of great nicknacks and clothing, The track grill smokes away serving a delicious generous portion. And you can also buy pictures of your favorite car from the track photographer.  Theres many who travel along way to race and the numbers keep getting larger. Some of the cars are just gorgeous and the paintjobs are flawless, almost too nice to chance racing,  the reason why we do it varies, but we all have one thing in common. The adrenaline surge.  Dyno