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

All happening this weekend.

The  unpredictable  and not forgotten rulers of the gas classes will be at  St.Thomas Dragway this weekend for the Twelveth Annual Hot Rod Reunion. These cars are wild and fast and have drivers with nerves of steel.  Its Canada and USA going at it and its only the first of many event planned for Canada. John Rossitter  of  “John Rossitter Motorsports” directs the event on the North side of the border.  Johns quoted as saying  ” Its been alot of work to get this event together, theres been great planning and  with that has come a fist full of cash for the the racers involved, in fact the largest payout to date for the AA/G.  We have been fortunate to have brought on board sponsors that are obviously wanting to support the AA gass racing in Canada  and  potentially in the USA. Our sponsors are involved in the  AA gas  due to their passion for the  HEADS UP RACING”   Also on hand will be the Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny cars laying down free  strips of rubber 1/8 mile at a time with their killer burn outs.  Have you ever been beside an  A/FC when it fires up? The  alcohol shoots out the zoomies and rains cooling little droplets on your skin.  Make sure you are  wearing  your favorite track T-shirt when you get the chance.   Big time horsepower, fast cars, long smokey burnouts, clean and safe grounds at the  WISECO HOT ROD REUNION all happening at St.Thomas this weekend. Youll  need to buy the whole seat,  but youll only need the edge……. Dyno.

Tommy strugles holding Ridge back from firing up Melanies VooDoo ride.

Last weekend we went to the Bend to see a great show happen. The weather made track officials work hard as it drizzled here and there on Saturday, but as ussual  they had what it takes to keep the track ready :job well done. The numbers were good in regards to the fans, they all got to see the greats blast down the strip.  Some passes set records and some got tangled into the wall.  Ray Commisso damaged his car and is apparently suffering some physical  damage. I wish him well, he is a great guy and a top notch  Canadian drag racer.   There was a funnycar match race between Paul Noakes and Rob Atchison,  Atch was lucky to win that one.  Seems they like to go at it,  just like the James Boys 33 Willys and  the Chilly Willys. LOL……  The highlight of my  day  was to personally meet NHRA beau  Nirto Funnycar pilot- Tommy Johnson Jr. and his  beautiful wife, Melanie Troxel who  drives the R2B2-VOODOO 63 pro-mod vet. (She also drives fuel funnycar and fuel dragster too!) I wonder what they drive back at home for their day to day.  Among  many of her  skills, her cat like quickness reaction time, and very competitive driving abilities  has obviously granted her  as being recognized as  one of the   best levers (driver)  in the  IHRA and NHRA.   My son and I  were lucky enough to speak to Tommy and Melanie  for a brief moment in between  rounds when they were real busy, they were calm and very nice.  It ads to your day when celebrities of high regard like those two, take the time  to hear us little people speak. We left their pit with an ear to ear smile and will always be their fans.  I forgot to mention they also both signed Val Potters  rendition of a  Pro mod  Chilly Willys that will hopefully one day emerge.  Wouldnt that be neat to have Tommy Jr. in the hot seat of that car  racing his wife in the next  lane. You know guys,  Tommy might have to let her win. LOL.  To finish off, we are lucky to have the race tracks around us, so lets use and respect the grounds and praise the people who keep them running. We are also lucky to have the people  who own, drive, crew,  build and  sponsor these cars so we have this enterainment. Drag racing is one fun family sport.  Nothing like the smell of nitro first thing in the morning. CH3NO2     Thanks, Dyno.

Sweet Melanie sqeezes one lucky little man.

So I decided somehow to think its better to leave the hole in 3rd gear instead of 1st gear and beat up my clutch como real real bad. After I let the clutch go at 5000 rpm, there was nothing there so I immediately new I screwed up. It moved off the line like it had a black and decker aquarium pump powering it…… That was on the first pass to.  So needless to say we packed the car up and went home.  The crew was really disapointed and I felt pretty low. They work hard for these days of racing and I went and blew it. The only way they would forgive me was for me to buy them  lunch.  Now  its tearing down time and putting the brandnew spares in. My gracious sponser Buffalo Clutch will be happy to see my parts. Poor guys. Dont know why they still like me…… Thanks , Willys home run is soon.

 First weekend in July we are headed if the weather is good to go and get my licence for 9 second and quicker at ST. Thomas drag strip in St.Thomas Ontario, Canada.  This is a lovely track  run by a group of wonderful people.  Dave, Lynda, and Paul Mathers and theyre crew of course. It is the only  NHRA certified  track around that can provide me with the licence if all goes well.  To pass your licence you  must do a series of 6 passes showing  care and control of your vehicle from short  lenghts to the full 1/4 mile.  This licence lasts for two years and then you have to do it all again. Oh well, its a great excuse to go racing.   We are also headed to Lancaster, New York on July 30th - Aug 2 for the Willys Home Run. This is an 1/8 mile strip and its a great  nostalgic show.  From show and shines to Nostalgia Funny cars, oh and a wicked AA gas shotout. I will write about that next in a few days and link it for your viewing.  Thanks Danny

Hey fans of  Chilly Willys, we went to the strip a few weeks ago and did two passes on a new fuel system for the car. Sat morning was the first run out of the box and went 9.81/ 136 mph, its the fastest we went so far. Then next morning we did another after checking things over and lit the mag and ran a 9.71 / 128 mph. Now if you look at the two mph results, you will see that one is lower than the other.  Well I had to take my foot off  of it on the second pass   a good 100 feet  before the eyes to try and slow our ET down. If you start running faster than 9 second,  the track can start freeking out about not having a licence .  So we went home and were very happy about our new ETs.  And theres still more.  This  pic was  the 9.71 pass  and went like a funky chicken out of the hole. LOL   Want to thank my crew chief John Rossitter and lead crew man Brian Dick, Lydia Bilyk  for the job well done and little Ridge for adjusting the clutch under the car.  Also I had a very special  friend come down from North Carolina as our guest- Tommy Johnson Senior. His son races NHRA Top Fuel Funnycar and is married to Melanie Troxel who also pilots a Top Fuel Dragster. She is also driving the R2B2 voodoo  pro mod.  Anyway stay tuned for more exciting updates…………………