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PRO_Voice
10-01-2007, 08:16 AM
I just got back from the Miss Torco Shootout in Tulsa, Oklahoma where I had the good fortune of spending a little time with Brian Highsmith. Brian brought out the NMCA True Street 1970 Road Runner to play in the index classes and had a bit of bad luck with it as the harmonic balancer broke on his first pass down the track. Thankfully, all the damage appears to be to the balancer and the timing chain cover seal. It should be an easy fix, but it is yet another gremlin to jump up and bite Team Highsmith in their collective butts!

Oh... In case you were wondering what happened to Blake, he was back home FISHING with his new bride! Dad brought the Plymouth to Tulsa all by himself.

It was really great to see a familiar face at a racetrack I had never been to. Thanks to Brian for making me feel right at home.
marc schank
10-01-2007, 08:45 AM
I just got back from the Miss Torco Shootout in Tulsa

Sounds like a bikini contest.
PRO_Voice
10-01-2007, 08:50 AM
Marc,

Why.... yes! Yes it was a bikini contest! And a good one, too! Three young ladies won trips to Jamaica for 7 days and 6 nights at an all-inclusive resort (The Hedonism III) for a photo shoot for the upcoming 2008 Torco Fuels calendar. I made sure I had a good seat for the contest! :)

When the ladies weren't doing their thing, we also had a drag race featuring Pro Mods, Outlaw 10.5W cars and Limited Street. In fact, Marty Chance had his ProCharger equipped X/S car there and did quite well for himself. It was a good time to be had by all in attendance.
HeatleyRacing
10-01-2007, 09:04 AM
Did the balancer itself break? or did the 3 bolts holding the lower pulley on shear off?? Reason I ask is this happened to me costing me BOOKOO thousands to fix everything it wiped out on the front end..
PRO_Voice
10-01-2007, 09:41 AM
Did the balancer itself break? or did the 3 bolts holding the lower pulley on shear off?? Reason I ask is this happened to me costing me BOOKOO thousands to fix everything it wiped out on the front end..

The blower pulley was still securely fastened to the damper. The damper itself broke into pieces.
HeatleyRacing
10-01-2007, 11:05 AM
Damn, THats too bad, Hope they have a quick fix..
PRO_Voice
10-01-2007, 11:47 AM
When I last saw Brian, he was checking out a new Fluidamper online. He will have to pull the front cover and put in a new seal and it doesn't appear the belt or the pulley were damaged. It should be an easy fix although new Fluidampers are not cheap.
marc schank
10-01-2007, 01:43 PM
Sounds like the "normal" stuff that happens that isn't supposed to happen. It could have been a bunch worse like Tom said. They usually take out the radiator and oil pan after they bounce on the ground.
HeatleyRacing
10-01-2007, 03:05 PM
Sounds like the "normal" stuff that happens that isn't supposed to happen. It could have been a bunch worse like Tom said. They usually take out the radiator and oil pan after they bounce on the ground.

YUP, and when you have my luck you lose the electric fans, the crank trigger, the lower pulley, the vacuum pump and accumulator can...
Paul H K
10-01-2007, 07:10 PM
did it have one crank key?
PRO_Voice
10-02-2007, 07:29 AM
Paul, it was odd the way this thing came apart. It was like the elastomer just ripped in half.
herbert racing
10-02-2007, 06:07 PM
Paul, it was odd the way this thing came apart. It was like the elastomer just ripped in half.
Hey Paul, looks like the bad luck thing has found a new target. You should be good to go sence the bad luck bug has settled in on the Highsmiths. So lets go racing. You should be good to go as long as the Highsmiths are there also. HA HA:rolleyes: