This is a half and half race report...first the non racing news...I had weight loss surgery on Monday Oct. 7th...supposed to be in and out on Tuesday the 8th...oops!...complications arose and I was not discharged until Friday the 11th...I am feeling OK, not great...I have no doubt all will be well with time...I am looking to lose about 170 lbs...I started this journey on May 25th at 367 lbs...my quality of life was not going well so I had to take action...I could not do it with diet alone...exercise was out of the question...I played football on scholarship in college and beat the snot out of my body...no complaints as I got a "free" degree but I have been paying for it since turning 50...oh well...

Now on to the race report...obviously I cannot race but a buddy of mine borrowed my car for the NHRA division 2 finals this weekend...well, my black cloud apparently follows the car...sigh...he was going along great until the semi's of the race of champions...he had his guy covered and the cockpit filled with smoke...he pulled over and lost, of course...turns out the alternator froze up...qwap!...this after the car stopped cooling off like it should...the radiator stopped working properly as did the fan...sheesh...he raced it today on the battery and do not know how he did...

I had planned on taking the car to a wiring guru to be completely re-wired...this will happen on Monday the 14th...when I get it back we will have to replace the alternator, radiator and fan...all this needs to be done so I can go to a 5 race event at Rockingham NC on Oct. 30th...are we having fun yet?...

 

Dan,

Glad to hear you came through the surgery OK. I am pulling for you and will continue to have you in my prayers. As for your car, I agree with a previous post that suggested you consider an exorcism!

Jim

 

Can't offer any help on your car trouble but want to wish you all the best with
reaching your weight goal. It will be hard but stay with it,you will fell much better.
Jimmy

 

Thanks guys...I will definitely reach my weight goal and the car will be as good as it can be shortly...lol...btw, I'm told on Friday the car made 5 passes and went 4.216 to the 330' mark 5 times in a row...nasty!...especially for a pump gas car....woot!..

 

Wow Dan, sorry to hear about the complications. Glad you're on your way to good health.

 

Dan, best wishes healing up quickly!

and, good luck sorting out this car... maybe the old whip wasn’t so bad after all... just sayin’.

 

Thanks Bob and Pete...yes, Pete, we are getting a handle on her...we have decided to do everything planned this time around except for the new shocks...so everything mentioned above plus a new driveshaft, u-joints and billet yoke and new front runners...whew!...I will post pics of the wiring...this guy is an artist...

 

Hi I’m Ron Higgins
I use to race with the ECS gang at E town. I had stomach surgery 7 weeks ago. Lost over 40 lbs. feeling great. Down to 274. Can actually get into the 96 a lot easier. Stick with it it works I gag the gastric sleeve. Good luck. Ron

 

Thanks Ron, that is good to hear...I see the doctor next tuesday...we'll see how I am doing then...I can say that pre-surgery I took 3 diabetes pills a day and am down to one a day already...I also took two high blood pressure pills every day and now take one a day...my sugar is now averaging between 92 and 108 and my BP is around 116 /65 every day...all this in 11 days since the surgery...

 

Dan, best wishes to ya. As we age we are forced to do "Big" changes. Good luck with your racing program as well.

 

How ya doing Dan? Hope all is well!!

 

Dan, I hope all is progressing well for you. My niece just had the same surgery about 3 weeks ago and she's doing well.

Hey Ron, nice to hear from you. You still racing somewhere? I've been racing Leb Valley and Island sporadically.

 

Ralph and Pete....I am doing well, thanks for asking...I had a big test this past weekend and passed with flying colors...it felt real good to get back in the racing saddle...lol...I am down about 85 lbs. so far...I get a check up for med adjustment next week...I am down to 3 pills a day versus 11 before already...best of luck to your niece, Ralph...

 

Wow, those are impressive results already.

 

Wow that’s more weight loss than me in less time. Good luck. Ralph all is well no racing. Just fishing. Sold trailer and tires still have the cars. Maybe someday. Everyone take care

 

Ron...I should have clarified...the 85 lbs. includes 50 lbs. pre-surgery to get ready for it...lol...I have lost 36 lbs. in the 30 days since surgery...best of luck to you my friend...

 

That’s a great pre surgery
weight loss I’m down 50 lbs over 3 months from date of surgery. Feeling great no problems. Best of luck to you

 

Dan, amazing results from the surgery. Hope your feeling better!

 

Thanks John...I am feeling pretty good but the best part so far is I am moving better...heck, I can get in and out of my race car without removing the steering wheel now...lol...speaking of my race car, yesterday we put new AFCO shocks all around...single adjustable up front and double adjustables with new springs out back...the interesting part was we found all of the four link bars were froze up...I knew the previous owner was cheap but apparently he did not perform basic maintenance either...geez...none of the four link bars could be turned...after 4 hours of a torch, pb blaster, a sledge hammer and a 3 ft. persuader we got everything off, cleaned up with new bolts and nuts...now all the heim joints are freed up and the links all adjust once again...the dirt, crud and stuff that came off was unreal...had to be 20 years worth...sheesh...

Anyway, all is good now and I am looking forward to the Citrus Nats next weekend at Palm Beach...I have rebuilt the car in the last 3 weeks....I plan to get the driver rust shook off and then hurt some feelin's...

 

Good luck in Palm Beach, Dan! Glad to hear you got the 4-link sorted out.