Chute Out

Newsletter January 2001

Approximately 50 participated in the tour and
approximately 30 retired to Pappy‘s Restaurant at 8:15
for a short meeting.
Guests attending whose names we did get were: Tommy
McDonald, Al Williams, Frank Doze, Randy Bragg, Evelyn
Roth, Bari Spencer, Barbara Denning, Sam Solinsky.
Prospective members attending: Gary Morse and Don Oaks
Tour of Facility: Photos
Alan Johnson owns and operates Alan Johnson
Engineering, building cylinder heads for automotive,
motorcycle and boat racing teams. Alan is also the
owner and crew chief of the Team Winston Top Fuel
dragster, a four-time champion in NHRA Winston Top
Fuel Dragster competition and a five-time champion in
NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster. 
In the “Head Room” our tour guide, Rick
Wilkinson-Technical Advisor, said their heads are
shipped all over the world. They also do full repair
service for top fuel cars and they have 6 to 7
workers, just doing assembly, because they have to
supply 6 teams for the opener at Pomona this month. 
Alan’s specialty is designing high performance heads
for unique configurations and applications. Several
were pointed out on workbenches that looked very
different from what we had seen before! 
We were then escorted into a warehouse containing two
large truck and trailer rigs with their respective
racecars, disassembled on the floor in front of them.
They were Alan Johnson’s NHRA Winston Drag Racing top
fuel car driven by Gary Scelzi and Top Fuel Funny Car
(a firebird) driven by Bruce Sarver. Everyone had an
opportunity to inspect the vehicles and watch them
still being worked on, by the race crews, at 7:30 at
night. 
Checking out the interiors of the trailer rigs was a
revelation for us low budget racers. A family of four
could live comfortably inside one for life! It holds
two cars in the top compartment above the extensive
counter and storage space for crew to work and store
equipment and supplies. To the front is a raised area
to step up into with plush couches and a table and
more storage (i.e. living room) and probably a
bathroom which we couldn’t see. 
Other parts and accessories were spread around the
warehouse, which we all poked our noses into and we
were offered photo “Hero” cards of each car and driver
as we left.
A group photo was also taken be Evey who says it will
be available to look at on www.oilstick.com. (Which
also has photos of the Gas-Up for those who have not
checked it out). This newsletter will also be on the
oilstick website with additional photos taken during
the tour.
Quick review of SCTA December Meeting:
Matt Williams, our new President, and Tim Rochlitzer
reported on the SCTA meeting.
Regarding prior discussions on new rules and
regulations: some decisions about vehicle changes
being acceptable in certain classes appear to be
approved for club and starting line points, but not
toward the Championship. Call Tim or Matt for
elaboration.
Bev Stanley, who does the SCTA web page photos, is
resigning February 1st. She will be sorely missed.
Muroc: No new information yet. Because no one wanted
to chair the event Mike Cook recommended canceling it
and Mike Waters seconded but Wes Hutchins volunteered
to chair it so it is still on, subject to the
General’s decision. Matt and Tim had some discussion
with Wes and, if Muroc is run, club members will have
to pull some extra duty to support the event.
Jim Dietz talked about a new material he has
available, called “Torminex” which is more stretchy
than Nomex and it doesn’t make a difference if it is
clean or not, it will protect from burn the same as
Nomex which has to be clean to provide it’s
protection.
Check your seat belt dates - if close to 5 years - you
should change them. Also racing suits used to need to
be replaced after 5 years but if they are taken care
of and clean can be recertified instead.
Don’t use Jabsco water pump for cooling because they
don't have enough pressure, with any restriction
drastically slowing or stopping the flow.
SCTA Dues were not discussed so unknown if they are
going up or not yet. Our club dues remain the same at
$50 and are due now. 



GCRR News:
February’s meeting will be held at 7pm at Mondello’s
Tech School, 830 21st Street, in Paso Robles, on Feb
6th. Quick meeting followed by a tour and
demonstrations. Suggested local dinning at Pepe's
Restaurant, 1114 Pine Street or Lolo's, 305 Spring
Street.
Information on our next Gas-up will be published in
the SCTA Racing News to give people more notice. 
No new information on our April 7th party. More to
follow.
Gail gave a rundown on the P.O.P. Motorsports crew’s
trials and tribulations in getting their race car
repaired, after Doug Odom’s rollover, and ready to
load on a container for its trip to Adelaide,
Australia. It left port on January 8th. For those who
are interested in land speed racing “Down Under”,
check out the website of the Dry Lakes Racers
Australia (D.L.R.A.),
"http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dlra/".

Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:30 pm.


Honorary Club Member Quinn Epperly
died January 7, at his home in Paso Robles.
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