Rooster Call
Sean Haggai
Recently, our project Nova's undercarriage was revamped by CPP to accommodate our latest quest: open-track days and autocross events. We did just that-then reality set in.
To prepare our little Nova for the events ahead, we ordered up last minute items like Scat race seats with brackets, a Grant steering wheel, a helmet, and even a set of 220 treadwear rated Kumhos from Summit Racing. With it all set to go, we made our first event at the El Toro Marine base for the Run to the Coast. This was a three-day driving extravaganza filled with an auto-cross, a speed-stop challenge, and a rather large 2.2-mile road course.
Within a couple of weeks, we were preparing for the Goodguys show in Del Mar. Only this time around, while heading over to Rubio's Auto Body to roll the fenders for additional clearance, I heard something clunking when shifting into Second. Admittedly, we had heard the same sound at El Toro, but we let it pass. Once we had the Nova lifted on jack stands; sure enough one of the four large nuts that fastens the leaf spring to the housing was missing and the other three were on their way out as well.
In a panic, I tried to locate and borrow some from a friend's shop; not even our local auto parts store had them. By this time, we're late into the night at 10:30 p.m.-of course the night before the event. In a last minute funk, my brother and I loaded up a few tools into his truck and stole them from a friend's Camaro that's been sitting dormant in his backyard. We hurried to the garage, installed the missing nut, and retightened that side completely.
While under the Nova we decided to go through the remainder of the chassis. Sure enough, the driver-side leaf spring U-bolts was missing one nut and the other three were loose. Again, we loaded up the truck, looted the Camaro, and reinstalled the nut. A last minute oil check was completed and while shutting our brand-new hood, it fell off the hinge. Guess what? The hood bolt was gone too! After a quick hood alignment, I took a step back to admire my work and found one more issue; one more missing piece of hardware, a lug nut. Needless to say, we got the Nova squared away and made the event the following day. Our reality check? Let's just say it's been "checked."
NMCA Events Near You
It's still early in the year and you still have plenty of time to check out the wild heads-up NMCA action at a dragstrip near you.
8th Annual Kooks Custom Headers NMCA Muscle Car Nationals
Reading, Pennsylvania
June 4-6, 2010
Maple Grove Raceway
5th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing
Joliet, Illinois
July 15-18, 2010
Route 66 Raceway
2nd Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA All Star Nationals
Concord, North Carolina
August 5-8, 2010
zMax Dragway
4th Annual JE Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals
Milan, Michigan
August 27-29, 2010
Milan Dragway
9th Annual NMCA World Street Finals Featuring the LS Shootout
St. Louis, Missouri
October 7-10, 2010
Gateway International Raceway
2nd Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA Lone Star Shootout
Houston, Texas
November 12-14, 2010
Houston Raceway Park
Win A Chance For Free Goodies!
Goodmark Industries announces its first-ever shopping spree contest after response from its Facebook fans. A poll on Goodmark's Facebook fan page was the deciding factor. The contest features three shopping sprees in the amounts of $500, $1,000, and $1,500. Entry is simple; by video entry, fans plead their cases and tell what they are willing to do for free parts. Entry is available to all with the contest closing July 31st, 2010.
Goodmark owner, Tom Owen commented, "Our fans are serious when it comes to their rides, just as we are when it comes to all of our parts and accessories. The shopping spree contest is a fun way to thank our fans and assist their project builds. I can't even begin to imagine how far our fans will go for free Goodmark parts!"