NHRA Drag Racing for the past 2 decades 1977 Sanger Picklefork Page or PTR Dragster Page
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NHRA Drag Racing for the past 2 decades 1977 Sanger Picklefork Page or PTR Dragster Page
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you're on the Sanger Picklefork pagereturn to the HOME PAGE Our MissionTo be safe and have as much fun as we can, keeping up on the most important bills, and spending every other dollar we have on our toys and necessities... AND go real fast.
Projects:Our latest project began life some years ago, when a drag boat racer named Scott Cone drove a 1977 Sanger Picklefork Hydro into history, winning the 1997 IHBA World Championship at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix in his class and the rest is history. Read up on the message board at www.dragboatracing.com and following this link (message board topic) (or this one) you can read the comments for yourself.
Here's Scott and myself at his place looking like we know what we're doing. This is a shot of Scott and the 'ol boat in action. The boat was later on sold to a guy in Lodi, Ca. who owned a Harley Bike Shop and he raced it awhile but had quite an unfortunate accident... Seemed the boat was almost destroyed in a freak fire that started while changing oil in their shop! Just like a chicken on a spit, the hydro suffered serious damage to the gel coat of almost 50% of it's hull. The trailer paint was toasted, the wiring burnt, the trailer lights melted from their retainers and the fender carpet was melted off the plywood liners.
The fire bubbled and separated the gel coat, cutting into many layers of glass mat and making a general mess of things. After almost two years of part time efforts, the hull was restored to as "good as factory new" condition and the boat actually looked as if it might float once again. While up on blocks, the original back to back seats were salvaged and re-upholstered to new condition. A bare block and trans case was used to mock up what would soon turn into a really radical ski boat!
After 5 years of planning, working late nights, sanding, refinishing, and sweating over the project, it finally came to a satisfying, quiet evening in August 2008 when the motor was bolted in and the lines hooked up. No-one was around to celebrate but at 10 pm on August 2, 2008 a cold beer was opened and a small amount was splashed on the bow to christen it the "PENZ wet TOY". No-one else was there, no friends / family members / or strangers... only me... the mechanic, the designer, the crew-chief, the man who held the sanding block. The one who scraped fiberglass resin from his dirty stained fingers, the one who cut himself on a sharp glass edge and bled on the hull...yes, just me, the cool of the evening, and this beautiful restored classic Sanger Picklefork Ski Hydro. I sat there on a box, drank my brew and reflected on the completeness of the whole project, almost depressed that the long road of endless tasks was finally over and nothing was left to plan to do, or budget for... but...
LETS GET 'ER WET! The next morning at daylight I was leaving for a 9 day vacation in the mountains and she was getting her butt wet for the first time in 5 years! And all because of me and my efforts.
The AWESOME paint is a product of Steve @ Outlaw Grafix in Yuba City, Ca. A combination of Lightening Bolts laid over true flames in shades of purple... and of course... the result of all those efforts!
Photo Gallery-Videos at the bottom
The Willows Car Show held annually in the small rural town of Willows (duh), was the spot to impress the crowd and fire it up for the first time after some small engine work changes that occurred on the vacation. Here's a link to the You-Tube videos shot by a friend who was there. Remember... this is a Blown Alcohol 540 cu in Big Block Chevy... gas is for washing parts. LoL
WILLOWS CAR SHOW... FIRST START UP ON BLOWN MOTOR AND SECOND START UP AS WELL. SUBMITTED BY A FRIEND OF MINE, JOHN SPOONER.
OROVILLE AFTERBAY, AT OROVILLE, SEPT 21, 2008 ONLY A FEW MINUTES OF RUN TIME ON THE HYDRO TO CHECK FOR LEAKS, SQUEAKS, AND THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T GO "BUMP" IN THE MOTOR.
Contact Information
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