: I'm planning to go to Columbus next month if
: the weather forecast is good to race my 1971
: Valiant with the "Screamin' Six"
: engine. However, I'm worried about the car
: making it through the tech inspection to
: race. The car is getting pretty rusty all
: over. Both fenders and 1/4 panels have holes
: in them or chunks missing, the driver's door
: has some small rust holes coming through,
: and the rear leaf spring mounts are getting
: to be more see-through than is considered
: safe. I don't want to go all the way out
: there with it if they won't let me race with
: it. The people at my local dragstrip have
: seen me coming in for 8 years now, and don't
: even look at my cars much anymore.
: <A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/timk225">www.angelfire.com/pa5/timk225</A>

: I'm planning to go to Columbus next month if
: the weather forecast is good to race my 1971
: Valiant with the "Screamin' Six"
: engine. However, I'm worried about the car
: making it through the tech inspection to
: race. The car is getting pretty rusty all
: over. Both fenders and 1/4 panels have holes
: in them or chunks missing, the driver's door
: has some small rust holes coming through,
: and the rear leaf spring mounts are getting
: to be more see-through than is considered
: safe. I don't want to go all the way out
: there with it if they won't let me race with
: it. The people at my local dragstrip have
: seen me coming in for 8 years now, and don't
: even look at my cars much anymore.
:
: The Duster will not be ready in time to go to
: the race, so it's the Valiant or nothing.
: Well, I MIGHT be able to borrow someone's
: Dodge /6 pickup truck if needed, but I'd
: rather race the Valiant.
:
: See the pictures of my Valiant at my website.
: These pictures were taken 3 months ago, and
: the car hasn't gotten any better since then.
:
: <A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/timk225">www.angelfire.com/pa5/timk225</A>

: Some of the racers who have teched through at
: Columbus can give us an idea about how tough
: the Crew is there. My guess is that IF you
: have all the needed safty equipment, (all
: lug nuts, catch can, dual throttle springs,
: seat belts, etc.) you will fly through tech.
: A badly rusted car in Columbus, Ohio is just
: another car at the track!
: If your subframe has some real "soft
: spots" (holes) you may want to cover
: those before leaving for the track. ; - )
: DD

: good shape, it's just the extreior
: sheetmetal that is getting rusted out. The
: inner rocker panels are VERY rusted out, and
: have been since I got the car over 4 years
: ago, but I don't think they'll see those.
: I have all the lug nuts, a seat belt, a
: radiator overflow tank, 2 throttle springs,
: a copper oil pressure line, and a good
: battery hold-down bar, so I don't see any
: problems there. Tire tread is ok at best.
: I have no concerns about the car making the
: trip. I'd hop in it and drive to california
: just the way it sits. I just worry about
: some tech guy on his little power trip nit
: picking the thing after I drive 200 miles to
: race it one last time (before it gets parted
: out for my Duster). To be on the safe side,
: I'll bring a roll of duct tape to cover the
: rust if needed (what that will accomplish, I
: can't imagine), and a 5 foot piece of 2 by 4
: and some big zip ties in case the leaf
: spring mount collapses!

: I have been "teched" at Columbus
: twice. They never looked at the car either
: time. However, if you are questioning the
: safety of the car yourself, it might be best
: to leave it home. Dennis