Chuckathon: Help Chuck get back onto the Dragstrip

Chuckathon: Help Chuck get back onto the Dragstrip.

As many of you already know, Chuck experienced an unfortunate accident at the NMRA World Finals on October 3rd 2009. During the 3rd round of qualifying Chuck’s 1970 Mustang crossed the centerline after the ¼ mile marker and hit the wall. The body & frame look to be a total loss. Hopefully we can save the drive train.

Many of you have asked “What can I do to help”. This thread will be dedicated to helping Hard Luck Chuck get back on the track before next spring. That night I decided that if/when I win this race, I would donate the winnings to getting Chuck back on the track. Unfortunately I didn’t win however I’ll start by donating my quarter finals check to the Chuckathon. It’s not much, but it’s a start and every little bit helps.

You guys can help with Donations: Monetary, Parts and Time. Every little bit helps. Tracy (The CEO) and I (The Court Jester) will handle the collection of donations and when the goals are met, we will take the necessary steps to acquire what is needed to complete this project. I’ll create another spreadsheet to track what is received, who donated what etc…

At this time, we would like to purchase Randy Moore’s (KY Mustang) 1970 Mustang roller. See pictures below.


http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa124/randykymustang/70%20Mustang/



If you would like to donate funds to the Chuckathon please let me know via PM, phone or e-mail. I’ll send you my mailing address if you would like to send a Check or money order. I also have a paypal account. Remember, every little bit helps, even if it’s only $5 or as much as $100+. It’s totally up to you.

I’ll also list items that we need i.e. parts for the race car. This weekend I’ll start making a list of what we need like: Aluminum Radiator, Fan, Stacked Trans cooler etc…

Randy Moore is donating labor and time: Fabrication and Installation.
Dan Hobbs is donating labor and time: Paint
I’ll be donating funds, labor and time: Fabrication and Installation.
Tracy will be donating funds, labor and time.

A few people have already donated a few bucks. Wes and his wife (NMRA Open Comp Racers) gave Chuck $50 and said “It’s not much but it’s a start”

Feel free to post ideas, advice or whatever. I’ll create another thread in the build up section so you guys can follow the progress from accident to creation and post replies.

Chuck, Eddie, Sue, Tracy and I thank you for your support.


Link to the Rebuild Thread

http://www.429-460.com/proven-builds-f4/chuck-s-1970-mustang-the-rebuild-t1653.htm#17091



We have a Howe's Aluminum radiator on the way courtesy of Rick Brown, A rebuild kit for the waterpump from Lem Evans and a front engine plate courtesy of David Willingham, just to name a few items already on the way.

Here's a list of some of the items we will need, thanks again for everyone's help.

1 Strut type front suspension
2 Shifter Cable
3 Fuel Cell: 5 or 8 gallon
4 Fuel Pressure Gage
5 Oil Pressure Accumulator & Solenoid
6 Drag Chute, release cable and handle - Drag Chute donated by Mike Stevens
7 Crank Case Evac System
8 Window Net
9 Two Batteries: Optima type
10 Safety Belts:
11 Oil pan & Pickup: Rear sump
12 Trans cooler: stacked w/fan & thermostat
13 Glide tail shaft housing and possible the case.
14 Wheelie Bars - Pledged to donate from Nevs
15 Push-Pull On/Off battery disconnect
16 Header flanges - TFS Streets & 2 1/8 - 2 1/4 tubing plus collectors to make custom headers - Header Flanges pledged by C. Evans
17 Fan(s) for radiator: First we need to measure radiator sent by Rick Brown

What an up and down weekend emotionally... Thank god for safety equipment.

I was right behind Chuck going through my pre-race ritual; setting the line lock, pumping up the brakes and then I see track staff running like MAD and jumping on scooters. I look up and see smoke at the end of the track along with emergency flashers. I back out of the water box, shut off the engine and start unstrapping my gear when Derrick runs up to my car and yells "Damon, was that Chuck?" and I have no clue what's going on so my mind starts spinning and I hope it's someting minor.

We then discover it is Chuck and he has hit the wall. Can't be that bad I think to myself, maybe he just brushed the wall and he's fine however I soon discover it's MUCH worse. Derrick, Ben, the Chads (two friends named chad) and I walk up to the burnout box and find water from Chuck's car. Finally my mind registers what has just happened and I have to take a knee for a second. Then it hits me that Sue (Chuck's mom) must have witnessed the accident and I start worrying about her well being. I then run back to my car and someone (I don't know who) asks if I'm going to take my final round of qualifying and I say "FU$% No I'm not going down this track tonight". Saul and Ben back me up so I don't run over anyone, Chad lifts the flags and I race back to my trailer, on the way praying that it's not a big deal.

I park the car under the canopies and sprint to the scene of the accident. A rather large group of people have gathered at the fence adjacent to the carnage, including my wife, Sue and all of the BBF Band of Brothers. At this point I see the safety crew loading Chuck onto a board and I'm flooded with emotions beyond my control. I break down, can't deal with it and the worst scenario flashes through my head. Sue and Tracy are also openly weeping and console me, reasuring me that Chuck is OK. I still fear that I could lose one of my best friends.

I start replaying the previous days in my head, wondering if there was something else I could have done to prevent this from happening. Should I have taken an extra 5 minutes to look over the cars for issues? Maybe we should have investigated the waterpump seepage a little further? What could we have overlooked? Sue and Tracy tell me to hop the fence to check on Chuck. Why is everything happening so fast? What should I do? Who are all these people? So I hop the fence and sprint over to check on my teamate... (Why is he on that board) Trey and Tom (NMRA Staff) stop me and tell me that he's OK and it's just procedure that he must go to the hospital. (Why won't they let me see Chuck) Now I wonder if it is something serious?

One of the safety crew explains how to get to the hospital but I can't concentrate, my head is spinning. He helps me back across the fence, Bruce asks if I need someone to take car of the car, I stare at him and it just doesn't register, I can't speak....... What happens next? Who are all these pople?

Chad takes me back to the trailer, my head is still spinning... I sit down in Tracy's $40 chair and break down again. Tracy holds me and again says "Chuck is going to be OK" but how do we know for sure... What if he's NOT OK? Tracy gets her escape, Eddie, Sue and I hop in the car and we wait for the Ambulance to leave so we can follow him to the hospital... We wait and wait, it seems like forever. Here comes the back hoe with Chuck's car swinging from the bucket, a trophy for the racing gods, followed by young boys skipping and jumping, one looks at me, smiling and says "He hit the wall hard" and I just stare at him, like a deer in the headlights, again thinking the worst. Sue gets out of the car, crying "I have to see Chuck's car" but here comes the ambulance. We jump back in and head out. A golf cart is between us and the emergency vehicles. I tell Tracy to lay on the horn, she does and he promptly exits the return road....

We get to the hospital "Are you the Hager Family"? "Yes" we say. "I'm sorry but you have to enter the building from the front entrance because of the terrorists" or something to that nature. WTF! Later I find out that she is the one Chuck has been flirting with on the way to the hospital. She is cute So we drop off Eddie and Sue at the front Emergency entrance and park the car. When we get inside we notice all the people waiting and some are wearing masks. "Don't touch anything" Tracy says and I say "No kidding". "Are you the Hager Family" asks a gentleman". "Yes" Eddie says. "He's in Trauma 2 but only 2 visitors at a time". Eddie and Sue disappear behind two large doors. Tracy and I go outside for some fresh air. My phone blows up but I can't answer the phone, I can't talk...... About 10 minutes go by and I start making phone calls to update everyone. It seems like an eternity before we get an update and they allow one more visitor. I find my way to trauma 2, walk in and see Chuck sitting up and he looks normal... No broken limbs, no large gashes, no ugly bruises........... I grab Chuck's helmet and we all head out the door. Chuck says "Why were you crying" I give Chuck a BIG hug walking down the hallway and say "I though I just lost one of my best friends"..... Thank GOD for Safety equipment......... Thank GOD Chuck was wearing his neck brace......... Thank God Chuck's car has a window net........ Thank GOD Chuck's car has and anvil like roll cage....... Thank God Chuck is still alive....

Never underestimate the importance of safety equipment, it's there for a reason!

Thanks to all of my Band of Brothers for all the help, support and prayers. Many of you have asked "What can I do to help"? In the near future I'll post more information for all that want to help Chuck get his car fixed (Not likely) or get another roller. In the next few weeks we will layout a game plan and go from there. Today we unloaded the car from Ben's Trailer and shuffled it back into the shop where it rests between races. I had to wrap a chain around the front bumper, lift the front of the car with the bobcat while Ben pulled the trailer out from under the car. In the near future we will start cutting the drivetrain out of the car and see what we can salvage.

Chuck, his family, Tracy and I are overwhelmed with all the kindness that you guys have shown and we thank you.... Sorry for the long winded story but it's part of the healing process........ Ahhhhhhhh I feel better already.

More Pictures from the weekend

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e3/fordsbyjay/NMRA%20BG%20Finals%202009/

http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f75/Phantasea466/NMRA%202009/NMRA%20World%20Finals%202009/

bbf-falcon wrote:Damon, I have a (Howe) Aluminum radiator thats just been professionally flushed and cleaned. Tell me where to ship it to and it will be on it's way. And I will look in the Semi trailer to see what else I have that he can use.

Thanks Rick, you da MAN!! I'll shoot you a PM

When/where is the salvage on the wrecked '70?

the1969fordguyinky wrote:When/where is the salvage on the wrecked '70?

My shop in Lawrenceburg KY. I'm going to winterize my car this weekend and then take the fire wrench to Chuck's car AFTER we remove the entire fuel system.

I don't know what the rolling chassis already has, but I have a front motorplate and a brand new aluminum trans tunnel kit that Chuck is welcome to if it will work for his car. I'll help out with any machine work that's needed. Why don't you start making a list of what ya'll need. I have a lot of misc parts left over from my truck build.

David

David Willingham wrote:I don't know what the rolling chassis already has, but I have a front motorplate and a brand new aluminum trans tunnel kit that Chuck is welcome to if it will work for his car. I'll help out with any machine work that's needed. Why don't you start making a list of what ya'll need. I have a lot of misc parts left over from my truck build.

David

Thanks a bunch David, I do know we will need front and mid engine plates and limiters. This weekend, we will sit down at the shop and start making a list of what all we KNOW will be needed. I just listed a few items above as examples.

You guys are the best!

I'm too far away to send anything - I'll just make a donation. That looked nasty - sure glad he's ok.

Damon you are the man make the list and we will all see what we can come up with to help out a fellow Brother....



Randy

the Coug wrote:Damon you are the man make the list and we will all see what we can come up with to help out a fellow Brother....



Randy

X2, just let me know and I'll see what I have.

Thanks guys, I'm headed home and Randy, I was on the phone with Chuck when you called. I'll check the message and give you a ring back here in a few.

Look for some items in the Auction Block for sale in the near future with a tag "Chuckathon" Brandon is donating some stuff for sale.

Thanks to everyone for helping me get back too the track.It means alot.I am glad to be apart of this BBF family.You guys are the best.