07/11/2026
Last night, after nearly seven years, Oscar finally hit the racetrack.
Seven years of rebuilding. Seven years of spending money, fighting setbacks, losing motivation, and wondering more than once if I should just give up, finish it, sell it, and walk away. It’s been a long, expensive, frustrating road… but we finally got there.
When it got close — within a week of actually taking it to the track — the excitement came back. I was still scared it would be slow. The engine combo is mostly the same as before. I had the carb gone through, swapped the intake, bought a different converter… but I wasn’t expecting miracles. And honestly, with all the extra stuff we’ve added, I’m convinced it’s heavier than it used to be.
But Oscar surprised me.
I was hoping it would run .40s.
It went a .21 on the very first night out.
Once I settled in on how I want to run it, it moved only .007 to the 1/8 over the last three passes. I couldn’t ask for anything better. This thing looks good, feels good, works good, is comfortable, has every bell and whistle I ever wanted — it is literally perfect. It is everything I’ve ever dreamed of in a racecar. It could not be any better.I have so many people to thank. Over the years, people helped in every way imaginable — turning wrenches, giving advice, offering deals on parts, helping me fund the project indirectly, and just being there when I needed it. They know who they are, and I’m grateful for every single one of them.
But I have to especially thank Joe Thornton and Nick Warren.
Joe did all the chassis and fabrication work, and it is absolutely flawless. The car works unbelievably well. Joe has been there for me my entire life — he bought me my first racing t‑shirt (pretty sure my mom still has it), painted all my junior dragsters, and now he’s built me the perfect hotrod. Joe is family, and he has a seat in this car any time he wants it.
Nick Warren absolutely knocked the wiring out of the park. It’s clean, neat, organized, and done right. Couldn’t ask for better.
