What an ordeal it was just to get my Mod chassis power washed this week. A good friend came over Sunday to help sand some panels, in preparation for Josh Watson to paint. Then we put air in the tires and loaded the rolling chassis in the trailer so I could head out Monday and get it power washed.
I stopped at Canadian Tire and bought some Gunk degreaser, then went to the local coin wash. I got set up with coins, quarters and had my stuff ready to spray down the chassis with the Gunk. After dropping the trailer door I undid the rear hold down strap and started to use the winch. Soon I saw the RR tire was flat. I could not budget it. It was too heavy to push with no air in one tire. I jacked up the trailer thinking that would help tip it backwards but no luck. So I reloaded and drove away discouraged.
But!!! I thought about Bill Grisdale having a power washer outside and I could get air in the tire, and maybe he would let me do it there. He said sure, so I headed quickly. The boys in the shop put air in the tire. I was good to go….accept the battery went dead for the winch. They came back out again, I felt stupid, not being organized, and apologized. They were cool and we got it off. The location was perfect, out of the wind and close to home.
Now to soak the chassis and frame down. Are you kidding???? I forgot the Gunk at the coin wash in Waterdown. I was thinking, is this my first year racing??? I decided to go into Grisdales APC store and see if they carried degreaser and they said yes, I was pumped…..that is till I was informed they were out of stock. So I reloaded the car with the boys help and went home, put the battery on charge and planned to try again Tuesday and this picture shows the job getting done.
With just a few weeks to go to get both cars ready I can’t afford to do things twice lol….still looking for help if anyone can assit Lloyd and I over the next few weeks, sure would be nice. PM me if you can help us or email me at garyelliottmotorsports@gmail.com.
Gary Elliott
It’s April…We’re Way Behind….I Hope Never Again!!!!!
The Modified is done chassis, shock, engine wise, but the body needs complete sanding, all exterior and interior panels, then it has to be loaded to power wash the chassis and frame, drive line etc. Wheel bearings will have to be repacked and brakes bled. The body panels go for painting the end of this coming week, then it must be reassembled…then taken to Creative Edge and lettered. Once that’s done I need to buy tires and a final scale before the Modified hits the track…..Currently I am sanding the body so Josh Watson can paint it for me. The body will still be black with a green interior and once Josh is done I will send it right away to Steve Lyons for lettering. A lot to do on this car yet…..The Late Model should be home this week. I have more work to do on it, including putting the 604 together with all bolt on parts, installing the driveline, bleeding the brakes, repacking the wheel bearings, then scaling it. Then I am sending it to Creative Edge for lettering. Not really a lot but the Late Model season starts in a month….I’m not sure how much is left on the LM, it’s not home yet. No real panic yet. I would like to get some practice in for both cars before practice day, if we can make it for practice….going to be close.
My other concern of course is getting some help. I am using whoever will lend a hand, and today one of my Dart friends is heading over to sand the Modified body….my plan will be to start on both cars right after this season ends and get a good jump on 2017….but this season demands my upmost attention…thanks for visiting more updates soon.
Modified Now Home……Mostly Ready But Appearance Details
A little behind, but the Modified is home now. Bumpers out getting Chromed at Metal Coaters. New paint to be done on the sheet metal of the Modified, decals will be and then sent to Josh Watson to do his magic.
More updates on the OSCAAR Mod soon……the Late Model is still being worked on at Leggers Race Shop. They’ve done a lot of great work on it and we will cram once we get it home…opening day a month Saturday for the LM at Flamboro…….More on the Late Model early next week.
CVM Legends
I posted this picture the other day and noted there was one racer that I did not know his name. Steve Trendell message me his name this morning. He is sitting on the second row, at the far right. He’s Bob Beck, and I should have known him because in 1973 my brother-in-law Harry Bow bought his first race car from Bob, a Chev Coach #46. Harry changed to the car to #35.
In case you missed the names of those in this picture they are from left to right…..Row 1 George McLeod, David Elliott, Keith Barton, Wayne Varley and Charlie Beck Jr……Row 2….Me, Ray Hughes, Al Bowman and Bob Beck……Row 3……John Karley, Tim Martin, Brian Atkinson, Steve Trendell, Mike Williams and Rick Jones.
Great guys and all with great memories and stories throughout the years. I will always maintain that the best thing about racing besides being able to race, is the people you meet.
Oakville Trailers Returns for 2016
How great it is for our team to have Ron Easton of Oakville Trailers sponsor us for the 2016 race season.
I have dealt with Ron for many years with all my cars, our CVM Coupe, Late Model and now Modified. There isn’t a race car that Ron and his shop can’t build, fix, fabricate or repair.
This will be our 3rd season running the Oakville Trailer logo and we very proud to have Ron and his team with us in 2016.
If you are in need of a trailer, or getting one safetied, or getting repairs done for any of your vehicles, give Oakville Trailers a try.
The shop is equipped with a licensed mechanic, who can do most repairs and maintenance on all cars, vans and light trucks, as well as provide DOT safety certificates…….call 905-469-8939
CVM Legends Gather On Stage….50 Awesome Years
Here are just a few of the many racers who showed up on Saturday for the 50th Anniversary reunion. You can be sure there will be another one, or something even bigger this summer……just need to get it planned now and let Flamboro owners know so they can get a great picture of all the racers in front of the grand stands at the finish line….with old and current cars.
I hope got all the names right here”
Front Row left to right….George McLeod, David Elliott, Keith Barton, Wayne Varley and Charlie Beck Jr.
Second Row left to right…me, Ray Hughes, Al Bowman and I am so sorry do not know the end fellow yet.
Third Row left to right…John Karley, Tim Martin, Brian Atkinson, Steve Trendell, Mike Willians and Rick Jones….all great racing friends.
CVM Celebrates 50th Anniversary
On April 2nd the CVM/Hobby Club held their 50th Anniversary celebration event at the Legion in Dundas.
The Hobby’s, known as the Jalopies during their beginning, raced at the CNE when it opened in the early 50’s until it closed in 1966.
A group of men decided to preserve these nostalgic race cars forming a Chartered club called the O.A.R.C., the Ontario Amateur Racing Club in 1966.
When the CNE closed the Hobby club started racing full time at Flamboro Speedway.
There was a great turn out of drivers, including a few on hand who raced at Flamboro Speedway on their opening day in 1962.
I was honored to have raced 40 seasons in the CVM, 33 years consecutive. We hold the record for the driver with the most consecutive seasons, missing only 15 of over 800 nights in those 33 seasons. I miss racing with my friends, but very much enjoyed seeing many of them yesterday at the reunion.
Oakville Trailers Getting Modified Closer
These pictures from March 30th show our Modified taking shape. Mostly cosmetic updates for this year. Things have been hectic for me causing a slow start on our cars, but we are in high gear now and looking forward to getting both cars home and finished.
The Modified will be painted by Josh Watson once it’s stripped down. The new bars will be chromed by Metal Coaters and once those are finished the car will head to Creative Edge for lettering.
For any trailer work, DOT safeties on trailers, cars, or trucks, having a new trailer built, or race cars up grades including set up, call Ron at Oakville Trailers…..905-469-8939…..thanks for visiting our site………….Note in the back ground is Rick Schurr’s OSCAAR Mod being wrapped by Chuck Barton. Derek Jackson is there as well.
PPG Returns For 2016
Gary Elliott Motorsports is very proud to once again run the PPG logo as the official paint supplier for our race team. This will be season #4 with PPG and we look forward to a great season being an ambassador for their fine products.
Grind Stone Back For 2016
I am very fortunate to have so many good associate sponsors for our race team. Grind Stone joined us in 2008, our 40th year racing, and has been a great sponsor with us. If you wonder why I have 2 landscaping sponsors it’s because the owners of both Timber Green and Grind Stone are father and son.
Jay will drive my Late Model this year at Flamboro Speedway on the days I am in my Modified. He is looking forward to filling in for me.
They do not have a web site yet, although their logo is on our site. Once it comes up I will put a link to it.