The Franklin/McDowell car.. AKA Mike's race car

[RCMike]

Sunday started early..

Suspensions came off as complete assemblies. Axle the same. Engine out.

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The car was built for service. So everything was just a couple bolts here, or rivets there.. one thing after another, it broke down..

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And suddenly we had a bare chassis. We started to prep for paint, and I painted out the areas that will be covered..

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So now the challenge. Will the glass fit? First piece..

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Full rear on the car..

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We installed a grill support with Dzus fasteners, then laid on the front fenders.. Once we thought we were close, Kevin grabbed the old hood to see how it fit. We were happy so we loaded the car in the trailer.

The car was dropped with our friend Matt Rose to add a bump to the roll bar. He will finish off the support for the bar so the car is safe for my brother to run. His torso is about 4 inches taller than mine, so there was no way we were going to get his helmet under the existing bar.

Anyway, the car on a cart, out for work..

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[2mAn]

Thats going to be so awesome that both you and your brother will be running the best Roadster racecars ... whats he going to do with the 2002? My friend may want it, though not sure he is ready to buy one, but Im pretty sure he wants an 02 to run in B-Sedan

[RCMike]

The 2002 is not going anywhere. lol

My brother loves his BMW, but there are events he wants to run that the primarily regional history on the BMW is not going to secure an invite. We will enter all 3 cars, and if two get in, well.. As a side note, Kevin ran VARA U last year, and this car also fits Kevin..

For VARA and similar, the BMW will be my brother's car of choice. At least until he drives this one.. His mind might change..lol

[RCMike]

So when the decision was made to add the bump, we talked it over and decided we were lucky that the director of rules and compliance wanted to do the work. There would be no questions about the cage, and he understands preserving the history. Plus this would free up Kevin's shop for some other projects.

So we dropped the car with Matt Rose, at his shop Ronin Autoworks. Matt took one look at the cage, and checked the test holes, and decided he would have no problem adding to it. He also decided it would work to change the size of the tank, so we could order a standard size tank instead of a custom. This would save us time and money, going forward.

Anyway, first measurements were taken..

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A bar was bent and trimmed to chase the original lines of the cage. Tacked in place..

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Finding angles and lengths..

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Downtube in, from the bar to a plate on the frame rail..

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Body penetration. We debated this one, because before this tube went in, the rear tub came off with 6 bolts. We decided this was not critical, but safety was, so we went ahead and permanently attached the rear tub. If it needs to come out now, this kicker will need to be cut out.

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Some cleanup is still going on, but the complete shape is here..

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Hoping to get it into paint jail this week.. But the good news is the car will now be safe for my brother to drive. Head is WELL clear of the broomstick..

[RCMike]

So among other things, it had at some point back in the day fallen off a jack, there were holes from previous layouts, that are no longer used, gas filler has not been used forever, etc.. Time to fix it..

Passenger door straightened, rocker repaired, lock hole gone..

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Driver door straightened, lock gone..

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Gas filler gone, plate holders gone. Roll pan bent and welded. I arrived as the skim was going on. Most will be gone next time I see it..

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Will be racing the Vest car in Portland next weekend, so unfortunately I will not get to watch the work progress. But I know it's in good hands..

[pebbles]

Will be racing the Vest car in Portland next weekend

Hmmmmm, maybe Ted will let me drive his new car to the races.......

[RCMike]

So as I was driving somewhere around Kettleman City or Tracy, somewhere in there, i got a call from Dave Gongora..

With as much metallic as was going to be showing, the painter really wanted to hit the glass and doors with high build and sand it. Was I ok with it?

Gongora's is always fair, but the Bill's for these kind of projects are always time + materials, there is no estimate.. So he called to ask..

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Color would go on later in the week..

[RCMike]

Wednesday night, we arrived in Portland to race the Vest car, and my brother's 2002..

Got everything set up..

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Thursday, Dave called to say it was all back in the booth. Should be painted Friday..

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At first, I was thinking it might be a touch dark, but then remembered it was in the shade. Cant wait to see it in the sun..

[sfdaugherty]

I love the color Mike.

Shannon

[greydog]

Mike-I looked all over for you on Saturday in Portland (ok, maybe not all over since I didn't find you). I suspect you may have been on the track while I was walking the pits.
Sorry I missed saying hello.
How'd it go for you both?
Dan

[RCMike]

Bummer! We were kinda right in the middle of the paved paddock. Would have loved to say hi!

[greydog]

Maybe next year....
How'd it go? You were slotted with some pretty stiff competition.

The Portland track is interesting....looks easy, nice and flat but it'll get you if you don't pay attention.
Dan

[RCMike]

So when I was on the road home from Portland, got a call it was ready to go to the striper.. Ron at Ron's Colorworks will lay out this livery, same guy who did the Vest car.. Shortly after I got home, I stopped in at Gongora's to check out where we are..

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So Wednesday evening, I ran out to Kevin's to grab the trailer and move stuff around.

Thursday afternoon, I was able to bring the car to Ron..

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Ron started looking at the car, and the photos. First impression? "You know all of these photos are different, right?"

Lol

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Anyway, he got to work. Measuring the old mangled raceglass we had, and transferring it to the car..

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After a few, livery was starting to take shape..

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At this point, I got out of the way. Once this is taped up, will bring it back to Gongoras for the next color..

[S Allen]

That is one gorgeous looking race car. Cannot wait to see it completed.

S

[RCMike]

So yesterday afternoon, I picked up the car at Ron's.. brought it down the hill to Gongora's.. Full livery on the car, in tape.

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Was told it should get into the booth today..