FrontEngineDragsters.Org Forum
Drag Racing Discussions => Front Engine Dragsters => Topic started by: dusterdave173 on May 14, 2017, 08:26:24 AM
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Well my sister moved from North Carolina to Denver--I said I would rive the moving truck IF I could stop at neil and Parks in Kansas on the way--We stopped in cold turkey on a Monday morning--WOW! We were greeted very warmly and welcomed in for full shop tour--a look at current projects--and they looked at photos of my car and were very complimentary--they were happy to answer lots of questions I had--and they remembered that I had ordered parts in the past as soon as I mentioned my name--Could not have been better--Nicest guys I have ever met in the racing industry---The shop would have impressed NASA engineers ( hey I bet NASA calls to ask them questions) Scotts machinist skills were evident everywhere you looked---These guys MAKE whatever they need.
I think the days of REAL racers like these guys are numbered due to all the NHRA rules that just do not reward the kind of effort they put forth--They described NHRA as "everyone gets a trophy--bracket race " and talked as if they would sell the car and walk away if a real buyer showed up--The Hemi car was an amazing piece of engineering--I was thrilled just to walk around it and look at the fantastic detail of every aspect---So we talked, got a T shirt, then hit the road--
What an honor! Great men doing what they love--nothing better!!
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Good story, thanks for sharing it Dave.
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I’ll echo that thought, a couple of nice guys is right. Frank & Scott made my return to racing a while back a whole lot easier. Neil & Parks completed the updates on my altered this winter, fitting me in when they could. New welder/fabricator Steve Wilmoth and Frank did a great job of returning the car to the same pretty much original condition as it was when it rolled out Frank’s door new in 1999. They’ve turned out to be a great parts supplier, talented machinists and fabricators, as well as good friends.
Sometimes living in Kansas has its rewards, the picture was taken a couple of weeks ago as I drove about an hour from my house to pick up a control cable from an old fella and his son that live out in the hills of Kansas who have a tin building out by the pasture where they tinker on race cars:)
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...nice site to build a drag strip
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Frank and Scott are two of best people you will ever meet ! I met them both at Indy in 2001 and after looking at there car I knew right away that that they would be the ones to build my new FED ! It took over a year for them to start on my car but once they did Frank would call me every few days just to let me know how the car was coming ! The worst part about having them build my car was the long trip from Connecticut to pick it up but it was worth it for me ! I have raced this car for over 10 years now and it is the best race car I have ever owned and I have owned 6 dragsters in my life .
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Two of the things I remember most were the pinstriping on the mills and drill presses, and the sign on the wall that said "I don't give a xxxx how they do it in California" Hope it is still there.
Two of the best guys in the sport. I learn something everytime I talk to them, and they just keep getting better.
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Have not met them face to face. Few phone calls and some parts ordered. Most after first call and half hour with Frank advising me on a build. I may be at 1500 bucks with them and 10 times that in advise.
Maybe on next cross country ride I can ride by. We normally go thru Kansas anyway to put flowers on younger cousins grave.It just the other end of Kansas.LOL But then it was just Malibu and 3000 miles.