2010 Bonneville Speedweek

Once again down to the wire, tired, broke, and a bit disheartened (see 2010 preparation page), the Dodge Boys headed back down to the salt with a pre-broken race car. The once-beautiful engine, with the block cracked from the dyno runs, now looked like Frankenblock, cobbled together with mass quantities of JB Weld and scrap steel. It was unspoken, but there wasn't much hope for Speedweek 2010.

After a tense week of all-nighters scrambling to ready the car, pack the trailer, and put the rest of life's necessities on hold for ten days, the caravan headed out - Tony pulling the trailer, now emblazoned with FFS stickers galore, Chris in his EDGY F-headed '35 Dodge pickup, Dan Bilyeu in his '55 Plymouth Belvedere wagon, Pedro in his Chrysler Hemi powered '34 Dodge coupe, and J King trailing in his '58 Ranchero. Riding shotgun were Dan's brother Kyle and Kiwi/Aussie Mike Gilmour who had flown in for the second year to be a part of the circus. We had met Mike on the salt in 2009, and he had stayed in touch over the Winter. He decided a great way to spend a holiday was to fly from Sydney to LA to Salt Lake to Billings and then drive 14 hours to Bonneville. If that sort of behavior doesn't make you an Official Montana Dodge Boy, nothing will.

After a late start, the plan was revised to drive to Malad, Idaho, get a motel room, and head to the Salt early the next morning.  Apparently the promotions for vacationing in Malad City were rockin' it, because all of the beds were full at the Bates Motel. After some Deliverance-like moments at the local convenience store, and some hilarity watching morbidly obese underaged Mormon girls buying cases of Budweiser and wine coolers, the Boys decided to make camp at a wide spot on the Frontage Road. After a few beers to encourage restful relaxation, we manned the cots under the stars (and a bitchin' meteor shower), and drifted off for 4 restful hours to the drone of the interstate, and the flickering headlights of countless trucker meth deals. Good training for the sleep deprivation to come.

The Fast Four Special took it's first run early on Saturday morning with Pedro behind the wheel. The tension was thick, given the knowledge that the block was cracked and there were three other cars competing in the V4F/BSTR class this year.  Combined with three hours of sleep, and surrounded by the Dodge Boys entourage (some 30 strong this year), Pedro, not to mention crew chief/engine builder Tony Smith, were noticably a bit more nervous than in the past. The Fast Four fired to life with it's distinctive four banger gnarly tractor rumble and Bill Taylor gave the sign to head down the course. As is tradition, the Dodge Ram hood ornament was petted by our loyal fans, and the car made it's way down the salt.

As the car came to a halt on the return road, Pedro knew, based on the tach, that they were solidly into record territory. Unfortunately he was also immediately approached by the safety crew who alerted him that fluid was leaking from his car. A puddle of water confirmed that something was amiss. As the chase car came to a halt, Tony and Chris hopped out with the timing slip in hand to confirm that the Fast Four Special was solidly into record territory with a 132+ MPH run. Unfortunatley, Pedro burst their bubble when he pointed to the puddle forming on the salt under the car.

Amazingly, the Dodge Boys found themselves in impound for the sixth time in three years. The removal of the hood revealed a seriously steam-cleaned engine - one that had leaked, burned, and dumped ten of it's fourteen gallons of coolant in the three miles. A mad thrash set in, and in the alloted four hours, Pedro, Chris, Tony, and Tony's brother Dan Smith pumped the water out of the cylinders, dumped the water out of the oil pan and filter, and enlisted every ounce of block sealant and JB Weld in Wendover to desperately try to keep the engine together for the back-up run.

At dawn the following morning, the Dodge Boys hit the salt for the attempt to back up the record. It was decided to only fill the water tank half-way in order to keep the water level below the cracks in the block.  The water pump was also left off until the last possible moment to prevent filling the cylinders. The tension was thick as the Fast Four was pushed to the line. The engine wasn't fired until the last possible moment, and when it was, reports have it that water and oil puked from the exhaust. The Fast Four chugged down the course, missing and sputtering, as the tach climbed painfully slowly. At the one mile mark, only 3040 RPM were registering on the tach, and Pedro had serious doubts as to whether it was going to hold together for the length of the run....

...but the God's of Speed were watching over us once again, and the two way average was enough for...