Low Budget Race Team

[Ralphthe3rd]

A little more work on Mr. Irish today. I completed the chassis(Mattel HPX2 Wide pan) and features a 3 ohm arm and BSRT 24 tooth crown gear. I dug up some old Tyco HP7 Centerline wheels, which are kind of a match for the last look of the 1:1 Mr. Irish. Rear tire choice is A/FX Size Super Tires, Tall, but not too wide. BTW- This Chassis is FAST !
The bodywork progresses, still lots to do, but getting there.

[Ralphthe3rd]

BTW- to all you Decal makers out there, I have a question. Is it possible for you(not me) with only the three 1:1 Mr. Irish pix I posted, for YOU to make the side Decals for this car ? I'd pay you if it's possible :)

[Ralphthe3rd]

The Speedy Pit Shop just got this Classic '55 Chebby running today. Not sure exactly what will become of her next, maybe street Cruiser, maybe Drag, maybe Dirttrack ? The Body is a Rare Plum color, that wasn't supposed to be released by Model Motoring II, but Bud's HO had a truck load of these bodies and he had a Super Sale last week, sooo.. Also of note, are the wheels and tires, they are the 4 Gear/Specialty wheels- rears are NOS Aurora, fronts are AW. I had to enlarge the axle holes to fit the 1/16" dia T-Jet axles. The tires are AW and have the outer lips ground off. I'm awaiting better Jel Claws tires to replace the rears- which are a tad too slippery.


Which way next for this '55- Street, Strip, or Dirt ?

[dreinecke]

I think you should do the '55 from 2-lane blacktop. Love that car and hate the movie.

[dge467]

The Mr. Irish is coming along nicely! The 55 would be neat as the Two Lane Blacktop car.

[Ralphthe3rd]

Ya know guys, a few years ago, I DID build a rough Copy of the TLB '55 Chevy. It's wasn't perfect, and was just a make-over of a battered and broken 1/64 Tyco '57 chevy....but it reminded of that grey primered '55. :)



PS- I still have this car to this day, BUT, I changed the looks alot, by adding a Grill and bumper from a Hot Wheels car, and it now has a whole different front end look.

[TeamMadMarsupial]

Ralph, ya know I'm gonna throw out the vote for making that "ole 55" into a dirt tracker.

I guessin that don't come as much of a surprise to ya, does it? Just before my time and lingering on a little bit when I was a kid, we had several of those old school little dirt tracks within a few miles of my home. My mom recalls one where there were no bleachers, everyone sat on haybales!
It seemed like every back road near home had at least one garage with a 55, 56, or 57 Chevy dirt racer in it. Some were simple hobby or street stocks, a couple had been built up as what were then considered Late Models. I can even remember a few times when traveling to town, we would pass one of them out for a "test ride" on one of our local backroads.

They were all home built cars, no speed shop "money buys speed" bling, just guys with welders, a bunch of buddies, a case or two of beer and the ability to take a bunch of stuff from the junkyard and make a race car out of it. When was the last time you heard of someone chalking out a frame on the garage floor and firing up the welder?

So ya got my vote, chalk it, chop it, glue it, sand it, paint it.....but either way, I'm looking forward to seeing which direction you go with it and the finished car!

BUILD ON!

[Ralphthe3rd]

[Ralphthe3rd]

Out back of the shop, in the Carral, future projects for this fall and winter are being stored.


Business is GOOD, when you have more work than you can handle at the moment, even tho we ARE the Speed Pit Shop :) . But customers are content to wait, no hurry on these builds, as we'll take our time and do 'em up right !

[dreinecke]

Looks like some busy time coming!

I had the Aurora AFX Handbook Vol. III - I loved looking at the builds in it. You've managed to do what I couldn't do as a 12 year old. I was good at models, but my slots never looked that good.

[dge467]

Some cool looking projects behind the shop! I like the orange Ford!

[Ralphthe3rd]

FYI- I got some major good news about my Mr. Irish- Tribute Build/Project Car, when I got a PM tonight from a major Slot Supporter and Forum Contributor who some of you know. ie- He volunteered to take on the task of creating some Decals for my Mini Mr. Irish. AWESOME !
I'll keep you updated on that build when it progresses again, but right now my Fire is burning strong again after getting Stoked Big Time ! :handgestures-thumbup:

[dreinecke]

And that's why we love this place - everyone helps! Can't wait to see it!

[TeamMadMarsupial]

Great to hear. Got to admit these forum boards are a treasure trove of information and great networking tools to aid in our endeavors! I rely on the members of the Three Wide forum for many of my builds of olders cars. In the past I have been contacted and given aid by former crew members, car owners, family members and the drivers themselves.

Can't wait to see the finished car, keep us updated!

[Ralphthe3rd]

Thanks guys, this build means alot to me, as it was my hometown car that was the first Drag Car I ever drooled over as a kid, and watched being (re)built into Mr. Irish after sitting for a decade as a worn out old Race car.
The truth be told, back in the early 1970's I tried to kit bash this car from a 1/25th scale model kit, but it never turned out very well. Now....40 years later, I hope to do a better job, albeit in a much smaller scale, where the fine details are ok to be fudged a bit ;)