Over the last decade or so 1963 Dodge 440 owner and former member of the 1962 to 1965 Mopar Mail List Clubhouse Don Dulmage was having a ball driving a dragster. “I still have my 1963 Dodge and have now put over 42,000 miles on it since building it. But I have had more fun with this li’l 1962 slant six-motored rail then I ever thought was possible,” said Don. “I never thought a slant would pull this hard. I heard myself say oh!!!!!!! on a race as it got down to work especially second gear.”
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“I built a matching trailer for the dragster to tow behind the 1963 Dodge for going to the Picton Airfield Drags. I painted the trailer the same colour as the car. It turned out pretty good. Was very popular: a 426 towing a 246 (my rail’ \6 is out to 246 cubic inches). ” |
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By one night in August 2014: “by the last race no one would pair with me since occasionally I beat them, even big blocks. I built a tunnel ram for the engine along with matching headers and got a lot more top end back then I would have predicted.”
On September 20, 2014, Don was at an Old Farts With Front Engine Dragsters (O.F.W.F.E.D) Picton Airfield Armdrop Drag Racing event. “At the beginning of the run I do the impossible, laying a hole shot on the big Chevy with my little slant six.” says Don.
[ed. note: See full size photo on quintecar.ca]
“The slant 6 car was on kill. I was running Pat Doornbos who has a vintage Front Engine Dragster (FED) with a Hilborn injected Big Block Chevy. We run heads up. We both did a John Force style burn through. I knew the car was really working as I could see the tire actually grow out of the corner of my eye. We back up and I staged first, bumping in at 3800 with the guidance of my pal Mike Sietsma (who also drives a FED). We use Arm Drop start. When the starter...dropped her hands I was gone! I put a huge holeshot on the big Chevy but his top-end charge is unbelievable and he caught me just before half track.
As I neared the eyes I lifted as at my age I rarely drive it full all the way through.
Nothing happened. The throttle was stuck wide open and the brakes were no match for the slant six now sweetly in its power band.
I had trained myself to be able to find and switch off the iGn Fuel switch without looking and did that but by now I was about 100 feet + past the finish line and going faster then I had even gone on my life. I continued braking and tried a long slooping turn onto the wide east west runway. I could see if I persistied I would roll so I did what I could. I hit the weeds at around 100mph and at that point was just along for the ride. It was bumpy but liveable. Then I hit something and became airborn. When I landed I felt my lower back kiss itself with a crunch. I finally slid to a stop still upright.
Pat, my competitor, had jumped from his car shedding his jacket and helmet as he ran and was there in what seemed an instant. He began unhooking my arm restraints and harness while I tried to get my helmet off. That took the most time. By then the track crew and a medic were there. I was bleeding from my mouth which gave them a fright but the medic quickly determined I had only bitten my tonque. Helped half-carried me to the chase truck. I said to the driver that I figured I must have been at least 200 feet into the weeds. He laughed. 'Try 1000 feet.' he said. They towed the dragster out at the same time. It has zero damage.
'I do not feel so good right now.'
[ed. note: See full size photo on quintecar.ca]
Me I can barely walk but my vitals were good so they let me sit by a nurse friend for an hour or so and told me to call instantly if I felt funny. I was actually OK....[Over time] I will feel better since nothing is busted.
Later I looked at the \6 dragster. It appears that my big foot bent the lever on the front carb and it jammed against the manifold. The rear carb is down a long shaft so the torsional twist it has did not bother it. I think I did not not have the foot pedal stop set and in my excitement pushed far too hard bending the linkage. It had 1/8 inch clearance before because I ground it into the manifold to be sure. Now it has none. Sticks every time. A seemingly minor detail that could have killed me! How I never hit a tree or rock is beyond me. Glad to be still here.
On the other side it the lil’ 246 slant six is making HUGE power with this tunnel ram header set up. It feels like a 440 rather then a six and sounds like an 8 as well.
That is, though, my last trip in the dragster. I knew that when I got in because with my body in the condition it is in now I can hardly get in or out and I had said that to myself when I climbed in on September 20th. Not because the the accident where I bruised my lower back vertebrae badly! I am just not up to it anymore. It is time! And I have the memory of the power it was making forever in my head. Still grinnin’ but sore.”
September 29, 2014