Monday, December 14, 2009

Sunday December 6

Frank lost his final bet with little brother. Bama won; but then again Hugh said they would this year. It was his turn.

We got to the track early and the body was there. Paint was still sticky but it was there, fresh from the shop. The painter was saying he was sorry it was still sticky but it needed a little more time to cure. It still looked better than Hugh’s paint jobs. Nice and clean with a bright shine. Black and white just like the old D-13 Frank used to have. Needs a little red trim to finish it but that can be handle later. The air intakes still need to be painted but that also can be handled later. The important thing now to do was get it put together and see if the body panel would fit. Believe it or not, they did close, not perfect but close. So goes the world of Vees. So now it is bodied and looks like a race car, Rusty (#1 son) and I have to get on corner stations so the rest of the guys can play. Tommy is going to drive it this afternoon to lead the formula car field for a couple of honor laps.

True to form the Grinch struck. It didn’t come around for the pace lap. We called in and were told there was a mechanical failure. Now worry sets in. What could be wrong this time? We will have to wait and see.

It wasn’t mechanical at all, turned out Tommy was not really tuned to the shift pattern and first gear to reverse doesn’t work to well. So it sat under the shed and waited to be loaded on the trailer for the trip home and the next set of repairs. I got in and made a quick trip around the paddock area. It worked fine; this car will go and be a real race car in the future. Rusty is going to have to learn how to drive so we can go play.

I would like to take a min and express both Rusty’s and my deepest thanks to all the guys from the local racing community that have made this happen. Without them this might have never been completed. They gave of their time and hearts to get this done and just saying thank you just doesn’t seem enough. I know that if Frank (blindmule one ) was watching , he was smiling . There is a picture frame in the living room. It holds ten one dollar bills, five from each of us that the Grinch would not make it to track by his birthday. It didn’t, but the bucks stop there. They will be a reminder that he loved these cars and wanted nothing more than to come roar past me somewhere on the track. I will always be watching over my shoulder for him. God bless you brother.








Saturday December 5

The Grinch stayed true to its traditions. We worked all day yesterday to get things ready to go. Charge batteries; adjust throttle return cables and a number of other little things that need to be done. Then came the test; no body but we took the running shell around the track. Will it complete a lap or quit somewhere on the back side of the course?

They never quit close to the pit or work area. The shifter needs to be relocated was the first thing I learned. The side safety bar is in the way to shift effectively. That can be adjusted; other than that, not bad. It pulls strong in second and third gear. Lot more torque than in a 1200 cc engine. I got it going fast enough that the borrowed helmet kept trying to lift off my head, probably in the 70 to 80mph range on the straights. It tracked solid and ran thru the corners so easily it made the warrior feel stiff. Very smooth and plenty of pull left. But like I said, just a test lap so lets don’t get carried away; back in the pits to make a few adjustments.

Brother would have been smiling from ear to ear I am sure. It worked just like it was supposed to. Tomorrow the body will be here and we will be able to tell a little more then. Right now it is time to go home and see if the Gators can beat Bama.






You can see all the photos from the Frank Lamb project here

Team Work


When word came out that Frank was seriously ill, his friends gathered round to help him get his latest project car "The Grinch" up and running.


Frank died before he got a chance to get the Grinch finished could drive it around No problem Raceway.


His friends continued "The Frank Lamb" project in his honor....

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