July 7, 2005 - Tried to check on my oil pan today, nobody would talk to me or return my call from Billet Fabrication.  The head gaskets are still two weeks away. 

July 12, 2005 - Skip announced his retirement from President of Bracket Masters Racing Team.  His retirement will come at the end of this term, which is October 2005.  Skip cited personal reasons along with some health problems as the reason for his turning over the reins of the organization.  Skip told the Board of Directors in a special meeting that the team has done a lot of good things in the community and it must continue to operate as it has in the past.  The team has gained a lot of recognition and respect in the racing community and in the Baton Rouge area. Skip stated that he would serve in one position, if elected, but not as President or Vice-President.  Members present for the announcement were; Houston Hawkins, Johnny Tate, Willie Beathley, Harry Sills, James Richardson, Marcus Bowie and Glend McDonald. 

July 17-21, 2005 - Skip & Barbara went to Lake Conroe, TX for their vacation.  While there, Skip worked on his book and relaxed.  The book is coming along just fine.  It's hard to put everything down on paper that has happened over a lifetime.  Trying to keep it interesting to more than just me and my family is really a challenge.  Growing up during WWII in Florida, going to high school, joining the Navy, Submarines, Travels, Marriage, Children, Drag Racing, a second career after retirement and all the friends I have met during my life.  I hope to sell as many books as Harry Potter!

July 25, 2005 - After returning from vacation and talking to Houston and Alvin, I have decided to listen to their advice and get the heads milled the same on each side.  This will only take milling one head to match the other.  Both should have 118 cc per cylinder when finished.  I will be able to get the SCE self-sealing copper head gaskets that are .043" thick for both sides.  I will have a final compression ratio of 15.12:1 and just over 0.100" clearance on the exhaust valves. 

I have been talking to the people at Copperhead gasket company and they insist on O-rings for the heads (not the block) and use of their gaskets.  The block would get a receiver groove cut into it.  Copperhead does not make self sealing gaskets, but theirs can be reused many times.  I am told the self sealing gaskets can only be used once.  At around $130 a set, that is very expensive.  Houston has his block O-ringed, with the receiver groove in the head, and he reuses his gaskets.  He says they work excellent for the compression, but sometimes he gets water leaks if he does not apply the silicone sealant correct for the water passages.   There is a Dow-Corning Hi-Temp, clear silicone that is very good for this purpose.  It's available at Lowe's.  

July 29, 2005 - New problem, actually the continuation of an old one.  The machine shop did not follow my instructions, but called Alvin and told him that both heads are exactly the same thickness.  Alvin called me and we discussed what we should do.  One head has approximately 122cc in each chamber and the other one has only 118cc.  We decided to equalize everything at 122cc by cutting the seats at the machine shop.  Alvin will then blend the chambers to make sure no valves are shrouded.  I should end up with two perfect heads.  I will be able to use the SCE .043" head gaskets.  Good things happen to those who wait!  Speaking of waiting, no head gaskets or oil pan yet.  Looks like October is not a bad guess.

August 10, 2005 - Willie Beathley and I had a meeting with Mr. Bill Tucker - President and CEO of Wetco Restaurant Group, owner of 39 Church's Chicken places in South Louisiana.  Mr. Tucker may help sponsor the Church's Chicken - Louisiana Drag Classic.  Cox Communications will donate Cable TV commercials again for the 4th year.  We do not have a sponsor for the Jr. Dragster Class, but anyone who wants to dive in on this one is welcome.  It would only take $500 for that class.  The kids would love it.  We purchased all of the trophies for the race today from The Trophy House in Baton Rouge.  They have provided our trophies for the past three years.   Everything seems to be falling into place for a great Church's Chicken - Louisiana Drag Classic.

August 11, 2005 - Are you as tired of waiting for my head gaskets as I am, how about my oil pan?  I picked up the heads from the machine shop yesterday and delivered them to Alvin.  He is going to equalize the chambers and run the flow numbers again.  The head gaskets were ordered from Summit on Monday and should be here tomorrow (Friday).  The pan order was cancelled on August 1st and a new pan was ordered from Stef's.  Billet Fabrication, where the first pan was ordered from, could not give me a promise date after having received my returned oil pan on July 6th.  It did not take them that long to fabricate the wrong pan the first time.  Stef's has promised my pan by August 19th.  Alvin will start work on the heads tomorrow. 

August 12, 2005 - I asked for the wrong head gasket part number from Summit and got SCE Copper Head Gaskets with water holes.  Summit does not stock the ones that I need.  To get the correct ones, you have to add "NW" to the correct part number.  The Gen. V blocks have a large water hole at each end that must be blocked off, using the head gasket.  Anyway, I'm looking at using a plug to block it off.  I will ask around and see if this is a good idea and how to do it.  I could use Gen. IV head gaskets, which are more available. 

Apparently all of these problems are not affecting my health.  I went to the Dr. after receiving the head gaskets and all of my vital signs and blood work were excellent!  I feel real good for a 66 year old man!  My wife asked how I was doing and I told her, "If I was feeling any better, I would be in Heaven!" 

August 13, 2005 - I have a set of Fel-Pro 1067 head gaskets that are exactly what I need!  Now all I need is a oil pan.

August 18, 2005 - While riding around a day or two ago, I decided to drop in on Remi Baker at Womack's Block & Head Shop in Denham Springs, LA.  Remi did all of the machine shop work on my block back in May after I destroyed it.  I told him about the search for head gaskets and he said the Fel-Pro gaskets would do just fine at 14.7:1 CR.  Then he said he had a set of Cometic MLS Head Gaskets that would fit my block.  No water holes and only .040" thick.  I purchased them on the spot! 

Alvin is hard at work equalizing the combustion chambers and he will flow the heads again in their final configuration.  When I get the heads back, I will be able to determine the push rod length and purchase them local at Engine Parts Warehouse of Baton Rouge.  I talked to Stef's today and my oil pan should ship today and be here on Tuesday.  There is a very nice salesperson at Stef's named Jake.  He is really great.  I may make it to Our Race!

We have been working hard to finalize sponsorship for the Church's Chicken - Louisiana Drag Classic. Today, Aug. 18, 2005, we reached a deal with Church's Chicken to sponsor the race.

We will have a guaranteed purse for the Quick-8 Challenge Race for Dragsters (8) and Doorslammers (8). 

Entry for Super Pro is $60.00. The computer will take the top 8 Dragsters from time trials and put them into the Q-8 Challenge. The same thing goes for Doorslammers. Q-8 will be a bracket race, not heads-up.
The payout is $500 (Guaranteed) for winners in both the Q-8 Dragster and the Q-8 Doorslammer, RU is $200 and Semi's is $50. The winner of the Q-8 Dragster and the Q-8 Doorslammer will meet in the next round for an extra $200 payout.
The #1 qualifier in each Q-8 bracket will get $100.
The winner of that last round can go into Super Pro and if you are lucky, you may win that purse also, $1000. Total possible to the winner of the Q-8 Challenge, $1800.
Q-8 Challenge losers in the first and 2nd rounds will get a chance to buy back into Super Pro.

The following classes will run and the final payouts depend on the amount of cars in each class:
Super Pro Winner - $1000, entry $60
Footbrake Winner - $750, entry $40
Street Winner - $500, entry $20
Motorcycle - $100, entry $20

Jr. Dragster - $400 (U.S. Savings Bonds) Guaranteed, entry $20  

The final arrangements with the track were completed, 8/19/05.  The flyer .

The Church's deal requires our racing team to make some appearances at various South Louisiana Church's Chicken stores. Potential shows are in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Iberia and Alexandria. There will be live remote radio from two of the shows in Baton Rouge.  Come out and take a chance to win free spectator admission to the Church's Chicken - Louisiana Drag Classic.

September 4, 2005 at No Problem Raceway Park. Gates open at 8 am, Time Trials at 9:30 am. Eliminations after two time trials for each class.

Come out and have fun racing with us!

August 19, 2005 - Everything is APPROVED by the track! 
Flyer-2005 Church's Chicken - Louisiana Drag Classic

August 26, 2005 - All parts are here!  The pan came in yesterday and today I fit everything up to make sure it was correct.  The oil pump was put on the engine, the pan installed and the engine was rotated a couple of times.  Nothing rubbed and there is good oil pickup clearance.  The front cover even fits as it should.  There is one slight problem with the pan gasket.  The Victor, one piece gasket, is correct for everything except the front cover.  I have to use a Gen. IV cover gasket to make it work, so I cut the front part of the one-piece gasket off.  A little silicone will do the final sealing at the edges in the front.  Not a problem at all.  I must remove all the internals from the oil pan and clean it up, applying Loctite to all the screws, before using it.  I also have to check the inside of the oil pump to make sure it is in good shape.  All of this is recommended by Stef's, before use of the pan and pump.

I have my heads from Alvin and they look very good.  Everything is correct now and I have the .040" Cometic MLS Head Gaskets.   Next step, install the heads and determine the push rod length. 

August 28, 2005, 9:30 pm - The storm is coming!  Hurricane Katrina is at the mouth of the Mississippi and New Orleans looks as if it will get a direct hit.  Please pray for the folks left in the city.  That city is actually below sea level and their levy system may not be high enough to withstand the storm surge that may be produced by this hurricane. 

Everything is going real smooth for us here in Baton Rouge, LA.  Having a racecar also means we have a generator.  That generator has saved our food two or three times during power losses and paid for itself many times over.  Today, we took the generator out of the trailer and purchased some extra gas to take us through the next few days.  No Problem Raceway Park is west of the track of the storm, and we hope out of danger.  With our big race this weekend, we are praying for everything to be in good shape for the race. 

Yesterday I installed the oil pump, the pan, timing cover and damper.  I also torqued the heads. I thought I had a good push rod checker, but it was for a SBC.  Marcus and Houston came to the rescue and provided the necessary tools.  After the storm is over, I will get back to engine building. 

August 30, 2005 - My lights are back on, after 34 hours.  My racing generator operated just as though it was at the track.  We did not have any problems at my home, and all of our team mates got through it with only a few limbs down and loss of lights.  We were truly BLESSED! 

We are asking everyone in the world reading this to pray for the people in New Orleans and the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast.  We also understand that Hurricane Katrina has caused devastation in several states, north and east of Louisiana.  For those that left the city to get away, it will be many weeks and months before some of them will be able to go home.  Many of our racing friends, with very fast cars, live in the greater New Orleans area.  Many of them left their homes and cars and vacated the city.  Homes and cars can be replaced. The heart and soul of the people of the cities will survive, no matter where they are relocated to. 

The people that stayed are the one's that are now in trouble and are in real danger.  The State and local officials, Coast Guard, National Guard and law enforcement representatives that are tasked with stopping the flood water coming in from the lake, for saving the stranded people, for caring for the sick and elderly, for feeding all of the people of the city, we need to be in prayer for all of them.  

The Church's Chicken-Louisiana Drag Classic will be rescheduled.  This decision was not very hard to make.  All of the team members agree that this is the right thing to do.  The weather for this coming weekend looks excellent for racing but our hearts would not be in it, with so many of our friends from New Orleans and Gulf Coast that would not be able to attend. 

September 5, 2005 - We now know that one of the worst national tragedies of our life has occurred in New Orleans, the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Alabama.  The lives of the people that survived will be changed forever.  Over a thousand lives have been lost.  Yesterday was designated a day of world prayer.  We need to be in constant prayer for all the people that are being sent to shelters around the country.  A special prayer should go up for the people that are still in the city of New Orleans with no food or drinking water.  Bye-the-way, our church said a special prayer for the victims of the hurricane, and we took up supplies and money to help in the effort.  I am sure this same act was played out in churches around the nation today. 

Many people are still in their homes in New Orleans waiting to be rescued.  The water has not been drained.  The breech in the levy is still being closed so the pumping can began.  After working in the nuclear industry for over 35 years, I cannot believe the slow response and lack of engineering expertise that is being demonstrated.  We cannot fill a 300 foot hole in a five days!  (I would float a 400 ft ship down the canal and sink the ship next to the breach, THEN put the sand bags around it to stop the leak).  Of course, I'm not an engineer, and I don't have all the facts.  The estimate to drain the city is 80 days!  Again, this seems to be a very long estimate. 

Where are the great engineering minds of this country, along with the great equipment that can move mountains!  Are those people being held back from performing because of some political policy or false territory restrictions?  I have a feeling that this is the problem.  I can feel Mayor Ray Nagan's frustration, Senator Mary Landrieu's frustration and Governor Kathleen Blanco's frustration.  The world can see that our response has been, and is...tragic. 

For those of you that bookmark this page, please see our opening page. Many of the children that are in our area have only the clothes on their backs.  All money collected will be used to help the children of evacuees in our area.

Sept. 6, 2005 - Wallace Johnson of the United Drag Racers of New Orleans Association called Skip Holbert from the shelter at LSU this morning around 3:00 am.  We had been very worried about Wallace and his wife Debra.  Debra is in Houston, living with a friend.  We will try to reunite them ASAP. 

Sept 8, 2005 - Wallace and Debra are reunited!  Wallace and Skip drove to Houston Thursday and picked up Debra.  She is doing fine.  They are staying with Skip and Barbara until FEMA can relocate them.

Quartermasters Racing Team of Clinton, MD is providing assistance to Wallace and Debra while they are trying to get FEMA help.  Quartermasters Racing Team has also made a generous donation to the Baton Rouge SMART Relief Fund.

Sept. 15, 2005 - Wallace Johnson and Debra Johnson have moved to Austin, Texas with relatives. Wallace & Debra called to let us know they are doing well in their new location.

Sept. 16, 2005 - I actually got back to work on the engine!  Alvin came over and we determined the length of the pushrods (Exh. 9.500" and In. 8.500").  They are on order and will be in on Monday.

Sept. 21, 2005 - I have ALL the parts to complete my engine!  Here comes Rita (hurricane).  After this passes, I will get to work.

Sept. 27, 2005 - Started to set the valve lash today but ran into a small problem.  I failed to check the torque on the rocker studs that hold the guide plates down and during setting one of the valves I found one of them loose.  Now I will go back and check all of them.  Better now than have one unscrew while crossing the finish line.

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