Good for you Jack. You may not be Pete or Steve, but you are not so far from them in my book. You have done a lot of things at a high level, and you are living the dream, using what you have got. But more importantly, you comport yourself like a gentleman. People like you represent our hobbies and passions far better than I could ever hope to.

Just like Pete. Keep passing it forward.

no it was the original junk yard dog and all max's creation

the buick nailhead was lite semi small for a big block and all forged internal bits

Yup, built by him in 1956.
Tommy Ivo Official Website

TOMMY IVO'S T BUCKET

Great story, congrats!

Who needs enemies when you have friends like Randy that bring living legends and fail to introduce them to you.:)

I'm with some of the others that put you up there with the legends of our little corner of the world. Thank God you started those selfie photos so if our paths ever cross I have a shot at recognizing you.

Thanks..thought I recognized a few things. TV Tommy..in his own way, as much a pioneer as Pete Brock. Thanks for the story Jack..and keep pounding Willow as long as you can. Father time can be cruel...so enjoy what you can as long as you can and screw what others think.

Is it 6 deuces or 6 one barrels?

At any rate, what a beautiful engine. I'd love to own that. :cool:

Wow, but that really changed my suggestions list when I clicked it!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1514831970.jpg

The one time I've had that "I know that guy", but couldn't figure out who, it was Chad Knaus, crew chief for the then four times NASCAR champion Jimmy Johnson.

I'd always seen him on TV in his sponsored fire suit. Didn't recognize him when he was wearing the kart suits provided by the rental facility he was at on his vacation day. I just knew he was familiar.

That guy has one heck of a memory, recognized me quite some time later and knew my name. There are solid reasons he's been a part of so many championships.

I've wondered what its like to go off at Willow, good thing nothing plowed in.

Its one heck of a race track.

Is that 401 nali head or 425?

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Those are Stromberg 97's, which are two barrels.

Nice save, I hit 6 quarts of oil and went off same spot same recovery.
High speed off at willow never fun.
https://youtu.be/PuVgkSIuouY

Last Reunion saw Mr Brock at the Monterey fish company, his jacket caught my attention.
His BRE work facinates me.
BRE: Peter Brock Automotive Designs and BRE Race Cars 22"x28"

Click the Tommy Ivo website...think it was a bored/stroked 322..over 4oo cubes. He won every "street roadster" class drag race he entered. Happiest win was over Norm Grabowski who started the T bucket craze with the "Kooky car" that appeared on the TV show "77 Sunset Strip". Driven in the show by Ed Byrnes who played the jive talking "Kooky" character.

What gave me the clue it might be TV Tommy's car was the painted generator. Nobody had heard of alternators back in '56, when the car was built.

This is not a Tommy Ivo T bucket... This is Max Balchowsky's "Old Yeller", A purpose built road racing car that embarrassed many high dollar purebred racecars . Especially potent at the SCCA runoffs during the 80's and 90's.

TV Tom had some interesting and beautiful buick-powered cars, but this ain't one of them.

Two different photos being discussed. The street rod with the mirror finish firewall is Tommy Ivo's T bucket.

Thanks. I've heard of the old *6 Strombergs* set-up but always assumed they were single throat. That's a lot of carb, must be small barrels. :cool:

Great story, Jack. You should try writing professionally (he says, snickering).

Cool story Jack... Something similarish but way less cool happened to me when I had a 1968 912 for sale.. I got a call from a Pat something - I missed the name as I was elbow deep into my Alfa's carburators while on the phone. He mentioned looking for a friend that worked at Porsche, and something about him working in motorsport but I was distracted and it did not click.. When he emailed me later, it was Pat Long (the Porsche factory driver)... I really respect/like the guy, I felt like douche for how casual I'd been on the phone ;-) (deal didn't happen but it was still cool)