Hey, MFAWG

[tdcoly]

Do you know this guy?

Wednesday, February 25
Oklahoma City - A pickup and a trailer containing an expensive open-wheel race car were stolen from the parking lot of a motel here, police said. Eugene Nolen of Indianapolis said the $250,000 loss could mean the end of his team, which has raced in events across the country for 30 years. The yellow race car with a number 20 on its side was used in the U.S. Auto Club's Silver Crown Series.

Link

[MFAWG]

This happened last week! He was on his way from Texas to Manzanita for the Copper on Dirt.

'Know' as in 'go over to his house and help him put a car together'? Not so much.

'Know' as in 'Know who he is and that Tony Elliot used to drive that car back in the late '90's' ? Absolutely!

Lots of that stuff going around these days. A very famous, long time  West Coast owner had his whole shop emptied in Chico about a month ago.

Most car insurance doesn't cover anything towed for the purposes of competition, and most racers insurance doesn't cover anything that happens going to and from the track. Basically, he's *fudge*ed out of a $75,000 (minimum)  race car and probably several thousands worth of equipment.

Some of it will turn up somewhere, nobody will know anything, of course. I don't think there's more than 40 or 50 Silver Crown dirt cars in the country, so the chassis will probably be sold for scrap.

Pretty car, too! 

[tdcoly]

Some of it will turn up somewhere, nobody will know anything, of course. I don't think there's more than 40 or 50 Silver Crown dirt cars in the country, so the chassis will probably be sold for scrap.

That's kind of what I wondered.  You couldn't just show up and race the car.  Would tech inspection catch any parts going through?

[MFAWG]

Probably not. Tech is just looking for safety, tire rules and MAYBE part numbers on heads.

This type of thing happens alot more than you'd think, and nobody ever seems to get caught. HUGE market in used race car parts. Probably 75 pct of the weekly guys out there are using ALL used stuff, and even some name guys use more than you'd think.

Some of the parts will have serial numbers, but who REALLY checks the serial number number on a used power steering pump or fuel injection unit?

It is a little weird to see an SC car stolen, just because they're relatively rare. That said, the wheels, tires, motor, rear end , etc, etc are all interchangeable with sprint cars, and there are probably 5,000 of those out there.

That leaves the chassis itself, steering linkage and driveshaft. Scrap metal.

[Clive]

I stole it -- stroh and I are converting his GSX-R to a trike.  (Dude can't balance for *feces*.)

[dystopia]

I stole it -- stroh and I are converting his GSX-R to a trike.  (Dude can't balance for *feces*.)

[MFAWG]

Update: While the car hasn't been found, Mr. Nolen put another one together and won one of the crown jewels of Silver Crown racing last night.

http://www.racingnation.com/story.asp?aid=1373

Hollingsworth Excels In Hoosier 100
by Joe Jennings
5/22/2009

Indianapolis, Ind. – Shane Hollingsworth led every lap of the Hoosier 100 Friday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds to score his first USAC Silver Crown victory. Starting from the pole, the Indianapolis native couldn’t be denied as he held off a handful of challengers for the triumph. The winner drove the Nolen Racing /Competition Welding/Chevy.

And now, I'm off to the races!

[Uisce Beatha]

I found it!!!

Truly!!!