Great Race 2016 Preparation Continues

The Stars and Stripes getting a new transmission, new brakes, the works. We are driving a Great Race route with differences in elevation and need to be prepared.

The Stars and Stripes getting a new transmission, new brakes, the works. We are driving a Great Race route with differences in elevation and need to be prepared.

Even though we’ve been prepping the Spirit of Stahls‘ Great Race vehicles for the past 8 months or so, there’s always something that needs improving just before we ship the cars out to the start line. It takes almost a week to get the cars to California, where the Great Race 2016 activities begin in about two weeks. So we’ve all been on extra garage duty for the past several days. I’ve even been lending a hand with some welding, which is not my strong suit. Luckily we have Magic Dave McCallister to keep us all in check. He’s also been a fantastic mentor to our grandson William, as well as an inspiration to all the grandkids who stop by to help out–we couldn’t do it without you kids. It is a joy to see this love of all things mechanical living on. In addition to a very complicated addition of a supercharger to the Packard, we also put a new transmission in the Stars and Stripes, as well as new brakes. The Stars and Stripes is up and running again, thanks to a fantastic team effort. (Click here to see a short video of the Stars and Stripes on Facebook) Hopefully these cars will be loaded into the carrier and on the road across the country soon.

Just when you think the cars are all ready to go, we're scrambling to make some last minute adjustments.

Just when you think the cars are all ready to go, we’re scrambling to make some last minute adjustments.

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William tries his hand at welding under the watchful eye of Magic Dave.

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William in the Hannibal 8, one of the cars from the movie, The Great Race. The Hannibal 8 will be joining the Great Racers at a showing of the movie a few days before the start of the race.

Dave puts some polishing touches on the Leslie Special. It will also be at the movie night that takes place before the Great Race 2016 gets underway.

Dave puts some polishing touches on the Leslie Special. It will also be at the movie night that takes place before the Great Race 2016 gets underway.

Mary lends a hand.

Mary lends/waves a hand.

Where does this go again?

Where does this go again?

We're getting there.

We’re getting there.

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