A good friend and fellow Ford guy named John Hildebrand is planning a Y-Block Shoot out for the weekend of May 4-5 at Barona Raceway.
Barona is an NHRA 1/8 mile track located in San Diego County.
There is free overnight camping available.
Below is the email he sent to Bob Martin to get things started.
Barona Raceway is featured in the current issue of DeLux Car Kulture and John's Model A made the centerfold.
Bob,
My name is John Hildebrand (56 T-bird 312 C-4). I subscribe to Y-block magazine and work with John and Geoff Mummert. We are looking to put together a West Coast Y-Block shootout similar to what you write about in the Y-block magazine. I race at our local track Barona 1/8th mile dragstrip and have talked to the owners. They suggested a May 5th date. This would be the 2nd day of a two day race. The May 4/5th weekend at Barona is a pair of Summit races. Often the Sunday race is not as filled as the Saturday. Barona is a nice 1/8th mile NHRA track with free camping overnight on race weekends. This would also give Y-block racers a chance to test and tine on Saturday before the Sunday Shootout. Racers could even tow in on Friday and get pitted if they are also racing on Saturday.
I would be interested in any suggestions or help you could offer. I am sending this to Bruce at the magazine to keep him in the loop. John and Geoff and I are working on a Y-block motor to put into a 1931 model A coupe that I now race with a Cleveland motor. I am now retired from work and so have time to co-ordinate this event.
Sincerely,
John Hildebrand
jhildebr@cox.net
760-943-1284

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

John Hildebrand, are you retired Army Security Agency? Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

cool, that's only a 21 hour drive for me if I don't stop

I might just think about it, course I'll have to stop a few times. road trip in May???

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

I would be interested in doing this since I live in L.A.!! I checked the Barona site looking for rules to prep my car since I've never raced it. Can someone tell me where to look? I'm sure there is a site

Woodland Hills,Ca

I think I can make that!  I've been wanting to take Elwood to Barona anyway.   We will be at Mooneye's X-mas show next week at Irwindale if anyone down in LA land want to come by and say "Hi".

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

I would be interested in making the drive down to Barona possibly bringing my 57 Bird. Still a long haul and would need to work out transport. I have never raced (legally) and need some education to the rules. I have noticed in the Yblock Magazine photos that all the Tbirds race with the hard tops installed. Is this required?

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

No, it's not required either way. running the hardtop on your bird allows you to not wear a helmet otherwise you have to. Also there is a speed/et limit for helmets but most street birds are within it. Wearing a helmet in any case is a good idea.



Doug Thrasher wrote some good articles on basic beginning drag racing in Yblock magazine years back if you can locate them or they may be on here someplace archived.



FYI, I think I read that's a 1/8th mile track? If so that's even better IMHO. Easier on your car, someone still wins. lots of fun.



You kidding! you live to close compared to most, you have to go.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

Yea...It would be fun but not so sure about driving the Bird down there and back through the SoCal freeways and traffic. Really hate the idea of a breakdown in that mess. Trailering it down would be an option but needs some planning and decent tow vehicle. Don't think my 65 Galaxie would appreciate climbing the Cuesta grade and Grapevine lugging a trailer and Tbird.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Mark, California may be a relatively big state but unfortunately most of the North/South highways are funneled thru the LA basin. I'm south of that "mess" (well NOT that far south, I can see the Hollywood sign on the hills in the distance from upstairs) but we still have traffic with people going to and from the LA area.



John, the WEST SHOOTOUT sounds like fun, looks like a nice track up in them hills .

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

If this event becomes a reality, I will most likely rent an RV/Box Van/Truck and trailer.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto