Tory Schutte #16 Spring Explosion 2003

I went out on a mission to destroy this wagon, I ended up in third place. I was still running great but I lost three tires and one of my rear tires ended up under my rim so I was stuck rocking back and forth in it. I should have gotten 4th or 5th but I refused to break my stick and the other guys broke their stick to quick. Lesson learned for them and $750 in my pocket.

Here's a quick shot of the re-stub process, I just cut the frame rails off close to the A-arms as possible and then hold another set of stubs(with bumper) up against it. I just eye it up and make sure with tires on the car, it's level and looks about the right height. Sometimes they won't line up perfect but I try to get one welded up good and the I use a combination of Porto-Power(Hydraulic Ram) and a few come-alongs to get it to come together. You may need to torch or grind to get as much as possible to touch. I use some rebar or plates to fill the gaps when welding. I also put a small plate over the outside of the frame(inside interfers with the power steering), most places I run allow me to do this as long as you don't put too big of plates on it. Our team has restubb'ed about 6 cars now and they work great. This wagon had 3 different front frame's on it.

Tory Schutte #16 Metal Mayhem 2003

Next event was Metal Mayhem in Oregon IL. I ran a rusty 74 Caprice 2dr. This thing had no floorboards, but the trunk and frame wasn't too bad. Not the greatest car to take to a big show but I was very busy and this was the quickest and easiest to set up.

Tory Schutte #16 Stoughton 2003

Here's the same wagon with a different front clip and two new frame stubs from the A-arms foward. Took it to Stoughton WI, had to cut out all the kickers to run(whinners suck). Qualified in my heat and then got buried in the dirt wall early in the feature. Very little damage done there, so I took it to Monroe and there the made me cut all the bolting and extra cage out of it.

Tory Schutte #16 Monroe 2003

I also final got a new tranny and carb on my orginal 82 Spirit but I lost and ball joint and one axle in the compacts in Monroe. No real damage and a performance not even worth a picture.

Tory Schutte #16 Warren IL 2003

Tory Schutte #16 Irvine KY 2003

Here's a car I built in 2 days. It's a 76 Caprice 2dr. I was on my way to Florida for a Navy school, so I figured I might as well run a demo on my way there. Pat had the frame seams and the doors welded. So I loaded up my trailer with a motor/trans, pipes, battery box, swtiches, etc... and drove to Kentucky. We built the car in two days and ran on Sunday. Rodney Travis came over and did a great job on the paint job. This car was very clean except the back bumper and frame rails.

We actually finished up early on the car and had time for a paint job. I wanted black but Pat only had blue so we stuck out like a big target with our light blue cars.

As soon as we showed up we knew that we had under-built our cars, but I was assured by the promoter before that he wanted to clean up this demo and was going to be very strict on the rules. What a joke, he let everyone run with plated frames and loaded cars. Wasn't the first time I came to a gun fight with a knife. They had everyone draw heats at the driver's meeting and we got lucky again and drew the first heat together. I had two front flats but we managed to clean up the first heat and instantly became marked men. We had very little to do before the feature but change a few tires and trim a fender or two.

In the feature we were doing great a first it was crowded track and I just tried to stay in the middle but everytime a side of my car opened up they would barrel in and cream me. I figured the only way to stay alive if everyone was hunting me was to keep moving, oh oh big problem, no reverse! I would only get reverse once in awhile so when I did I would line up for a track shot. I did about 10 of those before I realized that my linkage was just off so I was able to get reverse by hold my shifter rod while driving. In the end there was only three of us and the other two pinned me in a corner and I got hung on a dead car. Man I was pissed I tons of motor left but couldn't get out. Third place and they only paid 1st($3,000), Pat went out in 4th. They took about 20 tugs with a tractor to finally free me.

Car still drove off the track and on the trailer. When they were tee'ing off on me at the end they broke loose my back pipe and my seat. It was cool you could sit in the car and see the ground all around you. They ripped the whole back sheetmetal off the car and I was literally driving on my car when I went foward and I could see it go in front of me when I went in reverse. The frontend of this car was the toughest of any stock car that I have ever ran! I got my butt kicked but still had great time and met some great guys in KY, they definitely know how to build those Fords. Tough cars and true sportsmanship, got out and shook our hands regardless of what happened on the track. Sucked I didn't get home until 5am and had to drive to Pensacola the next morning. Thanks for the lesson KY demo'ers.