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Post by racingelvis on Jun 7, 2009 23:14:22 GMT -6
wish i could be at rupp fest also, just couldnt make it in july. very nice job joe, sled looks awesome.!!!! glad i could help out. thanks, b.s. 171
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Post by rupparooney on Jun 8, 2009 6:25:34 GMT -6
What a Nice Story with your Super Nice Restoration Joe, I lost my Dad when I was 15, You should be Very- Very grateful for having the time with your Pops, I wish my Dad could have seen the things I've accomplished the last 35 years.........See you at Ruppfest......Rooney ;D
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Post by magnumal on Jun 13, 2009 10:42:13 GMT -6
Yes indeed that is real awesome. The fact that I would do exactly what you dreamed is one way of me explaining why I don't do very go restorations , that and talent , and money ;D I just like to drive them . Good job Magnum Al
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Post by ghostrider on Jun 18, 2009 12:20:01 GMT -6
wow, the sled is so nice now and the story behind it makes it even better,i sold my old oval racer last year and bought another f/a from marv salter to restore i hope mine looks half as good.
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Post by romanowski on Aug 23, 2009 13:45:47 GMT -6
Joe, what a great story, pics and quality garage time with your dad.......
I can attest to your issues with getting thrown out at the world series. I took second place in improved stock "D" with my 440 trail twister in Minoqua for the 89 world series, Ist place was Vincents yamaha, I was 2nd, a gpx 3rd and a polaris tx 4th. It was cut and dried I took 2nd behind Vincent by 1 length and 3rd and 4th were behind me substantially. I bring the sled back to the staging area for tech and they tell me to get the hell out of there since your merc took 4th!!!!!!! I could not believe it, I asked how you could have mixed that up and and he told me to pack my blankity blankity merc up and get out of here. Then I asked if the true 4th place (3rd in their eyes) polaris tx would be DQ'd since he did not show up for tech, he told me again (this time with much higher blood pressure) I told you to pack up your merc and leave. I did and did not come back either. I did go and spectate the 91 world series in Rice Lake, Wi. and saw the something on the same lines, Charlie McNally had a good running scorpion in "D" stock, he wins it and they throw him out in tech for having an extra hole drilled in the driven clutch helix. The ISR got what was coming to them as the years went on, they outlawed the old sleds in stock, scrutinized the rest of the old sleds running the improved stock classes, and by the early 1990's drag racing dropped off the face of the earth just like the 80's hair bands did to the grunge rock arena in the early 90's.
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Post by Joe Marshall on Aug 24, 2009 17:44:35 GMT -6
Paul,
You are correct sir! ISR got what was coming to them. We wouldn't give them the privilege of going to even watch one of there events. It seems rules didn't apply to them. They make them up as they see fit to help the ones who are putting money into their pockets. When the drivers you just beat stand up in your defense and the officials still don't make the right call its time to find another sandbox to play in.
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Post by Joe Marshall on Dec 26, 2010 19:43:36 GMT -6
Update! The F/A took it's first breath in 23 years today. Pops and I spent the day in the garage today and fired up the 340 and 440 F/As. We first tried the 440 and it was a no go. We got it to back fire and that was it. We even broke the pull handle when it back fired. After much discuss we tured our attention to the 340. It actually started on one cyclinder. We pulled the chokes out and found one stuck open. After that fix it ran on both cyclinders but something wasn't right. It sounded more like a liquid nirto than a F/A. So I called Bullshit! After a close inspection I said that the welds on the cans where not factory. So If Pops is still on with the race for pinks I have the protest money in my pocket before we even race. I could get a 340 F/A without even racing for it. Back to the 440 we were scratching our heads thinking it was the prestolite box. It was apparent that the timing was off so before we pulled the box off the 340 we switched the plug wires and it fired on the first pull. Is there a sweeter sound than a Rupp F/A with stock cans, I think not. So I took the 440 out in the lot and warmed it up. Then I lined it up for a launch brought the tach up to 5000 and let it rip, what a rush!!! Man I love that sled, it never missed a step. Then I hopped on the 340. What the hell, the engagement was at 2500 rpm and it could get out of it's own shadow. The 440 would put 20 lengths on that without blinking. So is Pops trying to pull one over? Making it seem that the race for pinks is a forgone conclusion? He is way to good at tuning these things to be that far off. I even said that I would pull one plug wire on the 440 and still race if that is how the 340 was going to be set up. More to come!
Joe and Pops
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Post by Bobsled on Dec 30, 2010 21:29:49 GMT -6
Hello Joe, Thanks for taking the time to post all of the 440 F/A invaluable information. The Rupps left a big impression on me in the late 70's as a kid. (Although I never owned one)
I consider the late 70s/ early 80s the golden era of sledding. The machines were fast and light and tons of fun to ride. (Lots of snow in Illinois also!)
I have picked up a good Nitro 440 F/A which is all there and is ready for restoration. Before starting the resto, I would like to get some unbiased information on the performance of the 440 F/A (4402rs) before investing time and effort.
How does it compare to the performance of a 1980 Polaris TXL 340?(mono leaf) Is it quicker than the Polaris? How many horsepower does the 2rs motor create, is it reliable, what is the top speed of this sled in stock form?
Can this sled be clutched for 600 ft drag racing? Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help.
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Post by ruppluver on Nov 21, 2011 16:31:53 GMT -6
WOW!!! I'm impressed! & I'm not even a racer! Great story also. That is one NICE RACER! Gotta love it! Thanks for posting.
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Post by jessebilicic on Nov 23, 2011 18:02:21 GMT -6
The Guy who raced from Ohio was it Gary Rodgers he still has the rupp but wont let any one see it he races it once in awhile i go over to his place and he keeps it in the back of his shop
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Post by jimgrandmi on Nov 27, 2011 12:13:46 GMT -6
I remember Gary Rodgers and his #77 Wisco Stickered FA at the local races.... I think he made enough money with that sled to pay for his house! He always ran well at the races I attended.
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Post by scorpionlover on Feb 14, 2012 16:52:21 GMT -6
Joe,
Here is some pictures I took of the F/A at a snowmobile show at the ISSA convention in 2010 in Storm Lake, IA. Had some long chats with POPS about these sleds.
Dennis
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Post by scorpionlover on Feb 14, 2012 16:53:15 GMT -6
picture 2
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Post by scorpionlover on Feb 14, 2012 16:53:42 GMT -6
pic 3
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Post by scorpionlover on Feb 14, 2012 16:54:16 GMT -6
pic 4. 340 Engine compartment.
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Post by scorpionlover on Feb 14, 2012 16:56:26 GMT -6
I have never been that close to a nicer pair of F/A's in my life til that day. I had an awesome time conversing with your dad. One helluva nice guy to talk to.
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