This car was my first attempt at Enduro Racing. It was a 1986 Ford EXP. For some strange reason I've always liked the late 80's Escort GT and EXP so in October '98 when I was looking for a good winter beater it fit the bill. By July '99 it had died for the 4th time (ECT sensor, Ignition module, Fuel Pressure Regulator, and wiring harness). The 4th + final time the wiring harness literally went up in smoke and that was the final straw. I was planning to scrap it until I heard Mahoning Valley Speedway was starting a 4 cylinder Enduro Class. That's how it became a race car

I built the car in my dad's back yard! Unfortunately at the time I did not have welding capabilities but I did have a cage my brother built for a '74 Nova. After several days hammering (sledge), cutting (sawzall), sweating (there was a heat wave), and cursing, it was not pretty but the cage was in. This plus the fact the entire suspension appeared to be "factory original" after 182,000 miles saying it didn't handle well was putting it mildly!

The first time I raced it, I did not do very well. If I didn't finish in last place it was only because another car didn't finish! During the next week I replaced the RF strut + gave it a tune up. My second race after leading for a few laps I finished in 3rd place! We had 2 more races that year and I finished 4th + 5th.

2000 started off pretty bad. In the first race, another car chopped down and caved in mr RR quarter panel and sliced the RR tire. The 2nd race was even worse. I got to the track to find I had a dead battery/bad alternator. I borrowed a battery from my brothers trailer but it did not fit where I had the battery mounted. I literally had it strapped into the car with bungee chords! I managed to start the race but unfortunately during the race, a grenade went off in the engine. By this time I had a bender and a welder so instead of just replacing the engine, I replaced the whole car.