Brad & Dale West - DRUSA Challenge Winner

DRUSA Challenge WINNER BRAD WEST!

Pictured from the left to right are as follows:
Severn Johnson of Crownsville
Severn's Performance Center and long time friend Royce Miller - Owner of MIR
Brad West- Owner and driver and June 4th Q-32 and Super Pro winner
Dale West- Owner and Driver
Brad's Wife and partner of 20 years
Jim Evans - Jim Evans Racing and long time friend
"The Maverick" is pictured behind.

We inherited the 70 Maverick in May of 1991 when Brad's father Lou West, ("POP") passed away of cancer. It was just a stock chassis 70 Maverick with the interior removed and a little 289 Ford. It ran a 12.47 when we got it.

We started racing in July 1991 after going to watch our friends Rob & "Sue-z" Hamilton race. We smelled the fuel and felt the rumble and knew we had to get back on the track. We started with the 289, blew that up, then went to a 302 Ford that got us down to 11.70's, We blew that up then bought another 302 and got some Aluminium heads and a Victor Jr. intake from "POGO" Curtis Nokes of Annapolis, who also died of cancer. This moved us down into the 10.80 range. Not bad for a little 302.

In July of 1993 we began work on building a tube chassis for it. We helped Rob Hamilton of S&H Racecrafts build her from the ground up. Rob, using raw materials, hand made almost everything in the car. It was his first full chassis body car. It took us 15 weeks of working into the wee hours of the morning to get it done, but we did. Rob took it to his body shop (K&R) for bodywork & paint. Keith Hamilton, Rob's Brother, did wonders on the body work and Rob shot the paint. Brad's nephew, Pat Marshall. designed the first graphic for it. Brad and Dale West Owners/Drivers built the engines and transmissions with Rob's help, of course.

It hit the track Easter weekend of 1994. It weighed 2250 w/o a driver. Brad ran it first and went a 10.20 on a fresh motor and came back with an impressive 10.01, then Dale drove and came back with a very impressive 9.93.

We started racing at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Maryland the end of August 1994. We decided to join the points at MIR in 1995 ending up 5th overall. In August of 1995 we were 3rd in points when the little 302 let go on the finishline in a blaze of glory. It sure went out with a BANG. Tony Tull, five time consecutive Motorcycle Champ at MIR, who switched to a dragster in 1995, graciously lent us his dragster so Brad could still run his points. We missed the next race which moved us into 5th place, but that was still OK.

We then decided to move on to more power, as we all do eventually. So we bought the .030 over 454 BBC and ran that. It worked pretty well for a ladder bar car and kept us in the points top five. That one ran 9.60's for Brad and 9.40's for Dale until the cast crank broke.

We then built a 461 BBC with the new 950 Holley Alky carb rebuilt by George Rupert of Tennessee, and it did even better. It ran consistant 9.20's for Brad and 9.tens- 9.0's for Dale. We broke a lifter in that one so we built a 477BBC aluminum head motor with a Sinke 1050 Dominator alky carb. in 1999 that took us down in the 8.70 range@155mph. Had the paint redone by Ron Vito (Champion Auto Body) from Pasadena, Maryland. The new graphics were designed by Dale West. We took it to Gary Hood of Severn, Maryland who built the 4 link suspension, which really helped bring the car around and we raised the gear ratio to 4:56 from 4:30's which made the 60' deadly consistant.

The first day out on that one, Dale brought home the Labor Day win at Colonial Beach Dragway in Virginia, with consistant 1/8th mile passes of 8- 5.75's in a row, defeating Ryan Jackson in the final. Happy Day for her. Ryan is a tough competitor.

We attended a 2 grander at MIR and Brad ended up in the final against Mr. Severn Johnson and runnered up on a real tight race.

At the last Bill Mitchell, Brad went out in the semis of the 10 grander. We didn't race too much in 1999...nothing to speak of anyway.

The 2000 Season started out at Colonial Beach Dragway where Dale went out in the 5th round with a redlight, Bummer. The Maverick was once again stuck on a 5.75 all day.

The next time out was at Cecil County Dragway where Dale only ran for her N.H.R.A. license as they had expired. We didn't race again until the East Coast Doorslammer at MIR on June 3rd and 4th, 2000. Dale went out early on Saturday and Brad took the win in both the Q-32 and the Super Pro race on Sunday the 4th. It was his first day in the car for the year since October of 1999. The Maverick once again performed awesomely with 9- 5.67's back to back. We ended up with an overall average package of .014, to put us in the lead in the DRUSA E.T. Challenge with two races to go. This was very special for us. Brad made us very proud that day. We made a major shock adjustment from Saturday to Sunday and the car was smooth, straight and deadly. It was Brad's first win and two in a row to boot. He always made it to the semis, but never quite made it to the finals, except the one time against long time friend Severn Johnson.

We have not been out racing since the Doorslammer. Business has taken presidence over racing. We have been Married for 20 years now, so we are saving for a trip to Aruba for our 20th anniversary, so racing has taken a back seat this year. We are anxiously awaiting the results of the Atlanta Dragway challenge, to see if we have maintained the lead in the DRUSA E.T. Challenge. We have received a lot of support and good luck wishes from other racers and friends. We hope it all works out.

We appreciate all the help we have received from those who have helped us put the Maverick together and run as well as it does. We especially want to thank Rob Hamilton of S&H Racecrafts and Gary Hood, because without their genius and help, she wouldn't be where she is today. Also, We would like to say Thanks "POP", you'de really love her now. You ride shotgun every pass she makes. We hope we made you proud of her. Wish you were here to see it.

We would also like to thank Danny and Angie Sons for allowing us this opportunity on their web site.

Our fingers are crossed we keep the package. The car has been really good to us and we hope it continues.

Thanks again to everyone,

Brad and Dale West



DRUSA Challenge WINNER BRAD WEST! Pictured from the left to right are as follows: Severn Johnson of Crownsville Severn's Performance Center and long time friend Royce Miller - Owner of MIR Brad West- Owner and driver and June 4th Q-32 and Super Pro winner Dale West- Owner and Driver Brad's Wife and partner of 20 years Jim Evans - Jim Evans Racing and long time friend "The Maverick" is pictured behind. We inherited the 70 Maverick in May of 1991 when Brad's father Lou West, ("POP") passed away of cancer. It was just a stock chassis 70 Maverick with the interior removed and a little 289 Ford. It ran a 12.47 when we got it. We started racing in July 1991 after going to watch our friends Rob & "Sue-z" Hamilton race. We smelled the fuel and felt the rumble and knew we had to get back on the track. We started with the 289, blew that up, then went to a 302 Ford that got us down to 11.70's, We blew that up then bought another 302 and got some Aluminium heads and a Victor Jr. intake from "POGO" Curtis Nokes of Annapolis, who also died of cancer. This moved us down into the 10.80 range. Not bad for a little 302. In July of 1993 we began work on building a tube chassis for it. We helped Rob Hamilton of S&H Racecrafts build her from the ground up. Rob, using raw materials, hand made almost everything in the car. It was his first full chassis body car. It took us 15 weeks of working into the wee hours of the morning to get it done, but we did. Rob took it to his body shop (K&R) for bodywork & paint. Keith Hamilton, Rob's Brother, did wonders on the body work and Rob shot the paint. Brad's nephew, Pat Marshall. designed the first graphic for it. Brad and Dale West Owners/Drivers built the engines and transmissions with Rob's help, of course. It hit the track Easter weekend of 1994. It weighed 2250 w/o a driver. Brad ran it first and went a 10.20 on a fresh motor and came back with an impressive 10.01, then Dale drove and came back with a very impressive 9.93. We started racing at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Maryland the end of August 1994. We decided to join the points at MIR in 1995 ending up 5th overall. In August of 1995 we were 3rd in points when the little 302 let go on the finishline in a blaze of glory. It sure went out with a BANG. Tony Tull, five time consecutive Motorcycle Champ at MIR, who switched to a dragster in 1995, graciously lent us his dragster so Brad could still run his points. We missed the next race which moved us into 5th place, but that was still OK. We then decided to move on to more power, as we all do eventually. So we bought the .030 over 454 BBC and ran that. It worked pretty well for a ladder bar car and kept us in the points top five. That one ran 9.60's for Brad and 9.40's for Dale until the cast crank broke. We then built a 461 BBC with the new 950 Holley Alky carb rebuilt by George Rupert of Tennessee, and it did even better. It ran consistant 9.20's for Brad and 9.tens- 9.0's for Dale. We broke a lifter in that one so we built a 477BBC aluminum head motor with a Sinke 1050 Dominator alky carb. in 1999 that took us down in the 8.70 range@155mph. Had the paint redone by Ron Vito (Champion Auto Body) from Pasadena, Maryland. The new graphics were designed by Dale West. We took it to Gary Hood of Severn, Maryland who built the 4 link suspension, which really helped bring the car around and we raised the gear ratio to 4:56 from 4:30's which made the 60' deadly consistant. The first day out on that one, Dale brought home the Labor Day win at Colonial Beach Dragway in Virginia, with consistant 1/8th mile passes of 8- 5.75's in a row, defeating Ryan Jackson in the final. Happy Day for her. Ryan is a tough competitor. We attended a 2 grander at MIR and Brad ended up in the final against Mr. Severn Johnson and runnered up on a real tight race. At the last Bill Mitchell, Brad went out in the semis of the 10 grander. We didn't race too much in 1999...nothing to speak of anyway. The 2000 Season started out at Colonial Beach Dragway where Dale went out in the 5th round with a redlight, Bummer. The Maverick was once again stuck on a 5.75 all day. The next time out was at Cecil County Dragway where Dale only ran for her N.H.R.A. license as they had expired. We didn't race again until the East Coast Doorslammer at MIR on June 3rd and 4th, 2000. Dale went out early on Saturday and Brad took the win in both the Q-32 and the Super Pro race on Sunday the 4th. It was his first day in the car for the year since October of 1999. The Maverick once again performed awesomely with 9- 5.67's back to back. We ended up with an overall average package of .014, to put us in the lead in the DRUSA E.T. Challenge with two races to go. This was very special for us. Brad made us very proud that day. We made a major shock adjustment from Saturday to Sunday and the car was smooth, straight and deadly. It was Brad's first win and two in a row to boot. He always made it to the semis, but never quite made it to the finals, except the one time against long time friend Severn Johnson. We have not been out racing since the Doorslammer. Business has taken presidence over racing. We have been Married for 20 years now, so we are saving for a trip to Aruba for our 20th anniversary, so racing has taken a back seat this year. We are anxiously awaiting the results of the Atlanta Dragway challenge, to see if we have maintained the lead in the DRUSA E.T. Challenge. We have received a lot of support and good luck wishes from other racers and friends. We hope it all works out. We appreciate all the help we have received from those who have helped us put the Maverick together and run as well as it does. We especially want to thank Rob Hamilton of S&H Racecrafts and Gary Hood, because without their genius and help, she wouldn't be where she is today. Also, We would like to say Thanks "POP", you'de really love her now. You ride shotgun every pass she makes. We hope we made you proud of her. Wish you were here to see it. We would also like to thank Danny and Angie Sons for allowing us this opportunity on their web site. Our fingers are crossed we keep the package. The car has been really good to us and we hope it continues. Thanks again to everyone, Brad and Dale West