Well I have been opening my big mouth on a lot of topics on these message boards, and a lot of you don't know me from a blop of bird crap. I posted a bio on the "secret" HC board in a post introducing ourselves and I thought I would share it here with you.

This is not an attempt to be self serving in any way, but many have asked , "Who the hell are you??"

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Started drag racing in college in 1963 with my 63 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible 4 speed 409. Found out I could fix stuff on my car better than the next guy. STREET RACER from 1963 to 1967 Whipped some butt. On the then, mostly deserted, highways of the New England Thruway, Boston Post Road, Conner Street, the Connecting Highway and the Sprain Brook parkwaythe Bronx, Queens and Westchester County. Also Raced at Dover Drag Strip - flagman start- (gone) and NY National Speedway (gone) We used to have three cars block the traffic then hold the race. Don't tell me I don't know about how to be stupid. Survived this nonsence without a scratch.

Crewed for a B/Altered in summer of 1967 before 3 year hitch in the army. On return bought a 1970 Buick Skylark GS455 and started my evilways again. Met some guys with Corvettes. Dumped the Buick for a 1971 Corvette 2 top Convertible, 4 speed 270HP, 350CID. Found out these guys were into road racing with EMRA -- (What the hell is road racing??) -- Joined the local Corvette Club and started autocrossing and crewing for the guy with the EMRA Corvette.

We decided to take the Vette big time. Hooked up with some Chevrolet Engineers from Detroit who convinced us to go Camel GT IMSA racing. Took us two years to restore and complete the Vette. Still autocrossing and running time trials at Bridgehampton and Lime Rock. Met and married Elyse. Found out she was as good or better than me at this stuff. Bought her a 1969 Corvette Coupe, 4 speed, 350HP, 350 CID. By now I had an L88 500HP motor in my Vette.

By now, when we were not crewing IMSA events, we were autocrossing and time trialing all over Westchester and Long Island. We usually won our respective classes as well as Ladies FTD and Men's FTD. Crewed for the IMSA Vette until 1976. Tired of crewing and autocrossing and time trialing (been doing it for 5 years), we took the plunge. Borrowed a car transporter, loaded up my vette, and went to an EMRA driving school.

Already had scatter shield in car and 5 point roll bar, just added kill switch, competition belts and driver suit and went racing. Car still driven on street. Passed EMRA driving school, asked to join competition that day. Turned them down cause car car getting too warm.

Came back next weekend with only mod of an oil cooler. Won my first race. Continued to improve car and won the 1976 EMRA A Production series Championship my first year against fully prepared race cars. Over the summer set the car up completely as a full prep race car. Toasted the big block L88 and put in a small block 350CID full prep motor. Got SCCA license and won the1977 NY Region B-Production Championship as well as the 1977 North American Road Race Championship (NARRC) in B production. Also raced and won class and overall in my first and only endurance race. Continued racing thru 1979, then two things happened, had a son Tony, and we moved to Virginia. END OF RACING Sold the car.....

Met some guys in Virginia who were SCCA MARRS racing. Crewed and crew chiefed for several years. Worked with Club Ford and GT1 car. We won the GT! MARRS Championship one year and set the long course track record at Watkins Glen with the GT1.

During this time continued to work for EMRA as Tech Inspector, Flqagger, Starter, Pit Out. Won 1990 worker award with EMRA. CLAIM TO FAME>>> In 1997, due to an additional EMRA racing date being added late in the season, I had the unique pleasure of throwing the ablosute last checkered flag on a sanction road race at Bridgehampton before it was closed.

Got SCCA working in my blood. Held licenses in flagging, starting, pit and paddock, EV and a National Scrutineering (Tech) license. Was SCCA Tech worker of the year in 1999. Worked every specialty in SCCA at least once. Was Chief Tech Inspector for the second and third 12HR enduros at Summit.

In 1999, bought a SS Camaro. Found out about NASA. Did some parts changing and started HPDE with NASA. Elyse got a Z28 Camaro that we prepprd and she did some HPDE as well. Offered the position of starter with NASA. Accepted.

Crewed for daughter in her Toyota ITC car for a couple of years. She came in 4th in the MARRS points in ITC one year.

In 2000 was offered position of First Race Director for NASA - Virginia Region. Held position until my business required my time. Came back a year later as Consultant to Chris at events. Won NASA Passion Award in 2002. Received first ever award from the Honda Challenge Bunch with the rest of my family for helping get the HC off the ground.

Have gift (curse) of memorizing rule books. Each year I work with Jerry Kunsman - National Director of NASA - to review and assist with the new annual rules book preparation. Consult with Jerry during the year on possible rules changes.

Currently Race Director for NASA - MA for compliance with rules. If you need help ask me. Glad to help

Currently own towing company and auto repair and specialty work shop in Manassas.

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Please feel free to lock or delete this post if you feel it is inappropriate.

 

 

How old are you? Just asking.


Edo

 

You must guess.

As indicated in college in 1963.
Driving age in ny to drive in nyc where college was is 18.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EdoMoto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How old are you? Just asking.


Edo</TD></TR></TABLE>

From his HT bio:

Full Name Jim Politi
Location Manassas VA
Age 61

 

Cheater, cheater

 

Sorry I blew your guessing game. We posted at almost the same time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Grumpy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cheater, cheater </TD></TR></TABLE>


I just hope ill still be involved with cars when im 61.


Edo 34 years to go for 61

 

Grumpy you don't memorize them all. You get corrected at least once a season.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Grumpy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Started drag racing in college in 1963 with my 63 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible 4 speed 409. STREET RACER from 1963 to 1967 Whipped some butt. </TD></TR></TABLE>
street racer! BAN him!

 

Bill Jenkins?

 

Here's to you. It is men and women like you who keep our sport as great as it was then. I wish I had the time and the means available to do as much as you do. I try to help at our local track as much as time and family will allow.
Thank you,

 

Thanks Jim! Interesting history.
You've certainly "Done some Racin"

 

Hey Jim,

Thanks for posting the bio. It's nice to know that someone can come from a drag racing background and still do "ok" in road racing.

Are you still involved with the SCCA at all?

-dave, who has a 1 1/2 year old daughter and still hopes, and plans, to race occasionally.
8)

 

On a boring weekend I'll go to a SCCA event and run with the vehicle recovery guys.

 

jim, all you had to do was say "street racer" and we'll be friends for life....heck ya beau....let's line em up!!

 

Catch me at the track and we'll swap somw stret racer stories.

Here's one.

Conner Street, access road to I-95 in New York City. Remote and untravelled mostly. 1/4 mile from the sewer to the bridge. 2 1/2 lanes wide, plenty of shutoff area. Usually no cops. Hell in 1963 they didn't give a **** and the ticket for speed contest wasn't yet invented.

Guy with really quick car goes there to see if he can catch a race. Nobody there but a cop car. Now these were Plymouth Belvederes with six cylinder automatics.
Guy gets talking with cop. Cop says his cop car could beat the racer to the finish and has $5.00 in his hand to prove it. (Now we are talking 32 cents for a gallon of high test so five bucks means something.)

Debate goes on. "You gotta be kidding", "You are trying to arrest me." But the cops convince the guy to race. Now there is no way the cop car has a chance. They line up, "Three, two, one" (We always went on one--- not 3,2,1,go). As suspected the racer blasts off the line.

Cop car takes off with lights and siren blasting. Racer pulls over expecting ticket. Cop car keeps going and is waiting for racer at the finish with his hand out.

Picture this happening today.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Grumpy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Guy with really quick car... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Wonder who the "guy" is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Grumpy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Catch me at the track and we'll swap somw stret racer stories.

Here's one.

Conner Street, access road to I-95 in New York City. Remote and untravelled mostly. 1/4 mile from the sewer to the bridge. 2 1/2 lanes wide, plenty of shutoff area. Usually no cops. Hell in 1963 they didn't give a **** and the ticket for speed contest wasn't yet invented.

Guy with really quick car goes there to see if he can catch a race. Nobody there but a cop car. Now these were Plymouth Belvederes with six cylinder automatics.
Guy gets talking with cop. Cop says his cop car could beat the racer to the finish and has $5.00 in his hand to prove it. (Now we are talking 32 cents for a gallon of high test so five bucks means something.)

Debate goes on. "You gotta be kidding", "You are trying to arrest me." But the cops convince the guy to race. Now there is no way the cop car has a chance. They line up, "Three, two, one" (We always went on one--- not 3,2,1,go). As suspected the racer blasts off the line.

Cop car takes off with lights and siren blasting. Racer pulls over expecting ticket. Cop car keeps going and is waiting for racer at the finish with his hand out.

Picture this happening today.


</TD></TR></TABLE>

Simply awesome. Police (most of them) today aren't allowed to have fun. (due to the public always trying to get them in trouble & a lot of them turn into someone else in there uniforms)

My dad ran one of his Highway Patrol friends in the 60's with his 67 427/425hp Corvette the Ford Cruiser lost. Same friend ran by dad in his Ferrari and on that instance dad blew the corner and totaled the cruiser. Needless to say he had to do some good talking to the commander as to why the cruiser was totaled.

 

Great stories. Was interesting to hear about Bridgehampton. Shut down a year before I moved to LI and got interested in NASA.

You probably know this but the cranky uber-rich have now converted it into a golf course

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Grumpy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Catch me at the track and we'll swap somw stret racer stories.

Here's one.

Conner Street, access road to I-95 in New York City. Remote and untravelled mostly. 1/4 mile from the sewer to the bridge. 2 1/2 lanes wide, plenty of shutoff area. Usually no cops. Hell in 1963 they didn't give a **** and the ticket for speed contest wasn't yet invented.

Guy with really quick car goes there to see if he can catch a race. Nobody there but a cop car. Now these were Plymouth Belvederes with six cylinder automatics.
Guy gets talking with cop. Cop says his cop car could beat the racer to the finish and has $5.00 in his hand to prove it. (Now we are talking 32 cents for a gallon of high test so five bucks means something.)

Debate goes on. "You gotta be kidding", "You are trying to arrest me." But the cops convince the guy to race. Now there is no way the cop car has a chance. They line up, "Three, two, one" (We always went on one--- not 3,2,1,go). As suspected the racer blasts off the line.

Cop car takes off with lights and siren blasting. Racer pulls over expecting ticket. Cop car keeps going and is waiting for racer at the finish with his hand out.

Picture this happening today.


</TD></TR></TABLE>

I am convinced that most policemen back then, at least those that drove "cruisers", were in it due to their "need for speed". The father of a girl I dated in high school told me too many stories of the fast driving he did as a policeman in '57 and '58 Fords, with 312 Intercepter engines.

BTW, NY sure had wimpy police cars, if they were getting slant 6 engines. When I was growing up, my family had 3 former VA state cars (not necessarily police use). Two were Plymouths (not really a Fury or a Belvedere) with 318s and push-botton trannies.

Also BTW, this girl drove a '64 Belvedere 2-door hardtop, which would have been the first year that <U>didn't</U> have the push-button tranny...

Thanks for the good read, Jim.

Keith

 

Cliff notes please!


J/k

 

You skipped the part when you worked for Snow White.

 

I always wondered who you are.

My names Chris, I'm an alcoholic.

Good read. I feel like I'm a grasshopper now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Grumpy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Have gift (curse) of memorizing rule books. Each year I work with Jerry Kunsman - National Director of NASA - to review and assist with the new annual rules book preparation. Consult with Jerry during the year on possible rules changes.

Currently Race Director for NASA - MA for compliance with rules. If you need help ask me. Glad to help </TD></TR></TABLE>
*raises hand*

As a matter of fact...

This main hoop diagonal was deemed "illegal" at first glance by NASA-MW tech steward Kurt, due to not being as close to the floor as "practically" possible. After consideration of the driver seat position (for tall person) and rest of extra bracing, and discussion with regional director (Dave I presume) it declared mostly legal. Unfortunately there's a number of people still building cages like this. What's your call? Legal or illegal? Does it matter to you that there's a national race this year and everyone needs to be on the "same page"?


Second question: We/King Motorsports made a design compromise on the NASCAR bars due to not "necessarily" being able to cut body panels to make the bars straight back to the hoop without this 'S' bend. What's your call, is it legal to cut the body to get a straight angle to the rear hoop?
(view from front/top)


At this point, these are mostly academic questions, but others have been looking for a straight answer too

Thanks Grumpy!