A Leg and Project X

We might need to call this the every 3 week blog now days. It so hard to blog when you don't have any pictures. I was the one usually taking the pics at the track, so since I'm not there, I have to rely on my friends. Sandy's mother is professional photographer, and I know when she is at the track, I am going to get quality pictures.

First, let's update you on my leg. Before I wrote the last blog, I had went to see the plastic surgeon. He said the muscle looks good and I need to start wearing a compression sock. A couple of weeks later I went to the orthopedic doctor and got more good news. He said that I have two spots on the bone that are healing slower than the other areas. But overall it looks good. He said he wanted me to wear a boot and start uses crutches. Put as much pressure on your leg as you can stand. I said , you're kidding me. Nope, I don't expect you to be walking in six weeks, but if you are, that's great. See you then. Well hot dog. This news is two months earlier than what they originally told me. That was about 3 weeks ago and everything is still OK. Just need to keep it lotioned up. Oh, the only bad news is I have a screw head trying to poke through the skin at my ankle. He said, we will take that out when you come back. Sounds painful. I hope he makes sure the drill is in reverse.

I wanted to show you a few pics of my injury. A sort of then and now. The first pic is two days after the muscle was put on. Now remember, this is a stomach muscle taken out and put on my leg. You can't really tell how big my leg was in this pic. But from the knee down, it's large. The second pic is from a couple of days ago. This picture is from basically the same angle. Everything has went down to about normal. I know, it's not a massive leg. I've heard them all. The only problem I'm having, is the swelling in my knee and ankle and also a little pain in each one from the therapy. But hey, things are great and I'm a happy man.

What's the Flea been into? After he won the Renegade race at Piedmont he took a weekend off to get ready for the race at Moorseville. It too had the Renegade cars there and Sandy would have loved to won it, but going in he new that would be tough. He had been working on Project X for sometime and looked to debut it that weekend. Project X was his new engine and he new it may take a little time to get it up to speed. Sandy is usually the guy that makes something work the first time, but unfortunately, a number of things prevented it from getting up to speed. He did qualify # 15 and had to run Doc Bilbrey in his small block, 5 speed ex Pro Stock Truck. Doc to the win light in 4.4 seconds while Sandy's car drove hard toward the center line forcing him to lift. Sandy came back for a shake down run and made a good safe run to give him some much needed info on his new engine combo for the next weekend.

This race at Moorseville was close to home and the doctor released me to drive a week earlier, so I had to go. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see Sandy's entire family. Lucien and Freda, Sandy's sister Elise and her husband Joel, plus those precious grand baby's, Banks and Lowman. Sandy had a full house and a full crew. Brain King, Doug West, George Gable, Kenny Majors and the entire family. You see me and Doctor Wilkins in the first photo. I knew my knee was hurting and a little swollen, but you can really tell it in this photo. Then their is Mr. Banks. He wanted to ride the golf cart. So while the guys worked on the car I took Banks and my youngest son Logan a ride around the pits. Logan loves to come to the race track and hang out with Sandy, and to have Banks there to play with made it that much more fun. I had a large time being back at the races and seeing everyone. The only down side was we had to leave.

Well Sandy left Mooresville and got the car ready for his first venture into the ADRL. He has wanted to do this for a while now and the timing was right. A new engine, new 10.5 tires and those long wheelie bars that he finally got on. So off he goes with high expectations. I did not get to go because I can't ride that far yet. Sandy kept me up to date as well as the live audio from the track. On Sandy's first run, Project X nosed over. But hey, he has a spare now. X is out and old reliable is in. Sandy qualifies # 8 in the 16 car field running low 4.40's. He has a first round competition break bye and sails down the track to a win with another 4.40 run. He had to run a twin turbo car, but problems came up after his burnout. The second round, Sandy has to run the #1 qualifier. No problem. Leave on him and turn on the W. What I didn't tell you, is that this guy ran a 4.01 to qualify #1. Sandy does leave on him, but this guy drives around him with another 4.0 run. That is awesome on 10.5 tires.

What are some things we learned at the first ADRL. Looking at it from the outside in, I can say: 1. Sandy can bolt on a 10.5 tire and go straight down the track, 2. Project X needs some tender loving care buy has a ton of potential, 3. A 5 speed might be in the future, 4. Heads up is a whole lot of fun. The thing that blew my mind was the attendance. I've heard any where from 35 to 60 thousand people were there. If going down the track with that many people watching doesn't pump you up, nothing will. Also, check out the ADRL pictures in the gallery on Sandy's home page. Lot's of shiny aluminum and a whole lot of fun.

Well, I think the next race for the Sandman will be the August edition of the Renegade race at Piedmont Dragway. Project X might be there and who knows, I might talk my ole pal Kelly Stevens into driving me down. See you guys at the races.

Don

Renegade Winner!!!!!!!!!!

That's right. Flea Dog is a winner in the Renegade series at Piedmont Dragway for the second time this year. In the final, he took on Tim Lawrence in his new Camaro. Sandy was .002 on the tree and out run Tim on a hole shot. 4.45 to his 4.44 Excellent way to end the night.

The first round did not start the best. It was a win for Sandy, but his opponent Jay Zimmerman shook the tires hard and ended up in the wall. From what I was told he will need a new front end and maybe a gas tank and radiator. Jay and his team are good friends and we hope it doesn't take them long to get back to the track. Second round Sandy beat Doc Bilbrey and in the semi's he got past good friend Stacy Hall. Sandy's car performed flawlessly during the two days at Piedmont and that can only be attributed to the help. That was Brian King, Herb McCandless Jr, Jack Anderson and his son Kyle and Keri Arthur.

I do not have a winner's circle photo yet, but I do have a pic of the check he received from the last win. $1500.00 doesn't seem like a lot of money to win when you think of the investment that he has. But most racers don't think about the money. They would love to get more, but when you get the win and the trophy, that's is the fun. Especially when you do it with a bad ass small block. Remember, do what you love and the money will come.

The latest news to come from Wilkins Motorsports is the addition of a new sponsor. Welcome Locked and Loaded Grill in Garner, NC. These guys are a full sports bar and grill, serving you an awesome lunch and supper everyday, as well as a place to hang out with your spouse and friends. They have special events going on every weekend. So if you are in the Raleigh area, go check them out and tell them Sandy Wilkins sent you. Their web address is http://www.lockedandloaded.us/.

The next race will be in Jackson, SC at Carolina Dragway on July 17-19. Three races in one weekend. Looking for three wins. Come join the Sandflea.