My intent is to race the Merk at Bonneville and elsewhere, primarily in landspeed events.
A brief history of the old girl:
1988 Rick Byrnes purchased 1986 Merkur XR4Ti body (from Ford)
1990 construction completed
1991 Bonneville – F/PS record 174 (for one day)
1992 Bonneville – F/PS record 182
1993 Bonneville – F/PS spin
1994 Bonneville – F/PS fastest 200.3, record 199 (?)
1995 Maxton April – F/PS record 174 (still standing)
1995 Bonneville – F/PS record 199.036 (?)
1996 off
1997 Bonneville – F/PS ignition problems, rain out
1998 Bonneville – F/PS fastest 208 – record 204 (red hat)
1999 Bonneville – F/GC qualified, pulled from impound, broke trying to requalify
2000 Bonneville – F/FALT record 176
2001 sold to Bob “Grib” Gribble
2003 Maxton April – Turbo Buick V-6 D/BGCC record 172
2003 Maxton May – Turbo Buick V-6 B/BGCC record 184 (still standing)
2003 Maxton June – Turbo Buick V-6 C/BGC record 168
2003 Bonneville – Yates NASCAR V-8 C/GALT – looking for 2003 run log
2003 Maxton Sept – Yates NASCAR V-8 C/GALT record 203 (still standing)
2008 Maxton Sept – “Return after long hiatus.” Last time at Maxton?
Although built for landspeed racing (LSR), initial outings were on the dragstrip where she ran 11.3 LSR trim
Bonneville 1992 (I think), update for higher speed with front & rear glass supports and roof rails
She was painted candy blue (Rick's favorite color) over the winter of 1992/93
Bonneville 1993
Email question from me to Rick: "What year did the new paint scheme appear?"
Rick's answer:"OH, you makin me remember some good times.
"My very long time friend Scotty Sutherland worked with me at the Gas Turbine lab in Ford, but owned and ran a shop that did mechanical work on one side and body work/custom paint on the other.
"He has been a supporter of my racing since day one, so after the second year, he volunteered to do a paint job in Candy Blue. (my favorite color). Painter Scott Peters and his crew did the deed, including molding everything in and smoothing moldings and seams.
"It turned out to be down right beautiful and perfectly straight. As good a show paint job as I have ever seen, (and (I'm the son of a custom painter).
"As agreed I showed the car at Detroit and Toledo Autoramas and was greeted to lots of likes. We won outstanding paint at Toledo as well as class wins wherever we went. But I don't really enjoy shows as an exhibiter, so don't do that unless a sponsor specifically requests.
"The paint weathered well until the Novi Motorsports Hall of Fame/museum asked me to have the car there for a big party that was a Bonneville theme. They volunteered to keep the car there for the winter as well. My garage at the time was only 14 X 20 and to get another engine built it was a good suggestion.
"Well, Michigan can be brutal weather. The day to deliver the car on my open trailer, it was 16 degrees below 0 f.
"Moving the car from my heated garage to the trailer, the molding on the side of the door cracked, and a big spot delaminated. I delivered the car anyway, but Scott and I were heartbroken. So, he had me bring the car back to the shop in Jun and we did the two tone fade which turned out terrible looking so we added the white pearl using some of my Dads really old time (from the 50's) pearl.
"The shape of the white came differently as well.
"Scott called me right after the car came out of the booth and was almost in tears saying it looked really bad and I should come over to help him figure out what to do.
"The fade from blue to purple looked terrible.
"My daddy used to say when GM did something that looked really bad, they chrome plated it. (he was a FORD guy) So, I suggested we do more paint on the sides. We discussed flames, old time scallops, and lots of other things, but in the end, we rolled it right into the booth, and began taping to do something that would cover the fade and look decent. What you have is what we came up with, and we had an even tougher job duplicating it on the right side, but it turned out great, and has been copied many many times. It was the very first with that geometric shape painted on the sides. It had no rhyme or reason, other than to cover up our F$*^ up. Another interesting thing is, my dad wanted to help with the painting so Scott had him shoot the interior of the car. He was then in his 80's and just amazed all the young guys in the shop with his work.
"Boy, its nice remembering such good things. Since I started racing, folks have treated me so well. I am blessed."
The two-tone that you're familar with.
Bonneville 2000: N/A Altered Coupe. Set a record. Record denied because the front of the front wheelwell was considered to be illegal. Modified the wheelwell (note the change to the wheelwell in the next picture), requalified and set record.
Bonneville 2003, owned by Bob Gribble, powered by Yates NASCAR V8.
Additional info:
Rick's great story on getting his red hat (getting into the B'ville 200mph club) in 1998: http://www.merkurencyclopedia.com/Merku ... _1998.html
Rick's "For sale" write-up, lots of good info: http://www.davecompton.com/RBMForSale.htm
More to come.
Mike
