The Clutch.

Dr.Jass

Dr.Jass

Pastor of Muppets
A mystery for you.

I came home a few weeks ago, and found something on my doorstep. It was literally on the threshold of my front door, leaned up against the door itself.

What it is, is a Top Fuel clutch steel--they use a multiplate disc design, and between them are friction discs made of steel which are commonly referred to as "steels". Kind of like the steels in a 727's drums against which ride the friction discs.

This particular steel is obviously used. That's very cool to me, but what's even cooler is that it's autographed. Joe Amato, Gary Scelzi (my main TF/FC guy until he retired) and John Force all signed this thing, and there's one more autograph whose author I can't discern. At first I thought it was Cory MacClenathan, but research into his sig tells me it's not his. The mystery sig is dated '99.

The last signature isn't the real mystery, though... the mystery lies in who left this thing on my doorstep. I have interrogated virtually everyone local as to the source of this gift, and no one seems to know its origin. I literally have no idea who left it for me. Obviously it was someone who knows I'm a drag-racing fan, but I have no idea whom it was. I figured after a month or so, someone would have called or e-mailed and said, "Hey! Did you get my gift?" but no one has come forward.

Everyone of whom I can think locally with whom I've spoken has said the same thing (including Stretch, who was the first): "Uh, yeah... I dropped it off for you to check out, and now I want it back!" Of course, they've all admitted not knowing how I ended up with such a cool souvenir. So, the mystery continues.

Anyone have an archive of fuel racers--be they TF/FC or TF/D--active in '99 that could identify the fourth autograph for me?

More importantly, does anyone know from where the hell this came? I'd really like to thank whomever left if for me. It's an incredibly-cool piece of drag-racing history.

PM me if you have any answers to either question.
 
Whit Bazemore, Chuck Etchells, Tony/Cruz Pedregon, Tony Shumacher.........:confused: However it got there, that's a VERY cool souvenier! I have a piston from Chuck Etchell's FC signed and dated by him, 1995.......got that at St. Thomas Dragway (back then it was London Motorsports Park), and I treasure it.
Good stuff.........
 
It almost looks like "G ma" with a tail, which led me to believe it was "C mac" but I don't think that's the case at this point... but he's the only one of whom I can think that even comes close.

I sure would love to know from whence it came, though. :hmmm:
 
doc have you thought to do an Ebay search for "sold" items to see if it was bought there?..doubtfull but worth a check anyway right?

but yeah thats one hell of a gift....and one i personaly cant see just being "left" on your doorstep for anyone to walk off with
 
Wow that is just super cool!!:2thumbs:

I also recieved a "random act of kindness" a couple years ago...though not as cool as yours...middle of winter, I was at work and somebody shoveled my driveway. Questioned everyone I know in the neighbourhood but no one saw anything or owned up to it.:huh:
 
After thinking about it for a while, I was reminded that an ex-girlfriend left a copy of Vanishing Point in the exact same position on my doorstep a few years ago. The MO is identical, but I can't for the life of me imagine that A) she would have had such an item in her posession, or B) that she would have bought something like this for me. We didn't exactly part on great terms, and I think the VP tape was more of a "I don't want this and it just reminds me of you, so you may as well have it" event.

I've never even watched the movie since it's been in my posession, strangely enough.

69.5: No, it didn't even occur to me to check eBay. I'll do so, but I think the auction's probably vanished if that's from where it came. If it's still there, though, it would probably solve the mystery of the fourth autograph.
 
OK, on taking 69.5's advice, I've done a little eBay searching. No dice on the disc, however it does appear that Cory McClenathan's sig has changed over the years, and yes, it's his autograph on the clutch disc.

The problem is that what I was sure what John Force's autograph, isn't. Now I'm searching to find out whose sig that is. :doh: It's too angular to be Force's.
 
Stretch said:
Told ya! I knew that was his sig. *Does victory dance!* What did I will?




:giggedy:
Click to expand...
I don't know what you "willed" but as you'll recall, I said it was Cory Mac before you did. You just agreed with me. :D Looking at his signatures from the early '90s was the reason I questioned it.

The other sig that I thought was Force's... I really have no idea. Sharpie on forged steel isn't exactly the ultimate matching of media. :doh:
 
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