It felt really great buying used tires from one of these guys and then beating him with them.
We used to buy tires from the roundy round guys to use at the drag strip. They were glad to get rid of them and often they had near half rubber left.
I built a supercharged 327 to run in my 68 Camaro, and will never forget the first time I launched it with those tires.. it broke the windshield and scared the BEJEESUS out of me when the body twisted and the front end came up.. I SHIFTED the TH400 at 10000 rpm, and the SHIVER of that engine set peoples teeth to vibrating as I shifted it... My partner in crime told me he used to close his eyes and plug his ears about the time I shifted because he KNEW that 327 was about to splatter all over the track.... It never did...
Sometimes I miss those days.. then thinking back.. working from 8 to 5 for a chevy dealer. going home, seeing my wife, having dinner, and going to work for the performance shop from there.. building engines and cars until 1 or 2 AM.. going home showering and going to bed to get back up at 6:30 AM to go back to the dealer.... It worked when I was 25 - 35 yrs old.. I couldnt do that now.. I'd be dead in about three days... Learning how to do things from the OLD mechanics who modified what they had was a valuable experience.. At that time, we didnt HAVE the resources people do now.. We scrounged junk yards for 400's.. had the cranks turned to build 383's and 388's.. Used Big block studs and rocker arms.. Fuelie heads, or took stock heads and had them opened up for 202 valves.. NOW you can BUY performance parts cheaper than you can have stock stuff modified and flowed.
I still have a dwell meter in my tool box.. I have had kids out of tech school LAUGH at me for having it.. until they ran into a set of points, and were completely LOST... It amazes me that something so simple can completely dumbfound the newer generation.. but also reminds me that I am getting old...