This year, I finally had high hopes for this car. I figured I learned almost all there was to know about building a Volvo to run competitively. I repainted the Volvo black for a change of scenery. So, I took it to the track only to find out that there were around 15 other Volvo sedans and wagons there. I ended up in a heat with two of my friends, Mike Frasier and Shawn Waugh, both driving fresh Volvo wagons. I had gotten a new Volvo bumper from the junkyard and bolted plate on the bumper to keep it attached. In my heat, I ended up getting 3rd place (this year they FINALLY decided to have a hard luck heat and I didn't need it), so I went on to the feature. I may have done better had I not have gotten hooked up on another dead car, plus my shift linkage broke, causing me to only have forward gears. My two friends finished first and second. In the pits, we had to replace the rad and pull out the front clip as it had been shoved into the engine. We got the linkage quickly fixed just in time for the feature call. I was the last one in and they had actually closed off the entryway but decided to let me in anyway. In the feature, I was doing OK (we got the Volvo engine running as good as it got) and was about to place a hit with the rear of the wagon. A Volvo sedan hit the passenger side of the car at full speed and I didn't see the hit coming until the last minute. In one hard hit, it broke the strut where the tie rod bolts to it (stupid white metal!), broke the transmission linkage again, pulled apart another wire under the hood that stalled the engine, and made my foot slip off the gas pedal and I whacked my shin off of the dash underneath (I wish I could have taken the dash out!). So it ended that I had placed 7th. My friend Maris Malderis finished 2nd to a Volvo sedan in his Hyundai Excel. The car has a lot more damaged body panels, but the rear of the car didn't move. I just recently sold it to Shawn Waugh and he will put a Hyundai Pony engine in it to give it the power it needs to do well. I don't think I will ever try another Volvo. I had too much bad luck with mine! It was one hard car in the back though, I tell you that much..
UPDATE: Shawn Waugh sold the car to another derby driver named John Irish (TWIN as he's known around our area). He took the car to the 2001 Fall Kingston derby and Won with it! Glad to see someone had better luck with it than I did. He has promised me pictures so make sure to check back and hopefully we will have them soon!!!!!
