Yet another miracle in our lives and this is really happening!

I am writing this update for two reasons. Most of you that see these updates know the Traci and I are believers in the power of God and we have experienced many miracles in our lives.

Something that a lot of you may not know is that Traci has had really bad eyes for as long as I have known her. This has always been such a challenge to her because she is also one of the most talented artists I have ever known. She is a very visual person and loves nature but has struggled to see it with clarity without the use of a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or other visual aid. 

In the last year or two her eyes have gotten progressively worse at a frightening rate. She was told that she had the beginnings of cataracts a couple of years ago but they were not bad enough to do anything about. In the last six months she has been making regular visits to the eye doctor who changed her prescription to try and correct them but they were getting worse faster than they could be corrected for. Her vision was so bad that I would not let her drive for a while.  

Finally, she made an appointment with our doctor and just said something is wrong. We were referred to a specialist and he diagnosed that the cataracts had gotten bad in a hurry and it was time to remove her lenses and put implants in. 

Traci’s last prescription was over a -12.00 in both eyes with astigmatism as well. With the cataracts, she would need a -15.00 to correct that. 

Yesterday, her eye surgeon removed the cataracts and natural lenses and put a very special implant in one eye that was the most powerful option possible. Yesterday evening, Traci removed the protective guard from her eye and saw like she had not seen since childhood or maybe ever. We both had a crying session because she had been given a gift that will change her life forever. God gave her the perfect surgeon  and the perfect synthetic lenses!!!

Tonight we had run an errand after dark (her worse time to see) and she was like a kid with a new toy. It was so precious listening to her reading license plates, billboards, street signs, bumper stickers, etc. I just quietly listened to her enjoy something that the rest of us take for granted!!

Next week, the doctor will do the second eye which he thinks will be even better than the first. I am so happy for my Sunshine to finally get to enjoy the sights that she has missed for so long. Thank you God for this blessing!!!

Now for an update on something that is not nearly as important but is a big deal for me. The new race car is progressing quickly and is looking great! Rick Jones sends me photos every week to show their progress. Mike Janis Jr. (Mikey) is involved every step of the way to make sure everything is done the way it needs to be done to be a competitive car in NHRA.

Hopefully next month Traci and I will travel to Quartermax (Rick Jones company) to get fitted in the new chassis.

New chassis “The Project” starting to take shape!

Our new Janis engine is the next in line to get machine work done and assembled. Mikey told me that it could be ready some time after the holidays. 

This is not our engine but one just like it!

“The Project” is really building momentum now. It is going to happen! We are going to qualify for an NHRA national event next year!

Meanwhile the rebuild of “The Black Hole” is progressing well too. I am making progress every day! Our plan is to run it in regional 1/8th mile events to get experience before running 1/4 races in the new car.

I am removing everything that is not needed on the car to reduce weigh. If I can build something out of titanium, I am. The car is going to be significantly lighter than it was. Lighter is quicker!

We are putting new more tunable suspension on it, making more room in the cockpit, and putting a new supercharger on it. We are trying to make it a really nice 1/8th mile car.

Here is some of the recent progress:

I decided to redo the mounts that I had already built out of 4130 steel with titanium to save weight. Definitely lighter!

New titanium framework

Top view of framework. The whole body mount slides out of the slots on the frame so you can remove the body to service the chassis.

View from the other side

Rear view

New titanium parachute mount.

Nice and level on the frame.

Upper body mounts. These come loose with four quick release pins.

Inside view of upper body mounts.

Left lower rocker body mount. These were big, heavy steel boxes before. They are built out of 4130 steel but are much smaller and lighter. These saved several pounds!

Lower right rocker body mount.

Body panels are nice and straight after building the body mount structures.

Right side rocker panel from underneath the car.

Left side rocker panel from underneath the car

New titanium front end mount. Super light and strong.

Front end mount from under the car.

Front end is straight and true!

New JRI shocks built to Mikey’s specifications.

I will end this update with another beautiful picture painted by God. This was taken at night, looking over our lake with a full moon behind the clouds. Nobody will ever convince me that these things just happen by accident. God is in control!