JOHN GAYDOSH: WHEN THE BEST LAID PLANS AND MURPHY'S LAW COLLIDE
If drag racing his Pro Stock Camaro didn't mean so much to John Gaydosh, his life could have been so much easier on his 23rd wedding anniversary.
In the midst of a career moment, Gaydosh, during last weekend's NHRA Summernationals wounded an engine in scoring an upset victory over Tanner Gray. The damage threatened to keep him from racing this weekend.
With the blessings of wife Tina, and help from fellow competitors Kenny Delco and Alan Prusiensky, Gaydosh and his team put in the long hours to prepare the car for this weekend's event.
The Q-1 session provided a lesson in Murphy's Law.
"Went up and did the burnout and everything seemed to be good when I was getting into high gear and I was going through the water, getting ready to lift, when I heard the motor just start sounding funny," Gaydosh explained. "It started shaking and I lifted and it kept running away. It popped another piston. So we don’t know whether the piston broke, the valve dropped or what happened. It’s hard to say. It’s all brand new parts except for the pistons."
Gaydosh is still at a loss for what went awry in the engine.
"Just a little disgusted, disheartened," Gaydosh admitted. "Just trying to get back out here. I love doing this. It’s a shame that this had to happen at this opportune time."
As Gaydosh learned last week, he has fans in the pits.
"Johnny Gray came over last night and said, 'Hey, we got a motor at the shop. Drive to North Carolina, pick it up and put it in the car," Gaydosh revealed. "Me and my brother drove 7 hours last night back and forth to North Carolina and picked up the motor."
Problem solved? Not hardly, if it wasn't for bad luck, it seems Gaydosh would have no luck at all.
"We got here this morning, went to put it in and the fuel pump hits the steering shaft because it’s a different engine design that locks the pumps in a different place," Gaydosh said. "So at this present time, we’re done. We don’t have anything else to put in."
Chassis builder has agreed to take the car back to his shop, where the chassis will be adjusted to work with the loaner engine.
Gaydosh is expected to race next week in Norwalk, Ohio.
Hindsight being 20/20, was it all worth it?
"It’s a tough one," Gaydosh responded. "I love doing this, and my passion is to do this. I want to do this more than anything in the world, and I guarantee you I have more drive and passion to do this than anybody else out here. I want to do this for my heart because this is what I love. Yeah, it’s worth it, but it’s been a long couple days. I just want to do this so we’ll do what we can."
All's not lost as the Gaydoshs have an anniversary to celebrate.
"We’re going to go out, take the whole crew out and we’re going to have a nice dinner and celebrate our anniversary," Gaydosh said. "They’re all going to go home tomorrow except for me and Bob Krouse. We’ll stay here and swap cars out after the end of the race and we’ll drive home."