That ride sure is clean!!

 

Had to become cleaner,... time is getting to these cars...and the lack of rust prevention from the factory. I kinda hate rusty stuff,
so it was time for the subframe to go. Swapped it for a hardly used one that then got epoxied, painted and prepped to keep rust away as much
as possible in the future. Control arms were swapped as well.

 

After years of searching I finally added one of those car covers.

 

It looks like we are thinking very similar on what we do to our 5th Gen MC's. haha



I got this one as a Christmas Gift from my son, back when he was in High school. He had a Red 97 at the time.

 

Here are a few new updates on mine that are new since your last update. I got to a U pull it salvage yard 2 years ago a found these Dale Jr wheels on the Car I was able to rescue 3 the 4th on was no where to be found. I got it from ebay and the tire was a clearance at the local Walmart. I added the Red Stripe to each wheel. I want to find a decal person to do a small 3 for the wheels.
Because of all the hate for this body style of MC I have removed all the Monte Carlo badging, I replaced it with the Intimidator badge. But I found someone that could do a Taz in an outline and put them on the car.







I finally got the new Brakes on the Car and I did the tie Rod ends that was a pain for a 75 year old duffer like me. Haha but I did it without getting hurt that was a plus.

 

Well, we think mostly alike, but not on this, I love the Monte Carlo Badging and it stays on mine. And hate? I don't care what other people say, it is my car, my life, and Dale raced longer with that style than the 2000 style. Love the styling, love to have seen him race that style. For a short while I liked the 2000 style, but he died in that design, so I rather keep the good times in my memory. Congrats to your updates, and of course you have a "3" car cover. Not surprised, lol. My recent additions a real Tech 2, a GM parts Monte Carlo clock, too bad 2000 style MC on it, but stil cool, and I bought another 1996 Monte LS in green, leather, one owner car, hardly anyone ever sat on the leather.

 

I guess my thinking on that was after I wanted to attend the MC Nationals in 2026 it will be as close as if ever will be most likely.
But I posed a question about the show categories, the 5th Gen was going to be judged in with the 5th Gens.
This didn't seem fair to me.
I got this reply back about how people who owned the 5th Gen MC's were kinda kicked aside and encouraged to sell them and some other stuff that was strange to me.
I never responded but I took it as a warning not come! haha
Back home I get a bunch of folks cheating at the Carshows being in my category and the judges not checking, or the Carshow people doing the show.
If you have seen my photo's you know why I am a DE fan and I had alot of people who have made up 3 Cars and they all want a photo with me by their car. But I have gotten to drive all those #3 Tribute Cars and it freaks me out when I stop and get out of the Car and I see the look on peoples faces when I do,


Dale is on top here

the is a Dale on this one

At the Race early 2k's ??

so I am not one of those who will go to the Racetrack and have the Goodwrench uniform on and ham it up with people. I f you have seen me at the Race ( it's like if you know you Know) sometimes I wear a disguise haha
But to be truthful Dale looked like me my birthday was 150 days before his. I recall taking some static from him as a place where there was no racing, I had no idea who he was come close to hitting the guy, but he hit me first lol.
We had some dinner together and he said to me; (you have no idea who I am, do you? I said yeah just some BOZO who looks like me.) After he recovered from spitting the drink out of his mouth we both laughed.
I can imagine this was quite a site for everyone in the room that was watching might have been 9 or 10.
I had to be on my toes because he was constantly goofing around.
When he was lost I was wishing I had never had that meeting, but It made me appreciate being me also.
Sometimes the kids would say something about me being there for them.
I do have a fairly large collection of collectables still in my Dale room.
I was at a job in Tennessee for several months them folks were nice but would stare holes in me. One of them asked me if I missed seeing him, I said well I see him in the Mirror every morning when I shave!! He would be 75 in April I am there already, now and then I still get some looks, and I can read it in there Face what they are thinking.
Keep those updates coming I love the Car, I enjoy adding more special mods to mine.
Hopefully I will have a few new ones this year.

 

@drivernumber3 Man, awesome story. Love it. You sure have the looks, of that guy that looks like you. My first race was the 98 Daytona 500, glad I didn't go 2001.
Do us all a favor and be around for a long, long time. And don't give a damn about those haters. Whoever sells off their cars don't know what they are doing. On a positive
side note, I can buy them cheap then.

 

I look for them all the time. Today I am in Texas day 11 of the 2nd month, I saw one in a parking lot when I went to an Indoor Carshow in McAllen, Texas.Some really cool cars in the show. Saw 2 Eleanors and a bunch of vettes, and Chevelles.
I will do a post in the Carshow section and add them in there.
2 years ago we were down here and I saw one the same color as ours and had ground effects and all, I couldn't catch him but the lights weren't in my favor. haha these people drive faster than fast down here Dale would have to be on the top of the wheel to stay up with them!

 

You said you got to see Dale win the 500 I am not sure if you were able to see the Car in Daytona USA but I have a few pics of that Car when we visited there later that year.
Interesting note on this Car is that it has 3 wheels and tires on it from the 31
Car and only one from the 3 car (left front).