Bought for $100 on Nov.30, 1989. It was being used as a chicken coop when he found it. It was full of rotten eggs, chicken poop and feathers. And under all the chicken "stuff", Doc could see the race car of his childhood dream. (Note: Chicken "stuff" on window)

Seven months later, with the help of friends, Doc made his racing debut on June 30, 1990 at the "Oldies But Goodies" at the Woodburn Dragstrip (OR). His first trip down the 1/4 mile was a very cautious 23.73 seconds at 51.36 mph.

Over the winter of '90-'91 we tried to get body-work done...they didn't get it finished, so Doc raced it like this until one of the other racers, (Gary Eaves) came over to him and said, "Doc, you're obviously serious about this racing stuff, when are you going to get this car LOOKING good?" Doc said, "I've been trying, but I don't care what it looks like, I just want to race." Gary answered, "Well, I'm not a body man, I'm not a paint man, but I've got my own shop and I'm willing to try!"

In eight days and eight nights, Gary Eaves and his race team did all the body work, all the paint, called in favors from their friends, and got the lettering on the doors, the R&J sign and the thank-you on the trunk. Gary had an artist friend, Linda Wiles, of Line Signs design and paint a rooster in a wheelchair doing a burn-out on the back. Many thanks to Gary Eaves and his Race Team for the bodywork and beautiful paint. July 4, 1991 ( 7 months from a chicken coop to a race car, and a year to get it looking pretty!)

Linda Wiles, of Line Signs, Milwaukee, OR designed and painted this rooster for Doc. I always told people, "He's cocky on wheels, whether he's in the car or out." It became the logo on our "give-away" pictures and Christmas newsletters after it came out in newsprint in an article about Doc in the Stayton Journal Newspaper.

Over the winter of '94 - '95, the Jackson brothers did much work on the framework. With the promise of making the car faster to be able to compete in the PRO bracket, they built a custom tube-frame, lowered the rear-end and made "tubs" for the slicks in the wheel-wells. Although the Severely Disabled Chicken Coupe looked better, it was actually going slower ! And Doc was not happy with having to remain in the "Heavy" class. He was running in the mid to low 12's...and had to be in the 11's to move up to the next bracket.

March 1997 The Severely Disabled Chicken Coupe FINALLY looks and performs like the race car of Doc's childhood dreams. He missed the entire 1996 Season getting a whole new tube-frame and chassis, as the bigger 440 motor caused the frame to bend and everything had to be re-done. But the '97 Season started out great with Doc in the PRO bracket. Doc was now only .22 seconds away from his goal of running 10.90 and competing in the Divisional class of Super-Street. His best time was 11.12 at 120.85 mph. and he was confident that with a bit more "seat-time" he'd be able to move up to the next class.