"We bought a 1965 Chevy pickup but ended up using body parts from two other trucks," Glover said. "We did a complete off-chassis restoration, including fuel and brake lines."

They also did several upgrades including power steering, four-wheel power disc brakes and all new wiring harness. "The only thing it doesn't have that a modern truck would is power windows and air conditioning," Glover said.

One of the trucks that they robbed of sheet metal was found in a pasture near Harrah. "We had to borrow a chainsaw from the farmer who owned it to cut out trees that were growing through the truck," Glover said. "It was also a '65. We bought it from him and got some interior parts and front fenders to use."

Other parts were located in a field near Ada. "The engine started life as a Chevy 454 big block but we bored it out and made some performance modifications," Glover revealed. It's now a 468 cubic inch behemoth, built to run on regular unleaded fuel.

"The goal was for Cody to be able to drive it to school. He also raced it at Thunder Valley," Glover said. Cody put the Chevy through its paces in the High School class and the No Electronics Street class.

"I've raced it a couple of times in the Nostalgia class," Glover said. "I'm going to do that this summer also."

Cody's sister Jacy watched her older brother race junior dragsters and learned a few things along the way.

"She's 4 years younger and when she turned 8, Jacy was ready to race," Glover said. She benefited from listening to her dad coach Cody during the years before her eligibility began. Now in her seventh season of competition, the Norman North sophomore has claimed several titles including three Junior Dragster Racing League Divisional championships and one Western Conference National Championship in 2002.

"Teaching both kids to race was a piece of cake. It's something in their DNA," Glover said. "As you progress to the older divisions there's strategy involved and more difficulty. Jacy couldn't wait to get in a race car, but we told both of them, if you lose interest just let us know. We didn't push it," Glover said. "We won't be at every race this year anyway, unlike the past, because Jacy is also playing fast-pitch softball."

Always in effect but rarely necessary to enforce, the Glovers insisted their children maintain good academic standing to continue racing. Besides honing technical and mechanical skills, time at the track has presented an added bonus.

"We have made tons of friends," Glover said. "Some of our closest friends are from racing." Competing in a seven state division they've traveled much of the southwest.

"You get to know the kids in your age group and their parents," Glover said. He pointed out Jacy's racing logo painted on the side of her dragster. It's a lady bug wearing a bright red helmet zipping down the track on one wheel. There's no doubt the hot rods in Glover's blood have been passed on to the next generation.

Have you seen a cool car around Norman? Writer Doug Hill's always on the lookout for future Dig My Ride columns. E-mail him at Hillreviews@hotmail.com.