Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

Great way to start off the new season! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

.001 reaction time -- WOW! YeeHaw!!!

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

So.... Maple Grove replaces the second half of the track with concrete over the past few months, and then proceeds to grind and polish - but doesn't quite get it finished. They decide to race this past weekend anyway, so a bunch of Jr's show up Friday night for TnT (we were playing baseball...). First pair goes down the track, and when they hit the new section the one Jr has a front tire stick into a groove right at the finish line - once it releases it shoots her across the track at 83mph narrowly missing the other Jr. She rolls a few times and slides a 100' on her side, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] She is ok, the car needs work. This is the second time MGR has done this with track, I guess they didn't remember it from years ago. This is also the 2nd Jr crash in a 2 years from poor decision making by track management (last year they ran a pair when it was sprinkling at the finish line, they slid all over and one went into the wall...). [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif[/img]

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psewl7c2n1.jpg

So, we switched gears Friday night and pulled up to Numidia again, but could not repeat - went red in round 1, and red again in the buy back round. It's a humbling sport....

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psfnnxfvud.jpg

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

Almost equal confusion this weekend! Typical baseball / softball on Saturday, and then we planned to run Jr's on Sunday at South Mountain since they had a $70 Bounty on a girl who won 2 weeks in a row. Well, late Saturday night, they cancelled the Jr race / Bounty thing. Since we were all hooked &amp; loaded up, we decided to scram right after Church and hit Maple Grove ($500 to win!!). We get there after the first time shot to learn they will only have one time run due to weather concerns. 'Ok, we'll take a 'no punch' run just before 1st round...' Nope! There is a new person in the tower and I don't think she was aware of that allowance. So, we end up on the bottom of the ladder and have to race the #1 qualifier. Oh, and you are the first of the 5 numbered pairs. Geez, could anything go our way? It's our first time with the new engine/clutch/chassis setup on this track. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img]

So, we dial a 7.900 based on Numidia weather, which means it has an .85 or an .84 in it - but could be 2x that given the density altitude... Just to make it that much more challenging, the other kid decides to pull a 'burn down'! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] Benjamin simply waits patiently, knowing that without a time run, and being the first pair, this only helps us build the necessary heat into the engine. After 20 seconds, the starter gets on the radio...and this BS is not worth getting tossed over. So, I motion to Benjamin to go ahead in, and he cuts an .031 light (green! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] ) and I can hear him wompin it (5X!) on the top end as the other kid was off his dial. Sad - we run a 7.898 on the 7.900, running out by .002! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif[/img]

Ben was really bummed - just a simple 'no punch' run and we'd have added 5 lbs....but, I'm really proud of him! I can't wait till next year when Danny starts racing, I'll be busier than a 1 armed paper hanger!

That's racing!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psowt7rxom.jpg

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

You guys ARE really busy! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

It was a racing weekend! Spent Saturday and Sunday at Numidia, and Ben is still getting used to the new engine/clutch/chassis combination at the stripe. It will take some adjustments to learn how to close it up at the stripe now that we are running a full second quicker in the 1/8 and 10 mph faster! So, we lost on Saturday with a 7.8999 on a 7.9000 dial to the kid who eventually won it all. And then, did it again on Sunday with a 7.897 on a 7.900 dial - to the same kid! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif[/img]

So, we packed it up and went to South Mountain Raceway on Monday for a much hyped 'Bounty Race' where the local track hero had won the last 2 events. She's an 8.90 car, and is a pretty good racer who also races at Beaver Springs Dragway and at Mason Dixon Dragway. After much publicity, the bounty had increased to $200 - which is a good chunk of cash, especially for a Jr Dragster! Ben and Maddie plow through the field on separate sides of the ladder, and eventually meet in the final - which they chose to do a best of 3. Ben was all over the tree (which is pretty tight at SM...) with .012 and .018 lights to bring home the prizes. He received $200 cash, a free 8x11 photo from the track photog, a case of Lucas Oil Jr Dragster racing oil, Lucas Oil hat, t-shirt and flag/banner, 5 gallons of race fuel and a nice trophy! Not bad for a 13 year old, and certainly helped him recover from the close round losses at Numidia!!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps4lh2dbin.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psmjonlpoc.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psdm2re46i.jpg

Grandparents were even on hand for the event!!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...pslhak6v3g.jpg

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

I think this is how Erica Enders started out ... look at her now!

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

Go Ben Go!

Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
 

Congratulations!