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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
That just flat our rocks...congrats to Benny the Shoe!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Yep! This sure is fun, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Well, we have a whole different ball game now! We put another engine on - a much faster one that we now need to slow down, (if you run faster than 12.50 you are booted for the day!).
This engine ran 11.20's for the previous owner, so we have our work cut out for us. Generally, it is easier to speed up a Jr vs. slowing one down into your time bracket. So, we double stacked 2 head gaskets, made up some intake restrictor plates (think NASCAR), made sure we had some weights with us and headed to TnT Friday night. First run off the trailer with the new engine was a 12.10 w/ an .028 light. We were thrilled, both with the time being in the 12's and the good light. We put an intake restrictor on (from stock 7/8" to 3/4") and ran it again; 12.30 w/ an .021 light - moving in the right direction for sure. Put the medium restrictor on (from stock 7/8" to 5/8") and ran it again; no time [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img] w/ an .003 [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] light! Benjamin mashed the gas so hard he pulled the throttle cable through the carb, breaking the attachment piece! We fixed it up in the pits, but ran outta time before another run could be had. Benjamin was stoked about the .003 light though! All in all it was a good night - one that we desparately needed since we are going to the Jr Dragster Eastern Conf Finals in Bristol, TN at the end of July. Sorry to miss another SCR though, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img] but the ECF's is a must event for a budding Jr Dragster Racer! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] We hope to hit TnT this Friday night, then a points day on Saturday - and especially hoping to be running around the 12.90 mark! |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
There will be another SCR....Benny the Shoe will grow up fast! You have your priorities straight! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Bruce is right. We'll miss seeing you again but we all understand your choice. Best of Luck at the ECFs, but win or lose, ....... it's all about the good times & the memories!!!
GO GET 'EM BENJAMIN! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Delete - double posted!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Weekend Update:
The Friday night TnT got rained out, so we essentially used the Saturday points race for TnT. We learned a bit about our engine combination, as we are now trying to slow it down. Our engine has 11.20's in it, so we doubled up the head gasket and ran that 12.10 a couple of Friday's ago. Although only based on a single run, theory says that the extra .050" gasket lowered compression enough to slow it down by ~8 tenths. We then put a 3/4" intake restrictor on it (w/ the slot in the bottom), which sized it down by .125 and it ran 12.30. So, I figured if .125 is good for 2 tenths, another .125 must be good for another 2 tenths. Nope, it didn't like it at all - it ran between 14.00 & 14.17 three runs in a row. What we thought was a bum run bec/ of poor traction became the new norm. So, befuddled, we went back to the 3/4" restrictor and ran a 12.36! In retrospect, we probably could have opened that 5/8" restrictor up a bit, or jetted up... but we moved to another plan. We added 25 #'s & throttle stopped it at the pedal, but went waaaaay too much on the stop and it popped and choked to a 15.77 on the first round of elim's yesterday - what a waste of an .055 light. So, it apparently does not like any additional restrictions on the intake side. The throttle stop sensitivity surprised me, as we only stopped it enough so that you could see about 3/16" of the slide (think throttle plates on a Holley) at WOT. I figure the combo of the stop and the restrictor was too much, so we removed all stop and hung 60 #'s on it. We are planning to hit a TnT tomorrow night at Cecil County Dragway in Maryland, we'll see how it goes! A constant adventure (aka, learning curve). Looking to hit Quarter-Aces Dragway this coming Sunday, Benjamin loves that track! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...rtingline1.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Great pic Marlin. Nothing better than father and son learning together!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
We went to Cecil County Dragway last night for some TnT runs.
Typical snafews; car wouldn't start right outta the trailer! The short wire from the plug boot to the manual kill switch had broken at the ring connector. Fixed that, made a run: 12.988 - thrilled. Ben is ecstatic, but then says that the car wouldn't shut off with the switch and he had to use the manual kill. Back to the pits; a little studying - the wire from the coil to the on/off switches had broken it's soder joint at the coil. Good thing this car came with a lot of parts - put the other coil on, good to go we hope. Can't tow the car, the go-kart belt is totally fried - I need to eat less (per Ben) . So, I ran down to push him back each time. Long night short, we got 5 runs in: 12.988 12.960 12.790 (took 5 #'s out) 12.971 (super sticky line!) 12.908 Packed it in at 10pm, 2 hour pull home - happy Kid ='s a happy Dad! Looking forward to Quarter Aces Dragway this Sunday. http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ecilCounty.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Great stuff Marlin...great pic, too! Now, we need some video of the launch! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Yea, the video thing is coming - that neat GoPro camera is not allowed at NHRA tracks. So, the next time we go to CC we'll likely hook it up and make a video!
BTW, that is me in the background of that pic; red Jenkins Comp shirt and tan shorts. I stand a few feet away from the car when he launches and watch the computer, then jot down on my hand the cylinder head temp, exhaust temp, & idle rpm. We track several variables for these cars since they are quite sensitive to just about any change in anything - given they are a single cylinder turning 7,000 - 9,000 rpm's! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
I knew that was you in the pics...LOL
It will be cool to see the video too [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img] |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Stanley had another setback the week before the Mopar show at Carlisle, we had a major thunderstorm with lightning and it took out the electronics at the track and Stanley had to make a trip to Kentucky to get them repaired.
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
You are correct - Stanley and crew made the repairs and were back in business this past weekend.
We learned the hard way yesterday how much humidity can/will effect these engines. As the temps climbed from the low '80's into the mid '90's, the humidity was falling. We don't yet have a Kestrel to track water grains, so we're using RH as a 'relative' guide. We didn't add the weight back after the temps rose, and the humidity dropped. Car really picked up - Benjamin pedaled the stripe on the last 2 runs, just barely breaking out on the last run with a 12.9888 on a 13.00 dial. Run 1: 13.18, 48.66mph, .084RT, 11:00am, 85F, 60%RH, 360 #'s Run 2: 13.09, 48.84mph, .080RT, 1:05pm, 92F, 49%RH, 350 #'s Run 3: 12.97, 48.82mph, .084RT, 2:48pm, 94F, 40%RH, 350 #'s Run 4: 12.98, 48.30mph, .071RT, 5:12pm, 94F, 38%RH, 350 #'s We'll keep a closer eye on the humidity in the future! Good day overall at Quarter Aces Drag-o-Way. This is Ben's new favorite track. http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...rterAces2a.jpg Good turnout for such a small track with about 16-18 Jr Dragsters. http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...rterAces2b.jpg We're heading to Bristol, TN this Friday for a whole week of Jr Dragster Racing - Benjamin can't wait! |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
You guys are looking good! Bristol is a nice area. Good luck there!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Bring lots of water and some portable shade, it may be a hot weekend......
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Good thinking Reid!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
We plan on it - for sure! It's going to be a hot week, but - that's racin! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Have Kestrel - will win rounds (we hope) [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...rp/Kestrel.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Posting a pic from this past weekend at QA, great track - fun times! We are off to Bristol, TN tomorrow morning - should be fun!
http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/82/482/...4kvkTBc_th.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Kestrel? Is that a hand held weather computer? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Yep, made just for the racers. We'll see if it was money well spent or not, but either way - we plan to have fun. Pulling out in the morning, right into the 101 degree weather - yuk. But, the weather in Bristol, TN doesn't appear to be too drastic next week - so we'll keep our fingers crossed.
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Oh my! Thank goodness for that Kestrel unit - completely saved the "Ben Bear Racing" & "JRC" Teams! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img]
The weather in Bristol, TN is radical, not to mention the altitude change. We ended up jetting down several times, and pulled all of the 60 #'s out of the car every morning only to put 20 #'s back in every afternoon. Glad we went for the extra races the previous weekend, and the track sponsered 'Fun Races' during the week. These runs gave us a nice data population to draw from for the elimination rounds. Ben won a round or two in what is called the Mike Bos race which is an index race with a Pro Tree! He loves Pro Tree's, but the crew chief was still bringing the car to the driver and I didn't have the weather quite figured out yet. So, the car was reacting slow at first, but once dialed in Ben was cutting good lights on the Pro Tree. Ben won a round or two in the Fun Race, but the big deal was he won First Round in the Eastern Finals. We were thrilled. We dialed the car based on our data and our Kestrel, Ben cut a great light - treeing the competitor, then dumped him in the stripe. Bummer on the second round though as Ben lit up the red eye, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img] He was quite upset given that he had dialed a 12.90, the other guy had a lazy light and was 2 tenths off the dial while Ben frustratingly ran it out the back door with a 12.88. He knew he had a little bit in his back pocket, but could only yell 'poop' as he drove past the tree. He wanted to make changes to the car till I reminded him that everyone red lights once in a while - if you don't, you aren't trying hard enough. I also reminded him that even the Pro's red light, that calmed him down. Our friends, JRC Racing, went 5 rounds in the 10 year old class - losing in the Semi's by running out. What a great mancation week at an awesome track! A few Blackberry pics: Pitted with Friends by putting the trailers in a 'C' pattern, allowing plenty of room for working on the cars between rounds. The kids had plenty of DS Tourny's in the trailers, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol2.jpg First time to the lanes: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol1.jpg About 60+ cars in Benjamin's class: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol4.jpg Plenty of rain that created delays and really messed up the weather consistency - we learned they don't just call it Thunder Valley bec/ of the car noise reverberating between the mountains! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol5.jpg Once the weather cleared, Ben couldn't wait to get back to racing - here he is a full 5-10 minutes before the next car pulled into the staging lanes. http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol3.jpg A nice shot after the 8-12 year old's Fun Race, about 200+ cars in this picture. Total car count was a touch over 600 cars! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol6.jpg After the event was over on Saturday evening, we walked across the parking lots to the Nascar track for a Monster Truck show. Ben was excited to see the jet powered port-a-potty.... unique! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol8.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Marlin...I can't tell you how much I am enjoying these pics and the updates...This is so cool!
Memories for a lifetime! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img] |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
About 60+ cars in Benjamin's class: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol4.jpg A nice shot after the 8-12 year old's Fun Race, about 200+ cars in this picture. Total car count was a touch over 600 cars! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/Bristol6.jpg </div></div> HOLY COW!!!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/shocked.gif[/img] That's AMAZING!!!!! Glad you guys had a Good Weekend. ............. but I'm slightly curious about this jet powered porta-potty. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
I can't explain the port-a-potty, but I'll steal a pic for ya. The kids love it, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]
More pics to come once I download from the digi-cam. What a great track. Ben wants to go racing this weekend, how can I say no..... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
The 'Fancy' picture, developed right at the track. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...tolProfPic.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 'Fancy' picture, developed right at the track. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]</div></div>
Awesome! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] Your kestrel/altitude posts made me chuckle, as I've been there, done that, chasing the setup because of the altitude! If it was easy, EVERYONE would do it, right?! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Yea, it sure isn't 'easy'! When you dial the car, and the car runs the number - what a great feeling.
Ben pretty much dials his own car, we talk it over - but he picks the number. Once we got a handle on the weather, and figured out the relationship between temp/RH/h20 grains/elevation we could draw some conclusions. The Kestrel unit allowed us to track runs (I would save the data when Ben was half way down the track so it would correllate with his time slip), and then when he was just about under the tunnell for a run I could walk out to the starting line and take a reading. This proved pivotal in making some final adjustments to the dial, and made us back it down from a 12.95 to a 12.90 on the red-eye run. Knowing that we had a few hundreths in the bank with the car setup, Ben hit didn't pedal and ran it through with a 12.88 to help console the red bulb effect! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] Utterly amazed at how quick these kids (Ben is only 9!) pick this stuff up. |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Marlin......Precious Times, don't let them whizz past you, enjoy every second of the time with the kids......you only pass thru this period of your life once......Congrat's
Ken |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Agreed. I tell him all the time that I'm not sure which of us is having more fun, and how much I enjoy watching him race. On the flip side, I certainly know which one of us works harder at this stuff! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]
Once you get into the Jr's you are no longer surprised to hear how many Dad's sell their big cars to focus on Family Racing - its a blast. |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Way to go dad. You better start lookin for sponsors.
R A C E racin ain't cheap entertainment. |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwhizz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Marlin......Precious Times, don't let them whizz past you, enjoy every second of the time with the kids......you only pass thru this period of your life once......Congrat's
Ken </div></div>Perfect statement Ken X2 for me! |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwhizz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Marlin......Precious Times, don't let them whizz past you, enjoy every second of the time with the kids......you only pass thru this period of your life once......Congrat's
Ken </div></div>Perfect statement Ken X2 for me! </div></div> Concur as well!! (figures Ken would work the word "<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">whizz</span></span>" into his sage comment. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img] ) |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
A little local attention for the home crowd racers! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...perarticle.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Awesome!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
The latest, we went to Englishtown this past Sunday and got 3 time shots - a rarity! Ben was flirting with the red bulb with some .00x lights, not my favorite as I'd rather have him in the .0xx teens or low twenties. Well, we used our Kestrel and log book to perfection - found a previous run that matched that day's weather and the car's weight and it actually ran within 2 hundreths!
We leave the weight on, and dial a 13.20 for round 1. Ben cuts a .005 light, and the car runs a 13.202 - oh, forgot to mention it was .005 RED! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] Bummer, the other kid had a .3xx light and would have run under. Oh well, there's always another day, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] Relaxing in our luxury, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ninthePits.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Marlin......Since BBBenny seems to have retired from racing.......We need BBBenjamin Cam............
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
I hear ya, I have the GoPro Camera, but these tracks won't let us use it. I'll have to try again, or mount it in a non conspicuous location.
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I hear ya, I have the GoPro Camera, but these tracks won't let us use it. I'll have to try again, or mount it in a non conspicuous location. </div></div>
What? Never heard that before...is that a Jr. rule, or for all cars @ that track? Seems odd, because those GoPros are getting to be everywhere now! |
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