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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
This kid went 5 rounds yesterday at Maple Grove Raceway! MGR is a really tough track, the week of racing in Bristol gets Benjamin onto his game after playing so much baseball. What kid doesn't LOVE a 4 foot trophy? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psmdmvthh9.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps5cigt1kg.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psococlbeb.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psdrjmpioh.jpg Little Bro goofing on him! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps9bg7uaui.jpg One last photo before time to pack up and go for a victory dinner at Applebees! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psfldlzsd2.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Marlin -- the neighbors will have to get over it ... that young man will NEVER get over it!!! TAZ
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Thats great man.
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
It was the Division 1 Finals at Numidia this past weekend, always a fun event! Racing got started on Thursday, where Ben went to the semi finals in a 77 car field Gamblers Race - it was not to be!
Friday was 2 time trials for the Div 1 event, and then another Gamblers Race where he got down to 12 cars - but the car backed out of the beams on the hit. This happened to several cars, not just us - very frustrating, but he went 5 rounds. Saturday, he was on at both ends. He went to the semi finals in the Div 1 Finals, but the car slowed up a tad and he had to settle for the small version of the 'Tree Trophy'. Jumped right into the High Rollers Race ($1,500 to win, $700 RU, $250 Semi) and went yet another 6 rounds to the semi's where he gave it back at the stripe with his .006 light. In all, Ben had 15 runs on Saturday alone, with 13 in competition - his slowest light all day was a .026, then a .019 the rest were under .010. Look out Benny! It was an exhausting weekend, especially since we got Danny into his car for the first time and I pushed him down the track with the golf cart! A few pics: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps7ogndkez.jpg Staging lanes, this is an awesome track! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...pszmmcgntr.jpg Ben was surprised that he got such a nice trophy while Danny was trying to give him 'bunny ears' for the pic! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psw8wivhfl.jpg We made a lot of runs this weekend, and its about 10:00PM in these pics - and we went out 2 rounds later... http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps8zanscls.jpg He was starting to really get sideways on the burnout, traction was completely gone once the track temps went down http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps0cpa5kfo.jpg Off into the night with a .008 light! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps8ff5fvtu.jpg Danny in training, we pushed him straight, then had him make turns, then pushed him with the engine on but belt off so he could feel what it was like. Then I pushed him down the track - engine off. More training this coming weekend, then it's licensing passes! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps06m3iuzg.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psvz9lmft8.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psnh8zoppm.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Cool!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Great time with he fam - way to go Marlin!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Thanks! I am very aware of the passage of time, and while Jr Dragster racing is far from inexpensive I can't think of a better way to spend time with my boys. This is very hands on and interactive, and requires a lot of communication between driver and crew chief - everything from technical and strategy stuff to sportsmanship - even politics!
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psdd75b0f4.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Thanks for continuing to share all of this cool family stuff with us, Marlin! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Ben went out 2nd round on Saturday by .001 at the stripe, tough - it's his 7th round loss this year by .001!
Ben went to the semi's (again!) on Sunday, but was a little late on the tree with a .037 light - that's all it took! He was .001, .003 and .008 and was afraid of going red...oh well, that's racing. His friends have nicknamed him 'Ben Semi'! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] No pics of Ben this weekend, it was all about Danny! |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Ben was back on his game at Maple Grove this weekend, making it 2 in a row! We hit the Test n Tune sesson on Friday night because we really needed some run data on this combination in late evening weather, given that Saturday's race was a Twilight session where first round of elims starts at 4pm. Car was 'spot on' during Friday night testing, even after waiting it out in the staging lanes for street cars puking anti freeze...
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psakhbzj4v.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psiy4znm8h.jpg Saturday was a completely different story! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img] The car couldn't 60' to save it's life, likely due to drastically different weather and traction conditions. So, we tuned, and tuned, and caught a break in first round when the other kid went red - since he was #2 on the ladder that gave us a bye run in round 2 - so we tuned some more. By now it's 7PM+ and the weather is coming right back to where it was on Friday night - the test data was invaluable! Ben was hitting the tree and driving the stripe, and 3 rounds later was hauling the hardware at 10PM! Danny was moral support the whole way. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] Final round staging, we were up against our friends / neighbors (we got them into this mess!) http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psgaci1kc9.jpg Another 4 foot trophy! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psosrs87qu.jpg Victory Lane: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psir1lfcht.jpg Back to the pits to pack it up: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psigl7bzqh.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
So ends another season of Jr Dragster racing! Benjamin was riding high after back to back wins at Maple Grove, but racing is an exercise in humility and a trip to Englishtown on Labor Day weekend made that clear. He went out first round by giving it back at the stripe by .002, and then lost first round of the consolation race...
Wanting to end the season on a high note, we went to South Mountain this past Sunday for a much hyped Jr Dragster special race with a $500 winner payout. The older kids were in a 7.90 index race with a .500 Pro Tree! We hurried out there right after Church, but missed both time shots. We scrammed to get the car out of the trailer and warmed up, checked our setup data from the last time we were there - factored in the weather and got a no punch run where Ben went -.003 red! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif[/img] Really, red on a pro tree? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] Well, if that's where he's at on that particular day, I have to bring the car to him. So, we quickly threw on an offset spindle, let some air out of the front tires and I set the launch rpm a little lower - mathematically those 3 adjustments should have put him into the .01x's. First pair out for Rd 1 and he goes -.0001 red on the Pro Tree to the girl that eventually won it all! Quite frustrating, but....that's racing! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] Ben will need a new car for next year as he's grown a little too wide for this 18" cage, he can't wait! Danny went down the track on 2 solo runs to get some seat time. He's really getting the hang of it now, ran a 12.25 and a 12.18 - the difference between the 2 runs was entirely in the 60' solely due to the track being stickier on the first run! Good data to have.... Some pics: Ben used to be Danny's height - just 4 years ago! http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psi5q0tp87.jpg Danny heading up for a run http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psb2y8pzqr.jpg All loaded in http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psqwxnlf94.jpg He gave the double thumbs up http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psyoysetcg.jpg Goofing around with his friends http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psiw1rwjul.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Thanks for sharing Marlin! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Those are some memories that neither you nor your kids will EVER forget.
Congrats. |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Yep! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] Danny has asked me 3x this week when we are going racing - keep in mind he's only driven down the track, he's never actually raced anyone yet! Geez, wait till he's experienced the thrill and adrenaline of racing / winning, he will become relentless. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Kool stuff.
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
It's tough to keep the build, pickup, wrap design, installation, and final prep a secret from a 14 year old - but, mission accomplished!
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...shvoympqv.jpeg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...sdevsaewo.jpeg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...s6qp6ajgs.jpeg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...sd5zut4ah.jpeg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...syhf5nv7z.jpeg He sat in that car for over an hour, even food couldn't get him out of it! |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Wow that's killer!!!!!!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
That is awesome...what a good dad!!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xplantdad</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is awesome...what a good dad!! </div></div>
x 1000....................................Precious times Marlin............Seems that you understand that fact!!! Ken |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Way Cool!!
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Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwhizz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xplantdad</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is awesome...what a good dad!! </div></div>
x 1000....................................Precious times Marlin............Seems that you understand that fact!!! Ken </div></div> I'm sure these kids understand how blessed they are to have parents like you. What a GREAT FAMILY! |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
This past weekend has been in planning since last Summer when we decided to buy a new car, and it finally debuted this past weekend at Maple Grove! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] Ben has been chomping to get started, and as always - it was a struggle right from the start. We got the engine back a week ago, and once installed it wouldn't start. Figured out a few things, get to the track and it runs slow - like 8.22 slow when we expected a 7.90'ish. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] So, we tune and weather watch, tune some more on Saturday and we get a 7.96. We come back on Sunday and it's slow again, we tune and get it to a 7.93. We dial a 7.96 and this crazy car 'breaks in' and runs a 7.889 with Ben lifting and whomping for the last 80'. So, we lose first round - with both cars. No idea where that came from, but it's back to where we left off last year.
Oh well, we got both cars down the track, with new setups, ran reasonably good numbers, and kept the shiny side up. That's a good day! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psyq9xxacz.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...pso45bqzin.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psvjwos3as.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...pszjods94w.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...psbibxenmh.jpg |
Re: The newest drag racer gears up!
Cool! The new season has started!!
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