Local track had a $50 gambler for drivers over 50 years old. The other local track had a makeup date for a big bucks race, so the entries for the over 50 were only 16 brave souls. There were 5 door cars and 11 dragsters, one Mopar.
First round I get a pickup truck dialed 10-something (1/8th mile), he is way late and I go .027 on the tree and coast to a win. Second round I get a 5.50 dragster so I get up on the wheel a bit and rip a .005 light, he is nowhere to be seen at the line so I am on the brakes and go +.05 for the win. Ticket shows he must have raced last on a 5-amber tree, as he had a .165 RT. Third round another dragster, this guy I have raced for 30 years and he is good. For some reason he is not racing his Corvette, he is in his son's dragster. Another guy told me he screwed up the delay box the last two rounds but somehow won with lights in the .200 range. I don't think 56 is that old but come on, man, this is getting goofy. I missed the tree a twinge and had a .051 light, first thing I always do is look a the win light, yep, mine is on...he redlighted. Turns out he pushed the wrong button and left on the first amber, crosstalk is on and he has a LB3A. I go thru at +.04 flat out. Now I am concerned because the motor is making a thumping sound on the right side. I have time to check the valve springs, rockers, lash, spark plugs, carb bowls, and a few other things, but find no problems.
Final round, dragster. This guy I raced many times years ago in NHRA S/ST and he usually beat me, but I take the time to remind him of the time we were in a $1000 to win local 10.90 index race and I won on a double breakout by .002. My psychology fails, though, as he rips a .005 light and goes through +.01 for a .015 package. I dialed up a ton because I knew the motor was wounded, hit a decent .018 on the tree but again was .04 over flat out. I would not have won with a dead on run because his package was better than my light, oh well, good driving for him and now I have to figure out what's wrong with my motor because I am entered in Pro in the regular Saturday night event. Had some buddies come over and the consensus was to pull the heads. Car still runs but sounds bad. Loaded up and picked up my $300 for runnerup in the geezer bracket!
