When we got back to our hotel on Sunday night, Joel instantly fell asleep when his head hit the pillow. Not sure how that happened, as he didn't walk 22 1/2 miles that day. I was absolutely exhausted, but yet could not get to sleep. The thought of missing my appointment was all I could think of. As the minutes slowly went by, you keep thinking to yourself, if I could just fall asleep now, I can get 5 hours of sleep... 4 hours of sleep... 3 hours of sleep.... At that point, I would have been happy to get a half hour. So I got up about 20 minutes before the alarm was set to go off, and took my shower, and got ready for the day. The instant the alarm went off, I woke Joel up. "Lets go, I'm not missing my appointment". Joel, with only 7 hours of sleep was not moving with Cat like reflexes, or speed, but he was at least moving. While he was getting ready, I walked down to the lobby area of the hotel, and got Joel a morning coffee, to speed him up some. By the time I got back he was almost ready to roll, but again at least moving. We left the hotel a little after 6:00am. It was a short 15 minute drive to the track.

As we pull up to the gate, I tell Joel, just let me out here, as this was my meeting point. Joel kept on driving through the gate... We made it all the way to the tower 3/4 of a mile away, and then go over to the pit side, towards the back of the staging lanes, and Joel parks the truck. He then tells me "We have work to do". my response back was "No YOU have work to do, I have to now walk all the way back to the front gate, and hope I make it there in time. So I grabbed my needed paperwork, and started walking. I must add that at 6:30am in Martin Michigan, it is absolutely PITCH BLACK out. The track lights were not on, and there was a cloud cover that morning, as there was a chance for rain early on. I kept on walking, and as I made my way to the gate, cars were coming in fairly steady. I kept checking my phone 6:45... kept walking 6:50. By 6:53 I could actually see the front gate. Cars were still coming though at a steady pace, as no one was at the gate to check cars in. Just as I walked through the front gate at 6:55, a lady had closed things off at the gate, and started to check people coming through. I stood next to the building for 2 minutes, when I see a Tan minivan pull up, and knew that was the lady I was to sign paperwork with. I had here pull over to the side parking lot. She got out, and asked where we could sign everything? "I have no clue, the building is locked" "We can sign them in my van then. As we are going through the paperwork, the lady asks me what we are doing at race track on a Monday morning? I briefly explain Drag Week to her, and her reply was "You guys are crazy". By this time it starts raining out, and I'm thinking great I have to now walk back in this...More paperwork... Cars keep rolling in, and then the lady says "Some of those cars are really loud, can't they quiet them down for the street?" "Those are quieted down for the street" LOL. I'm thinking this lady wouldn't be very happy if she was staying at a hotel with a bunch of Drag Weekers, and the early morning rumble of race cars out her window. But overall she was very nice, and we finished everything. The lady say, well I'd give you a ride back to where you need to go, but I can't get in the gate without paying. "No problem, I guarantee I will know someone coming in that can give me a ride. So I grab my 2" thick stack of paperwork, and start walking back into the track. Completely relieved that everything went well, I was in a much better mood. Now to see what kind of mess I have to straighten out when I get back to Joel. As I walk by the ticket booth, the lady running it asks me for a favor. "Can you move those cones, and let in people with wrist bands?" "Sure, if you can find me a ride back to the pits." "Deal." So I moved the cones, and then started walking the line, telling people with wrist bands they could go through. A mad rush went into the track, and right past me. Thinking I gotta get moving, I start that way as well. I made it about 150 feet past the ticket booth, when the lady yells out "Still need a ride? Got one right here!" so I hurry back, and a newer Shelby Mustang pulls up. I open the door, and hear "Sure I'll give my buddy Jeff a ride!" I look in, and it's Brad Dryer, a past Modified NA class winner. I've gotten to know Brad some over the years, as he was Jay Brown's main competition in Modified NA for years. Brad had a killer Nova, that puts on quite a show with it's big wheel stands. "What are you doing up here Jeff?" "Refinancing my house." with a shocked look, Brad says "Well that has to be a Drag Week first". "where do you need to go?" Just get me close to the tower, and I'll be good. "No, where do you need to go?" Brad wasn't in much of a rush, as his Nova is in Chassis shop prison, and the Mustang was just a Plan B car. One minor set back, Officials would not let him run. He had forgotten about the Drag Tire only rule, so since everything was paid for, he was just going to enjoy himself, and drive along. He dropped me off right at the Coupe, where Joel had things from the trailer scattered all over the ground. They were now calling everybody to the stands, as the drivers meeting was starting in 10 minutes. "Joel. go get the Coupe into the staging lanes now, and then take the truck and trailer to the impound area." "Good idea!" So while Joel took care of those couple things, I sorted through our stuff, and got it ready to make the transition from race to Street as smooth as possible when the time came.

I have no clue if Joel made it back for the drivers meeting or not. Didn't really matter, as he's been through many of them, and not much changes. If it had, I'd let him know. Almost as soon as the meeting started, the PA system went out, and they wanted us to heard together like sheep on one end of the bleachers, so Keith Turk could yell out to us. No thanks, I'll stay to myself over here. Joel wouldn't have heard it any ways, as he couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant. End of the drivers meeting. luckily we were pitted just behind the bleachers from the meeting, and I met up with Joel. Told him to get ready as the track would go hot soon. He was maybe 30 cars back? Up ahead we could see Clark Lamb, and his familiar Blue 68 Barracuda. Up front like always.

Cars started going down track quickly, and I believe Clark ran 10.50 something in his Barracuda like always. Car always leaves nice, with the wheels in the air. My guess was they would take it, and hit the road. While Joel was getting ready in the Coupe he starts to tell me how the adjustment works in the Whatchamacallit Soft Lok. I plug my ear and start saying "Lalalalalalalalala Don't want to hear it. That's your baby". The anticipation is killing me as we get closer to the burnout box. Will the new fuel pump work? Will the car bog? Will it lay over on the top end? If it's bad it can make for a long day. I'm hoping it's a good pass, and we can hit the road, as you never know what the street drive will throw at you.

Joel pulls the Coupe into the burnout box. It sounds good. Kinda normal. He revs the motor up, dumps the clutch, and the car does a nice burnout. Good so far. Joel stages the car, and the lights start coming down. Reaction time isn't a concern on Drag Week, so Joel is still bringing the old HEMI up on the 2 step when the light turns green. He dumps the clutch, and the front tires lift off the track, and the nicest wheels up launch I've ever seen out of the car happens. Joel rips through the gears like Ronnie Sox, and it's obvious the face plating of the T56 Magnum has paid off. As always a healthy HEMI always sounds good uncorked, and at wide open throttle. Joel crosses the finish line, and the scoreboard lights up with a 10:15 @ 133mph! Joel's fastest pass ever, in competition at Drag Week! I can't wipe the smile off my face, and hoping Joel will be OK with that. I get back to the pit area before Joel, and shortly after he arrives. Joel has a big sh!t eating grin on his face, and with a sigh of relief, he gets out and gives me a high 5. "Are we good?" I asked. "Yup, I'm going to turn in the time slip, and we are out of here!" Perfect. Joel makes his way to the Tower, and I start changing the car over from Race to Street.

The change over for me consists of the following: Add air in the rear tires, Remove the header collectors, Cap the Headers, remove the V band clamps and plugs on the side of the header collectors, Slide the exhaust under the car, Hook up the rear tailpipes up to the rubber hangers under the car. Start the 2 attachment bolts under the car for the exhaust pipes, V band clamp the front of the exhaust to the header collectors, Tighten up the two attachment bolts. Install the passenger seat with one rear pin, and 2 Dzus fasteners in the bottom. install the 8 individual air cleaners. Start packing everything in the trunk. When Joel gets back from turning in his slip, his job is to install rubber pucks in the rear springs. First time for the change over? About 30 minutes.

With everything taken care of Joel looks at me "Well.. Saddle up partner!"

Pulling out of the gate is always the biggest "What's next" feeling. We make our way out the gate, and the drive down to our predetermined route.

"I can't believe we're really doing it!"... Yes. Every single time...