Thanks everyone. It was a fun weekend. Here is a quick run down of the weekend:
A few weeks ago, I went and tested at Brainerd, and got my chassis recertified. Made a couple test hits, and ran a best of 5.84 in the 1/8th. On my 4th pass the car developed a severe shake. I stopped, it was still running fine, put it in first gear, and drove it back to the trailer. When I got home, I was checking the rear end for the RacePak collar, and noticed the new aluminum driveshaft was twisted. Not wanting to go that route, I called Mark Williams, and ordered a new Chromoly shaft. That meant sending them my yoke to be balanced. "How far out are you?" "Two weeks". This meant I might not make the event. I told them to call me when it was ready, and if need be, I'd have the driveshaft sent next day. They called early enough to have it sent 2 day air, and On Wednesday I installed the new driveshaft, and loaded the car up. Drove up to Brainerd on Thursday morning, and arrived at the track a half hour before the gate opened. I was one of the first to get through tech, and the rest of the day was just hanging out with my friends, and relaxing.
Friday morning, our class was called to the lanes. I drove the car up, and while it's taken some getting used to driving the Liberty in the pits, I was starting to get the hang of it. I was all strapped in, and our lane started moving. Car wouldn't crank... Battery was dead. Pushed the car off to the side, and I walked back to my pit area, grabbed my small generator, battery charger, and loaded them on the golf cart, and drove back to the car. I let the battery charge in the lanes for about a half hour, and the car fired right up. A couple hours later, we were called up to the lanes again. This time the car fired up, and I pull into the burnout box. No issues. I launch the car, and it leaves decent, but doesn't seem to be pulling at all. After the drive shaft twisted, I had taken a bunch of clutch out of the car, and also taken counterweight out. It didn't like that, and drove through the clutch. I lifted early, and ran a 12.70... Got back to the pit, and decided the clutch needed more counterweight, but how much? I took out 9 grams, so this time I installed 4 grams of CW. Back in the lanes we went, for our last time trial of the day. Car left really nice, and I could tell the added CW was doing it's job. Clicked the engine off in the lights, and rolled into the return road. When I tried to restart the engine, NOTHING. The battery was dead once again. Got the time slip, and it said it ran 9.32, but only at 138mph. ET was fine, but why the low mph? Racepak data showed the engine didn't pull over 6000 in high gear. Off into the local O'Rielly auto parts, and bought a new Optima red top battery.
Saturday morning. The car now cranks over like the plugs are out. Time to start driving this thing like I need to... First pass, and the car leaves hard again. I go .019 on the light, 1.34 60' time, and 5.79 in the 1/8th. ET 9.245 @ 139mph. A new personal best, but as I puled high gear I could feel the engine surging. Got back to the pits, and checked fuel pressure. Was only at 4.5lbs. I turned it up to 6.5, and headed back to the lanes when our class was called. Second pass, i went .043 on the light, the car spun some at the hit, and went 1.36 60', but when I pulled 4th, and the surging was gone, I knew I was on a pass! 9.19 @ 143.64 mph. Now THAT felt good! On my third, and final pass of Saturday, the air was getting much warmer. I left things alone, and headed to the lanes. Hit the tree at .018, and again the tire spun just a bit, and went 1.35 60". The car ran 119mph to the 1/8th, and 9.180 @ 142.7 mph. Another new best. I was feeling pretty confident going into eliminations on Sunday. Car was running good, and I was hitting the tree.
Sunday eliminations. I got to the lanes kinda late, and was somewhat rushed. I got paired up with a Chevelle that I had seen many times before, and knew he was one of the better racers in the class. While getting all of my gear on, in a rush, one of the last things I put on, is my sunglasses. I panicked when while strapped in, I couldn't feel for them. I reached back as far as I could and found a pair, only to realize I already had a pair on... The air was cooler on Sunday morning, so I dialed a 9.15. The Chevelle had a 11.10 dial in on, so I'd have to wait almost 2 seconds. I never once noticed his car leave the starting line. I drilled the tree the best I could, and when I got into 3rd gear, I looked to see how far out he was. A long ways... I knew I wasn't going to be able to lift, so I rode it out, and hoped for the best. I passed him just before the stripe, and saw my win light come on. My first round win in the car... We both went .006 on the light, as the time slip Joel posted. It was a great race. Second round, I got the bye, as I had best reaction time of Round 1. I made a mental error on the run, and the car ran a 9.32 @ 141mph. Note to self. DON'T hold the line lock button into 3rd gear... Third round, I got paired up with a Camaro. Guy told me in staging he was having problems getting the car into 3rd gear. (Note to self, don't red light). He was dialed a 13.80, so I had to wait over 4 seconds. I didn't exactly hammer the tree, but went .062. I caught him around the 1/8th mile mark. He went .268 on the light as well. the car did manage it's best 60' ever on this pass. 1.31. Into the final!
In the final, I was paired up with a basically stock Fox body Mustang on slicks. He dialed in a 14.30. The wait would be the longest yet. I just tried to do my thing. When we both staged, I had to figure out a timing before going on the 2 step for 5 seconds. His lights came down, and off he went. RED!!! I still tried to hit the tree, but went red as well. No TruStart this weekend... I ran the car out, and was rewarded a 9.11 @ 143mph. I didn't see that coming!
What a weekend it was!
Here is first round:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoGFNn8RIZ8
