Sounds like a fun successful weekend and the car came out awesome. You should be very proud with the results

After a little while, the call comes for Test and Tune cars to the lanes, so I unhook the battery charger, check the fuel cell (by the way, I'd never build car without a clear fuel cell again), do a quick check of air pressure (11lbs), and fire the car up, and head to the lanes, once again. Things are moving quite a bit faster this time, as they are now getting into the 3rd round of eliminations. Figure I better get in the car early, as it's definitely a little more time consuming using a window net, and hooking up the NecksGen (Hans device). Since it's only in the mid 60's temp wise, buckling up in the car doesn't bother me. It's warmer in there LOL. Doesn't take long, and the lanes start moving. The car instantly fires up, and off we go. Pull into the burnout box, and as the car is rolling, go from 1st gear to 3rd, set the brakes, hit the line lock, given the motion to go, bring the engine up to about 4000, and snap the clutch, and mat the throttle. The engine almost instantly revs to 7000. With driving a stick car, you get the feel of the clutch some in the burnout box. Are the tires actually spinning, or just sitting there, and your clutch disc material is waving goodbye? It feels fine, and after a count of three, I release the line lock, and the car starts moving forward. Before the tires dead hook, I lift off the throttle, and stab the clutch. Put the car back into 1st gear, and creep up to the starting line. Once staged, and the lights start coming down, I mat the gas again, engine almost instantly goes to 5200. I'm not really concerned with my R/T, so I leave late. Don't care... Drop the clutch, and I'm off. Doesn't feel bad, but not great. Maybe I'm just getting used to the car? It's runs flawlessly, and again, straight as a arrow. I run the thing out, and it goes through the traps about 6500. Push the clutch in, and kill the ignition. Nice dead silence. No gear whine, and car is running straight. Brakes do not pull. I'm in heaven. Now will it make noise again, when I fire it back up? Nope. The sweet sound of a healthy big block! All I could think of on the return road was, I wonder if that was better than my earlier pass? Pull up to the E/T shack, get my ticket, and a piece of candy, and start heading back to the pits. Glanced at my time slip, and was pleasantly surprised! A new personal best E/T, and MPH, all on the 3rd pass the car has ever made. Now I felt like it was a success!

Outstanding !!!
The car looks great and runs great.
Win - Win.
Congratulations.

That's a nice first outing, I'm sure it will get better.

So whats for dinner?

That's rowing that shifter

Here ya go Jeff you earned it. Porterhouse fresh off the charcoal grill. Sorry my dog Dana beat you to the bone.

Great job Jeff!

Now that the car is working well, I decided it was time to maybe tinker with it some. Do I adjust the shocks? Tire pressure? Wasn't real sure where to start. Talked to a buddy of mine that runs a low 9 second 64 Falco, and we run the exact same tire, and his car used to run a stick. He said he was running about 7-8 lbs in the tires, and then asked what I ran? Was between 12.5-13lbs. He started laughing, and said, air them down. Remembering what Monte Smith always told me about air pressure, "Keep going up, until the car starts going slower"... Not sure what to do, as I've never ran this tire before, I figured I'd lower them a bit, and see what it does, so I dropped the tire pressure down to 10.5, added some fuel, and headed to the lanes. I got paired with another friend, that has been a Trunk Monkey on Drag Week, and had his cool 2 tons of fun '57 Ford there, and it runs low 11's. We both stage, the engine hit's 5200, and off I go. Car doesn't feel bad, but I can tell it's just a tick off. Get my time slip, and sure enough the 60' shows it must have spun. Ran 9.830, at 138mph. I'm over all happy, so I call it a day. See the link of the video from that pass. Labeled it wrong. Should say 9.83

The day was capped off with a group photo, of my buddies, and cars. The 4 of us will be making the trek to Monster Mopar next year. This is the crew that put me up to the "One Year Challenge". It took 2 years, and 3 months, but without the push, who knows how far along I'd be?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYQL-wSgkwU

Car looks great Jeff.

My Cuda is a 3074 M/T stiff sidewall. I run 10.5-10.8 depending on the track. Go pro or pics of the sidewall are always beneficial too. Mines 3170 w/ me in it. 4spd 9.20’s. I really like the M/T over the Phoenix I used to run. Picked up .03 in 60’ with them.

I run the 3074 tire as well. Also running tubes, and double beadlocks.

Sunday morning I was feeling happy with everything, so I made my way to place that sells tech cards. Filled it out, headed to tech, and received my run sticker. We only get one time run before eliminations start, So I was wondering if I should change anything. Figured I'd tighten up the front shock on extension 3 clicks. Left air pressure alone, and Pro was the first class called to the lanes, since it is the biggest group of cars. Also running through my mind is the thought of trying to cut a light. Haven't really tried while testing. The lanes move quickly, and I manage to get all my gear on right away, and I'm maybe 6 pairs of cars back. Was kind of a different feeling, being strapped into the car, and the National anthem starts playing. I can hear it in the car clear as a bell, and Old Glory is right in front of my waving, on a beautiful, crisp morning. About 3 seconds after the Anthem is finished, the first pair of cars fires up. Lets get this party started!

I roll the car into the burnout box, and everything is starting to feel "normal" now, and the car, and I are becoming good friends. But can I cut a light? That question came real quick. NOPE. Red -.039. Car leaves hard though, and I'm thinking it likes the tighter front shock. I'm rewarded with a 1.38 60', the fastest so far. Top of second gear comes up, go to pull third, and the trans is asking what for? Would not initially go into 3rd. Push forward on the handle, and all is good. [censored] was that? NEVER has that happened in 19 years of owning that trans. Pull 4th, and the car is pulling like crazy yet. Cross the stripe, lift out of the throttle, stab the clutch, and kill the ignition. The 4 wheel Wilwood brakes, and super long shutdown at Brainerd, make it easy.

Hmm wondering what it ran, with a messed up 2-3 shift? Get the time slip, and was shocked it still pulled off a 9 second pass. I don't think I could have removed the smile on my face if I tried.

Wow! My beater has nothing for you! Good job! Tell Mike I said howdy!

The for Pro to the lanes is called, and now I have to decide what to put on the car for a dial in. The last passes 330's should have been around a 9.80 or about there, so that is what I wrote on the window. Not happy with how the car responded to lowering the tire pressure, I raised it to 12.5lbs, and then tightened the front shock extension 3 more clicks. I know. Not supposed to be making changes before first round, but figured if I had the other guy covered, I'd be OK, and could wheel race him. Back up to the staging lanes.

Cars are paired off with a card system. Depending on what lane you are in. The Staging lane director shuffles a deck of cards, and if she pulls your lane number, she points, and off you go. I am in the far left lane. I'm two cars back from the front, and cars are being pulled non stop out of the 3 lanes to my right. Did they forget to add this lane? About 10 minutes in, finally the Lady points at me, and I pull into the left lane, and I'm about 10 cars back from the starting line. I look to my right to see who I'm paired up against, and slump my head. The car is a 1973 Duster. The only other stick car running in Pro. The car runs a old NASCAR small block, with a Lenco trans. He leaves at 7500, and shifts the thing at 9500. Wicked piece. BTW, he bought the car brand new in 1973! Great guy, and him and I talked for hours over the weekend, as he stopped by to look at the car multiple times. Anyways, he is dialed in at 9.50, to my 9.80. As the tree comes down, I mash the throttle, and the engine goes up on the 2 step at 5200, but in the other lane I can hear the sweet sound of a P5R7 symphony. I snap the clutch, and the car leaves like it's never left before. As I am about to pull second gear, I see his win light come on. True Start doesn't show your RED light right away. Well I'm done, but I'm going to let this thing hang all the way out, as it feels good. As I reach about the 1300 foot mark, I can hear the nasty Small block getting close, but I never see him. Well? How RED was I??? Pick up my timeslip, and it hurts. -.008 Dang... But LOOK at that! 9.72 @ 137mph!!!! A new best again, and the car is headed home in one piece. Complete WIN for myself I feel.

Here is a video of that run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADLsZ8tzQvk

As I pull back to the trailer, I see HEMI Joel packing up his camper, and is almost ready to leave. He stops by the car, congratulates me, and right away says. "I want a new bet"! LOL. OK, what do you have in mind? He tells me, and I gladly take him up on the challenge.

So here it is:

So in the end, I can't thank everyone enough for the kind words, and for Joel being a good sport. Even though we had a bet against one another, he was always willing to lend a hand, no questions asked. Joel helped with the front end alignment Thursday night, before I left, and the car runs dead straight thanks to him. He is a busy guy, and for him to make the trek to Brainerd, and hang out to watch his second dollar possibly leaving his wallet, says a lot about him. Thanks Joel! You are a true friend.

Jeff, I wouldn't have missed it! The RR really was extraordinary in it's performance and lack of teething pains, you did a great job with it. I don't mind paying up on the bet, you earned it. But don't get used to it, this new bet is going to have a different outcome!

Joel, Jeff and I tried to warn you @ Drag week in St. Louis years ago how fast those old boat anchor 400 blocks could be and Hemi's beware. Lol

Jeff ? very COOL, & you are an AWESOME writer,story teller, cool car too !!!

I'm starting to see that. That big bore is a good thing.

Great job with the car and the storytelling Jeff!

Car looks great, runs great. Time to beat it up and run some laps. Have fun.
Doug