Prior to the weekend we decided to take both the Roadster and the Dragster. Originally we thought that dad might drive the roadster but on arrival Saturday morning we decided that I would double up in both cars.
In all honesty, doubling up this weekend probably wasn't the best idea. First off, this was to be the first weekend out on the roadster all year. Anyone that has raced knows that the first time out is always a tough one. Although things should run right, you just never knew. Add to the fact that over the winter we took off the gas carb and put on an alky carb.
The second reason it was probably a bad idea to double up this weekend was the fact that it was HOT. By far the hottest weekend of the year here in Southern Ohio. Mid to High 90's each day.
Saturday turned out to be a day that I would like to forget. Both cars ran well in time trials. The dragster was locked on and the roadster ran a tenth faster than last season. So through time trials things were looking ok.
Round 1 - I take the roadster up first and completely miss the tree. I have a .064 light and have no chance. I get up there with the dragster and things dont go much better. I slightly miss the tree and have nothing at the finish line. We decided to only buy back in the dragster.
Round 2 - I go .014 on the tree to my opponents .050. My opponent is running a 6.50 Camaro. I dump hard at the strip and run a 5.201 on my 5.16 dial taking .023 strip for a relatively easy W.
Round 3 - I draw Roy St. Denis in his black Thunderbird. He is dialed a 6.29. I dial a 5.17. We leave pretty even, my .028 to his .031. I get to the finish line and grab a little brake. I run a 5.180 on my 5.17. Roy runs a 6.290 on his 6.29. I am behind by .007!!! Impressive job driving on my part. Get behind by .007, WTG Jason!! Run completion shows that I should have went a 5.171 which would have given me the W by .002.
If this wasn't enough fun for Saturday, KK decided to throw a gamblers race. We decided that you can't win it if you aren't in it so we jumped in. Lets just say I probably should have stayed back at the trailer. In the first round I go -.014 Red to end my night.
Go Time!!
SUNDAY
After doing some carb work on the roadster Sunday morning, the Rocket decides it does not want to run. It stumbles and blubbers during the first time run. After making some changes we go up for our second hit in the roadster and it stumbles still and runs a 6.34!! Yup almost 3 tenths slower than the day before. If you haven't figured out yet, we are regular Austin Coils!!! Before the first round we decide to put everything back to the way it was the day before. As for the dragster, things go normal ad no major issues.
Round 1 - Roadster - We draw Dave Caplinger who is dialed 6.51. We decide to dial a 6.30. We were hoping the stumble was fixed considering we changed everything back to the way it was on Saturday. If this were the case, the car should run a Mid 6.0, so I would be holding a ton! If it did stumble we would be close on dial. Lets just say the car stumbles and runs a 6.37 on the 6.30 and Dave gets the Easy W. Lets just say that we decide not to buy back the roadster and load it up for the weekend.
Dragster - We dial a 5.15 to my opponents 4.89 dragster. I go .0143 on the tree to his .0216. I tap the brakes at the finish line to run a 5.166 and take .0073 stripe for the W.
Round 2 - I dial a 5.16 to my opponents 4.91. I have a stellar .039 light, but luckily he has a .057. As a close in on the strip I see that he isnt really catching me, but once we get to the mph cone he is all of a sudden all over me. I figure he hit the nitrous button and sprayed me, so I dump it and feed him the stripe by .009 but he breaks out by .007. I run a 5.180 for the W.
Round 3 - Dial up to a 5.17 to run another faster dragster dialed 5.00. As I start to let go of the button I see my opponents red light flash. He rolled through the lights. It distracted me a bit and I let go .0428, run it out the back door and it slows to a 5.187 for the W.
Round 4 - (15 Cars) - Dial a 5.18 to Josh Morgans 4.81. I have another bad light in a .033 to my opponents .006. I run it out the back and and break out running a 5.175. Josh went dead on with an 8 for a .014 package.
Mixed bag of results for the weekend, but a decent effort on Sunday to close it out. Next weekend we are heading back to Kil Kare for their Super Saturday $2000 to win Super Pro race. Hopefully we can bring home the cash!!
Go Hard or Go Home
