Rapid Randy of the North

Rapid Rides Nanook at the 2008 NHRR at Bowling Green, Kentucky

By Randy Baker

Well, after waiting for what seemed like forever, it finally happened. I was able to drive one of the most famous of all the Fuel Altereds in the world. I have no way to tell you how honored I was when Dave Hough choose me to take the seat of his hot rod. Before I go into how the weekend went I just want to go on record and thank Dave, Linda, Rick and Gloria for allowing Laura and I to become a part of their family race team. Our first weekend together went just as I believed it would and we all had a great time. I can see a lot of good times coming as we race together from now on. I also want to take a minute to say how much fun it is to hang around with Ron and Brian Hope who run the Rat Trap AA/FA. To have a large group like this and all enjoy each others' company so well is simply amazing. We have become friends with the whole group over the past few years, so it was an easy fit to join them.

I am pretty sure I have been in training for this car my whole life. Growing up on the ranch I loved riding the fast horses. If the horse would buck and jump around some, it was even better. I have been racing something from Moto X to drag cars ever since I can remember. It always seemed like the faster the better for me. This little short wheel base Nitro fueled racer is just the ticket for a speed fix. 

OK, now on to the numbers portion for those who want to only read that part of the story. First time in the car, straight as a string -- 6.64 @ 202 mph. Rick and Dave both said, "Just take it as far as you feel comfortable. If you don't want to run it out, don't worry about it." I asked if it was ready to make it to the stripe and they both confirmed it was. I said, "Then that is where I am taking it." 

The second pass we hopped it up a little more. Unfortunately the dew had come in, and the track just wouldn't take it. It left harder, but made a move to the centerline around 150-200 feet out there and I had to lift to stay in my lane. I put it back in the groove, stuck it in high and watched the flames grow bigger and bigger on down the track. 9.32 @ 148 mph. I bet that is the slowest pass this car has ever had in its life. Heck I can't even remember when I have gone that slow in the past few years.

The third pass was on Sunday afternoon. We again pepped it up a little more for this daytime run. It was running right down the groove, and then at about 1200 feet the car made a sudden move to the wall. It went 4.22 @ 180 to the 1/8 mile, after bringing it back from the wall it rolled across the line with a 6.56 @ 184 mph. It was well on its way to a low 6.30 pass.

I have been asked to fill in the details about the whole Nanook experience. I am sorry if you get bored, but I will try to take you behind the ropes so to speak. Once the car is serviced, the starting routine goes like this. Dave works the starter and the squirt bottle. He spins the engine over until I see oil pressure on the gauge. When I nod my head with the engine still spinning he gives it a drink and Rick pulls the wire to fire it off. With it running on gas for a short while, Dave gives me the nod, and I pull the fuel on. That is when a Nitro motor really comes to life. It starts thundering and cracking out the exhaust. The car is allowed to idle as I check the clutch. Dave and Rick check the engine over, and look at the Racepac computer to check the rpm. There is also a gauge installed to check the fuel pressure at idle. We don't use the computer to monitor anything but RPMs at this time. When Dave gives me the signal I pull the fuel lever and shift it into high as it is running on the gas bottle just to make sure it shifts before we shut it off. Now it is time to get it on the ground, refill the fuel tank, and head to the lanes.

I asked Ron which lane he wanted; we both agreed that neither of us cared. Finally we decided I would take the left lane and we would switch for the next run. Now let’s set the stage a second. I have never driven this car before. The stands are packed. I have seen a ton of famous drag racers all over the grounds all day long. I was doing an interview up in the tower earlier with Marvin Noel. When we were done talking, Steve Gibbs came in. We shook hands as I had never met him before. He says, "Good luck today. I have high expectations for you." Gulp, as if having Big Daddy and several thousand drag racing fans, not to mention your car owners who are legends themselves, all standing there watching. Yep, no pressure at all on the kid from Iowa.

Somebody was looking out for me. The engine came to life, and I step off the clutch and head for the water box. I stick it in high gear and Rick gives me the signal. The car comes up on the tires and starts moving around a little. I have never driven a car with an 8-port instead of the Enderle 3-blade hat injector. It sure has a nice smooth throttle feel to it. I got the motor up, and then backed off the throttle to catch it before the RPMs got too high. It is singing along on a nice steady note while boiling the tires. I am slightly behind Ron and lift when I see him get off the throttle. This way we can back up together. Gloria is the back-up girl and she guides me back behind the line. Dave and Rick give it a final look. Rick guides me to the beam and signals it is all mine. I take a deep breath, make one extra check to make sure it is in low and the fuel is full on, and I roll into the pre-stage beam. Ron is right behind me coming in. I staged it as shallow as I could.

When we are both staged, the yellow flashes and I hammer it. Rick said to shift it about 3-400-feet out. I felt it quiver the tires a little right before the 330-cone, as I come even with the cone I stick it in high and the car settles down and heads for the stripe. I had checked the track earlier, so when I crossed the stripe, I tossed out one chute, pulled the fuel lever, and then eased on the brake taking the last turnout to the right. I made it. The first run was over; we were both in one piece and best of all it was a decent pass in front of everyone. I have to confess; I did let out a yell down there while my helmet was still on so no-one would hear me. It sure was a blast no matter what it had run. I thanked the safety crew for being there for all us racers. They suit up in fire suits and have to keep them on all day. We drivers only have ours on for a short time. I always thank them for their service. LIFE IS GOOD!

Dave and Linda came down to pick me up. Linda wrapped up the chutes, and since there is no wing to wrap them around, the drill is, I hold it while we tow back to the pits. As we tow back through the pits it is cool how many people stop what they are doing to wave or say "HI" as we tow past.

In the pits we discuss it. Since it is a new combination motor that was put together over the winter we decide to pull the heads and pop the pistons out since we have the time. Once the top end is off, Dave pushed me down, and Rick threw a bunch of tools on me. They said since I was down there, drop the pan and help Rick dive the bottom end. I tried to tell them the hammock was waiting, but they weren't having any of that. Rick and I took it apart, and Dave inspected and lubed the bearings to go back together. Going together we were short 1-oil pan nut. One of us had accidentally put 2-nuts on one stud. It wasn't Rick who did it is all I will say. I figure it probably happened when I looked over and saw Ron Hope using my hammock in his pit. That’s my story and I am sticking to it.

We added a few more percent of Nitro for the next pass to step it up a little for the wet air. It was almost 80% humidity shortly before we were to run. We were looking to run a 6.40 or so on this pass. There had been some delays prior to our run. I could tell during the burnout that the track didn't have much bite, as the car was moving around quite a bit. I still had high hopes of laying down a good number. The car left a little better, it felt like. I was in the left lane again for this run. About 100-200 feet out the car made a move to the centerline. Ron was just slightly behind me. He kept his foot in it and blasted past me after I lifted and moved the car off the centerline. I got back on the throttle and gave chase. Both cars had great flames coming out the headers. Right around 1000-foot Ron's car made a move right over to the wall. He had to lift but still crossed the line first. So it was one round to him, and one round to us. We serviced the car and headed off to dinner and the motel.

Laura really likes this getting up at 6:30 AM stuff on the weekends. I could tell by how silent she was at breakfast which I am sure is just because she was reveling in the EARLY morning solitude. She said she owes me one for keeping her up late and getting her up early. I wonder what kind of gift she has in mind as repayment. Something nice I am sure. Ha!  

We changed the clutch weight, added a few more percent of Nitro, and sped up the blower for our only run on Sunday. It left great; the car was hauling the mail right down the middle of the groove. It quivered the tires again about 330-feet, settled down and then again around 400-feet. I stuck it in high and was enjoying the ride. It was going right down through there, and then at 1200 feet it made a big move to the wall. I had to lift to settle it down. I stood back on the throttle, but the run had killed the good ET by then. I pulled both chutes so they could air out this week and not stay packed. I went down when the car was back in the pits and talked to Donnie Butts {Safety Safari}. I told him I was just coming over to HIGH FIVE him, and where did he go. He said, when they saw me coming over to the wall, they all hid behind the truck. HA, the chickens, it wasn't that close. Just kidding of course. Those guys would be the first ones on the scene if a racer was in trouble.

Howard Haight came over and asked if I liked the move to the wall, as it was exactly what had happened to him, only he got into the wall. The same thing happened to Ron when he was in that lane. I don't know what caused it but it was good to know it wasn't just our car.

One more thing to mention. I got to see Mike Lewis drive Justin Grant's NFC for 2-passes on Saturday. He told me he hadn't driven a fuel car for something like 30-years. He did a great job, and he had to drive it around as it was moving on him. Nice going and it was fun to see how much he enjoyed it.

I know there is a ton more stuff I left off, but it was a huge event and there is just too much to cover.

I hope you enjoyed my What I Did Last Weekend story,

Rapid