Bad Habit, Too.

Here's where our individual members can fill us in on their racing, car building, or other exploits.
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Heather712SC
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Bad Habit, Too.

Postby Heather712SC » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:13 am

I decided to start a thread after someone telling me that I should do so ((Thanks Jim :D ))

Well, the dragster that I'm running in right now is one that my brother used to race. He decided to step back from drag racing once he heard enough from his ol' ladie. Biggest mistake ever!! He passed the car down to me, said that I could race it.

My dad and one of his buddies started building this dragster back in the early 90's, in hopes of having my dad race it after his other dragster's frame started to crack. My dad, being super hot-headed, got into it with NHRA and walked away from drag racing all together, leaving the frame with his buddy. Also, like my brother, his ol' ladie was not fond of drag racing, what so ever. The frame sat in his garage for a well over 10 years without being touched. My dad finally got back with NHRA when he involved my brother and I in Jr. Drag Racing. From there, we've all been hooked. In about 2004, my dad's buddy and my brother had a talk about finishing that dragster, and having my brother race it. But since the dragster is partly my dad's, they needed that approval. At the time, my dad was with a woman who was not into drag racing either, ((What is wrong with women these days!!!)) so she would be the one who always said no. FINALLY, my dad gave in and finished this car, and my brother was racing in late 2005ish. In June of 2006, my dad finally ((after much antipation)) offered me my turn in the car. He wanted to know if I wanted to get my Super Comp. license, and of course, I was not going to decline. I made it to Irwindale one night to make my 3 half-track laps, then Fontana the next day to finish my licensing passes. Went 8.93 twice, and then stepped her up with a 8.39 at 158 MPH. His co-worker saw potential in me, and bought a "kit-car" to build for me to race, since my brother was still racing the dragster at the time. In October of 2006, my brother ended up spitting a rod out of the pan at a race at Fontana Raceway. That's when his ol' ladie kind of made him quit, I guess. We put all of our heads together, and realized that instead of throwing money and time into that "kit-car", we should just rebuild the engine and throw me in the dragster that my brother was racing for the time being.

We decided to finally start building the engine again. We've encountered numorous hardships in doing so. I've gone through 2 blocks, and a total rebuild count of 3 in the past 2 weeks, just to get my butt out on the track racing. The first block, which my brother had shot a rod through the pan, came back from the machinist with an "Ok to use" cert. Well, after putting in 3 gallons of water once the engine was built, we realized there was a problem. The water was getting into the oil passages, and going strait to the pan. I guess the machinist over looked a HUGE hole that anyone can see, if they know what they're looking for. Then we got another block, built her up ((had the "sponsor" do the bottom end, we did the heads and injectors)) and 12 pounds of oil pressure. Sent it back to them to find out what the problem was, and they blamed it on the oil pump. Then as we were about to load her in the trailer at the shop, we started her up, the oil pressure went from about 70 to 50 lbs. Then we did some hot laps in a cul-de-sac near their work, the first one was perfect, then the second one, I felt her stumble. Then as I was hitting the brakes, I hear the high pitch squealling, and look at the oil pressure guage and she was below 15 lbs. Spun the rod bearings out, not a purdy sound to hear. None the less, I had to skip the race that weekend, a total of 2 races that I have missed so far. The cause of the low oil pressure :: Only 3 quarts of oil was put in by my "sponsor", who builds engines for a living. I finally came across another block and we're going to build her again ourself. The first time, we rebuilt it, and if there wasn't a hole in the block, she would've been fine.

I will use this thread to keep you posted on the racing stats and how everything goes. My first race will be out at Palmdale at the Summit Series race in May. I've missed 3 races so far out of this series, but I'm still hoping to make a dent in the point standings. I will also update this with pictures, I will add some on here when I get home.
MY DRAGSTER AND CREW RUNS OFF ALCOHOL.

MY DRiNKiNG TEAM HAS A RACiNG PROBLEM...

greenracing
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Location:NE Ohio

Postby greenracing » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:58 pm

Welcome to the club Heather! I see you've met our friend Murphy too - if he wouldn't have made up his laws we'd all be so much better off ;)
Hope you get it going soon - I may have block in the barn - but Ohio's quite a road trip...

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Heather712SC
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Postby Heather712SC » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:24 pm

Thanks!!! And yes, Murphy's law are taking quite a toll! Know it all to well!
MY DRAGSTER AND CREW RUNS OFF ALCOHOL.

MY DRiNKiNG TEAM HAS A RACiNG PROBLEM...

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draglist
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Postby draglist » Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:27 pm

Great post, Heather! You are definitely part of the Super Crew! bp
Bill Pratt
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Novel-T
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Postby Novel-T » Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:02 pm

great post Heather

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jim sanders
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Postby jim sanders » Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:27 pm

:D yep well done !
GOOD TO GO !!
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Rapid Randy Baker
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Postby Rapid Randy Baker » Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:43 pm

Nice post Heather. Welcome to the club! 8)
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flyinhillbilly
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Postby flyinhillbilly » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:35 pm

welcome, your luck sounds about like mine. :(
the police never think it's as funny as i do

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pro70z28
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Postby pro70z28 » Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:45 pm

Welcome Heather. Hope your makin' laps soon without the headaches. 8)
15th Annual DRAGLIST Nationals Sometime in 2020. Somewhere in the USA.

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Lippy
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Postby Lippy » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:16 pm

Welcome Heather, thanks for the read. Good luck to you and keep us posted! :D
If you think it's exciting now, wait till we start it.


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