Nitro Madness AA/FA

[Gator]

I agree.....
I'm glad you turned a wheel Randy....

[jim sanders]

waiting on the report

[Leon]

Well, i see Randy had a nice drive in the park and i didnt have any oil pressure. This sure is fun.

[Rapid Randy Baker]

Thanks Barb and Gator. I was a great to be back out there. The weather was so perfect. 68 degrees, very little wind and no clouds. We were a little late getting to the track. No real reason for just worked out that way.

We got parked, started unloading. When we were ready to put it up on the pro-jacks the air compressor didn't start and acted locked up. Not good. We decided we could live with the car up in the air. Then RC {crewguy} went to take one more try at the compressor. He undid the line from the motor to the tank. Then it started and ran. We hooked it back up and had air again. I am guessing the head pressure unloader probably was stuck shut. The compressor is only 2-years old, it is a craftsman. I think we are going to get a new one this week. More of a business one rather than a home style. We have had some small issues where it seems to take a lot of juice to start. We just want to eliminate that question mark.

Eddyville was having their first points race of the year along with running a comp eliminator class which consisted mostly of the Super Shifters guys. They have had a couple of test and tunes already. We thought with the nice weather temp wise we have been having the traction probably would be OK.

On a side note, I have been told that the sale is complete and Eddyville is now owned by Scott Gardner who also owns Cordova drag strip. There were a number of Cordova employees around. I didn't see Scott Gardner, but Jim his #1 guy was there. It has been in the works but everyone was sworn to silence until it actually happened. I haven't seen any big releases about it, some maybe we are still supposed to be keeping it quiet,,,not sure. But, I would say it is a done deal.

So the car warm up went well. It takes about 5-gallons of fuel on warm-ups. We tested the launch rpm, and it felt pretty crisp. I only just engage the trans brake, and bring the motor against if for a second so it doesn't hurt the converter. We have all seen guys in the pits just laying on the converter while on the trans-brake, they are a converter/trans salesman best friend! I let it idle with the fuel pulled partially off to build some heat. When it is warmed up and we are ready to shut if off, my last test is to put it in low gear hold the brakes, and wack the throttle. This is just to make sure it comes up hard and clean. If it doesn't, I have the signal with Pappy {crewguy} and I have instructed him on what I need done. At a signal from me he makes the adjustment, then one more test. If it is ok, I pull the fuel off and let the engine run itself out of fuel. We back it down. Fill it with fuel and are ready to run.

The whole crew went up to the line and looked things over. They were running cars at the time so we had to work around the other cars. Track temp was 102. I went up to the starters box and talked to Ryan. I asked if they had sprayed it the whole length. He said no, just the line and out aways. That is not good for us. I watched A number of the faster cars run. I saw a couple of high powered dragsters spin at the hit in the right lane, and most of the cars were leaving the line well in the left. I picked the left lane for us to try.

Back to the pits, and suited up. They pulled us out. When I fired the car the idle was high. I rolled up to the water and knew we were in trouble. We had told the new track guy we needed a bunch of water down. I was looking at it as I went thru. He did exactly as we asked, it had a bunch of water, but it was all in one small area. He made it deep as he understood we need lots of water. However what my guy meant was we need water spread out so the rear tires get coated. I gave it a blip as I went thru, but it wasn't enough. The car spun about 10 feet and the track grabbed the tire and that was that. Now the car is idling high enough that I have to stand on the brakes to keep it in check. Pappy guides me back, and we manage to get thru the routine. I stage the car and wait, and wait, what seems like forever for the tree to activate. Then it gives me a 5-tenths tree. I left and the car went about 30 feet and blew the tires clear off. I let it settle and eased back into it, more tire spin and it slid around some, I tried a bit more to get some speed up. I wanted to get enough speed to test the chutes. Normally when you are doing testing or even in qualifying there would be no reason to try to save a run. I did this time as I needed to make sure the chutes worked, and they did.

We decided that there would be no reason to try to hop it up to test for Tulsa. We removed timing, fattened up the barrel, added 1/2 lb of air in the slicks, lowered the launch rpm. We hoped to just make an A to B run even if it was not a barn burner.

Back up, idle adjusted, water box drenched, and made a 330 foot burnout. The staged temp was down, but we weren't after a hi-speed run so I went on in. The car launched and felt decent, but started going to the right. It wouldn't come back so I had to lift just before taking out the 330 foot timer. I just let it loaf on down the track.

So nothing learned, but no carnage, and fun had by all. The new track manager came over and said, well it sure acts like a fuel altered!

I was teasing the other track guys and said, "Now, if I had crossed over and taken the right lane, would I have had to make it back to the left to get a time?" He said no, he would just guess at a ET and speed and make something up.

Anyway had a great time and left the track with everything in working order.

Rapid

[Rapid Randy Baker]

Sorry about the trouble Leon. You will get it.

[Rapid Randy Baker]

Do you kids remember when Pappy washed the chutes. That went well, except the part where he didn't remember to tie wrap the shroud lines.

Laura and I do the chutes together. When I was taking them out of the storage box, to put back on the car I sure was glad she was there. It took quite a while to get them untangled. Lucky she has the drill down.

So when we went to the track they were untangled and packed pretty easy.

It was nice to have them come out and feel the tug.

[Barb]

Randy, if our paths ever cross, remind me to show you how to tie the chute lines for washing. No tie wraps needed

[Rapid Randy Baker]

Randy, if our paths ever cross, remind me to show you how to tie the chute lines for washing. No tie wraps needed

Sounds good to me,,,maybe I will just have you show Pappy!

Anybody who goes racing knows how nice it is to work with the same person on a job. It just goes so much smoother when they know what you are doing and what they are doing next.

[wheelzman]

Randy, I sure enjoy your stories about racing, it seems as if I am there watching you go down the track. Maybe some day just maybe. Thanks.

[jim sanders]

yea me too Rapid... Ilook foward to your posts about raceday