Bob Kraemer / Steve Kirby Racing

[Rapid Randy Baker]

Bob, you don't need a 2nd air bottle, although you should carry a spare in case a line breaks or somthing and dumps all your air.

Just get a 2-side regulator. The 150 pound side for chutes and Lenco, and the 250 side for the drive/trans-brake. Just how we do it.

Rapid

[Bob Kraemer]

Thanks Pro & Thanks Cat and thanks for the reminder.
I need those every now & then.

[Bob Kraemer]

Bob, you don't need a 2nd air bottle, although you should carry a spare in case a line breaks or somthing and dumps all your air.

Just get a 2-side regulator. The 150 pound side for chutes and Lenco, and the 250 side for the drive/trans-brake. Just how we do it.

Rapid

Wow thanks Randy I didn't know they made a 2-side regulator that's just what we need.
Thanks, I owe you a cold Pepsi or a cold beer, it aint your B/Day yet so no pastry stuff

[Mr. Jean]

Good report Bob. Keep at it....

[draglist]

It's hard to run these things. That's what makes a good pass so special. Keep on trucking and it will reward you soon... bp

[Bob Kraemer]

Thanks for the kind words, support & encouragement everyone.
I was kinda of starting to think, that maybe I had forgotten to much, to be doing this anymore, I mean this car has fought me every step of the way.
I have a saying "never give up, you may get me down but you ain't going to beat me" this car is NOT going to beat me!!!!

[Billy Mac]

I resemble those remarks, Bob.......perserverance, is the key word.....It took me over 5 years to get mine to the track.....it took all 15 rounds and there were times I thought I was going to get counted out, but I prevailed just before the final bell......If things went smooth and easy, what fun would THAT be????....Keep plugging along and keep us posted.

[Bob Kraemer]

Thanks Billy

Well guys & gals I finally have some GOOD news to report, The POS finally made it down the track, under it's own power, twice no less & not behind the golf cart but we still have issues to work on, more on that later and it did it with out killing me (read other previous post for explanation)
Got to the track, do our normal pre start check/routine, start the car, check the trans brake for proper operation it works so that part is fixed, check to make sure the trans shifts into forward & reverse OK with the trans brake that works OK cool, now were cooking with gas!!!!
Drop the car down & head to the lanes, finally it is our turn I start the car, walk around to check for leaks etc! I wave Steve forward to do the burn out it moves Steve's does the burnout, a little long but that's OK well our reverser problem rear there ugly head again the trans keeps jumping out of reverse, well the engine starts to get a little on the warm side from from taking so long to back up, I should have shut the car off, SCREW IT were going to make this pass come hell or high water, some how with the ACD automatic shifter the car left in hi gear, probably a little driver error, but that's OK still ran a 7.51@173 on our first real pass.
Get the car back to the pits, man is this puppy hot, first thing break out the fans to cool this thing OFF. I have the guys drop the pan to have a little look see while I am checking valve lash & checking cylinder leakage, I get to #4 & #4 is leaking @ 65% uh-oh, probably pinched a ring from gettin to hot or....... Plug/plugs didn't show signs of going lean or detonation, well I can't say that because I didn't have a magnifying glass or my glasses on to read the plugs for detonation. Well decision time on my part, do we run it or go home?? hmmmmm, we don't have any spare parts to fix it, so what the hell run it .....
The car leaves in low gear this time & blows the tires off, Steve pedaled it and ran a 8.30@169
Not impressive times, but the car finally made it down the track under it's own power, and no oil was leaking out after our passes
We found more problems we have to fix but that's OK, better to find them now instead of in the heat of battle. Were going to have a busy week ahead of us, with my project I am working on that is 126 miles round trip from my house, tearing apart the engine to fix issues with #4 cyl. and checking the rest of the motor, fixing the reverser problems again, rewiring equipment at a friends shop that is going to rebuild a motor for my new to me work van plus everything else, this is going to be a very busy week.
So if you see me dosing off, give me a little nudge to wake me up

Thanks for taking time to read my, what I did this weekend tales.

[Mr. Jean]

Congrats Bob. Thanks for the report. Hope the damage is minimal.