Latest News and Info...

Update Kirkland Lake 21 Jun 10

Another LONG weekend. Saturday started off great, entered 2 classes, Sportsman (12-14) and Street (14 and slower). We raced until 9 PM when race was called for rain. I was still in both events so they split up the prize money among remaining participants (around 8) and I got $270 for Sportsman and $142 for Street.

Sunday I hit a red light in Sportsman but went on to win the Street and collected $600 for a total of $1000 for the weekend. Not too bad but it would have been nice to finish the race on Sat.  Got home 1:30 AM, 6 hr drive.

Year total $1800.

http://www.northernthunderdragway.com/

Update Cayuga 06 Jun 10

2010 has started off quite smoothly. I won my first bracket event 18 Apr just to try the car out after the winter. Went back on 30 May after I swapped the new engine to try it out before the first big event 06 Jun. Only came second (lousy r/t). The engine came out of an 07 with 9k on the odometer, that combined with my new trans with 5k should hopefully last me for a year or two.

Sunday 06 Jun was a great day, double entered 13.0 and 11.5 index classes (Pure Street & Street Warz) and won them both easily. At the awards ceremony they handed out the trophies and money for last years champions. I won both classes and was also awarded Driver of the Year as well. $650 day, not bad for an old geezer.

Only planning on 8 events this year, it was getting out of hand being gone every weekend and most of them didn't even pay expenses. This year I have selected the ones that not only pay but are fun to compete in.

Total winnings so far in 2010 $800.

Update Cayuga 17 Oct 09

After another rainout on the 4 Oct 09 we finally got in the season final. I won the Pure Street event but not the Street Warz because of a frozen fuel solenoid. However I didn't hurt the engine. I still managed to win both series in points though and my second perfect light on the Pro tree.

Won $150 for Pure Street and $400 for points champ for a season total of $4450. My best year by far.

This week I am going to pull the engine and trans. Replacing the heads due to a bent valve or two from a nitrous explosion. Transmission is slipping in 3rd gear and I managed to buy one with 2500 miles on it from a 99 that was wrecked in Dec 99 so its like brand new, all shiny. Putting in the Transgo HD2 shift kit as well and will see how it performs. Will be picking up a set of Weld Prolite 8x15's and 3.5x15's (got for $300 on racing junk.com) and installing M&H 23x8.5x15's on front and M/T 22.5x4.5x15's (7 lbs) on rear, that combo will knock off another 22lbs. My weight is creeping up though due to putting all glass in vs lexan etc so I am now at 2830 with me in it.

Pics of trophies, 12, 1st place and one for semi-finals. Now that I have taken a pic they will find a new home in the recycling bin.

Update St Thomas 13 Sep 09

Entered 2 classes again, Pure Street (13.0 Index) and Street Warez (11.5 Index). Qualified 2nd in Pure Street with a 13.1 and 1st in Street Warez with a 11.51) Won both classes after a LOT of racing and took home $350 for a total this year of $3900. One race left and I hope to get my total over $4k as well as try for a new record. I did run my new meth/water setup yesterday but just on the motor I'm still waiting for some fuel solenoids so I can run the methanol through the nitrous system. Should be able to up the timing with the nitrous and if we can get some cool weather for the 04 Oct it should go well.

Update Shannonville 15-16 Aug 09

Went to the track fri night and played with the local street guys, there were about 30-40 cars so I figured there would be a good showing for the weekend event.  Sat morn came and no cars show up,  I waited until after 10 am and was told I was the only entry for Street and that they would refund my money.  So I packed up got my $75 entry feed back and came home.

 Update Earlton 8-9 Aug 09

Ok so this is getting a little much. I double entered in the Sportsman (12-14 secs) and Street (14 and slower). Had to reduce timing to 10 deg and shifts to 5500. M&H Street/Strip tires were used because I had to use DOT in Street. Pulled a couple of 1.9 60' so they hook not too bad at 11 psi for 25" tires. Won both events on Sat and only 4th in Street on Sun. $800, $500 and $100.

Won $1400 total winnings this year $3550.

Update Elliot Lake 22 July 09

http://www.elliotlakedragway.com/driver_info.html

I was at this race last year and ended up 5th out of 265 cars. This year I bombed out and just got through the 3rd round. I don't ALWAYS win, gotta take the good with the bad.

In my defense my master cylinder is gone and my launch control rolled me out of the box to 2 red lights (I bought back in). Getting one from the wreckers this week. It was going well I had 3 low 500 lights, .511, .508, .504 before the brakes started to lose it. I also did a couple of sub 2 sec 60's with stock muffler and M&H Street and Strip DOT tires. First time below 2 seconds with them, did a 1.94 and 1.96, with 11 psi. They don't hook worth a darn when spraying though.

Update Montreal 12 July 09

This was an unplanned event but I figured since I drove 12 hrs to MAXUS I could drive 7 hrs to Montreal. First it was a great day because I met some new Maxima friends VQ'ed (Luke) an Claude who gave me a reason to understand why I like Maxima's so much and the Maxima community. They helped me swap wheels etc and great moral support.

I double classed, Street Warz and Pure Street (11.50 and 13.0 Index). It took quite a bit of tuning to bring the time to a 13.0, first pass was a 12.5 @ 111 mph. Finally ended up dropping timing from 26 to 16 and shift points from 7k to 5800. For the 11.50 I sprayed a 50 shot.

So final result? I won both classes and it made the 7 hrs drive home worth the effort. Great reception and the guys from the local area are great competitors as well as fans.

Final run in the 11.50 was against a turbo Civic. I had a lousy 60' (1.9) due to track conditions but managed to come back with a 11.6 against his 11.77.

Won $250 total winnings this year $2050.

Update 28 Jun 09

MAXUS 09 in  DC, had a great time. Meeting everyone and putting a face to the org name was worth the 12 hr drive. Aaron took me out in the All Motor Maxima Unlimited by a hair but I managed to win the Maxima Unlimited, Nissan Unlimited and the Quick 8 events.

Thanks to Redmax, Aaron and Alicious for all the hard work and flawless program. Wish I could have stayed for the sunday activities but I left at 7:30 am sunday and arrived home at 7:30 pm.

Didn't break my 10.85 record but did run an 11.2 @ 123 with a 125 shot just to show the old girl still has a little poop. I was a little reluctant to run any higher being 12 hrs away from home. Traction could have been a little better, I was spinning with the 50 shot out of the hole which could have been the condition of my slicks or track prep. My right side tie-down strap broke on the way down as well as my cooling fans. Didn't realize until the 2nd run and the starter saw the water dripping but let me do that run. I did manage to get one fan working on low but was running well over 200 deg temp and the small rubber hose that connects the front rail to the log split and I had a rag wrapped around it so the water wouldn't drip on the track. I wrung it out and tied it back on after each run.
(The low speed signal line was severed and not only did I not have manual fan operation, they wouldn't run on auto either, I was fortunate that it didn't cause any serious problems.)Thats the first time my car has not performed flawlessly at an event. My N/A runs were all over the board. Best was a 12.65, 12.75 and a bunch of 12.8-12.99, 104-109 mph runs, I think the engine temps were responsible for that.

Special thanks for the individual that came up with the Plaque idea, its front and center.

PS Thanks also to nalc for putting up with an old guy for the night. Thanks Taylor

Update June 21, 2009

Won the Sportsman Class event in Kirkland Lake. Collected $1200. My biggest payday yet. Nice on Fathers Day and my Birthday. Total Winnings $1800

The final was against a 427 Vette. I was conservatively dialed at an 8.3 for the 1/8th and he dialed an 8.5. Just before the run i changed my dial to an 8.5 also so we could have a heads-up race. My r/t was a .596 and he did a .751 and I forced him to breakout with a 8.436 against my 8.537. The whole crowd stood up and cheered when I came down the return lane, what a rush. Poor dude in the Vette was not too happy, 2nd place only collected $200.

http://www.northernthunderdragway.com/

Update May 31, 2009

Won the Street Warz class in the 1st CSCS event of the year. Collected $200. Total winnings $600 http://www.cscs.ca/

Update May 25, 2009

Spent the whole weekend at the track (fri night - sun night) racing in the OSCA Series. http://www.raceosca.com/

Mostly V8 Vintage cars with the 12.90 Index class being the slowest. However its still pretty exciting. I managed to qualify first with a 12.91 during the qualifications.

They did the National Anthems thing and we were the first class to race by virtue of being the slowest. They had a $200 bonus for the first perfect light, so I was really surprised when I got that. The car in the other lane was a Vette running a 75 Zex shot, I was N/A. I didn't run any quicker than necessary to secure the win but in the process I forced the Vette to break out (12.81). My mph shows that it definately wasn't an all out run.

I might also note that this is a Pro Tree event so getting the .000 is even more difficult and is my first one. I do have a few Sportsman Tree perfect lights, well about 4 or 5.

Anyway, very satisfying weekend, the only hiccup was a severe sunburn which kept me up most of last night tossing my cookies. As we used to say in the Military its a "self inflicted wound" and doesn't deserve any sympathy.

http://dragracecanada.com/media/pres...s/2009/061.asp

Update Oct 6, 2008

Went to the final CSCS event for 2008 and during time trials ran 10.85 @ 125.55 mph, and a new personal best 1.58 60ft.  That's a whole heap of new records obtained there:
 

That's right....  1.58 60ft time... 

This isn't a one time wonder either.  It first ran 10.98 then the very next run backed it up with the 10.85.  I honestly believe it could go faster as well but with the race about to start soon that day, I didn't have time to make any more test runs.  There is always next year right?   The 10.86 run has a slightly slower 60 ft time of 1.65.. I also did a 1.63 during the eliminations spraying a 35 shot out of the hole.

Using a straight 75 shot out of the hole vs using the progressive controller as i did last week but 22 deg adv vs 15, huge difference.  A straight 75 shot netted a 10.98 @ 124 MPH.  The 2nd stage used the controller starting with 30% at 4500 to 100% at 5500.  What I didn't realize was that it didn't stay at 100% after getting there in 1st gear it dropped to 0% after each shift and ramped up again starting at 4500 RPM.  Hence the 200 shot was only .13 quicker and 1.14 MPH faster than the 75.  The 23x8x15 M&H'S were also swapped with the M/T 22X8X15'S.  I have no idea why they hooked like that but I have never felt G force like that before.

Next year we will run a 200 through all the gears at see what that brings, for now I am happy with the results and have no plans of trying to lower the bar any further.

I will say that a 1.58 60' is a neck snapping experience that cannot be described in print.