Finally some chicken dinner
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
Finally some chicken dinner
Made a last minute decision to run Gamblers last night. It was a good field with about 60 cars...thankfully only a couple dragsters...and beautiful cool air for a change.
The night started off rough hitting traffic on the way causing me to miss 1st time shot (actually just making the 2nd). So I use my same box settings as the prior race and make a pass. 9.79 @ 137 with a .024 light. Little faster than I expected even with the DA, but otherwise a nice clean run.
1st rd. is TWO HOURS later due to a major oil down and intel coming from Pete Huff is telling me the car might pick up some, so I dial a 9.78. I end up getting a very quick Chevy wagon dialed 8.75 and off the bat, I'm nervous because I don't leave 1st very often. We're both green and just before the thousand I start looking and see nothing. Instinctively, but erroneously, I lift. As you would expect the wagon comes barreling past me so I do my best to push the gas pedal through the floorboard and pray he's on a breakout run. Prayers answered as my guy goes just .007 under his dial (.036 r/t) , while I'm .08 above (.018 r/t). I grab my slip, roll into the pits and get a thorough tongue lashing from my "crew chief" Antoine for lifting too early.
2nd rd I get a fellow Pro ET points racer running a 10 sec Cutlass footbraking. He dials 10.58 to my 9.81. Both green again and I chase. Approaching the 1000' the race isn't looking right since I'm not coming around him like I expected. Figuring either I was late or he is on a breakout run I cut him loose and see my win light. Turns out it was the latter as the Cutlass went 10.54 (.055 r/t) to my 9.83 (.022 r/t). Checking the incrementals, I was on a .81 pass.
3rd rd. we're on a ladder and I draw a long time and very tough gambler's points racer who runs a low 10 sec S10. I know I have to be on my game for this one. I also know this guy hold a couple, so I do the same and dial up to a 9.83 to his 10.26. Greens both lanes and just past the 1000 we're side by side. Knowing I have to kill a couple I ride the brake and just before the stripe squeeze it a bit harder giving it back by .010. He runs a 10.252 (.012 r/t) to my 9.826 (.018 r/t). Tight race with only a .0046 MOV.
4th rd. things don't get any easier as I draw last year's Gambler's points champion. Timeslips show I was on a 9.80 pass last round, so I dial an .81 to his 9.98. By now it's 11 pm and the track is getting slick. Making matters worse, I lose the coin flip and get bumped to the left lane. Off we go and I know I'm in trouble. There's no way I'm getting around this guy. Flat out, foot to the floor I need to make it as close as possible and once again plead for some divine intervention. Cross stripe and win light on! My man was .000 on the tree but went .004 under his dial. I was a not too shabby .007 on the tree but slowed up to a 9.84 losing it on the 60' (most likely due to the slick track). There's that saying "It's better to be lucky than good." Sometimes you need a little bit of both.
5th rd. The sweetest two words to a drag racer's ears. Bye Run. I break the beams and come right back to the lanes for the Final.
Final round, it's 11:30, track is empty and it's me against the current #2 points leader. He runs a 10.0 vega on alcohol. I dial way up to a 9.85 to his 10.04. At this point, it's equal parts wanting the win and just getting down the track in one piece. So we stage and go. I catch him at 8th and then he disappears. Engine problems. For the record, he was .017 to my .020 so it would've been close.
So finally after 3 years of trying and 2 failed final round appearances, things came together. Thanks to my buddy Pete for sticking it out all night.
The night started off rough hitting traffic on the way causing me to miss 1st time shot (actually just making the 2nd). So I use my same box settings as the prior race and make a pass. 9.79 @ 137 with a .024 light. Little faster than I expected even with the DA, but otherwise a nice clean run.
1st rd. is TWO HOURS later due to a major oil down and intel coming from Pete Huff is telling me the car might pick up some, so I dial a 9.78. I end up getting a very quick Chevy wagon dialed 8.75 and off the bat, I'm nervous because I don't leave 1st very often. We're both green and just before the thousand I start looking and see nothing. Instinctively, but erroneously, I lift. As you would expect the wagon comes barreling past me so I do my best to push the gas pedal through the floorboard and pray he's on a breakout run. Prayers answered as my guy goes just .007 under his dial (.036 r/t) , while I'm .08 above (.018 r/t). I grab my slip, roll into the pits and get a thorough tongue lashing from my "crew chief" Antoine for lifting too early.
2nd rd I get a fellow Pro ET points racer running a 10 sec Cutlass footbraking. He dials 10.58 to my 9.81. Both green again and I chase. Approaching the 1000' the race isn't looking right since I'm not coming around him like I expected. Figuring either I was late or he is on a breakout run I cut him loose and see my win light. Turns out it was the latter as the Cutlass went 10.54 (.055 r/t) to my 9.83 (.022 r/t). Checking the incrementals, I was on a .81 pass.
3rd rd. we're on a ladder and I draw a long time and very tough gambler's points racer who runs a low 10 sec S10. I know I have to be on my game for this one. I also know this guy hold a couple, so I do the same and dial up to a 9.83 to his 10.26. Greens both lanes and just past the 1000 we're side by side. Knowing I have to kill a couple I ride the brake and just before the stripe squeeze it a bit harder giving it back by .010. He runs a 10.252 (.012 r/t) to my 9.826 (.018 r/t). Tight race with only a .0046 MOV.
4th rd. things don't get any easier as I draw last year's Gambler's points champion. Timeslips show I was on a 9.80 pass last round, so I dial an .81 to his 9.98. By now it's 11 pm and the track is getting slick. Making matters worse, I lose the coin flip and get bumped to the left lane. Off we go and I know I'm in trouble. There's no way I'm getting around this guy. Flat out, foot to the floor I need to make it as close as possible and once again plead for some divine intervention. Cross stripe and win light on! My man was .000 on the tree but went .004 under his dial. I was a not too shabby .007 on the tree but slowed up to a 9.84 losing it on the 60' (most likely due to the slick track). There's that saying "It's better to be lucky than good." Sometimes you need a little bit of both.
5th rd. The sweetest two words to a drag racer's ears. Bye Run. I break the beams and come right back to the lanes for the Final.
Final round, it's 11:30, track is empty and it's me against the current #2 points leader. He runs a 10.0 vega on alcohol. I dial way up to a 9.85 to his 10.04. At this point, it's equal parts wanting the win and just getting down the track in one piece. So we stage and go. I catch him at 8th and then he disappears. Engine problems. For the record, he was .017 to my .020 so it would've been close.
So finally after 3 years of trying and 2 failed final round appearances, things came together. Thanks to my buddy Pete for sticking it out all night.
Last edited by 99ZX9R; Oct 9, 2013 at 09:39 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 428
From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Very nice work...congrats...nice job on the write up as well...
I booked my room for the Fall Footbrake Frenzy at Piedmont Dragway in Greensboro over turkey weekend...any of y'all coming?...$5K to win on Friday, $20K to win Saturday and $5K again on Sunday...all footfeed, no electronics...
I booked my room for the Fall Footbrake Frenzy at Piedmont Dragway in Greensboro over turkey weekend...any of y'all coming?...$5K to win on Friday, $20K to win Saturday and $5K again on Sunday...all footfeed, no electronics...
Last edited by Fuzzy Dice; Oct 9, 2013 at 08:58 PM.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
As always, thanks for the comments. As I'm sure Dan will agree, these write-ups are very helpful in organizing your thoughts after a race and planning for the next one.
Would love to go to Piedmont, but I need another season or 3 of footbraking to make sure I don't embarrass myself at a race like that.
Would love to go to Piedmont, but I need another season or 3 of footbraking to make sure I don't embarrass myself at a race like that.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 428
From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Yes, I agree completely on the write up's...I hear ya on Piedmont, it is a shark tank for sure...
I am fighting with my car again...I thought I had a vapor lock issue which I fixed with insulating the fuel line in the engine compartment...worked great for 25 passes...last Sunday it began sputtering and backfiring again...sheesh...I am out of thoughts so I dropped the car at my engine builders yesterday...
I sure hope we get this new set up ready quickly...I have a big event at the end of this month and two in November...sigh...always somethin', huh...
I am fighting with my car again...I thought I had a vapor lock issue which I fixed with insulating the fuel line in the engine compartment...worked great for 25 passes...last Sunday it began sputtering and backfiring again...sheesh...I am out of thoughts so I dropped the car at my engine builders yesterday...
I sure hope we get this new set up ready quickly...I have a big event at the end of this month and two in November...sigh...always somethin', huh...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
What's real impressive is those racers who can tell what kind of light their opponent cut by watching how they leave.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,060
Likes: 366
From: Kendall Park NJ
Made a last minute decision to run Gamblers last night. It was a good field with about 60 cars...thankfully only a couple dragsters...and beautiful cool air for a change.
The night started off rough hitting traffic on the way causing me to miss 1st time shot (actually just making the 2nd). So I use my same box settings as the prior race and make a pass. 9.79 @ 137 with a .024 light. Little faster than I expected even with the DA, but otherwise a nice clean run.
1st rd. is TWO HOURS later due to a major oil down and intel coming from Pete Huff is telling me the car might pick up some, so I dial a 9.78. I end up getting a very quick Chevy wagon dialed 8.75 and off the bat, I'm nervous because I don't leave 1st very often. We're both green and just before the thousand I start looking and see nothing. Instinctively, but erroneously, I lift. As you would expect the wagon comes barreling past me so I do my best to push the gas pedal through the floorboard and pray he's on a breakout run. Prayers answered as my guy goes just .007 under his dial (.036 r/t) , while I'm .08 above (.018 r/t). I grab my slip, roll into the pits and get a thorough tongue lashing from my "crew chief" Antoine for lifting too early.
2nd rd I get a fellow Pro ET points racer running a 10 sec Cutlass footbraking. He dials 10.58 to my 9.81. Both green again and I chase. Approaching the 1000' the race isn't looking right since I'm not coming around him like I expected. Figuring either I was late or he is on a breakout run I cut him loose and see my win light. Turns out it was the latter as the Cutlass went 10.54 (.055 r/t) to my 9.83 (.022 r/t). Checking the incrementals, I was on a .81 pass.
3rd rd. we're on a ladder and I draw a long time and very tough gambler's points racer who runs a low 10 sec S10. I know I have to be on my game for this one. I also know this guy hold a couple, so I do the same and dial up to a 9.83 to his 10.26. Greens both lanes and just past the 1000 we're side by side. Knowing I have to kill a couple I ride the brake and just before the stripe squeeze it a bit harder giving it back by .010. He runs a 10.252 (.012 r/t) to my 9.826 (.018 r/t). Tight race with only a .0046 MOV.
4th rd. things don't get any easier as I draw last year's Gambler's points champion. Timeslips show I was on a 9.80 pass last round, so I dial an .81 to his 9.98. By now it's 11 pm and the track is getting slick. Making matters worse, I lose the coin flip and get bumped to the left lane. Off we go and I know I'm in trouble. There's no way I'm getting around this guy. Flat out, foot to the floor I need to make it as close as possible and once again plead for some divine intervention. Cross stripe and win light on! My man was .000 on the tree but went .004 under his dial. I was a not too shabby .007 on the tree but slowed up to a 9.84 losing it on the 60' (most likely due to the slick track). There's that saying "It's better to be lucky than good." Sometimes you need a little bit of both.
5th rd. The sweetest two words to a drag racer's ears. Bye Run. I break the beams and come right back to the lanes for the Final.
Final round, it's 11:30, track is empty and it's me against the current #2 points leader. He runs a 10.0 vega on alcohol. I dial way up to a 9.85 to his 10.04. At this point, it's equal parts wanting the win and just getting down the track in one piece. So we stage and go. I catch him at 8th and then he disappears. Engine problems. For the record, he was .017 to my .020 so it would've been close.
So finally after 3 years of trying and 2 failed final round appearances, things came together. Thanks to my buddy Pete for sticking it out all night.
The night started off rough hitting traffic on the way causing me to miss 1st time shot (actually just making the 2nd). So I use my same box settings as the prior race and make a pass. 9.79 @ 137 with a .024 light. Little faster than I expected even with the DA, but otherwise a nice clean run.
1st rd. is TWO HOURS later due to a major oil down and intel coming from Pete Huff is telling me the car might pick up some, so I dial a 9.78. I end up getting a very quick Chevy wagon dialed 8.75 and off the bat, I'm nervous because I don't leave 1st very often. We're both green and just before the thousand I start looking and see nothing. Instinctively, but erroneously, I lift. As you would expect the wagon comes barreling past me so I do my best to push the gas pedal through the floorboard and pray he's on a breakout run. Prayers answered as my guy goes just .007 under his dial (.036 r/t) , while I'm .08 above (.018 r/t). I grab my slip, roll into the pits and get a thorough tongue lashing from my "crew chief" Antoine for lifting too early.
2nd rd I get a fellow Pro ET points racer running a 10 sec Cutlass footbraking. He dials 10.58 to my 9.81. Both green again and I chase. Approaching the 1000' the race isn't looking right since I'm not coming around him like I expected. Figuring either I was late or he is on a breakout run I cut him loose and see my win light. Turns out it was the latter as the Cutlass went 10.54 (.055 r/t) to my 9.83 (.022 r/t). Checking the incrementals, I was on a .81 pass.
3rd rd. we're on a ladder and I draw a long time and very tough gambler's points racer who runs a low 10 sec S10. I know I have to be on my game for this one. I also know this guy hold a couple, so I do the same and dial up to a 9.83 to his 10.26. Greens both lanes and just past the 1000 we're side by side. Knowing I have to kill a couple I ride the brake and just before the stripe squeeze it a bit harder giving it back by .010. He runs a 10.252 (.012 r/t) to my 9.826 (.018 r/t). Tight race with only a .0046 MOV.
4th rd. things don't get any easier as I draw last year's Gambler's points champion. Timeslips show I was on a 9.80 pass last round, so I dial an .81 to his 9.98. By now it's 11 pm and the track is getting slick. Making matters worse, I lose the coin flip and get bumped to the left lane. Off we go and I know I'm in trouble. There's no way I'm getting around this guy. Flat out, foot to the floor I need to make it as close as possible and once again plead for some divine intervention. Cross stripe and win light on! My man was .000 on the tree but went .004 under his dial. I was a not too shabby .007 on the tree but slowed up to a 9.84 losing it on the 60' (most likely due to the slick track). There's that saying "It's better to be lucky than good." Sometimes you need a little bit of both.
5th rd. The sweetest two words to a drag racer's ears. Bye Run. I break the beams and come right back to the lanes for the Final.
Final round, it's 11:30, track is empty and it's me against the current #2 points leader. He runs a 10.0 vega on alcohol. I dial way up to a 9.85 to his 10.04. At this point, it's equal parts wanting the win and just getting down the track in one piece. So we stage and go. I catch him at 8th and then he disappears. Engine problems. For the record, he was .017 to my .020 so it would've been close.
So finally after 3 years of trying and 2 failed final round appearances, things came together. Thanks to my buddy Pete for sticking it out all night.
Love the story. 