I raced a new track last weekend...I made the 6:30 hour tow to the North Florida Motorplex in the panhandle for their two day event...left on Thursday evening at 9PM...stopped at a Walmart parking lot for a nap and arrived at the track at 9AM Friday morning...our posse included two S-10's, a Monte Carlo and a Nova...I was the turd in the group running mid 6.30's....lol...

There was a test n tune on Friday evening but we just hung out and chilled...Saturday morning gave us two time shots..one S-10 went 6.15, the Monte went 6.25, the Nova went 5.70 and I went nowhere...huh?...I went up in smoke on both hits...turns out my slicks went south...all I could do was footbrake it to lessen the hit some...btw, I have never foot fed the truck and had not footbraked anything for 3.5 years...sigh...

They call us up for round one and I have no idea what to dial for any number of reasons....it turns out I got the bye which was pulled out of the hat...lol...there was an even number so I had to run someone...I throw a WAG of 6.46 on mine...my opponent is dialed 6.34...he missed the tree to my 31...I whomped it and scraped 7 mph to be 2 above for the win...

Because I won I carried over the bye...oops...even number again so I had to run someone...it turns out to be my buddy in his S-10...qwap!!!...he dials 6.22 holding 7...I dial 6.43 based on my probably going 6.42 in the first round...I tree him with a 27 light to his 37...he catches me quick and takes one whomp too many to give it back to me by .003 at the stripe...better to be lucky than good, they say...on to round three...

I carry the bye once again but this time I get to use it...I had been running the right lane so I take my bye in the left...I completely screw it up by forgetting to go up on the converter before final staging...I leave at idle and go sideways...oh well...

They call us up for fourth round and I line up with another S-10...he dials 6.95 and I put 6.45 on mine...he leaves and I have premature acceleration...I am 21 red...of course, he was 64 green...sigh... I am done for the day except to spectate...I did make a little round money...I did get to watch my bud in his Monte hurt everyone's feelings and win No Box...he was on fire holding 6 to 10 every pass and dropping dead on 4 of his seven rounds...

We all piled in to my Yuke and drove to Panama City beach for dinner and a lot of fun...Sunday morning arrived sunny and warm...it is gonna be a hot one again...we get one time shot this day...I goofed mine up again by not going up on the converter...I tried to go up while the tree dropped and rolled the beams...no time slip for me...fooey!...

First round I get a guy dialed 7.03...I put 6.46 on mine but who knows...he leaves green and, dang it, I red eye again with a -34...I left at the same 2400 rpm and the wheels came up a lot...I knew something was up...pun intended...I ran it out to go 6.360 on that 6.46 dial...lmao...

I made the walk of shame and bought back in...second round I catch a guy in a big red 63 malibu wagon...he dials 7.25 to my 6.39...I was dialed 6.38 but a quick shower came through while we were in the lanes and then a strong headwind kicked up...at the last minute I bumped it up to 6.39...he took off and followed...it was tight at the stripe and I had to decide whether to let him go or try to take the stripe...I decided on the latter and did indeed take the stripe by .006..unfortunately I went .004 under for the break out loss...dagnabbit!...he was .009 on the free to my .019...oh well...I was done for the day but got to watch my buddies race...

My young bud in his S-10 got to four cars as did his Dad in the Monte Carlo...my other buddy was racing top in his Nova...He was steady farking folks up by dialing 6.20 and leaving in high gear...he goes 5.70 leaving in low as I said....lol...well, the Dad won his semi but his son lost by giving back the stripe again...this time by .002...sheesh...they really wanted a father son final...at least Dad won the final for the clean sweep of the weekend in No Box...all that was left was to watch our Nova bud in his final for the Box class...he ran a nice young lady in a 64 malibu dialed 6.34...we knew what was about to happen but she and her crew did not...she left first and, as usual, he left second, like a turd, in high gear...her crew started jumping up and down and high fiving thinking she had won...until he passed her at the stripe going 120 mph for the win...he was 16 on the tree to her 28...

It was a big fun weekend to be sure...I got home at 1AM pretty tired...next up is to find some new slicks and then Gainesville for a two day deal at the end of the month...

 

Sounds like your crew held a clinic up there. Three wins and a semi over the two races in two classes.....damn! Dan, BTW, I think I'd have quit if i had the number of mechanical issues you've had over the last few of years....lol. Hey, maybe you should buy my car. It's slow......but at least it's reliable. It'll hook up on drag radials just about anywhere, it's pretty consistent, runs on pump gas and you can drive it home from NY if you want . Seriously, good luck getting your stuff sorted out and keep sharing your stories