2004
Nov 1st On Friday, it was the start of Linda and my last holiday of the year, I finished more or less on time for once and when we got the van loaded, we were off to meet Dave and Linda at Ragland services. This we done and it not long after 9pm before we got to SCR. We pitted as normal next to the Bee Sting team and after setting up when for a look around to see what was there, I was surprised, there were many cars and bikes that had turned up.
Sat It had been raining overnight, so I knew we would not be out for a while, what I didn't know was that we would not be out at all. When I first walked down to the track, they were scraping the start line, it seems like the water had got under the rubber and glue and it was just pealing off anyway.
No longer than they done this and sledded the area, the water just kept reappearing. In the end they just opened the track for treaded tyres only. (With a few 60 foot launches from some of the race cars.)
I didn't even bother to start the car up.
(One thing I have to say, is that after the Pod where I had starting problems, over the last few weeks, I sent the new battery back thinking it was that, but it wasn't, so I asked a mate to check the electrics on the car to see if there was anything draining the battery, there wasn't., the only thing we could make out, was that the battery charger in work was only charging to about 12 volts and not the 13.8 needed, so I went out a bought a new charger and this worked fine. )
In the evening it was Halloween Night with lots of people dressing up, including one figure who turned up many times with different people inside the costume. (Does Mark know who it was yet??) a good time was had by all.
We went over to the bonfire and watched the fireworks, I took a few more "In Ya Face" photos including a second one by one certain person (Guess Who)
Sun We had a little longer lay in due to the clocks going back and when I went down to the track, it was being prepared, the start line area had dried and when I asked, they said as soon as it was glued, it would be open to all cars and bikes.
I walked back to my car to find Dave and Linda had gone to the market, so I asked Allen to help start it up. I turned it on and the oil light and fuel pump worked but it would not turn over, I thought it was the solenoid, so I got a spanner and crossed the terminals, but this also didn't work, I checked all the main wires and found when I moved the live lead on the battery, it would work. I then found out it was the master switch which had been playing up all the time, sometimes it would work and others it did not want to know. I sorted out the switch and it worked every time. (Until the last run, read on.)
We warmed the engine up and I waited for Dave to come back, we then joined the queue and waited, It was 12.30 before I got my first run, this netted me with a 11,63 @ only 111 mph. We went and joined the queue again and again it was a long wait. it was 3 this time and I ran a better 11.59 @ again 111mph (And the same on the last run.)
We went around for out last run and when it was my turn, I started the engine and pulled forward, there was a hold up on the line and I shut it down again, this time it would not start, I got out and pushed the car to the side, where Dave found the battery terminal had come loose, he tightened it up and we were ready for the off. By this time it was 5 and it was getting dark and damp, my visor was steaming up a little.
I done a great burnout and pulled to the line, as I could not see, I opened the visor a little and staged, The car was moving around a bit, but I kept my foot in and ran a 11.71.
Time we got back to the pits, it was time to load up and they gave out the spot prizes, this was our best trip home for a long time, where we home by 8.30.
All I have now to report on, is the Presentation Dinner & Dance on the 27th and don't forget, my "Guess Who" comp will be starting on Tuesday 9th Nov.
Oct 4th Don't know where to start, so I will start at the end this time. After the rain off, we thought "early home for a change" but did we?? NO. We started off a just before 4pm, at first the trip was very good and we was doing well on time until we entered Wales, where now and again we could smell diesel, but thought it was all the lorries on the road at the time, It was not until Ragland when the van started to lose power and I had to change into 4th, We pulled off onto the A40 and then into the first lay by. I got the torch from the back and opened the bonnet to find fuel pumping out of No3 injector pipe. I got a spanner and tried to tight it up only to find it had broken off above the joint. We called the RAC and was told it would be a least a hour before we would be seen to, so Dave's Linda phoned her son to pick them up and take them home, (About 10 miles.) he arrived more or less the same time as the RAC man. He tried to fix the pipe, but it did not work (The stupid bit about this was, that until only a few weeks ago, I had a spare set of pipes in the van, when I cleaned it out one day, I thought "Why would I need them" and put them in the shed.) so he called for a break down truck. The RAC phoned me up and said it would be about two to two and half hours before one would arrive as I had the trailer and then unless it fitted the truck might have to be left there to be picked up later (By us that is.) Not long after this the contractor phoned and said there was a lorry on the way, he asked what size trailer it was and I said a single axle car trailer with a mini on it. About 1/2 hour later the truck pulled up behind us, The first thing the driver said was he thought we only had a box trailer and didn't know what to do as he was driving the spare truck as his was in getting repaired. We looked at the back and found there was even a tow hitch on there, so I told him the last time we had the same problem, the driver put the trailer on the back and the van on the spec. He then said he didn't even know if there were any straps for the spec, so we looked in the locker and found the tow hitch, this fitted by two big pins to the back of the spec, so within 10 min's we were on our way.
On the M4, he said he would pull into the services for fuel, when he went to get out his side the handle fell off, so we had to get out so he could, he filled up with near £80s worth and went to pay, he was taking ages to come out and were were even thinking of going to look for him, then he came out and said the would not accept the fuel card he uses and kept the card and would not let him leave until it was paid for, so he had to phone his boss in Newport (We were now at Cardiff.) and get him to pay by cheque. About 3/4s of a hour after we put the fuel in, the boss paid and we was on our way. By now it was raining very heavy and he put the wipers on, they were fitted wrongly and was hitting the bottom of the screen, then as soon as we got back onto the motorway we got stuck behind a slow moving truck with a flashing light on it, we followed it for a few miles and the drivers side wiper blade fell off down the arm, as it was easier for me to get out, I went and fixed it. It was then a slow trip home. We got here (Well down the road) at about 1am and unload the car in the only flat place we could find, so I could re hitch the trailer, this did not take to long, so we just locked it up and walked home getting soaking at the same time. This morning I got the pipes out of the shed, went down to the van, took of the old pipe off the engine to match them down the garage, this I done, on the way home I went to fit it back on, when I got to the van and car, they were covered in ice cream, it seamed like the local kids liked the car so much, they decided to christen it. With the pipe fitted and the engine warmed, I took the van outside the house and unloaded it, then I took the car and parked it in its spot down the garage. At one point on the way home Linda asked "where the camera was??" This must be the worst year we've had with the van, we've had it for over 5 years now and only stupid things have gone wrong, but this year with the over heating and (I know its not the van) the double blow out on the trailer, its been a bit of a nightmare. So it does seam like I'm going to have to sell the bike and get a newer van, we will have to wait and see.
Anyway, let get back to the meeting.
Friday We got to the track just after 11 to find there was no room in the Wild Bunch pits, so we had to pit next to Super Comp, just after we started to get sorted, the Bee Sting team pulled up, we stuck to tent up and pulled the van in front of it, we put the two race cars together and Andy parked his van the other side of them.
Sat It was dry, but the track was still wet and they started drying it with the brushes at 6.30, then by 7, the jet dryers were out, so there would be no lay in.
We got up, got the car off the trailers and got them ready for the day. We went down and signed on, then it was the long push to get them scrutineered and back. There was not any problems as I have the new floor and harness. It was then the long wait for the first run.
It was after 12 before we were called and as it was very windy up the track, I dialed in 11.5 to see what the track and wind was like. When it was my turn, I found you have to drive through the water as they have barriers up. I stopped where Dave said and started the burnout, as soon as I pulled forward it kept on going, so I kept it rolling using the brake until I saw Bee Sting going into stage. I staged and I was just about to go on the yellow, when I found they had put us on a sportsman tree, so I waited to the last yellow and had what I thought was a good run. When Dave came down to pick us up, I had ran a 11.69 at only 108 mph, so the wind was more than we thought. When were got back to the pits we found that as they had put us on a Sportsman tree, 5 had red lit, so did not know where we were qualified. We changed the dialing to 11.65 for the next run but after a while it started to rain and that was it for the day, but that was until after Richard, Clive & Phil from dragsterworld.com came for their cup of tea and a chat, Nice to see you (And Mighty & Mrs. Mighty Sunday.)
Sun It again was dry and it did not take them so long to dry the track, They said they would run the two class's that did not get a turn yesterday and then run a second round until about 1.30, then it would be eliminations. They was going well, until a car lost a rod and well and truly oiled the track, end to end and down the shut down as well. They then said they would run the class's in the staging lanes, the Wild Bunch (This time on a pro tree) and then eliminations, Then they said that as it taking so long to clean the track, after it was cleaned, they would just start the racing. They said they would not count the red lights due to the error and I had qualified 3rd, I was also going to meet Crazy Chris in the first round. Just after they were finishing off the track it started to rain, this time it did not stop and but 3pm the meeting was called off. We packed up and made our way down to Crazy Chris's for the trophies. It was announced that I had won the Wild Bunch and the Real Steel Championships, with Joe Stevens second in both, with Mike Cresswell and Bee Sting 3rd & 4th in the Wild Bunch and Crazy Chris & Bee Sting 3rd & 4th in the Real Steel, so well done the rest of you.
I know I had to have done well in the other rounds to get where I was, but I would love to have had a proper race to see the out come, the worse I would have had was 3rd,
The only problem (Other than the van.) was that my new battery kept going flat (Thanks for the loan of your spare Andy) and we found the starter motor was falling off (OPPPPPPP'S) both have been sorted now with a new battery on the way and the bolts tightened up.
As I said above, the van is now fixed and hopefully we will be at the last event, the Halloween Showdown at the end of the month. See you all there
Don't forget that my new "Guess Who" will be starting on the 9th Nov, if you want to enter, send me a email at cunningplan@btinternet.com
Also some new and replaced photos now put on http://www.cunningplan.btinternet.co.uk/inyaface.html
Sept 20th As we were both working on Saturday, we were hoping to take Rhia (Our 3 year old Grand daughter) with us. As we were not sure how she would react with the race car and the noise, the other day I took her down the garage to see the car and start it up (We had got her some ear defenders.) the see what she did. I could see from the start she was not to keen and when I opened up the body this proved it, she shied away and did so even more when I climbed into it. I thought then, that it was not going to work and covered the car back up, (not even attempting to start it) So we are going to have to wait until she is a little older before she comes up the track.
Sat We left here just after 5pm and went down to Tesco's to fill up and get some food and drink, then it was down the M4 to meet up with Dave and Linda, due to a car towing a caravan having a accident between Cardiff and Newport, it was well after 6.30 time we got to the services, but it was a quick trip from then as we got to the track just passed 8. We set up next to Bee Sting and found we had not missed much during the day, as those that had managed to run, had only got one run in anyway.
Dave and the 2 Linda's when off when off to see the band and I stopped and got the van sorted out. When I finished I went to find then and meet most of the others either in the marquee or clubhouse. When coming out of the clubhouse, I bumped into Bondy (Nigel Bond) he used to live near us and is now living in Dover. I got to see him in the Swap meet in 2003. It was Bondy's Fire suit I have been wearing for the last 8 years until I got the new one last year. (I still wear his up York.) he lent it to me after he got to fat to get into it. (So you can imagine his size (LOL)) Great to see you again Nige. (I took some more "In Ya! Face" Photos, so watch out real soon for the update.) (Andy, Helen & Dean, You've been framed.)
Sun It dawned sunny and dry, so I got up early and got the car ready to run. It was not a Wild Bunch round, but a round of the Roy Wilding (Happy 50th Roy.) Nostalgia Race Cars, but as I had to miss the round at the Nos Nats, I was well down the running in the championship. I dialed in 11.70 thinking that the track would not be too good with all the street cars running (How wrong can you be.) but after getting into the fire up lanes changed it to 11.65 after seeing that it looked better than I had thought.
On the first run, the car was going like a train and as I thought I was going to quick, I shut off just before the finish line and promptly ran a 11.549 @ 111mph. After that run, we decided that as we were not even in the running, I would just keep it in for the next of the runs.
That's exactly what I done in the next and when Dave came to collect me, I thought he meant that I had just ran a 11.54, when he meant I had ran a NPB of 11.41 @ 115.67 mph. The next run was also a 11.4 but this time .43, on this run I thought it would be my last, so I pulled the chute, when I pulled into the return road, the fire crew were walking towards me, looking under the car. I was thinking that there was oil or something coming out of the car, but on stopping, the chute had not came out properly and was caught under the car. When I looked, one of the ropes had been trapped under the fixing bolt when I had put it on in the morning (It is always taken off after the meetings, as the car is left outside and the last thing I want is someone nicking it.) anyway, I repacked it and we went for another run. (Also in this round Paul who was driving Bee Sting, ran the cars first 11 with a 11.89 (And a ran a 11.90 on his last run. Well done Paul and the team.))
The first 3 runs had all been in the right hand lane and I managed to get into the left for what was then going to be the last run. While all the other runs had felt good with only a hint of bounce just after the start line, this one felt a lot better, I was running with Tony Wynn Jones in is Corvette and I left him like always on the line. I was just getting near the finish line, when Tony came storming by with a personal best of 11.26 @ 121.23 Mph to take the win light. When Dave & Linda came down, they said I had also ran a NPB of 11.36 @ 114 mph. What a way to end the day.
Even though there was time, we decided to call it a day and get to car loaded ready for home, we have the Wild Bunch final round at the Pod in two weeks and didn't want to take a chance.
Time we had packed up, it was time for the presentation and I was surprised not only to get the best burnout trophy, but was in 4th place
Thank you Dave and the two Linda's and hope to see you all up the Pod for the Nat finals in just under two weeks.
(Just reading what is below. I Have now fitted the thermostat and the van is now running like it should.)
August 31st It was another meeting without Linda, as Mum is still up with us. It was a uneventful trip up and after changing the radiator on the van in the week, it seems like I have cured the overheating problem at long last, all I have to do it put the thermostat back in, as it running to cold now.
I met Dave & Linda in the Ragland services and got to the track at just after 9 pm, We found the place packed, we were pitted up the top end of the pits and could only just get the car in. (And that was taking the van and trailer into the field.)
Sat As we were well down on the list, I could afford a lay in, but as normal I didn't and got up and got the car ready for the scrutineer. It was ages before they came and it was not until 12.30 I had my first run. As normal the first is always slower than the rest, I took a chance and dialed in 11.65 to see what it would do. I ran a break out 11.64 @ 113 mph, so for the next round I changed it to 11.64 and promptly ran a (Backed off as I wanted to get a good qualifying run.) 11.57 @ only 109 mph. We were due to go out for another round, but that was put off until Sunday morning.
After we put the car to bed and had some food, it was off the the Limited Funz pits for Mark & Lynne's wedding party. we had a great time with free booze and food (But only diet Coke. not good enough Mark.) I did take some photos which will be posted as soon as possible.
Sun After the overnight rain it was nearly 1 before we had next round. this time I decided that as my personal best was the 11.56 I had ran at the Power Nat, I dialed in 11.54 and ran a perfect (NPB) 11.54003 @ 113 mph. (No cheque this time as it had already been won.) This put me in first spot with a Bye (Bye) (Fair Play.) in the first round on Monday. We were again due another round, but heavy rain put paid to that.
For Dave's birthday, Linda had asked me to get him a surprise present, so I contacted Andy Frost and asked him if he would take him on the cruise. He said he would and we had to be in his pits at quarter to six. Until we got to Andy's pit, Dave did not have a clue what was going on. Anyway, he said it was a great trip and could not believe the power Andy had in the car, he said that there was not many places he could put his foot down, but when he did, he was stuck to the back of the seat. Thanks very much for that Andy, sorry I didn't see you before you went.
Mon As I had lane choice and I had done all my best runs in the left hand lane, (It still bounces a little in the right lane.) that was the lane chosen for however many rounds I managed to get. As the first was a Bye (Bye) there was not a problem and I ran a great 11.56 @112 mph on my 11.64 dial in.
The second round was against Neil Ward, I had ran with him on Saturday and had broken out, I didn't really know what to expect. I did a great run (11.57) but Neil passed me just before the finish line, I didn't have a clue who had won until they passed me going back to the pits and said I had won as Neil had broken out. I was more or less the same in the Semi's with Mike Cresswell. I done what I thought was a good run (11.56) but again Mike passed me just before the finish. He had also broken out, so I was into the finals for the second time this year. As I went into Sunday on equal points with Mark Coulsell and he also got to the semi's and ran with Joe Stevens. he was behind me in the shut down area, he also did not know who had won. it turned out to be Joe.
As I had been not far off my dial in all day, I kept it at 11.54, my only problem is my poor reaction times, so I just hoped that Joe would be later than me or break out. As it was, I ran a 11.63 @ 112 mph and Joe ran a near perfect 10.244 on his 10.24 dial in and he passed me just before the line to take the win.
I would have loved to win the event, but coming first in the Ultimate Power Championship (Not confirmed) was even better.
As some of you will know, it was 2 years ago on the same weekend, when I had to go to Eastbourne to see my Father for what was for the last time. I wanted so much to win that event for him when I returned to the track and never did, So this one is for him.
While waiting to be picked up to be taken back for the finals, Mark from the spec crew weighed the car for me. it weighed 2009 lb and 2189 lb with me in it. (Yes I weigh 180lb.) It's heavy and I will have to put it on a diet.
A few thank you's this time, All the Bee Sting Team (All bar Bob who was driving the race car, they all seemed to take turns.) for towing us around until they bust their axle. Paul & Sue (Limited Funz) for the tow after, Andy Frost for helping out with the trip in the CCSE cruise and most of all Dave & Linda for all there help over the weekend.
While Dave was driving to car back from the bottom end after the last run, he heard some strange noises from the right hand rear wheel, on inspection, found that one of the drive shaft joints had broken in half. We know it was OK before the last round, so it must have gone during the run or pulling into the return road, either way I was lucky. There will be no problem with the repair as I have spares in the van.
My next event hopefully will be the Hot Rod Drags, but like last time, we are leaving on Sat afternoon, so see you there.
(Don't forget to look out for the photos from the party and the new "In Ya Face" photo album click here.
August 9th Its was our second trip to York this year and it did not start like I had hoped for, My mother is staying with us for a few weeks, so Linda stayed behind to keep her company.
I had got into work early Friday morning and washed the car down and took it up outside the house ready so I didn't have to rush at the end of the day. I finished just after 5 and was on my way just after 6. at first the journey was going good until I hit the hill from the A470 to the top of the heads of the Valleys road, then the van started to overheat again. I pulled in the lay by on the top and again took out the thermostat and re filled it was water. I checked the water when I got to Dave & Linda's and had to put in a small drop. So to not to take a chance, every time the gauge got near the red, I turned on the heater to help cool it down, this worked all the way up and we got there just after 12 with out losing anymore.
Sat I was woken up by Crazy Chris knocking on the van telling me it was 9 o'clock, so I got up to find Dave & Linda was already up.
We got the car of the trailer ready for the first run. This was in the right hand lane and netted me with a 11.92 @ 109 mph with a very scary ride in the shut down area, even Andy in the Bee Sting pulled over as far he could to the left and slowed down in case I hit him. For the next run I pulled the chute and I found this a lot better and done it for the rest of the meeting.
The next run was in the left lane and I only managed 12.4 @ 86 mph after having to come off the pedal at about 3/4 track. I don't know what it is, but I can never do a full pass in the left hand lane. I done two more passes in the right land, both 11.7s and another 12.4 in the left.
We (I) cooled off in the evening by having a water fight with Chris (Fair play) as it was so warm, after Bob & Alan managed to get some chips we had a good night chatting in the pits.
Sun I was up quite early this morning and again got the car un covered for the first run. As I was in first place in the championship, we were hoping for a good meeting with a top 4 finish, also there was the best burnout trophy up for crabs and I wanted to take it away from Smoking Joe in Back in Black.
I dialed in 12.00 for the day and ran a good 12.2 (That was in the left hand lane.) with a nice long burnout. I then ran and on time 12.0 in the right lane, again with a good burnout.
From there it went good to worse when on the next run, during the burnout I lost drive and was pushed back out of the way. Dave had only seen the right had tyre stop and could still see smoke from the left, so thought I had snapped a shaft. We took the car by Chris's bus and jacked it up, we could not find anything wrong as both wheels were still turning. We took it back to our pit and I took off the diff cover, we still could not see any problem, so I got in and started it up, put it into 3rd, it still worked, so we put the car on the floor and tried, it still worked. By now we had run out of ideas, only thinking now it was the converter, so we took of the top cover and checked the fluid, this was a little low so we topped it up. I put the diff cover back on and refilled it.
We went through what had happened and found it seamed to be Driver error (Brain fade.) Dave had backed me into the water and I had put it into 2nd and pulled forward, then there was a holdup down the track, so I had put the car in neutral and waited for it the clear. It looks like I had just put the car in 3rd and after I got to full revs I hit the shift straight into neutral. We think why Dave thought the other wheel was still spinning, was that the wind was blowing from the right and the smoke was just coming out from under the body after both wheels were stopped.
Time we had finished, Clair called us for the next round, so we decided to give it a try, we also decided not to do a burnout and just pull to the line. I pulled forward and waited for Andy to do his burnout and stage, I pulled to the line and on the green hit the pedal. The car hit like normal, so just kept my foot in, I pulled the chute just before the line and waited for it to come out, I didn't feel much and did think I was still going a little fast when I got to the turn round point, anyway, I pulled up and heard Andy pull right behind me, I though he was a little close if the chute had came out, so looked behind and found it was still packed, when I got out, the dragon was still in. Seems like Dave had watched the run and was waiting for the chute to come out and realized he didn't have the dragon in his hand. As I didn't do a burnout, he forgot to take it out. (At least I didn't have a ride like the first one on Sat morning)
We packed up straight after and went down to the prize presentation and got myself the best burnout trophy. At least I am still in the points lead with two rounds to go.
It was a uneventful drive home, with only having to put the heater on a few times during the trip.
While I was up there, I secured the prize for this off seasons "Guess Who" comp. After last years ride in Andy Frosts Victor, John Sleath has said he would take the winner on one of the cruises next year in his Audi GT.
Next meeting Bank Holiday up Shacky, see you there.
July 19th First I would like to say hello to Mark Coulsell & Lynne and we would like to wish them all the best for their coming wedding. (There will be a party in their pits during the Bank Holiday Event at SCR.) and hope they have a long and happy marriage.
The Monday evening after the Nos Nats, I took the trailer into the garage, with a little pulling and pushing with the porta power, a bit (A lot really) of welding and new brackets welded in place, the trailer is as good as new.
I had the paint for the van and in two evenings gave it a couple of coats (Thanks for the help Jeff.) then on Sat afternoon painted the trailer to match.
I checked the race car over and found the shift light would not work, so fixed up the other one (Which is part of the rev limiter) and loaded the car back on the trailer ready for the weekend.
Like a couple of meeting this year (And a couple more to come.) Linda could not make the Mini event, so I left to meet Dave & Linda at the Ragland services and got to the track at about 9.30. The pits were almost empty with the Wild Bunch well spread out. We set up camp next to Crazy Chris (Fair Play) and it was not long before the Bee Sting team arrived and settled down next to us.
We went over to look at Darrel & Sarah's new car, it looks very nice in the new purple paint job (Fair shout)
Sat The day dawned dry and sunny, with still very few cars in the pits. We found that as there was only one scrutineer, we had to push the car into the queue, time we got back it was time for the first run.
During the burnout I noticed that the other shift light did not work (Did not have time the check back at the garage.) but the rev limiter was working properly for the first time, only that it was set a little low, for that run I managed a 11.75 @ 112 mph . I reset the limiter 200 rpm higher and in all we managed 9 runs. (All within 11.62/11.79 and most at 113 mph (Really strong tail wind.)) What we done was have 2 runs, then a break, then another 2 and so on, with the last one with the body off only running 11.64 @ 113 mph. (I think this was down the the limiter) I also managed not one, but two red lights, the first was againsed a Super Gas car, when I was a little on the early side and left before the yellow lights came on, the second time was while running againsed Bee Sting, when they put us on a sportsman tree and we both left on the first yellow.
Sun Again it was a dry morning, but the wind had dropped and it was not so sunny. I took a look at all my slips, the average was about 11.7 but as we had not wind, I edged on the side of caution and dialed in 11.75.
We went out for our first run and I netted a nice 11.70 at the normal 111 mph. we decided to get another run in between rounds and rejoined the queue. This time I ran a 11.72 at again 111 mph. When we got back, the rest were on our way back down, so we checked the car for fuel and not long after followed them down.
When it was our time, I done a good burnout and went to the line, the car was running really good and I just took my foot off going through the line, this netted me with a 11.78.
It was straight round for the next run, I worked out I needed a 11.8 to get me back onto track and as the car was running so good I took my foot off well before the line and netted a 11.79 at only 103 mph.
After Gareth Kent came down and nearly crashed into us. (He had had a puncher during the run in his n/s rear slick and could not steer the car, in the end he managed to pull the car hard right and pull the break at the same time missing us by just a few feet. he was shaken a little but was OK after a while.) it started to rain. time we got back to the pits it was quite heavy but did not last for long. The pits dried very quickly but when we looked at the track it was still very wet, as it was well after 3 and it would have taken about a hour to dry, the event was called off.
In all we had a brilliant weekend with me coming 2nd and that making me 1st in the overall points (I think)
The only problem we had on the weekend was with the battery, it went flat on us Saturday when one of the Super Twin racers (A big thank you) let us use his power pack to start the car. we put this down to the amount of runs. Andy from Bee Sting let us use his genny and charger to recharge it during the evening. This happened again on the last run, but this time I left it a little and when I tried again it started. We have been running the battery for a good couple of years now and must be on its was out. I have a spare, but at the moment I use it to run the lights in the van, I will see if this is the better battery or even get a new one before the next event.
The next event. York Raceway 7 - 8th Aug. I did think it was the weekend after, (The same weekend as the Bulldog Bash.) but I was wrong, the only thing is, I am now on holiday for two weeks and it going to be the weekend straight after. (I will manage somehow as normal.) See you all there
July 4th Its now 8am on the morning of the Nostalgia Nats and I am sitting on this thing instead of being up the track. If you want to find out why, read on.
After a good think and knowing I would not be able to sell my bike in such a short notice, we decided to repair the van for the MOT and sell it at the end of the season. The first thing to do was change the head gasket to see if this was the problem with the over heating. It had gone on No 1 cylinder and also the rocker post between No's 3 & 4 had broken. Luckily we had a old engine in the workshop and I took the rocker shaft from this and put it on. With the engine up and running, it was down to the welding. The front cross member was really bad, so I cut it completely out and made a new one, then I done all the welding needed to the back chassis and it was then ready for the MOT. With this sorted out I ground out all the rust around the wheel arches, replace the bonnet and rubbed it all down to give it a coat of paint. I am going to paint it Grey as it will be easier to sell it that colour than peppermint green. I ordered the paint with my nephew and when I asked when I would have it, he was away working and I would not have it until next week.
We were only going up for the one day and was planning to get there mid evening so we didn't have to get up so early this morning. I was working yesterday morning and after work I got the car out and gave it a good pressure wash and polish, then took it outside the house ready for the off.
Also since the last meeting, I had put on two new tyres on the trailer, we set off at 5, stopped to get diesel and made our way to meet Dave & Linda. We phoned them as planned as soon as we got onto the A449 and headed of Ragland services.
Not far up the road I noticed there was something wrong with the O/S trailer tyre and told Linda I would pull into the next lay by. (On the A449 there is not a hard shoulder just lay bys every mile or so.) I had just passed one one when I noticed the tyre and as I came up the the 1/2 mile sign for the next one, the tyre exploded and I slowed down even more, put on the hazards and made my way to the lay by.
I phoned Dave and told him what had happened and said to wait for us at Ragland. I took off the old tyre and went to put on the spare, it would not fit and was jammed up against the inner wheel arch. I put a axle stand under that side and took of the other new tyre (Skinnier than the spare.) and found there was a big cut on the inside of that as well. I cant remember running over anything, but then again I might have not notice being the trailer.
I again phoned Dave and then the RAC, It was then I was told I did not have cover for the trailer and there was nothing they could do to help me. (I am going to find out how much more it costs as most of the time in the van is towing.) By this time Dave was on his way to us to help sort it out. (This was now 6pm.)
We had a good look and at first could not see the problem, then Dave noticed that one of the suspensions arms was bent, all we can think of, is that when the tyre went and having to drive 1/2 mile on the rim done the damage.
The only thing we could do was leave the two Linda's there with the van & trailer and go back to the garage, get the two old tyres and the big tyre bar (About 3 foot long) and try to fix it. This was about a hour and half round trip and when we got back, the two Linda's had the chairs out having a picnic.
Dave and myself done our best to get the suspension straightened and just could not get it out far enough for the tyre to clear. The only thing we could do was space out the wheel a little for clearance, so we took the wheel nuts off the race car and used the big washers from them, this worked but we had decided that we would not take the chance of getting to the track, but making our way home. (This was now 10pm.) I had phoned Crazy Chris a couple of time to let him know what was happening and then phoned again to say that we would have to give it a miss.
I had also phoned my daughter as they had just bought a trailer, but it had been standing for 4 years when the got it and the tyres were no good, also she went to see a friend of mine down the road from her, who also has a trailer he said I could borrow if needed, he was away on his holiday. I if we could have borrowed one, we would have gone up this morning. Dave & Linda followed us home to make sure we didn't have any more problems and stayed overnight. (This is first time I have missed the Nostalgia Nats since it started.)
It looks like I have another two weeks cut out for me, with painting the van and doing the repairs on the trailer. We can see the problem and I think with the use of the Porta Power and a bit of extra welding, it will be better than new, but a new trailer is planned at the end of the year, this time with 4 wheels.
Next meeting, (Hopefully) is the Mini Showdown in two weeks time and being a points round "I will be there" (Somehow.)
Any more news and I will post it before the next meeting.
June 14th This meeting for me started last weekend, when after work on Sat morning I fitted a floor pan to the car, it was ether this or get a new fire suit at over £400 and as the alloy was supplied by one of my sponsors Sovereign Services, this was the better option for me. I finished it off Sunday afternoon and the car was ready. (All bar the new harness which we were not getting until we got there. (Thank you Eddie & Sarah.)
Friday With the trailer now fixed (Or so we thought) we went and met Dave & Linda at Ragland services and started to make or way to the track, we had no problems until we pulled up to the lights in Monmouth when on pulling away, smoke was coming from the off side tyre of the trailer. I pulled off the main road and we put on the spare. When I put on the new shocks, I had checked the suspension for play and we done it there, there was not any and we just cant workout how it rubs sometimes on the inner wheel arch. (I am going to try slightly narrower tyres.)
Sat We were well down the list for our first run, so I went and collected the new harness and got that fitted just in time for scrutineering. We had just finished that when Mark Coulsell came over and said his car would not start and could we have a look. I took off the top of the dizzy and found a lot of play on the rotor arm, when I took the points plate out, we found the small spring and the advance stop had broken, I could fix the spring but not the stop (With the time we had.). Kev from the Shy Torque team came over with a box of springs and with one fitted the engine started, I timed it up and we went out for our first run.
I was running against Mark and waited for him to do his burnout before I done mine. I burnt out and pulled towards the lines and found Mark had lost fire and was trying to restart, he managed to get it going and as he started to pull back the car turned towards me and came to a rest in the middle of his lane. By this time my engine was getting a little hot and in the end the starter (Tony Byng) called the crew back from the car and I had a solo.
I had dialed in a optimistic 11.65 for this run and ran a 11.75 at only 108mph.
When Dave came down to pick me up, he said the steering had collapsed on Marks car and they needed to get it welded.
When we got back to the pits Marks car was already started to be striped, we had a little more time so I took out the distributor and stripped it down completely, there was still nothing we could do with the advance stop but as Mark always sets at at full advance I could not see a problem. When I took the points out, (Duel Point.) I found one to be a little burnt and one like new, I set the gaps and on turning the engine over, only one set of points were sparking, so we checked all the wires and found them to be OK and even swapped the points over, even then it was only sparking on the same side, I cleaned the base plate and manage to get them to work, put it all back together again just in time for Mark to come back the the steering joint re welded by the garage just down the road from the track. After they had fixed the steering, we fired it up and retimed it, the engine sounded a lot better and time we finished it was time for or next run (He went out and ran broke out on his dialing and had a grin from ear to ear.)
For this run I kept the same 11.65 dialing, I was in the next lane to Andy Murphy in the Bee Sting and had to play catch up, I passed him just before the finish line, when Dave came down I had ran a breakout NPB of 11.58 @ 110mph, while this did not help for qualifying I was very pleased.
For the last run, I changed my dialing to 11.60 and ran a great 11.62 to put me No2 qualifier.
The Shy Torque team had been having problems all day and after the last run they started to strip the engine and found they had run the cam and would not be able to run again. Its a shame, but a little lucky for me, as I was to run them in the first round in the morning.
Sun As I was on a bye I kept the same 11.60 dialing for the first run and ran another NPB of 11.564 @ 111 mph.
For the next round I was against Crazy Chris and as (Until now) have never beaten him. I changed my dialing to the 11.56 I had just ran and said I would just keep my foot in.
After the burnouts we both pulled to the line at the same time, it was Chris's turn to play catch up and on my green I just floored it. I was waiting for Chris to steam past and just before the finish line, as I could still not hear him I took my foot of as I didn't want to break out. He passed me just after the finish line.
Mark came down after me and said he was sure I got the win, but it was still a long wait for Dave to come down to make sure. You can never tell with Dave how it went, he just came over, gave me a check for £50 from eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive and said not only had I beaten Chris (Fair Play) I had won the perfect ET Award by running 11.56004 (NPB) on my 11.56 dialing.
Whoever won the last round had a bye into the final, as that was me and I had backed off a little on the last run, I dial ed in 11.50 for this run and ran a good 11.60 @ the normal 110.mph.
Guess who I was against in the final?? Mark Coulsell in the Limited Funz car who by now had been getting quicker and quicker all day. At the end of the day, it would be great to win, but as it was my first final for quite a few years I was just glad to be there.
We had Darrel (fair shout.) towing us and we got ready down the lanes for the finals. I know Mark is very good on the lights and even thought I am getting better, I didn't know what would happen, all I did know was I had still got the 11.50 dialing and I was going to keep my foot in all the way even if it broke out.)
I was waiting for Mark to do a long burnout and for once done a short one and pulled up waiting for me, I done mine and pulled to the line. As soon as I saw the ambers I was off and mark passed just on the finish line. Again it was a long wait (It's a pity they don't have the win lights just after the finish line just like up at the Pod.) When the crews came down, Mark had won by only 0.02. I had ran a 11.57 @ 110 to Marks 10.66 (10.45 dialing.), but Mark had a .066 reaction to my 0.24. Well done Mark (Fix your own car next time. LOL)
At the WB presentation I got the closest to Dial in, closest runner up (In the finals.) and the Best Altered trophies and down the bottom end I got the Runner up Trophy from LA Racing.
All in all we had a brilliant weekend, with the weather, NPB's and getting into the finals.
On the way home we had the bad news from Sarah that Kev & Alec of the Shy Torque team had had a bad accident on the M40 on the way home, we were told that Kev might have broken his arm but the rest were OK. Kev's 4X4 is totaled and the new trailer has a large dent in it, sorry to hear about it and hope you get sorted soon.
The other thing I thought I had sorted was my over heating, I had put another larger fan on it, but by Newport it was starting to get hotter, in the end I pulled off the motorway and took out the thermostat (I was open when I took it out.) refilled with water and made my way home, while it did help, its still getting hotter than it used to.
Looks like I'm going to have to sell the bike and get a new van very soon. (Anyone want a Honda Shadow 600. N Reg, about 25,000 miles in Met Red, not bad condition and only done about 8 miles in two years for the MOT. (Will put a new one on it to sell.)£1700)
My next meeting. Nostalgia Nats Sunday only with hopefully Dave in the driving seat. See you all there.
June 2nd Last night I at long last fixed the shocks on the trailer, they had been going for a while, but the spare ones we had did not fit properly. I asked Dave before the weekend to sort them out and put them somewhere so I could pick them up after York. This I done and with a few mods to the trailer they are fitted, it now sits with about 4 ins above the wheels and not a inch, also I took it out to try it and it don't bounce around so much.
Sat Both Linda and myself had to work so we did not leave until 3 in the afternoon. I noticed on the way to Dave's the van was going into the red up the hills, so we had a look when we got to his house and found the viscous van was not working and was just spinning, I lashed it up with some wire and that worked until the M5. We stopped in the next services and used a bungee strap, which last most of the way up to York. (Crazy Chris gave me some very big zip ties which are still on there now. I have also now got a new fan and just have to fit it.)
Even with the extra stops, we made good time and got there in just under 6 hours.
For this meeting we were pitted in the middle of the pits and camped at the side so Dave & (His) Linda could put the tent up.
Sun We woke to the sound of the Bee Sting crew setting up next to us, the was only Paul & Alan as the rest were away and Paul was going to drive for the weekend.
I find the best lane is the right hand one, but the shutdown area is very bumpy and left side is not to good but the shutdown is a lot better. for the first run I was in the left lane and I ran a off 12.24 at only 98 mph.
I ended up in the same lane for the next run and ended up with a worse 12.55 but this time with a 105 mph.
I was in the RHL for the third and ran a good11.95 @ 109 mph, this was with a scary shut down with the car bouncing all over the place. The last run of the day (LHL) was another bad 12.73 @ 91 mph.
Mon Clare came over and asked for our dial in time and with the times we were running, I dialed in 12.2 for the day.
It had rained on the Sunday evening and the track was a lot better for it and on my first run in the RHL I ran a very good but too quick 11.82 @107 mph, so for the next run I went into the left lane and ran a 12.69 @ 91 mph. (This was not sand bagging, I just had to get off it, after the car started to drift.)
I was in the right lane for the 3rd run and decided to try starting in 2nd gear to stop the wheel spin, they still span of the line and I ran a good 11.94 @108 mph, this was the first time for ages, I really thought the car was going to go over, it was all over the place and I ended up in the other lane at some point.
I worked out that I needed to run a 12.35 to get back in the points on the last run, I was paired up with Bee Sting and Paul needed a 12.7 to get him back on line. I again started in 2nd and at about 3/4 track eased off a little, Paul passed me, then himself backed off, I floored it again with Paul doing the same. I got out the car laughing as it seamed quite funny and went over to Paul. I had ran a 12.82 @ 86 and Paul ran a 13.17 and only 69 mph.
When the crews came down to pick us up, they were all laughing and said all they could hear was us backing off and on.
Yes I did have my new tyres fitted (Again thanks to Les at Tonypandy Motor Co.), but to be honest, due to the track I still don't know what they are going to be like, so I will have to wait to the next meeting to see the difference.
Even though it was a little on the slow side I still managed to get 4th place for the meeting, which I think puts me in 2nd place behind Crazy Chris in the Championship.
We had a uneventful drive back home, doing the trip in the quickest so far at five and half hours.
The next meeting is the Power Nats up SCR on the 13/14th June. see you all there
May 23rd On Easter Saturday before I went down Eastbourne, there was a knock of the door, it was a Man from the Boys & Girls Clubs of S/ Wales, he gave me a letter and told me I had been selected for the Rhondda Sports Personality of the year. At first I thought he was joking, but looking into it, it was true (I still don't know who nominated me.) and last Friday was the Presentation Dinner & Dance up the Rhondda Sports Center. While I didn't (Nor expect.) The main prize, I was in the top 5 and was presented with a nice cut glass award (Click here of photo.) and was honored to receive it on behalf of drag racing.
On Friday I had delivery of my new slicks, They were paid for by my boss Les at Tonypandy Motor Co. I would like to thank him for his continued support this season. They were not the size I wanted, as they were not in stock and I could not wait, so I had some slightly smaller ones being 31 - 10.5 x 15s It took ages to get the old ones off, with me ending up cutting them off, these will be taken up the track for the sled. They don't look bad on the car (Click here to see, new one is on the left and the old on the right.) and as the old ones were really old and gone off, I don't think I will have any problems with traction. The test is going to be up York next weekend. see you all up there
May 17th Again Linda was baby sitting, so I set off on my own Friday evening to meet Dave & Linda in the services. we got there at the same time, so we made our way to the track getting there not far after 9.30. we set up in the middle of the pits and went and had a look round and see who was there. Even then there were quite a few cars and bikes.
Sat I got up early and got the car ready for the first run, there was not any set times so we got down as soon as we could and with the splendid weather the track was in very good condition. I got ready for my first run and completely forgot to put my ear plugs in, I did not notice until I was told to start the engine at the end of the pairing lanes, then it was too late. I done a short burnout and got into stage, I don't know if it was just as I had forgot the earplugs or I had forgot how to drive the car, but at half track it was so noisy I thought I was in 2nd and not 3rd and hit the shifter into neutral, as soon as I done it I realized what I had done and put it back into 3rd. I ran a not to bad (Considering what I had done.) 12.11 @ 100 mph. The next one was a back to normal 11.84 @ 110 mph. It was back to the pits to have breakfast and take the body off to see what it would run like that since we fitted the other diff. I was surprised to run a 11.41 @ 114 mph, I didn't think I would get any where near the 11.33 I had run with the old diff. Even more surprising the next run with the body on netted me with a 11.66 @ 110 mph which was also near the 11.62 personal best, at least the engines not screaming now.
Sun Clare came round first thing and asked for our dialing for the day, as I had ran a few different times, I opted for 11.80, as it is easier to back off and than go quicker. We went down for the first round and I ran a very good 11.82 @ 110mph. I was in the pairing lanes and decided to check what the shift light was set on, as I had noticed that on the last run my tacho was showing higher revs than the 5700 set on the light. But by mistake I altered the rev limiter and when I started up for the run, the engine would not rev, I didn't have the instructions with me, so we took the top panel off and disconnected it. I was called forward for my run and was sitting behind Steve Pateman in the burnout box and was watching their run. I was watching Steve when I saw Wayne Saunders Chevy take a turn to the right and flip over going through the line at 165 mph. I shut the engine down and we all waited for news about Wayne. The word came back that he was conscious and was being taken to the local hospital. It seams like he had broken a arm and leg and dislocated a shoulder. Get well soon Wayne.
It took a while for them to sort out the track and get it ready for us to run.
When it was time, I done a short burnout and went into stage, the car ran great and I had ran a 11.67 at the normal 110. (Seams like this is going to be about the top end now with the body on.) When we got to the pits, Clare said they were going back down but for us to follow as soon as we could.
As it was I joined in the rest when we did get there. I had worked it out that I would need a high 11.8 to get back into the running for first place as this was going to be the last run, also as hopefully it was going to be my last run on these slicks, I was going to go for the burnout trophy. But it didn't happen as the car started to turn and I had to pull out of it, also on the last run, we had tried the tyres with 6 lb in them, when Dave checked them in the lane one had gone down to 5, so as we didn't have time to pump it up, he let the other on down to the same. The car launched hard and as it felt like it going to be fast (Yes Clare) I took my foot off just before the first speed lights and ran a 11.88 and only 101 mph. I went back to the pits and worked it out, I needed a combined time of 35.40 and had got 11.385. (0.015 off)
I though this was good but Paul Harvey had run closer and took first place while I had 2nd. Well done Paul.
The best run on the weekend for me, was the body off one, running with Ed Baldwin, when we both ran 11.41's mine with a 114 and him with a 113 mph. I had just got him off the line to take the win. Their team Ed and Mike Cresswell both went on to run 10s during the weekend.
Also while looking for a problem with Lee Hartnell's car on Sat evening, we found some silicon in one of the main jets, we got rid of this, set up the accelerator pump and in the morning he ran a NPB of 12.2 (I think) Good on you Lee.
For the first time this year, we had cracking weather and track, a few other drivers had NPBs (Crazy Chris was also one) well done all.
Our next event is Up York in two weeks time, its on the bank holiday weekend and the racing is on the Sunday/Monday so we will be going up after work on the Saturday afternoon. That's after I have fixed the rear shock on the van as one has pulled out on the back on the weekend.
See you all there. (Mark if your reading this, we missed you.)
May 5th As Dave has finished at the valet shop, so the car is back home with me in Tonypandy, its sitting outside in the yard where I work, hopefully this is only temporary, as we might have the use of another unit to store it in Abergavenny.
Instead of going over the mountains to meet Dave & Linda, we went the M4 way and met them at Ragland services. Dave and Linda has the use of the old DASH/Limited Funz Caravan, so as soon as we got to the track, Dave had to go and fetch it from over the other side of the track. We set up in our new pit position at the front of the pits near to where the clubhouse has been moved to, we thought we would have problems with noise, but it was not to bad and at least we did not have far to walk to the track..
Sat I had arranged with Bob Gleadow to buy his old wheels and tyres, Doug Ripley had brought them up for me, so the first thing was to see if they fitted, not only was they the wrong bold pattern (Which I could have had re drilled) the inset was to much and even with them sitting againsed the studs, they were touching the bottom suspension arms.
The plan was to do at least one run to get a qualifier in, but as it was raining we decided to just change the diff. It was the old diff we was using up until the beginning of last year and always had a small drip from the front seal, so I arranged with Bob (Yellow Bedford CF) to get me a new seal from his mate who is into Jags. With this fitted and the use of Mark Coulsell's new trailer to work in out of the rain. It took us about 3 hours to change the diff units and I drove it out back into our pit space. Mark had asked us if we could help him out with his gear linkage, as he had changed the position of his brake master cylinder over the winter and could not get 1st gear (Powerglide) When I got back after covering the car, they were trying to fit a cable instead of the bar, but this did not seam to work. I had a good look at the old bar and the space, swapped the ends around, bent it a little and it fitted and worked perfect, job done and Mark was happy.
As it was still raining, all what was to do was get cleaned up and wait until tomorrow to see what the weather would be like.
Sunday It had rained overnight so it was a late start but at least were could run. It was not until 2pm that I got my run in. I didn't know what to dial in, so I opted for 11.60 so I would not break out. I done a fairly long burnout to clean the slicks and went to the line. I was running next to B Sting (A bit like old times.) and he had a head start, I caught and passed Andy by half track and the shift light came on just before the finish line. (Not like 3/4 track like it had been.) I waited for ages for Dave to come and pick me up and found that he had helped Mark on the line after the Carb kept catching fire and he had to be pushed back. I had ran a good 11.81 but only at 110mph, so I was hoping to have another go to see if I could do better.
Back at the pits, I had arranged to help the WB 142 team, who were having problems with getting the dragster off the line. (He had just ran a 18 sec 1/4 after stalling.) I checked the Carb to find they had the wrong accelerator cam fitted, which made it half open before they started, so I found on in my spares and fitted it, I them found they was not any clearance, so adjusted that and also evened up the idle screws. By this time, Ed Baldwin (Running Sportsman ET in the same car) got called up.
I went back to our pits to help solve the problem with Marks car, after getting it started, I checked the timing, it was meant to be on 38 deg, but was on 51 and we could not find out how it had moved, so I adjusted it back to 38 and the car was running great again and started with no fuss.
I went down the pairing lanes to see how Ed done in the dragster, when some classes were to just do testing and Pro ET had their first round of competition. I told Mark this and then went and asked if he could get a qualifier in, I was told there was not any time and I had to tell him the news.
Back to the track and it was Ed's turn to run, he started it up and drove to the line, on the green the car just left and he ran a 11.31 @ 116 mph, i watched as he pulled the chute and went back to the pits. I went to see Ed after and he was shaking, not because of what he had just ran, but just after he pulled the chute, his foot hit the fire bottle and he had a face full of foam.
In the evening I had arranged for Darrell Bennett (The winner of my "Guess Who" comp.) to receive his trophy from Paul Bland and presented to him by Sara Bland and have some photos of him sitting in Andy Frosts car. but was told that he was going out on the cruise with him that evening. Tog was there to take some photos for eurodragster.com and Anni from the feel-the-noise to take some for my site. (I have these and will like them from here and my "Guess Who" page as soon as I can. (Click here to view) I also took some photos of Darrel and Andy at the main gate, which I will post at the same time. Well done Darrell and thank you Paul & Sara Bland and Andy Frost for the great prizes.
Monday When I woke up it was still raining, so I stayed in bed and it was well past 10 before we got up. it was still raining after breakfast so in a dry spell, we loaded up the car, some racers even went home, but as the sky was getting bluer, we decided to stay and at least if it did rain again, we wouldn't get wet loading it like the last meeting.
The track was dry and glued by 3pm and they ran another round of Pro ET, so we got the car back off, got booted and suited and waited. In the end they said there would not be time before the curfew, so it was take the suit off, and re load the car. (This is not the place to say how I and most of the other teams felt, but I was unhappy to say the least.)
The next event is the Classic American Nationals on the 15th/16th May. see you all there.
April19th Again Linda did not go to this event and in a way I'm glad she didn't. The first thing to happen, was that on the way to Dave's, I have to go up a long steep drag, when I was near the top and just coming into some road works, I noticed it was very cold in the van, then I noticed the temp gauge was well into the red. I pulled into the garage at the top of the hill just it time for it boil over. I was next to the water and air machine so I open the bonnet and let cool down a little and then look for the leak. I could not find it at first and thought it was a core plug on the back of the head, which was where to water was coming from. When I lifted the heater hose there was a slit in it. I got out what tools I had and cut off the last bit, rerouted the hose and connected it back together.
I picked up Dave & Linda and went to the unit, I checked the water and it was still up and thought that would be it for the weekend. It was not to be, as not far out of Abergavenny, it went cold again, so I pulled in to the first lay by and found the pipe had slit again in a different place. I still had the pipes under the van for the rear heater, so I took one of these off and renewed the whole heater pipe. This time I had no trouble all the way up.
After the last meeting where Dave's tent got flooded out, he had bought a new one, you cant miss this one as it in the design of the Union Jack, it had a good testing over the weekend with high winds and heavy rain.
Sat It had rained overnight and it was not until 1pm before I got my first run in. As I know I got the most problem with the bounce in the right hand lane, I tried to get into that lane, only to end up in the left.
I again over revved it in stage and pushed through beams, so I had to back up and try again. The car ran a straight 11.73 @ 110mph. Again I tried to get into the right hand lane and ended in the left. this time I left the car on tick over on the line and just floored it when I saw the amber, this netted me a close BP of 11.625 @ 111 mph. The third run I managed to get into the right lane and ran a very good bounce free 11.73, doing the same of just letting it tick over on the start line.
The forth run was in the left lane a I ran a 11.66 at again 111mph and the last run of the day was in the right hand lane against Crazy Chris (Who had a NPB time and speed during the day.) This time the car just spun off the line and ran a 11.95 @ 111 mph.
I could have gone around again but as the track was starting to go off I decided to call it a day.
We had a great day, but as you can see I am flat out at 111mph, the shift light is coming on just on 3/4 track and I am flat out not far after, with it on the limiter at 6.600. I have decided to put in the old 4.09 back axle as I cant afford the engine to blow at the moment. We will be doing this ether before or during the Excitement Nationals.
Sun It rained heavy over night and took ages for the track to dry, when it had and they were about to glue it, I got changed for the first run, when I came out of the van it was spitting with rain by the time I had walked down to the track, it was raining heavy. After a hour the meeting was called off.
The spot prizes were given out and we got packed up and made our way home.
On the way home, as I was going around the roundabout over the M5 I could see the traffic was backed up as far a you could see and did not seam to be moving, so I went straight on into Tewkesbury. On the way out of the town I looked in my mirror to see Dave flashing me to pull in. I looked in my n/s mirror to pull in and saw lots of smoke coming from the trailer. When I stopped the inside of the tyre was rubbing the inside of the wheel arch (Could have been pushed in when we loaded to car as its a tight fit.) anyway we put the spare on and after had a nice uneventful trip home.
As said before, our next meeting is the Excitement Nats on the 1st-3rd May at SCR.
As some of you may have heard, the other Saturday I was on the phone when someone knocked my door, time I got there, there was someone just going out the gate. I called to him and he asked if I was Tony Smith. He said that I had been nominated for the Rhondda Sports personality of the year and I had (If I could.) attend the Presentation Dinner and Dance on the 21st May at the local sports center. He said that I already had a award and my name had been forwarded for the main one. Don't think I will get it as there are so many sports persons around the valley that deserve it more than me. (They have to run and play Rugby and things like that.)
Keep you ears for more news.
April 5th 2004 While we kept it very quiet, Alan from Newark (Newgate) Ltd, bought us a new high stall converter. We went over the other Sunday to fit it, but it wouldn't, we tried all ways and in the end got so fed up we put the car away and when home. I phoned Sussex Autos and they said to get it out and get it back to them, we took it out the Thursday evening and they had it picked up by midday Friday. There was a problem with the insides and it was fixed and back to me the following Friday. I went over last Monday and it fitted first time, put new oil in and ran the engine up. I could hold it at 3000 rpm in 1st and 3500 in 3rd. (We still had the car sitting on the trailer on its props.) Once the engine was nice and hot, we changed the oil and filer. (Supplied by our new sponsor "Tune-Up Autospares." (Who I am also designing a web site for, this is only a temp one set on on one of my sites at the moment.) and after we ran and checked it all out, wrapped it up ready for the weekend.
The Weekend Linda was Dog sitting (Long story) so I went and picked Dave and his Linda up from their house and went down the unit for the car. I hitched up the trailer and Dave had decided that has his truck hadn't been anywhere for ages, he would take that as well. We got to the track about 9.30 and set up the tent and van, then went and had a look around. Crazy Chris was there with the stunning new paint job on the car. Other than that there were very few new car out (Not many there altogether in fact.)
Sat It had rained overnight but the track looked very good and open, but it didn't seem like there was any takers for the first down there, so I went back to the pits, changed and took it down.
I done a long burnout to warm the slicks and pulled to the line. I went into pre stage and took up the revs, my visor had by now misted up and I could not see the tacho very good and the car pushed through the lights. I backed up and tried again, this time with less revs.
On the green, the car launched like it never before (Tog said I even got a pit of air under the n/s tyre.) and not even a sign of the bounce. it felt so good I just kept my foot in all the way down until I ran out of revs just after 3/4 track, I just took my foot off a little not to wreak the engine on the first run of the year.
When I got out down the bottom, Sharky was in the fire truck and said that I had ran a NPB of 11.62. That put a big smile on my face for the rest of the day.
For the second run, I wanted to go in the right hand lane, just to see if the bounce was still there. (This seems to be the worst lane for it happening.) But a cars brakes had stuck on after the burnout and I had to use the left lane again.
This time I had put some washing up liquid on my visor, so could see better. After the burnout, I stopped just before the line and took the revs up to 3000 rpm to see what happened, it stayed there so I pulled into pre stage, took it up to 3000 and went into stage. Again the car left like a bullet and I ran a 11.68.
We took it back to the pits, took the body off and had some food while the engine cooled down.
The first run I tried to take it up to 3000 rpm, but it pushed me through the lights again, so I stuck to 2500 and done a run of 11.33 @ 114 mph. But again I had ran out of revs by 3/4 track. I was in the right hand lane for the next run and ran a 11.40. We went back and put the body back on, but it started to rain and that was it for the rest of the day.
It rained so bad that it flooded Dave & Linda's tent and they had to sleep in the car for the night.
Sun. This must have been one of the most frustrating day I've had at the track. 4 times I got booted, suited and strapped in, only for it to rain. I managed only two runs in the end, the first in the right hand lane where I had no bounce at all, but had to take my foot off a little when it started to get out of shape (I ran a 11.99 @ 103 mph) The last was in the left hand lane and was a 11.74 @ 111 mph.
All that was left to do was, wait for the rain to stop, pack the car away and make our way home.
Our next meeting is Club day and Test & Tune on the 17-18th April, which is the first round of the WB championship.
See you there and more news after the event. (Sorry hope to announce the winner/'s of the Guess Who Comp.)
Feb 14th 2004 I have just posted some photos from the Xtreme show and they can be found here
We took the car up Thursday night and got outside the place at 3am, we found what we thought would be a quite spot to have a couple of hours kip and got our heads down. Don't London ever stop?? no sooner as we tried to go to sleep the traffic started, first the trains, then the cars and busses, then just people walking their dogs and going to work. We got up at 7.30 and made a cup of tea while the engine warmed up. Then it was a quick trip up the hill to the venue.
The original plan was for us to set up next to one of the walls, but as there was room we were asked if we wanted to set up with the other race cars. (Which we did.)
I will leave the show report to the experts at www.eurodragster.com and all I can is its going to be a good show and I'm glad to be a part of it.
We are leaving at 7pm tomorrow morning, to spend the day at the show and then bring the car home.
Hope to see some of you there.
Next update hopefully after the event.
Feb 4th 2004 Fame at last, well just a little anyway, Today there's a little write up about me and the car. They came round Saturday to take some photos, but used one of Anni's that I sent them. Click here to see article.
Feb 1st 2004 I have not long got back from Dave's, fixing the car and readying it for the Xtreme Wheels show. The first thing I done was repair the roof and rear quarter, (Yes Chris, I still have the signed tape in the car.) with this done and painted we took of the headers to give them a coat of paint, we didn't have much of a chance to do them where we fitted them and only gave them a squirt of sating black. We have made some body stands, so it is sitting above the chassis about a foot, so you can see the engine. All that is left to do, is for Dave to give the car a good wash, mop and polish the new paint to blend it in and take some paint up with us to paint the parts that we cant get to while the car is sitting on the trailer. I have a few thing to sort out this end, like the parachute and the trophies. We are going up late Thursday night and staying near to Ally Pally, so we are early to set up in the morning and doing have to get through the rush hour/s.
More news after the event
Jan 25th I am sitting here early Sunday morning, still trying to get over the events that have happened over the last couple of days.
Being a big fan of Custom Cars & Rods, I used to attend most of the big Custom shows up and down the country during the seventies and early eighties, including all the ones at Ally Pally. When on Thursday evening I had a phone call from Terry Gibbs of Obsession Motor sport, to say that they had selected my car for the new Xtreme Wheels Show, to be held at Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace) on the 14th & 15th Feb 2004. If you had told me 20 years ago I would be part of one of these shows, I would not have believed you and if it wasn't for Dave Williams, the car would not be in condition it is in now. (His job, cleaning cars for a big car showroom helps.) I would like to thank him for this, also Terry & Tina Gibbs and the rest at Xtreme Wheels, for giving me the opportunity to do something I would never of dreamed of.
Then to last night, the annual Wild Bunch, Presentation Dinner & Dance. I knew I had 4 trophies lined up including, the 4th place in the Championship and the 2003 Best Appearing Team, (Again Thanks to Dave.) the new paint job and team shirts.
But to cap it all, at the end of the trophy giving, we was presented with the biggest Wild Bunch Trophy, The "Big Daddy" Don Garlits Spirit of Dragracing Shield, also Sarah presented Dave with a signed photo from the man himself, which she got while over the States last year. (I have this at the moment, so I can scan it and post it on the site, with what was read out when given the trophy.) You always hope to get this trophy, but you are never ready when you do, you would not believe the way we felt, when we realized we had won it.
I follow the likes of Dorset Horn, Backdraft & Alan Smith (Avanti) to name a few. I would like to thank Clair Meadows for this honour and the rest of the bunch for your support, not only last year but for all the time we have been with the Bunch.
I will post some photos and the other bits and pieces as soon as I can. For some Click here
Jan 01st 2004 Happy new year to you all. Last night we welcomed in the new year at Crazy Chris & Clare's, with a few of the Wild Bunch, Its was a brilliant night and went on until the early hours of this morning. I took a few photos and they can be found by clicking here (If I can work it out, there might be a silent video posted soon.)
We have the Wild Bunch Presentation Dinner & Dance coming up soon and hope fully the will be a update straight after this.