Well, the season is over for us, and it was bittersweet. The salt is definitely a fickle mistress!
We only made 5 runs on the salt, but feel we accomplished a lot. Out of those 5 runs, we qualified for impound 3 times, licensed a rookie, got that rookie a RECORD, qualified for the long course, and had a top exit speed of 189 mph. The salt didn't treat us as well as we had hoped, but we'll take what successes we can, or what successes we can dream up! Lol!
Here is a quick rundown of our week:
Saturday morning, after the Driver's Meeting, we were the first car down course 3. Dale qualified for XXO/BFALT, with a 167.5 run on a 131.028 record.
Sunday morning we were on the starting line, and fired the engine to warm it up. Wow, we had did a little tuning in impound, and it sounded good! We got to the starting line and fired the engine. WTF? The engine went to popping and back firing, and we had to head to the pits. The coil wire had worked loose on the coil, and arced on the rotor in the dizzy, melting the rotor like I've never seen.We changed dizzies, and were ready to go again.
No worries, Randy Jackson jumped in the car, and we qualified out of the rookie line with a 133.892. Randy and Dale both felt the car was a little loose, we we dropped the rear tire pressure a little.
Monday morning, Randy backed the record with a 156.544 run, for a new record of 145.218. CONGRATS Randy!
We headed back to the pits, and got the car ready for comp coupe, made a trip to tech, then out to the course for a tuning run. The car was FAT, and I ran a 166 in the quarter, and popped the chute. That was a LONG way from where I wanted to be, so I couldn't see any reason to push it.
We went back to the pits, did a gear change, leaned the engine a little, then headed to town for the day.
Tuesday morning, we headed to the starting line. Danny and I were riding the dirt bikes, and a car decided we weren't worth yielding too. Danny bounced off of the rear fender, and I laid my bike down. Road rash is one thing-road rash packed with salt is another! I managed to gash my ankle on the foot peg or kickstand, so out came the medical kit, and we wrapped up the cut.
I have to admit, I made the poorest drive from a driver's standpoint you can imagine! I hard a hard time getting it in gear-think I shifted that 4 speed 6 times! Don will post the video later. Still, the car was running MUCH better, and I qualified on Salt Cat's XXO/BFCC record of 185.111 with a 186.081 run, with a 189 exit speed.
Now, we're getting excited! The plan was to try and back the record, then head to the long course for a 200 mph attempt. After talking with John Beck, and Rich at ERC, we leaned the pill 5, added 2 deg timing, and went to the next hotter spark plug.
Wednesday morning, everyone was excited. We drain the engine water every night, because I'm not comfortable leaving the block full with the copper head gaskets.
Daaaamn guys, we have an air leak in the system-I can't get it burped! Double daaaamn, looks like a head gasket! We pulled the car out of impound, back to the pits, and swapped the passenger head gasket. Oooops-now it's poring water! Long story short, we had cracked the #6 exhaust port, so we loaded up and came home.
I tore into the engine on Friday, and found the problem. Good thing is, that it's not too tough of a fix. I also noticed the #5 intake looks too clean, so we're going to have to investigate that for a possible leak.
I want to thank everyone for all the support here on the board! You guys are great!
A very special thanks goes out to John Beck, for continuously helping us on our tuning, and to Stainless.
Bob, you and Linda's hospitality was first class, and letting us use your dyno was priceless. Thank you so much! I was so happy, and relieved, to see you show up in the pits, albeit battered and bruised. Obviously, the precautions for safety you had taken, worked!
John Kimbrough, you are a fiberglass king! Your work made the car SLICK, and we will continue Quest 200 next year! Thanks again!