2010 NFAA Champions!

Well, what a amazing change of fortune for us!

After a terrible Open Sports Nationals event at Shakespeare County Raceway, we went back home very much down in the dumps. The oil pressure problem was really giving us a run for our money, and after many many weekends and weeknights working on trying to find where the problem was coming from, we were running out of ideas.

Until after some very, very keen eyes, brought to our attention a situation regarding our crankshaft; something we had never seen before. After some research we could find nothing to support why it was how it was, and thus went about fixing what we had found. We tied in these crank modifications with a billet oil pump pressure adjustable tool that Tom @ Ryder Design developed for us, and went to the National Finals with renewed hope of finally resolving the problem!

The first warm up was quite eagerly anticipated, and when the motor fired the pressure began to fluctuate once more (much to my annoyance), but started to settle down and then finally stabilised very nicely. After a few test revs the pressure was behaving itself, so we took it to the line. The weather was a chilly late september early afternoon, plenty of power to be had!

We finally had the chance to run alongside Adam Gleadow and his gorgeous Motor Psycho 34 Ford Altered, and after the burnouts the motor was still behaving itself. Sadly Adam got shut down due to a oil leak, but I went into stage keeping a eye on the pressure. Pre-stage, one last glance at the pressure, and go for it!

The result? 6.64 @ 199mph! The motor was finally beginning to settle down. The relief getting out at the top end, was quickly changed to elation when the crew told me the time.

We took the car back and checked the motor over and it was looking good. So after the usual maintenance, we took it back out, once again against Adam in the Motor Psycho machine. By now we were racing into the sunset, and it made for the setting of a really special race.



We both went to the line after waiting for this moment for years! The lights went down and we both went off. The car was weaving all about the left lane but I was able to drive it through to a 6.72 @ 198mph to Adam's 7.60 @ 173mph, his first ever 7! Well done guys, what a cracking race. After the race, both teams popped bottles of champagne, plenty of hand-shakes, hugs and laughing and joking which lasted all evening, truly a memorable night for all.

So with No.1 going into Sunday mornings final qualifier, we waited for the rain to stop, but it never did. We entered the National Finals on equal points with the Wratten Brothers, but our No.1 qualifying points gave us the extra 50pts to seal the 2010 Championship title!

I want to take this moment to thank my awesome family and crew, they have been exceptional once again all year. A huge well done to all the NFAA crews and track crews at Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceway.

Finally, a massive well done to Adam and all the Motor Psycho crew for destroying their PB at the National Finals with a 7.60. Their first seven, hope for many more (and quicker!)

Well thats it for racing blogs, but I will be keeping this blog upto date with news over the off season with whats going on in the NFR camp and our bid to defend the No.1 plate in 2011

Stay tuned for more!

Until next time
Cheers
Joe