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Since Springspeed we have raced a few meetings, and i'll give a quick recap of things now.
Dragstalgia @ Santa Pod Raceway:
After hurting the motor on the record breaking run, we used Dragstalgia as a exercise of bedding in a lot of fresh parts (The repair list was long, so I didn't want to thrash the motor... just yet!). With the bad weather and other unfortunate circumstances we only got two runs in. The first run was against Adam Gleadow in the Motor Psycho altered, with which I ran a early shut off 7.50. Just what everyone needed with bedding in new parts.
The second run was the Sunday morning, and originally to be against Chaos. After the burnout the car lost fire and we couldn't work out why to begin with. It turned out to be the battery plug for the MSD system, which when shook loose the points box and coil lost current and shut down. Fortunately, Bob Glassup was shut off too, so after letting the cars cool for 10 minutes, we ran again. The car left very strong this time and I wanted to run it through, but I had lost high gear, and after a few attempts to get high gear I shut the motor off about 1000ft and still ran a 7.17. Bad weather put a end to the final run, but the motor was looking good for Open Sports Nationals.
Open Sports Nationals @ Shakespeare County Raceway:
Sadly we were to be the only car to appear for the August Bank Holiday meeting at Shakespeare County Raceway this year, but we went to get some precious track time. After a rain delayed first day, we spent the day checking the car over and left it for the Sunday.
The Sunday afternoon we ran out and after a strong burnout, I launched off idle and drove the car to a 6.63 @ 201mph pass. A checkover saw no problems with the motor at all, so we left the car again for the Bank Holiday Monday. The next day after some small rain delays again, we ran the car, after getting a large bout of tyre shake about 200ft, I drove the car to a 7.01 @ 201mph run.
After this, we trailored the car ready for the next meeting, which we decided was to be the Hot Rod Drags.
Hot Rod Drags @ Shakespeare County Raceway:
We decided this year to attend the Hot Rod Drags with the Supercharged Outlaws. Unfortunately rain played havoc with the event all Saturday, but however we were able to take part in the Saturday Night cacklefest, which was a real treat and I thoroughly enjoyed burning out down the fireup road.
The next day was again hampered by bad weather, but the weather cleared in the afternoon and we were able to run in the afternoon against Team Thing. After another bout of tyre shake, I was able to get a 6.94 @ 201mph pass down the track, which we thought was a great achievement given the weather conditions over the weekend.
Sadly we found after the Hot Rod Drags we had damaged the rear wing and decided to not enter the National Finals because of it. That said, due to point gained over the Avon Park meetings we were able to hold onto our NFAA title for 2011. Sadly due to the lack of cars across the season, it isn't quite a achievement as the previous year, but a win is a win in the end.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all my awesome family, my crew, and everyone who helped me and the team throughout the year. You all know who you are, and for that, I'm truly grateful for them. In 2011 I met a ton of new people at the track, especially in aspects of the sport I wasn't before involved, and I look forward to seeing all of them, and my old friends, at the track again next year.
Now; onto next season. We just had our NFAA yearly AGM, and with a few pieces on the agenda, some areas of the class has been addressed and some other bits are now in motion. 2012 looks to be a healthier year for the NFAA, and let's hope it turns out that way.
Also in the works for 2012 is the chance of two, possibly three, shootout style demonstration weekends, so stay tuned for that. 2012 might also involve a certain fuel which has the chemical compound CH3NO2... we'll see :)
More to come soon!
Joe
Photo copyright Ingrid Chesworth
