I'm really looking forward to making a couple of changes to the car.  We're going to make some adjustments to the steering geometry so that it's easier to control and I plan on getting a new set of tires, a maybe a new hood.  I hope to modify the steering wheel to allow it to drop lower so that it's a little more comfortable to drive.  There are probably a few more minor things to take care of as well.

Well, not much else to report.  I've pretty much stretched this out as far as it can go.  I've put a helmet and a driver's suit on my Christmas list but probably blew any chance of getting either as I already bought a present for myself - a new digital camera!  I'll put some new pics up when I get a chance, but it most likely will be sometime in late Winter or early Spring, when we get the car out of storage. 

Until then, enjoy these videos on YouTube of Lee County Speedway.  We're not in any of them, and I don't know who took them, but it's racing!

The streak continues...
Sunday, October 22, 2006  -  Lee County Speedway
My second DNF in a row!

It's really not as bad as it sounds.  First off, it was COLD!  With an air temperature of around 40 degrees and a wind speed of 10-20 mph all day, it was COLD!  I know that's redundant but did I mention it was COLD?

I started the day pretty much on top of everything.  We had the tools and car packed already, ready to race the previous day.  Unfortunately, it rained all afternoon on Saturday, so the event was postponed.  Still, Lee County had a fairly decent turn-out - nearly 150 cars, I believe.  I ended up pitting next to Mike Irwin (#23 A-Modified) and Tracey Hensley (#13H Wild Thing) so that I could scavenge tools, a jack, or some advice if needed.

Hot laps were as crappy as what has become normal.  I was pushing and sliding up the track in two and four - very little control.  This is something that I definitely have to get used to.  I'm not sure if I'm entering the turns with too much speed or I don't have enough grip in the tires.  Since handling gets better as the night goes on, I'm betting that I just need more experience on a wet track.

Also, I had added an aluminum dryer vent hose to the air intake extending the intake to the front of the car.  The concept was that I could benefit from the colder air.  Well, I'm not sure if the length of hose or maybe the 3" diameter hurt me, but something robbed me of a thousand and a half or so RPMs.  I couldn't get it past 4200 or so and it felt sluggish.  The only thing I did before the heat race was to remove the device completely.

When I signed in for the night, I drew a great starting spot for the heat races - outside pole in Heat 1.  Seven of us started the heat.  I lead the first lap (WOOHOO!) and began to loose speed in the corners.  I dropped back to fourth and was surprise with a few bangs in my driver side rear door by Dave Burdette (#23).  I figured that he did it on purpose for one of two reasons:  (1) I was all over the track and had cut him off, or (2) he wanted to dent up my too-pretty car.  He later visited my pit and apologized - he was just trying to get around me!  Well, he did so.  One lap later, though, Dave took his car to the infield returning me to the fourth position.  And that's where I finished - my first visit to "tech"!  I got to see Jimmie's smiling face... another joy in life!

After returning to the pits, I heard them call for the Wild Things redraw.  Oops!  I forgot about that.  I asked a few people around me if I was supposed to redraw.  The consensus was "not sure, but you should go check".  I headed for the pit concession stand and arrived just in time to hear Tom say "number 95".  I drew the third spot; I was going to start in the third spot (out of 25)!

After basking in the glow of my first tech visit, and waiting what seemed like forever, my feature was finally up.  I hadn't changed (or checked) anything in the car.  And Mike had already left with the trailer after not making the transfer from the B-Main to the A-Main.  So, I put my stuff in a pile near a stranger's truck and headed for staging.  I started on the inside of the second row - directly behind Gordon Blankenship, Jr. (#17) and John Flury (#00 - 2006 Track Champion at Farley).

I did pretty well keeping up with everyone but noticed that the car would bog down pretty badly in the corners.  I could finally make the car stick, it just wouldn't go.  It seemed like I was just in too high of gear (3rd) and if I could shift into 2nd for the turns, I could make up some time.  I decided to try it and, going into turn 3, I planted my foot firmly on the clutch pedal and took the car out of gear.  It slowed down considerably.  I put the car into 2nd gear...well, I TRIED.  It wouldn't go!  I thought, "well that worked well".  ZOOM - there goes a car past me.  I tried third gear...nothing.  ZOOM - another car.  Crap!  Now what?!?  I released the clutch and, realizing that the car is still in neutral, tried again to get it into 3rd.  The car continued to slow and the gear shift refused to move.  Fearing a mechanical problem, I release the clutch and get right back in it...and it dawns on me.  The clutch is awfully hard to push.  It must be because it's the BRAKE!  What a dunce!

Well, after that "amusing" episode, I was embarrassed because I just KNEW that everyone watching the race and all the drivers saw that and knew what I had done.  I was also mad at myself for losing a couple of positions because of a stupid mistake.  So, I started pushing the car a little harder into the corners, hoping to make up at least those two positions.  A lap or two later, that eagerness proved costly as I hit the ruts in turn 4.  That's when it happened...I blew a tire!

Limping back to the pits after waiting in the infield for the race to finish, I was smiling.  I had run with the big dogs pretty well and knew that the car was capable of hanging with them.  If I can only figure out this driving stuff, I may have a shot...