Drag racing is, as has always been a tremendous amount of fun for me, just not every moment. Don’t get me wrong, I’m okay with all of the work, and I even derive a large sense of accomplishment from completing all of the maintenance tasks and keeping my cars safe, consistent, and competitive. I enjoy the driving to the races most of the time, and even dealing with the little hiccups on occasion, but oh, those deadlines! Racing will keep you honest. If you want to race next weekend and you’re not completely prepared, forget waxing that surfboard, riding that motorcycle, or spending that quality time with the family. Your racecar needs you ... NOW.

I have spent most of the last two weeks (okay, four weeks) juggling various racecar projects. The engine and trans install in Rodger’s car went fine (okay, the engine part went fine. Well, most of the engine part went fine), but waiting for various parts to arrive and having to adapt accessories that were fitted for a tall deck block with different mounting attachment provided some challenge. The trans also was a different style case and the shift arm was 180 degrees from where it needed to be for his car. Many parts had to be mailed to me, as they were sent to Yancer for fitting on the new car. UPS must be mad at me because of the MTS deal on my car, so I only could work on it in “chunks” until the last part arrived. Done! The Blackbird needed general service and a new windshield. Done! Jenna’s car ... not done.

Yesterday I was hoping to have her car done and loaded. I’m up against a big deadline. The enormous shop that we have been running the Drag Racing School out of since the 1990s is going away. Fairplex has decided that it is perfect for consolidating all of their maintenance equipment storage, so we have to vacate by the end of the month. We have already cleared nearly everything out, including many items that would make it easier to finish Jenna’s car. Well, since I am leaving tomorrow morning for the test session in Phoenix, that means I have until tonight to be out of there. No problem. I’ve done probably a hundred engine installs the past few years, and this one is no different ... until … while bolting the starter on it became clear that the outer hole was stripped. I had just loaned the engine to a good friend for two races, but I’m sure he didn’t know that had happened. We are selling the car, and I can’t in good conscience let something like that go. In order to get a drill and tap in the hole, I had to disconnect the trans and slide the engine forward three inches. A hassle, but normally not a big deal. Unless you no longer have access to the engine hoist! Multiple wood blocks, two floor jacks, some extra long bolts, a sturdy ratchet strap, and one Frank Hawley should get the job done. Poor Frank was out to get some things done in the office.

Once we moved the engine forward he wised up and left. While pulling the engine back into place after the repairs, it bound up. Seems that the converter slid part way off of the input shaft, clear of the pump drive, and wedged against the flexplate. $@#&! Move, the engine forward again (alone this time), wiggle under the car (floor jacks everywhere), and maneuver the converter back into the pump drive. If you’ve ever had to do this on your back with no clearance you’ll sympathize. At 9:30 last night I had had enough. It was cold, I could see my breath, my back kept reminding me that I am now over 40, and I hadn’t seen Jenna or Jason since that morning. I pretty much have everything done as far as bolt-on stuff. Today I need to fuel, oil, prime, time, adjust, and load. Piece of cake! If ever you are wondering why these sportsman racers work full time and then slave over their racecars endlessly, there is light at the end of the tunnel.......

First race of the year, and a winner’s circle! My weekend at Fontana went as well as could be expected. I tried to slow the Blackbird down a bit by launching lower and shifting slightly earlier. I wanted to keep it in the mid 7.50 range, but my MADCAP engine would have none of that. Thirteen runs between 7.48 and 7.51, with all of the full runs over 180 mph. Those Lamb brakes got a huge workout, and slowing in the left lane was no problem. Right lane, big problem. After bouncing my way down the shutdown (already below 100 mph, using the parachute at this point would have been useless) and stopping a quarter-inch from the sand, the chute was deployed every right lane pass after that. Saturday I entered SCEDA and Top Comp. I lost in the third round in Top Comp, but managed to beat good friend Milt Gedo in the SCEDA final. I love trophies, and the new ones that SCEDA is awarding are awesome. My garage rafters are full of trophies and plaques from racing, we just are short on space in the house, but this guy will be displayed proudly. It looks very much like the IHRA “Iron Man” trophy, but it isn’t. It definitely isn’t. See, mine now only has one hand, and it apparently isn’t crash-tested if you let it fall on the living room floor. I think we should call these the “Ceramic do-not-drop Man”. After some glue and rehab. therapy my unit should make a full recovery.

Jenna and I even were interviewed Sunday for the race win. Scott and Dianna Hudson, also racers, run the Speed Scene program, catering to the Sportsman racers and programs. They really do a great job, and I did an interview in-studio with them several years ago. Try to catch the show on the web when you have time.

Sunday was actually when Saturday’s races were completed, and I was still in in both categories. Boy did I get hot-lapped, and I wouldn’t have made it for the first run at 8:20 am (actually the third round of SCEDA) if not for the help of Brad Cannon. Thank God those Cannons wake up early! Our heater quit in the middle of the night, and there was no hot water for the shower (this motorhome stuff is getting old) so getting ready was a chilling experience. After all of that it was right back for the Sunday race, where I redlit first round. Oh, well, time to pack up and head back. I dropped my trailer at a local trucking yard, as Fairplex no longer is an option for storing my rig. We took the RV back to Pomona and then headed home.

Monday morning it was right back to work ... just like the story says!

It just occurred to me that this blog is far more technical, far less personal/insightful than usual, so in order to be fair and balanced, here’s some current affairs: American Idol is back; Dancing with the Stars is over (hooray); Lindsay Lohan is NOT in any current trouble, but apparently Brittany is; the Democrats are down to 2 ½ candidates, the Republicans are at 3 ¾ ; and the interest rate keeps dropping (so does the Dow).

Stay tuned.