Posted by: Bob Gilbertson, Rinnai Chevy
Hey everyone, Double-B here with you on a beautiful sunny Monday here in Charlotte.
First off we still haven't received the correct answer to the contest in the blog below. A lot of people guessed Joe Amato and Dick LaHaie; nope, it's not them. Since this is a little harder than some of our previous contests I'm gonna give you a little hint. Think Wix Dragster...
Next up we spent the weekend at Rockingham doing some testing. Mike Kloeber flew in and the plan was to make at least three laps but rain spoiled our Friday so we made two passes on Saturday. The track prep was pretty crummy and we had our problems getting off of the starting line. On the second run the car shook so hard at one point at least three wheels were off the ground. I'm searching to see if any of the photographers on hand have a photo; if I find one I'll put it up here.
Now, Gilby is a funny guy and when we talked this morning he said, and I quote, "Yeah we tested to see if we could throw the rods into the pan and we found out we could do that."
Anyway it wasn't our best weekend at the track and since we only have six runs on the new chassis we're probably going to do some more testing before the weather out here gets too bad.
Now to our guest blogger. Our assistant crew chief Kevin Fenstermaker's girlfriend Dani, who lives in south Florida, flew up to Charlotte with our team chef, Captain Edzo Preston, early Thursday morning. It was her first drag race and she got so pumped up that she offered to write a blog so here you go:
Dani's first drag race
"I met up with the man with the spatula, Capt. Edzo, at Palm Beach International airport bright and ugly Thursday morning and flew out on time to Charlotte. Our plane landed uneventfully and after Berserko picked me and Eddie up I met up with the team and Kev and the both of us rode in the black motorhome out to the track.
Two hours later and here I am at the track. My only other experience at the drags was back in February when they tested in Georgia. I shivered away in the lounge as they tested the car. It was my very first time seeing a Funny Car and experiencing the effects of nitromethane and noise and the ballet that is drag racing.
We were to run Friday but it rained. Then it got nice and cold, and for this lil Florida girl anything less than 90 degrees is freezing. So after being thoroughly soaked to the bone and frozen everyone called it a night.
Saturday morning and all I could hear and smell was burnouts and fuel. The team finally had their chance. They staged Bob, but all I saw was his burnout, which is loud ---gut-busting loud.
After the car was towed back to the pit and ready to warm up for the second run I was asked if I would want to ride the wheelie bar when the car was fired up. How could I not want to? What kind of girl would I be not to want to? Berserko told me that it's an experience only a few people get to do so I got ready. I put on a gas mask, ear plugs and gloves and I step up into the wheelie bar. Kev said not to close my eyes so I kept them as wide open as I could.
The car itself kind of twists, not literally but it's the only way I can describe it. I wrapped my hands tightly around the frame, Gilby hit the throttle and the whole car shakes and moves and makes all sorts of noise … noise that can't be described as anything less than a combination of gears moving, wheels turning, and pistons going up and down in a beautiful symphony written by a 500 cubic inch Hemi on nitro. The engine is, in essence, a bomb exploding with the muscle juice it craves. It's deafening with ear plugs but a crystal-clear tune. All I could do was twist my mouth into an awkward smile as it was tightly secured behind that mask. It was an experience that any drag racing fan would love to do and I had the chance to do it. I can't really describe how I felt. The adrenaline coursing in my veins fogged my mind (maybe it was nitro fumes?) and gave me such a rush. No wonder this sport makes Kev so happy. I never really understood it till now.
The rest of the weekend was blood, sweat and oil. I even got my hands a little dirty as I was given the task of cleaning off the blower and the blower bag after the engine exploded; it was the least I could do to help the team that have shown me the best hospitality a young girl could want.
My first race was a blast, I don't really know how else to describe it. Words can't convey the experience I had justice. Kev even took me down to the starting line to see Gilby run, I felt the ground shake, unbelievable.
We headed back to Blacksburg, filthy from head to toe, but I couldn't be any happier. It's a day later and as I write this on a beautiful Monday morning I'm still grinning, living in the afterglow of a weekend I will never forget.
I just want to close with a humbling thank you to Gilby and the entire Terminator Motorsports team for showing me such a wonderful weekend. All the guys accepted me with open arms and I'll never forget this weekend. Only bummer is that I've got to go back to work as a nurse Wednesday which isn't quite as exciting as being a wheelie bar rider...
Thanks Dani; we all enjoyed your company and any girl that can handle a can of brake clean like you do is welcome to come with us anytime.
Type at you L8R...BB