Testing is complete. We had hoped to complete our testing by Monday afternoon, but things weren’t going as well as planned. We ran so well in Vegas that we thought Phoenix would be a great time to try some new things. That resulted in a lot of tire shake throughout the weekend. We did manage a 4.77 at only 290 shut off run, but Mike Green wasn’t happy with our results and didn’t want to go into Pomona without make a good run as a baseline.

We decided to stay Tuesday and make a few more runs. Unfortunately Tuesday all we got done was warm up the car and sit and watch it rain. I thought it never rained in Phoenix? Tuesday night Melanie and I went to dinner with my team to a Japanese steakhouse. We had a great time and I can’t tell you how much I enjoy my guys on the team. Win or lose we are a close knit group.

Wednesday we tried to hit the track again. Mike was watching the radar in our trailer and said if we hurried we might get two runs in before it rained again. What are the odds it would rain two days in a row in the desert. We got one run in and it shook again. As the guys where servicing the car for a second run the rain came again. The track crew tried hard but couldn’t get the shut down area dry before the daylight was gone. We made a decision to try again on Thursday. We weren’t the only team trying to get some more runs in. About ten or so teams where waiting out the weather just like us.

Melanie and I barrowed Mike Green’s rental car for the night and made a trip in town. We took the dogs into Petsmart. About $80 later the puppies were happy. Melanie and I decided we hadn’t had our In-Out Burger fix yet so we picked some up before heading back to the track. Got to love them, there’s nothing quite like a good In-N-Out.

Thursday the weather was better and we hit the track about noon. The weather had turned a little cooler in Phoenix since the rain had hit so they had to really work on the track and we wanted to wait until it got a little heat in it. Mike said he was going to back the car down so we could get a couple runs in before we called it quits. What we got was a great pass. It left great and continued on a very smooth and easy pass. It was our first full run of testing. It resulted in a 4.69 at 329 MPH. I was extremely pleased with it, but I think Mike and guys where even more happy than me. With a backed down tune-up and a 4.69 I think we have some big things in store for the Skoal Racing team this season. I was really glad to get a full pass in and test the new Impala SS body on the top end.

We rolled up for what was to be our last pass of testing and Mike didn’t like what he saw. With all the rain and colder weather the track wasn’t in the best shape. The starting line had a lot of bald spots. He backed it down a lot and we made a run. The good news is that we made a good run to 330 before coming loose. He was happy with that considering the track had deterioated a little since our first run. It was high fives for everyone that pre-season testing was complete.

Mel’s team got three runs in on Thursday also and decided that they where in good shape too. She was only making half track passes since they are still waiting on so many parts. They didn’t want to hurt anything they didn’t have to until they get a lot of spares.

We had to get new plane tickets since we didn’t make our original flight due to the weather. We decided to leave our motorhome in Phoenix since plane tickets out of CA where to expensive. The puppies have adapted to racing life really good. They don’t even notice a fuel car running anymore. It got their attention the first few times though.

We got up at 3:30 a.m. on Friday and headed to the airport. We met my team at the airport and headed to Indy for the weekend. When we got to the Indy airport you would have thought we landed in Miami for the Superbowl. The excitement in Indy is unbelievable about the Colts playing in the Superbowl. It was blue everywhere. I guess I got a little spoiled in Phoenix because it sure is cold here in Indy. It was nice when I left a couple of weeks ago, but there is snow on the ground now and really cold. Good thing we are only home for a few days before heading to Pomona.

The puppies sure where glad to be home. They came running in the house and headed right for the toy box. The only good news about it being cold is they don’t take long to go to the bathroom and they are ready to head back inside.

We have spent all day today doing laundry and going through mail. Mel is in the garage working on MTI stuff and I have helped out a little. I made a trip to the shop and got there just as our spare Impala SS body was leaving on a truck for Pomona. That just means hours of decaling on Wednesday.

So much for now. We are headed to the Knocks tomorrow to watch the Superbowl with all the neighbors. I washed my lucky Colts sweatshirt today that I was wearing in Vegas when the won the AFC championship so it will be ready for tomorrow. Let’s hope the Colts can pull it off tomorrow and we can continue the Indy winning ways in Pomona.

Go Colts.