Alright Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time for the next, and last, installment of the 2014 track championship series. It started off with coolish weather which was good as the previous day saw temperatures in the vicinity of 104 degrees F and as you know sitting in an open car with a multi- layer suit on is not much fun in those conditions. Five cars were entered but only 4 fronted with the Alan Dorman Chev inline 6 still in sick bay with oil problems. When we were called up for the first qualifying run only 2 of us, me and Al Odgers in the Bosckovich Flathead powered Hambster fronted. Joe had gearshift problems on the way to the staging lanes and Jeff was still trying to locate his license and logbook to get registered. I ran a 14.485 and Odgers a 15.498. Second saw Joe doing a 14.291 and me, 14.474. Alan Odgers had trouble in stage and didn't run. Actually, because he hadn't driven that car for a while he thought the switch marked 'F' stood for fan. Instead of running the battery down he switched it off, not realizing that it stood for Fuel pump. No fuel, no go. Hands up all those who haven't done something similar. Can't see any hands up, thought so. Jeff till wasn't back with his paperwork. Third qualifying Jeff , finally registered, was up against his Dad with Jeff taking the win with Joe having shifter trouble again and me taking a win over Alan but mine running off song with **** in the fuel. 3 and a half hours till our first Chicago shoot out and me and Jeff are first up. While I'm sitting in the staging lanes I notice a spray of fuel from a pinhole in the fuel block. I can't get out of the line so I turned the fuel pump on and off, hopefully so no-one would notice. As a result when I staged I was trying to hold the handbrake, turn the fuel pump on and off and concentrate on the 'tree. Jeff took the win. Back to the pits and grab a piece of chewy(gum) a quick chew and shove it over the hole and wrap it up with insulation tape. Good to go, I hoped. 2nd round I was up against Alan, so with the problems in mind I thought it would be a good idea to change my dial-in. Dialed 14.75 and ran 14.744. ******, another loss. Not sure who won between Jeff and Joe. 3rd round I was up against Joe. I left my dial-in at 14.75 as I didn't have a chance of getting in the final. I run 14.59, breaking out by heaps. Jeff takes a win over Alan. The final ended up between Joe and Alan with Joe taking the win . All in, still a good days racing with Sydney Dragway doing a fantastic job as always. Well fans, that'll be all for this year. Maybe a weekend in Gunnedah in December but that will depend on the heat up that neck of the woods. Peter.
Here's a couple of videos my wife took with her new camera so be gentle with the comments as she still learning how to drive it.
spanners, thank the Mrs. for us any video of the group is good! As always thanks for updates they are much appreciated.
I'll p*** on the compliments to her. Here's a video of me playing 'musical fuel pump switch'. These blokes hope to drive HAMBsters one day.
Alright, I won't keep you in suspenders any longer. The results are in for the 2014 Sydney Dragway Track Championship Series. The envelope please (cue drum roll). The runner-up trophy goes to Jeff Danglmaier. Congratulations to Jeff. The winner is ................ the really ugly one, me. It's been a long series but one that was made very enjoyable by the racing between a great bunch of blokes. We had Al Dorman , Joe Danglmaier , Steve Danglmaier, Jeremy and Josh Bosckovich, Alan Odgers and Dave McNamara. Whist off the track everyone helped everyone else, when those staging lights come on the bloke becomes an opponent not a mate. But when you cross the finish line they become your mate again. ****** brilliant concept I reckon. This is only my third year of drag racing in my 57 years and my first year in a compe***ion of any sort. To say I am chuffed would be an understatement. My lovely , very supportive wife, who is also my pit chief, pit crew and greatest fan, has already pointed out that I'll have to back it up next year. Trust her to bring me back to earth! We hope that Sydney Dragway invites us down for another year. Thanks must also go to Sydney Dragway for the way they run things. All their staff are great to work with. Once again thanks to the other racers for a great year of racing and I hope we can get a few more HAMBsters turning up. I need the compe***ion. ( Insert load groan from the audience). Many thanks to all on this forum for putting up with my ****ping on through the year and the video downloads. If at times it sounds like I'm on drugs or pissed, it's only because I'm trying to describe the events without getting too serious. I gladly do them, not because of an ego thing, but to show what we get up to. Peter. P.S. Trust a two year old granddaughter to bring you down to earth. She reckons the trophy would be a good place to hang Xmas decorations.
Here's a mug shot. The poor ****** in the suit is the boss of Sydney Dragway. After I'd had a few drinks, I started bending his ear. You know how it goes, " maaaaate, youse gotta let us run next year, etc. etc. etc.". Hope I didn't ruin for us. Here's Jeff's mug shot.
Thanks to everybody who came along for the ride and thank you for congratulations. I've just been reading another thread were it was said that you don't build a car unless you want to compete. I built mine because I wanted to just have a go at this drag racing stuff that had been in the back of my mind for 40years. That and the desire to go and have a 'fang' without worrying about cops, pedestrians or rev limits. I'd be lying if I said I didn't do a bit of street racing but I never felt comfortable with it. After winning a couple of meetings, yes it started to feel good, but in reality I just loved getting in and mashing the loud pedal. If I hadn't won any races I'd still be turning up and doing it all over again. Even after the ****piest day of racing, my wife would ask me on the way home if I still enjoyed racing. "**** yeah" was my standard reply. Yes, we will be back next year with more videos and corny reporting and who knows some of them Sydney blokes might join in on the commentary. Hint, hint. Next weekend is Gunnedah so I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again, Peter (spanners) and Rhonda (Mrs. spanners)
Enjoyed the ride and love your at***ude about what it's all about. A bad day racing in one of these cars still brings a smile to your face.
The Jalopy Journal
