Cool cruise up with a bit of a gang. My 'Cab, Paul Worrow's 73 Charger, Markie's Charger, Bilko's R/T Challenger and Trev's Duster/Caravan combo. Got ensconced, then off to Webster's for some drugs of the laughing kind
My Mock Papworth Dash was well received by Guy who quite kindly pointed out that RichDeb has more gauges than him! Doh! Friday night cruise was cool "Yes, Orificer, the exhaust must have loosened itself and fallen off outside my tent" later on was the usual madness and 'Cab party with some young boys incl Dart74Boy and Charger/RoscoeBoy. After a stonking fried brekkie courtesy of Trev's squeeze, 'Shell, it was off to the fire up lanes. 2 runs on the motor saw very disappointing times of 14.2 and 14.1 both at about 94. I put it down to air and jets. Rather than spend valuable track time tuning this I decided to get the secret Nitrous up and running. I only finished installing the set up on Thursday afternoon so it was a fairly steep learning curve for me and my Crew Chief Philth. Fuel pressure and fuel pressure cut off switch were adjusted. Colder plugs put in, timing backed off 4 degrees (2 for 50hp jets, 2 for safety). Nitrous purged to the solenoid, damn that stuffs COLD! All this important work was interrupted by meeting people, people giving advice, people borrowing stuff, etc, etc. Stressful stuff, totally alleviated by the new Team Jester Jim(Gem) with his witty takes on the TechMech side of things, thanks mate 8) Out to queue some more for a last run in the evening air. As I pulled up in the fire up lane I was thinking about how to run on drugs for the first time. I'll just fire it in third to check it works, a little further down the lane, I'll fire it in second and third, a little further down, I'll roll it out of the hole and then nail it in 1, 2 and 3. By the time I was at the front of queue, yep, you guessed it. NAIL IT OFF THE LINE 8) The air must have been fantastic as I ripped of a NPB of 13.3@102. Hoorah! My euphoria was shot down by the always sensible (not!) DaveR reminding me I'd used 50hp of drugs to knock a tenth off me best time on the motor
(Good point mate, but that time was at Shakey in fantastic air in October on a race prepped track on a totally fresh motor (File under RacerExcuses Vol.1!) Due to the late racing and a delayed hangover from the 3.30AM Cab Party finish I got a late start on the Saturday night party. Decided to go for it with VodkaWineGums and Energy Drink topped up with JD and a splash of Coke with a DoubleVodkaRedBull on the side with a few Bud/Fosters chasers. That done the trick! Band was Gravy as usual. Met a bloke who was convinced that Andy Neal was there (who could that lookylikey have been?) I ended up having my earliest night ever at a Nats, calling it a day at 2AM. (Must be getting on!) Sunday, after another fantastic 'Shell fry up, I put the 100hp jets in gunning for that elusive 12 ticket. Timing backed off another 2 degrees. First run saw 13.2@103. Back to pits to check for detonation, none present so 1 degree put back in the timing. Back out to the fire up lanes. Bang it off the line on the 'Vertor and get 13.065@105.63NPB. The Cab is on a definite top end charge now. The first 60ft is a bit stumbly but I think a purge valve will sort this out (venting throught Taxi sign
). It really pulls when the cold drugs get there. Re-check for detonation and it looks on the limit so out for another run. 13.2@104. Decide to get that 12 by flashing the 'vertor off idle. Get 4 cars from the front of the fire up lanes and threre's autofluid at the end of the track, Game Over! Watch for the 12 at the HotRodDrags 8) Fantastic time had and great to meet up with everyone. Thanks to the Nats Committee and everyone else for all the hard work that goes into the Event. Well done Ivor on your pot. Well done to all the 'Strip Virgins. Roll on 2006 3 Days Racing Nats. Sweet! Unlucky Paul Worrow was racing a Ford GT40 on his way home and ran out of fuel!
Special thanks to Philth for driving the support van and Crew Chiefing for me all weekend.
I missed out on the Papworth dash though, how come I didnt see it.......fantastic work
