Post by sportf on Jul 24, 2023 18:47:35 GMT
Eddyville Victory NSS racing July 2023
22 cars showed up at Eddyville to race in the summer sun and have some fun. The weather was great both days, with some overcast skies on Friday with temps in the low 80's, and into Saturday with temps in the mid 80's. By the time serious racing started Saturday afternoon, the sun was low enough to give us some shade in the staging lanes, and that made for some great racing as the evening came on.
Our qualifying pass took place about 4 PM and Steve Gantz ended up running dead on, to get the best place on the ladder. With 22 cars on the ladder, there was no first round bye, so to earn that bye, you got to get to the second round.
Round 1
Rosie Kossuth lines up with number 2 in points Dalton Bruemmer, to be the first pair to go down the track. Both cut close lights, but with Dalton's index of 7.37 against the 6.25 of Rosie's, there is a big disparity in speed down at the far end. Dalton has played this before though, and he takes the stripe, but in doing so, breaks out. Rosie goes on. Dalton backs the car in, puts the charger on, and now is waiting on the Gamblers race. It's tough on your head when you have points like this and go out, but this drag racing stuff is tough on you, and you gotta be tough to do it again.
Next pair; John Hamer lines up with points leader Bob Lantero. Bob is going hard for the championship this year, and knows how to do it. But so does Mr. Hamer. John puts a light on Bob, John leaves first, and Bob just can't catch John. Bob runs it out though, and runs right on ...... but the light was the difference. Bob heads back to pits to cool the car for the ride home. John cools his car for next round. Two races into round 1, two points leaders out.
Donnie Gaines out of Illinois, lines up with Bob Haberburger out of Missouri, in a 6.73 on 7.21 index race. As Donnie says, "He gave me a gift", and Donnie's less than stellar light wins over a gifted lit dam-it bulb. Donnie goes on, Bob waits for the gamblers to start.
Jim Hagenhoff then lines up with the rocket powered FE motored Comet of Curt Hoeft. But Curts rocket fails to fire in the lanes, and although there is a bunch scurrying and trying to get her going again, it was not to be. Jim gets a bye test pass, Curt goes back to find his ignition wire loose, fixes it, and stands by for the gamblers race.
Jon Landwehr then lines up with good friend Derek Strait. These guys go way back, and when racing with a gang, like the Victory gang, sooner or later, these matchups are going to happen. Jon has been fighting a bog off the line, and has tried A LOT of different things to cure this, and finally gets it fixed. But, with all that happening, and the lights coming down ..... well, they come down pretty fast some times, and if your mind is faster, the "done right here" bulb
comes on. So, Derek gets Large Marge ready for next round, Jon stands by for the gamblers. Jon was happy the car was finally fixed, but he has a heck of a night in front of him yet. He will win the gamblers, and he'll have to run hard and right to do it.
Steve Gantz then lines up with the Victory NSS version of Ronnie Sox, in the form of gear banging Jimmy Ferguson. Jimmy leaves with a clutch dump and goes through all those 4 gears of his, screaming toward the finish line and is doing his best to stay ahead of Steve coming on strong. Steve and Jimmy cross the finish line very close to each other, but only one gets a win light. That light goes on for Steve, and once again, the runner up in this round, Jimmy, gets ready for the gamblers.
Next, this writer, Tom Hoffman, lines up with Brian Haberburger, in a 6.73 against Brian's 6.89. Brian is really having a good year so far, and when the lights come down, there isn't a lot of difference between the two lanes. Well, .016 seconds really. Both of us cut close lights, but Brian's car does one of those "I think I'll slow down, for no real reasons" moves. I can take the stripe and the win light. Brian gets ready for the gamblers, I get ready for the next round. I also start collecting for the gamblers, taking names and money. AND, leaving room for me on the paper, just in case I can't get past next round.
Next pair; Don Bruemmer in his hemi powered 65 Plymouth, lines up with Fast Eddie Wheeldon in his real '68 Hemi Dart. Eddie got this Dart from Legend Jim Van Zee back in the day and has raced it for years. Eddie has a lot of history, and so does his car. Well, history or not, lights come down, both are off, and but only one win light comes on. Fast Eddie takes the win, Don gets the car cooled for the gamblers race.
Clay Kossuth then lines up with Kevin Czajkowski's FE powered Fairlane. This is one fast Ford, with Kevin at a 6.25 index against Clay's 6.57. Kevin puts a light on Clay, and takes the stripe for the win. This won't be the only time Kevin puts a light on somebody this evening. He'll do it a couple more times in the gamblers race ..... he just doesn't know it yet, and neither do we. Long time Nostalgia racer Clay gets ready for the gamblers race.
Bob Westhoff in his 63 Galaxie, then lines up with another 63, in the form of Mike Kurz in his 63 Dodge. Mike cuts a light on Bob and goes screaming down the track and can tell he is going to catch Bob well before the finishing line. Mike, with his car on a screaming pass like this, knows he is going to break out, so he backs off a little ....... a little too much .... and Bob's win light comes on. How many times have we all done that? Bob goes on. Mike will actually get a first round bye in the gamblers, but not being able to seeing into the future, just gets ready to gamble race like half of the Victory racers here today.
Last pair; Shawn Johnston lines up in his '66 Plymouth against the Plymouth Barracuda of Jay Freihage. Jay's hemi powered Barracuda is going to run a 6.25 index against Shawn's 6.89. Both have close lights, but Shawn is out in front, and will stay there while Jay's tires fry away, going up in smoke. Jay still runs a 104 mph, but can't catch Shawn. Jay is done, Shawn is just getting started on one of those race days we ALL want.
Round two
Bob Westhoff lines up his 63 Galaxie against Lady Max Rosie Kossuth. Both red light, but with Bob's 7.37 index against Rosie's 6.25, Bobs dam-it bulb comes on first. I haven't seen Bob red bulb in a LONG time, but nobody is immune for ever, he gets ready for the gamblers race. Rosie, having a good day so far, will go on.
Shawn Johnston then lines up with Jim Hagenhoff, in his Amercian Muscle 65 Plymouth with the hemi power. Hagenhoff cuts a .010 light against a .042 of Shauwn's, but must have had tire spin or something, as he can't catch Shawn. Shawn goes on to have a perfect day, Jim gets cooled down for the gamblers race.
I then line up with Donnie Gaines in his red 64 Dodge, against my red 63 Plywood. This is a 6.73 index for both of us. Both of us cut a raceable light but I'm ahead at the 60 foot. Donnie slips coming off the line and gets behind, in a catch up race that just can't happen. I take the stripe, and Donnie gets in line for the gamblers race. I can scratch my spot off on the gamblers list, but I'm not going much farther ..... just don't know it yet.
John Hamer then lines up with Kevin Czajkowski's screaming fast FE powered Fairlane. Both cut almost exactly the same light, within 003 of each other. Both go stretching for the finish line, but only John's win light comes on. John will go on to have a really good day, but so will Kevin, once he gets in the gamblers race.
Derek Strait in Large Marge, then lines up with Fast Eddie Wheeldon's 68 hemi Dart. Derek cuts a better light than Fast Eddie, and Eddie just can't make up the difference. Derek cools the car, he is having a great year so far, and he goes on to the money round.
Steve Gantz, the number one qualifier, then gets his well earned bye run, and sets himself up for the next round.
The money round, round 3:
OK, so everyone here in this round is in the money. Not big money, but better than a poke in the eye. If you get a chance to run Bruce Lang's race at Rockfalls next year, his race pays entrance back, if you can get past first round. But here we are, evening setting in, dew settling in on cars in the lanes. A real nice evening. 13 Gamblers cars are in the lanes behind us, ready for first round.
First pair, John Hamer lines up with Steve Gantz in a; 6.57 for Hamer, 6.73 for Steve. Steve launches past the tree with wheels up just in time to see the "I'm finished before I start" bulb come on. Hamer cuts a .013 light anyways and both go all the way down the track. One happy, one not so much.
Next pair, I line up with Shawn Johnston in a 6.89 for Shawn, and a 6.73 for myself. Shawn cuts a nice footbrake light with a .017, and I'm right behind with an .020. We got a race on, but Shawn takes the stripe by .004, and he goes on to have the best day you can have. I've had a real good day anyway, and I'll go to the cheering side of the team.
Last pair this round Rosie lines up with Derek Straight. Dodge against Dodge in a 6.35 for Rosie, 7.21 for Derek. Rosie cuts a light that few can beat and has Derek covered before the finish. Derek sees this coming, but not much can be done but hope for a break out, which doesn't happen. Rosie goes to semis in a really good day.
Semi Final round
John Hamer and long time friend and neighbor Rosie Kossuth, line up in the evening coolness with the track well lit up all the way to the end. Score boards are really visible here at Eddyville in the dark. And, as a racer, you can see the board AFTER you cross the finish line, to see how well you did (or didn't do).
Hamer cuts a light on Rosie, who runs dead on. John can back down a little when he sees Rosie can't catch him. Rosie has a good day, John's is just a little better.
Shawn Johnston gets a ladder bye into the finals.
Final
Well, we know Shawn takes home all the marbles here, and John is runner up. So, Shawn cuts a little better light than John, and John is hot on his run. John breaks out by .003 trying to take the stripe, but settles for a real nice day at the track instead. Both Shawn and John come back up to the starting line for winners circle pictures and congratulations. Another great race for Victory in the books. Points are tight for several poeple, and we are all looking forward to racing at St. Louis with the NDRL gang in August.
22 cars showed up at Eddyville to race in the summer sun and have some fun. The weather was great both days, with some overcast skies on Friday with temps in the low 80's, and into Saturday with temps in the mid 80's. By the time serious racing started Saturday afternoon, the sun was low enough to give us some shade in the staging lanes, and that made for some great racing as the evening came on.
Our qualifying pass took place about 4 PM and Steve Gantz ended up running dead on, to get the best place on the ladder. With 22 cars on the ladder, there was no first round bye, so to earn that bye, you got to get to the second round.
Round 1
Rosie Kossuth lines up with number 2 in points Dalton Bruemmer, to be the first pair to go down the track. Both cut close lights, but with Dalton's index of 7.37 against the 6.25 of Rosie's, there is a big disparity in speed down at the far end. Dalton has played this before though, and he takes the stripe, but in doing so, breaks out. Rosie goes on. Dalton backs the car in, puts the charger on, and now is waiting on the Gamblers race. It's tough on your head when you have points like this and go out, but this drag racing stuff is tough on you, and you gotta be tough to do it again.
Next pair; John Hamer lines up with points leader Bob Lantero. Bob is going hard for the championship this year, and knows how to do it. But so does Mr. Hamer. John puts a light on Bob, John leaves first, and Bob just can't catch John. Bob runs it out though, and runs right on ...... but the light was the difference. Bob heads back to pits to cool the car for the ride home. John cools his car for next round. Two races into round 1, two points leaders out.
Donnie Gaines out of Illinois, lines up with Bob Haberburger out of Missouri, in a 6.73 on 7.21 index race. As Donnie says, "He gave me a gift", and Donnie's less than stellar light wins over a gifted lit dam-it bulb. Donnie goes on, Bob waits for the gamblers to start.
Jim Hagenhoff then lines up with the rocket powered FE motored Comet of Curt Hoeft. But Curts rocket fails to fire in the lanes, and although there is a bunch scurrying and trying to get her going again, it was not to be. Jim gets a bye test pass, Curt goes back to find his ignition wire loose, fixes it, and stands by for the gamblers race.
Jon Landwehr then lines up with good friend Derek Strait. These guys go way back, and when racing with a gang, like the Victory gang, sooner or later, these matchups are going to happen. Jon has been fighting a bog off the line, and has tried A LOT of different things to cure this, and finally gets it fixed. But, with all that happening, and the lights coming down ..... well, they come down pretty fast some times, and if your mind is faster, the "done right here" bulb
comes on. So, Derek gets Large Marge ready for next round, Jon stands by for the gamblers. Jon was happy the car was finally fixed, but he has a heck of a night in front of him yet. He will win the gamblers, and he'll have to run hard and right to do it.
Steve Gantz then lines up with the Victory NSS version of Ronnie Sox, in the form of gear banging Jimmy Ferguson. Jimmy leaves with a clutch dump and goes through all those 4 gears of his, screaming toward the finish line and is doing his best to stay ahead of Steve coming on strong. Steve and Jimmy cross the finish line very close to each other, but only one gets a win light. That light goes on for Steve, and once again, the runner up in this round, Jimmy, gets ready for the gamblers.
Next, this writer, Tom Hoffman, lines up with Brian Haberburger, in a 6.73 against Brian's 6.89. Brian is really having a good year so far, and when the lights come down, there isn't a lot of difference between the two lanes. Well, .016 seconds really. Both of us cut close lights, but Brian's car does one of those "I think I'll slow down, for no real reasons" moves. I can take the stripe and the win light. Brian gets ready for the gamblers, I get ready for the next round. I also start collecting for the gamblers, taking names and money. AND, leaving room for me on the paper, just in case I can't get past next round.
Next pair; Don Bruemmer in his hemi powered 65 Plymouth, lines up with Fast Eddie Wheeldon in his real '68 Hemi Dart. Eddie got this Dart from Legend Jim Van Zee back in the day and has raced it for years. Eddie has a lot of history, and so does his car. Well, history or not, lights come down, both are off, and but only one win light comes on. Fast Eddie takes the win, Don gets the car cooled for the gamblers race.
Clay Kossuth then lines up with Kevin Czajkowski's FE powered Fairlane. This is one fast Ford, with Kevin at a 6.25 index against Clay's 6.57. Kevin puts a light on Clay, and takes the stripe for the win. This won't be the only time Kevin puts a light on somebody this evening. He'll do it a couple more times in the gamblers race ..... he just doesn't know it yet, and neither do we. Long time Nostalgia racer Clay gets ready for the gamblers race.
Bob Westhoff in his 63 Galaxie, then lines up with another 63, in the form of Mike Kurz in his 63 Dodge. Mike cuts a light on Bob and goes screaming down the track and can tell he is going to catch Bob well before the finishing line. Mike, with his car on a screaming pass like this, knows he is going to break out, so he backs off a little ....... a little too much .... and Bob's win light comes on. How many times have we all done that? Bob goes on. Mike will actually get a first round bye in the gamblers, but not being able to seeing into the future, just gets ready to gamble race like half of the Victory racers here today.
Last pair; Shawn Johnston lines up in his '66 Plymouth against the Plymouth Barracuda of Jay Freihage. Jay's hemi powered Barracuda is going to run a 6.25 index against Shawn's 6.89. Both have close lights, but Shawn is out in front, and will stay there while Jay's tires fry away, going up in smoke. Jay still runs a 104 mph, but can't catch Shawn. Jay is done, Shawn is just getting started on one of those race days we ALL want.
Round two
Bob Westhoff lines up his 63 Galaxie against Lady Max Rosie Kossuth. Both red light, but with Bob's 7.37 index against Rosie's 6.25, Bobs dam-it bulb comes on first. I haven't seen Bob red bulb in a LONG time, but nobody is immune for ever, he gets ready for the gamblers race. Rosie, having a good day so far, will go on.
Shawn Johnston then lines up with Jim Hagenhoff, in his Amercian Muscle 65 Plymouth with the hemi power. Hagenhoff cuts a .010 light against a .042 of Shauwn's, but must have had tire spin or something, as he can't catch Shawn. Shawn goes on to have a perfect day, Jim gets cooled down for the gamblers race.
I then line up with Donnie Gaines in his red 64 Dodge, against my red 63 Plywood. This is a 6.73 index for both of us. Both of us cut a raceable light but I'm ahead at the 60 foot. Donnie slips coming off the line and gets behind, in a catch up race that just can't happen. I take the stripe, and Donnie gets in line for the gamblers race. I can scratch my spot off on the gamblers list, but I'm not going much farther ..... just don't know it yet.
John Hamer then lines up with Kevin Czajkowski's screaming fast FE powered Fairlane. Both cut almost exactly the same light, within 003 of each other. Both go stretching for the finish line, but only John's win light comes on. John will go on to have a really good day, but so will Kevin, once he gets in the gamblers race.
Derek Strait in Large Marge, then lines up with Fast Eddie Wheeldon's 68 hemi Dart. Derek cuts a better light than Fast Eddie, and Eddie just can't make up the difference. Derek cools the car, he is having a great year so far, and he goes on to the money round.
Steve Gantz, the number one qualifier, then gets his well earned bye run, and sets himself up for the next round.
The money round, round 3:
OK, so everyone here in this round is in the money. Not big money, but better than a poke in the eye. If you get a chance to run Bruce Lang's race at Rockfalls next year, his race pays entrance back, if you can get past first round. But here we are, evening setting in, dew settling in on cars in the lanes. A real nice evening. 13 Gamblers cars are in the lanes behind us, ready for first round.
First pair, John Hamer lines up with Steve Gantz in a; 6.57 for Hamer, 6.73 for Steve. Steve launches past the tree with wheels up just in time to see the "I'm finished before I start" bulb come on. Hamer cuts a .013 light anyways and both go all the way down the track. One happy, one not so much.
Next pair, I line up with Shawn Johnston in a 6.89 for Shawn, and a 6.73 for myself. Shawn cuts a nice footbrake light with a .017, and I'm right behind with an .020. We got a race on, but Shawn takes the stripe by .004, and he goes on to have the best day you can have. I've had a real good day anyway, and I'll go to the cheering side of the team.
Last pair this round Rosie lines up with Derek Straight. Dodge against Dodge in a 6.35 for Rosie, 7.21 for Derek. Rosie cuts a light that few can beat and has Derek covered before the finish. Derek sees this coming, but not much can be done but hope for a break out, which doesn't happen. Rosie goes to semis in a really good day.
Semi Final round
John Hamer and long time friend and neighbor Rosie Kossuth, line up in the evening coolness with the track well lit up all the way to the end. Score boards are really visible here at Eddyville in the dark. And, as a racer, you can see the board AFTER you cross the finish line, to see how well you did (or didn't do).
Hamer cuts a light on Rosie, who runs dead on. John can back down a little when he sees Rosie can't catch him. Rosie has a good day, John's is just a little better.
Shawn Johnston gets a ladder bye into the finals.
Final
Well, we know Shawn takes home all the marbles here, and John is runner up. So, Shawn cuts a little better light than John, and John is hot on his run. John breaks out by .003 trying to take the stripe, but settles for a real nice day at the track instead. Both Shawn and John come back up to the starting line for winners circle pictures and congratulations. Another great race for Victory in the books. Points are tight for several poeple, and we are all looking forward to racing at St. Louis with the NDRL gang in August.