Post by sportf on May 24, 2022 0:20:52 GMT
Cordova 22 May 2022 Race Wrapup
Tom Hoffman
The Victory Race Gang showed up at Cordova Raceway on Friday 20 May ready to race, but the weather wasn't with us. So, with Saturday in mind, we came back only to be turned away again by the weather. But, Sunday, Sunday was perfect, and with air probably better than we will see for the rest of the year, but we didn't all just know that yet.
With the first and only test past complete, I went around and found that almost everybody was a tenth or more too fast, and some recalculations were going to have to take place before our actual qualifier. There was one exception to this, and that as Jim Hagenoff who ran right on with his streetable 64 Plymouth hemi. He backed that up again in the qualifier to become number one for the day!
Over half the cars went too fast during the qualifier, causing more recalculations before the first round.
First round
Rosie Kossuth and I lined up to be the first pair down the track for Victory. Her car was flying and she was dialed 9.75 to my 10.50. The lights came down for me, I got a little too excited when that last bulb turned on, and next thing I see is the “You are now a spectator” bulb come on. The blue “Lady Max” Dodge goes to the next round. Well, when looking at the time slip, she ran dead on and with her light she would have been hard to beat. As racers, we try to find some solace when looking at that, but in the end there isn't any. But, being a spectator for Victory, and watching some of your friends go on to have a terrific day is fun, and that is what we do.
Next pair to run down the track is Jeff Wood, last qualifier, in his 64 Plymouth hardtop. Jeff lines up with number one qualifier Jim Hagenhoff. Hagenhof runs a 13.04 to Jeff's 10.82, but with the lights the way they were, Jeff goes on to another round. Jeff was last qualifier as his car quit at the starting line during the qualifier. Once back in the pits a number of folks jumped in to help. The problem being a ground wire connection coming loose, that was not apparent when looking at it. I happened to find that on the last trip under the dash, and I am going to get a burger out of Jeff and Ronda for that.
High up in the current points, Bob Lantero lines up against Donnie Gains in his beautiful red 64 Dodge hardtop. Donnie cuts a little better light than Bob, but Donnie takes just a little too much stripe and the little Dart with smiling Bob goes on to the money round.
Jay Friehage then lines his hemi Barracuda up with Bob Westhof's Ford Galaxy. Bob cuts a pretty good light and takes off, and then Jay, trying to better Bob, turns on the “your race is done right here at the line” bulb. Jay and I become spectators along with Jim Hagenhoff, and we work the burn out box the rest of the race.
St. Louis winner Shaun Johnston, then shows Derek Strait how to cut a light. But, Derek isn't done yet, and they racing right to the finish line with Shaun just edging out Derek. Large Marge, Derek's car, goes on the trailer, and Derek becomes a Victory supporter for the rest of the race.
Dalton Bruemmer, in his 65 Plynouth sedan, then runs Jimmy Ferguson in his 4 speed 63 Plymouth sedan. Jimmy launches and banging gears, gets out in front of Dalton and there is just no catching him. But, Jimmy falls to the air, just making his car run too fast and breaks out turning the win over to Dalton. Jimmy has only a few passes on this car and he was rather happy even after loosing as he is getting his launch and shift points down and he was happy the car was flying. This is an all max wedge car running max exhaust and he will be dialing down his 12.75 index in the future.
Don Bruemmer then lines up against David Fuzner in his 64 T Bolt. Don had frayed his throttle cable earlier in the day on the test pass. His throttle stuck open, he stabbed the brakes and popped a front tire before slamming the ignition and fuel switches off. Don swapped lanes in the process - he had quite a ride. Don then borrowed front tires from Clay Kossuth's car (popped head gasket), a throttle cable from Jim Hagenhoff, and one new pump switch. He was able to make the call. A bunch of folks were involved with all this parts installing, and really allowed Don to win in the end. As such, we know David is done after this round, and T Bolt number 45 goes in the trailer (yeah, its a real T Bolt)
Round two
Bob and Bob line up not unlike they did in St. Louis. Westhof in his Galaxy, and Lantero in his 67 Dart. Lantero here was pretty rude to Westhof in cutting a .004 light and not even hardly giving Westhof much of a chance. Both ran basically right on their dial, but that light told the tale, and the Ford, flying faster than last year by far, is done for the day.
Rosie Kossuth then lines up with Dalton Bruemmer. With a few more years racing than Dalton, she has to show him some style and does so by putting a light on him that just can't be made up at the other end. Dalton becomes a spectator and crew chief for his dad, and you should have seen him beaming when his dad won. That was worth the price of admission right there! Thanks Dalton, you made my day!
Don Bruemmer then lines up with Shaun Johnston. Don doesn't cut a great light, but here is the luck side of things in winning a race, Shaun cuts a -.001 red “I'm done” bulb. The repaired hemi car goes on.
Jeff Wood, beating number one qualifier Hagenhoff last round, gets a bye into the bigger money round when he makes a single pass. You need to watch this car as it launches like you can't believe. Looks good Jeff!
Round three
First out Rosie lines up with Bob Lantero. Bob takes off just a little too soon and that “your done, opponent wins” bulb comes on and Rosie makes a partial pass and then back to the pits for cooling.
Last pair in this semi final round Jeff Wood stages against Don Bruemmer. Jeff actually pulled all the way through the beams when staging, but the starter told him to back up and go again. I have sort of done the same thing and it would rattle ya, and I think that is what happened here. Jeff turns on the 'dam it bulb', and Don gets ready for the final.
Final Round
Don and Rosie line up with Rosie's index at 9.75, and Don's at 9.50. All the Victory gang is watching as they both launch with almost identical lights .25 seconds apart. Watching from the starting line those two cars are moving, and looking to be side by side almost the whole way down the track. Both run just a smidgen over their indexes, and both are winners for making this round. But Don's win light comes on and all of us celebrate another great race day for the Victory Race gang..
Winners Circle
Victory Director Clay Kossuth presented the runner up award to wife Rosie. In doing so, when the cameras were NOT ready, Clay gave Rosie a beautiful kiss, missed by most, but not by me. They know how to do that, and one could learn by watching these two.
Dalton Bruemmer was beaming this whole time, and it seemed forever until Don got off the track and back to the winners circle. This was fun to watch - this father-son team in real life. A great victory within Victory.
Tom Hoffman
The Victory Race Gang showed up at Cordova Raceway on Friday 20 May ready to race, but the weather wasn't with us. So, with Saturday in mind, we came back only to be turned away again by the weather. But, Sunday, Sunday was perfect, and with air probably better than we will see for the rest of the year, but we didn't all just know that yet.
With the first and only test past complete, I went around and found that almost everybody was a tenth or more too fast, and some recalculations were going to have to take place before our actual qualifier. There was one exception to this, and that as Jim Hagenoff who ran right on with his streetable 64 Plymouth hemi. He backed that up again in the qualifier to become number one for the day!
Over half the cars went too fast during the qualifier, causing more recalculations before the first round.
First round
Rosie Kossuth and I lined up to be the first pair down the track for Victory. Her car was flying and she was dialed 9.75 to my 10.50. The lights came down for me, I got a little too excited when that last bulb turned on, and next thing I see is the “You are now a spectator” bulb come on. The blue “Lady Max” Dodge goes to the next round. Well, when looking at the time slip, she ran dead on and with her light she would have been hard to beat. As racers, we try to find some solace when looking at that, but in the end there isn't any. But, being a spectator for Victory, and watching some of your friends go on to have a terrific day is fun, and that is what we do.
Next pair to run down the track is Jeff Wood, last qualifier, in his 64 Plymouth hardtop. Jeff lines up with number one qualifier Jim Hagenhoff. Hagenhof runs a 13.04 to Jeff's 10.82, but with the lights the way they were, Jeff goes on to another round. Jeff was last qualifier as his car quit at the starting line during the qualifier. Once back in the pits a number of folks jumped in to help. The problem being a ground wire connection coming loose, that was not apparent when looking at it. I happened to find that on the last trip under the dash, and I am going to get a burger out of Jeff and Ronda for that.
High up in the current points, Bob Lantero lines up against Donnie Gains in his beautiful red 64 Dodge hardtop. Donnie cuts a little better light than Bob, but Donnie takes just a little too much stripe and the little Dart with smiling Bob goes on to the money round.
Jay Friehage then lines his hemi Barracuda up with Bob Westhof's Ford Galaxy. Bob cuts a pretty good light and takes off, and then Jay, trying to better Bob, turns on the “your race is done right here at the line” bulb. Jay and I become spectators along with Jim Hagenhoff, and we work the burn out box the rest of the race.
St. Louis winner Shaun Johnston, then shows Derek Strait how to cut a light. But, Derek isn't done yet, and they racing right to the finish line with Shaun just edging out Derek. Large Marge, Derek's car, goes on the trailer, and Derek becomes a Victory supporter for the rest of the race.
Dalton Bruemmer, in his 65 Plynouth sedan, then runs Jimmy Ferguson in his 4 speed 63 Plymouth sedan. Jimmy launches and banging gears, gets out in front of Dalton and there is just no catching him. But, Jimmy falls to the air, just making his car run too fast and breaks out turning the win over to Dalton. Jimmy has only a few passes on this car and he was rather happy even after loosing as he is getting his launch and shift points down and he was happy the car was flying. This is an all max wedge car running max exhaust and he will be dialing down his 12.75 index in the future.
Don Bruemmer then lines up against David Fuzner in his 64 T Bolt. Don had frayed his throttle cable earlier in the day on the test pass. His throttle stuck open, he stabbed the brakes and popped a front tire before slamming the ignition and fuel switches off. Don swapped lanes in the process - he had quite a ride. Don then borrowed front tires from Clay Kossuth's car (popped head gasket), a throttle cable from Jim Hagenhoff, and one new pump switch. He was able to make the call. A bunch of folks were involved with all this parts installing, and really allowed Don to win in the end. As such, we know David is done after this round, and T Bolt number 45 goes in the trailer (yeah, its a real T Bolt)
Round two
Bob and Bob line up not unlike they did in St. Louis. Westhof in his Galaxy, and Lantero in his 67 Dart. Lantero here was pretty rude to Westhof in cutting a .004 light and not even hardly giving Westhof much of a chance. Both ran basically right on their dial, but that light told the tale, and the Ford, flying faster than last year by far, is done for the day.
Rosie Kossuth then lines up with Dalton Bruemmer. With a few more years racing than Dalton, she has to show him some style and does so by putting a light on him that just can't be made up at the other end. Dalton becomes a spectator and crew chief for his dad, and you should have seen him beaming when his dad won. That was worth the price of admission right there! Thanks Dalton, you made my day!
Don Bruemmer then lines up with Shaun Johnston. Don doesn't cut a great light, but here is the luck side of things in winning a race, Shaun cuts a -.001 red “I'm done” bulb. The repaired hemi car goes on.
Jeff Wood, beating number one qualifier Hagenhoff last round, gets a bye into the bigger money round when he makes a single pass. You need to watch this car as it launches like you can't believe. Looks good Jeff!
Round three
First out Rosie lines up with Bob Lantero. Bob takes off just a little too soon and that “your done, opponent wins” bulb comes on and Rosie makes a partial pass and then back to the pits for cooling.
Last pair in this semi final round Jeff Wood stages against Don Bruemmer. Jeff actually pulled all the way through the beams when staging, but the starter told him to back up and go again. I have sort of done the same thing and it would rattle ya, and I think that is what happened here. Jeff turns on the 'dam it bulb', and Don gets ready for the final.
Final Round
Don and Rosie line up with Rosie's index at 9.75, and Don's at 9.50. All the Victory gang is watching as they both launch with almost identical lights .25 seconds apart. Watching from the starting line those two cars are moving, and looking to be side by side almost the whole way down the track. Both run just a smidgen over their indexes, and both are winners for making this round. But Don's win light comes on and all of us celebrate another great race day for the Victory Race gang..
Winners Circle
Victory Director Clay Kossuth presented the runner up award to wife Rosie. In doing so, when the cameras were NOT ready, Clay gave Rosie a beautiful kiss, missed by most, but not by me. They know how to do that, and one could learn by watching these two.
Dalton Bruemmer was beaming this whole time, and it seemed forever until Don got off the track and back to the winners circle. This was fun to watch - this father-son team in real life. A great victory within Victory.