Post by sportf on May 22, 2023 15:02:23 GMT
Indy Race Wrap up
What a great race and what a great venue. Victory Nostalgia Super Stock racing with NDRL was just great along with the weather. 26 cars showed up and we were all ready to race. Well, with some exceptions, we had more breakage here than ever before.
We had a couple test passes on Friday, then had a great pot luck get together with all the NDRL gang and it was a great bench race session there. It was cut a little short with the rain, but we got it in and had fun.
Breakage. Both Clay and Rosie Kossuth had to bow out before qualifying with engine problems. Gary Beamer had some transmission issues and the darn thing just wouldn't shift. I tried to assist some there, but to no avail. Then, Bob Haberburger's brand new big block dart broke his perch welds on the rear during the launch and threw the car out of wack in a somewhat spectacular fashion. But he immediately pulled over and with the drive shaft not coming out of the trans it was a short cleanup. Pinion angle after this run was about 30 degrees, a little too much for that rear u joint, eh?
Saturday the weather was really cool and so for our one and only qual hit it was off the trailer into the clear cool weather kind of a guess. Donnie Gains looked at his data from previous runs, changed weight in the car, and hit it dead on with a one. Bob Lantero hit it dead on with a 5, and Bob Mosher hit it dead on with an 8. Not bad for some guys with out a weather station or a computer, just their heads and years of experience. I love this foot break racing.
Round one
With the ladder set, away we go. Number one qualifier Donnie Gains runs under, but hit the red bulb anyway against Dalton Bruemmer. Daltons light would have been heck to beat anyway, and Dalton, goes on.
Next pair Jim Hagenhoff puts Jay Friehage's hemi Barracuda on the trailer in a hemi on hemi race. Unfortunately although Jim wins this pass, the tranny goes south, while Jim goes north, and the next round will be Jim's last. Jay turned on the dam it bulb here and Jim makes a 9.71 pass on his 9.50 and knows its not looking good.
Then, Kevin Miller and his 65 Dodge lines up against Jeff Wood's 64 Plymouth in a Mopar - Mopar battle. Take a look at Jeff's interior next time at the races and see what Randy Van Hook did in his upholstery shop before he sold the car. It is fantastic. Kevin cuts a light that just won't let Jeff win and the team of Jeff and Ronda are left in the spectator lane along with the other half of Victory racers.
Then, double ohh Joe Ewing races Bob Westhoff in a Dodge-Ford battle. We already know Bob goes on to runner up and so Joe has to go out. With almost identical lights Joe breaks out of his 9.75 with a 9.72 getting ahead of Bob at the stripe. Bob drops back and runs 11.52 to take the win and another red car is done.
Then Bob Lantero runs the 9.75 car of Kevin Czajkowski and takes the win when Kevin goes .003 red. This is so close to winning by Kevin that its tough when you look at the time slip. But, this is a tough sport and half the racers are done after first round, we all know that. Bob will go on, as well already know.
Next 2021 Champion John Hamer lines up with last years Champ Shawn Johnston. We know this is going to be good, and it was. With almost identical lights these guys are racing down the strip and at the 1300 foot mark its right there. Shawn breaks out with John touching the brakes, and its over for the champion. Darn it......I know Shawn wanted to start the season off great, but just like that, he'll have to try again next race.
Next, this writer, Tom Hoffman, lines up with new comer Brian Haberburger in his Black Max 64 Dodge. As the tree comes down, I'm watching his side, not paying attention and he gives it to me with a red. I had a bad light, but, none the less, get the win and that black Dodge waits for the next race.
Next pair, the nuclear powered hemi of Don Bruemmer runs T Bolt number 45 driven by David Fuszner. David cuts a worse light than Don, but Don, who says he loves his shifter, goes from first to third, and runs a 9.71 on a 9.50 and can't keep up with the T bolts 10.10 on an 10.0 index. David goes on, Don becomes Dalton's crew chief.
Next, Bob Mosher's beautiful 67 Fairlane runs the rocket powered Comet of Curt Hoeft. Bob cuts an almost perfect red light and allows Curt to go on to the next round. We have a bunch of Fords in our group, and darned if they don't show their power in a lot of our Victory races. This race will be no exception.
Derek Strait in Large Marge then runs Jimmy Ferguson's stick 63 Belvedere in an interesting race. Jimmy launches first on his 12.50 dial and its absolutely banging gears down the track in a most violent way when Derek launches on his 11.50 index. Jimmy has the race in the bag at the tree, but had such a great launch that he wants to run it out and see what she will do. And that is what he does, running faster than he has ever run before. Jimmy puts down a violent 12.27 and gives the run to Derek, but is as pleased to find his 6 grand (yes, 6 grand) launch works and will be back for more. I'll post a video later, you just got to see this.......I can't believe something hasn't broken!
Last pair this round is Jeff Blickensderfer against the Ford Galaxy of Dick Monaco. Dick had been fighting problems all week end, and just couldn't get the car's first outing this year to run right. In the end, the car's idle went way up, and didn't seem to be a vaccum leak, and then went away.....and came back. Well, Jeff goes on to the next round, and Dick takes the car home to see what is going on. I just don't understand why more of these problems don't show up in the driveway where they'd be a lot easier to figure.
Round two
First pair out I line up with Derek Strait. Old habits seem to come back at a bad time for me, and this is what happens here. Tree comes down, I launch as soon as the bottom bulb comes on....I didn't wait that miniscule second, and the bulb goes red. Derek goes all the way down the track as the winner. I go all the way down the track trying to figure out how I can wait on the bottom bulb to be on longer.
Curt Hoeft then lines up against Champ John Hamer. Wow, Curt leaves first with an .015 bulb and John is not to be out done and leaves with a killer .006. Both break out just a tiny bit, but Curt comes out on top and John goes on to the spectator side of things along with myself.
Bob Lantero then runs David Fuszner and we know what has to happen here. Both cut close lights so they definitely have a race going on here. Both 10.0 cars here side by side, but Bob takes the stripe, and goes on, and on, and on.
Next Jeff Blick lines up with long time friend Kevin Miller. These to racers have been traveling to the races together ever since I've been with this group, and this is, of course, not the first time they line up against each other. Jeff cuts a 30's light, Killer Kevin doesn't. Both run dead on, but only one comes back and Jeff goes on to the money round.
Bob Westhoff lines up with Jim Hagenfoff this next pair. Jim has told Bob already he has tranny problems so Bob cuts a "safe light" and goes down to the 1000 foot mark and cuts it off. Jim stages, gets the round points, and puts it in the trailer and can't wait to get home to see what is going on. Jim has put a push button shifter in the car. As you know, that adjustment is so touchy that literally, a couple thousands this way or that and it won't work. We hope this can get fixed before next race.
Last one down the track, Dalton Bruemmer gets a bye, as he took out number one qualifier first round. There will be one more bye in this race, and that will go to eventual winner Lantero going into the final.
Money round, third round
First pair, Bob Westhoff's Ford runs the rocket powered Comet of Curt Hoeft. Bob, in typical fashion, puts such a light on Curt that it was not good for Curt. Curt breaks out trying to keep a head of Bob, but it couldn't happen. Bob goes on, and on.
Next Derek Strait, is having a pretty good day, but then, Dalton Bruemmer is too. With a couple of really close lights, Dalton takes a little too much stripe in a 11.50 on 11.50 round. Dalton breaks out, Derek's day just got better.
Bob Lantero then runs Jeff Blick, and we know how this has to go. Jeff cuts a better light against Bob, but Bob doesn't break out and Jeff does. Bob, will get the bye into the next round.
Semi final!!!!
Bob Westhoff runs Derek Strait. Bob kills the tree, I mean kills the tree, and stays ahead of Derek all the way down the track in a 11.50 on 11.50 round. Derek tries pushing the accelerator to the front bumper trying to catch Bob...and we all know how that feels. But, not able to catch Bob, both drop a little speed and the white finish line is owned by Bob. Bob goes on.
Bob Lantero runs his bye run out to check speed and runs a 10.01 on a 10.0. Bob has once again been so consistent with his index all day long that is really is something to see on these run sheets. The final will be a little different, but not much.
Final round
Well, we know how this goes, Lantero cuts a little better light than Westoff, but neither light is something one would write home about. But this is the finals, so what the heck. Both break out in that final pass trying to take the stripe, but the stripe belongs to Lantero. Watch these two this season, these two are ALWAYS in the running, and probably always will be. You know what's great about that? Both are just great guys to hang out and race with...... along with all Victory racers!!!
What a great week end. Next week Eddyville race in the corn field!!!!!!!!
What a great race and what a great venue. Victory Nostalgia Super Stock racing with NDRL was just great along with the weather. 26 cars showed up and we were all ready to race. Well, with some exceptions, we had more breakage here than ever before.
We had a couple test passes on Friday, then had a great pot luck get together with all the NDRL gang and it was a great bench race session there. It was cut a little short with the rain, but we got it in and had fun.
Breakage. Both Clay and Rosie Kossuth had to bow out before qualifying with engine problems. Gary Beamer had some transmission issues and the darn thing just wouldn't shift. I tried to assist some there, but to no avail. Then, Bob Haberburger's brand new big block dart broke his perch welds on the rear during the launch and threw the car out of wack in a somewhat spectacular fashion. But he immediately pulled over and with the drive shaft not coming out of the trans it was a short cleanup. Pinion angle after this run was about 30 degrees, a little too much for that rear u joint, eh?
Saturday the weather was really cool and so for our one and only qual hit it was off the trailer into the clear cool weather kind of a guess. Donnie Gains looked at his data from previous runs, changed weight in the car, and hit it dead on with a one. Bob Lantero hit it dead on with a 5, and Bob Mosher hit it dead on with an 8. Not bad for some guys with out a weather station or a computer, just their heads and years of experience. I love this foot break racing.
Round one
With the ladder set, away we go. Number one qualifier Donnie Gains runs under, but hit the red bulb anyway against Dalton Bruemmer. Daltons light would have been heck to beat anyway, and Dalton, goes on.
Next pair Jim Hagenhoff puts Jay Friehage's hemi Barracuda on the trailer in a hemi on hemi race. Unfortunately although Jim wins this pass, the tranny goes south, while Jim goes north, and the next round will be Jim's last. Jay turned on the dam it bulb here and Jim makes a 9.71 pass on his 9.50 and knows its not looking good.
Then, Kevin Miller and his 65 Dodge lines up against Jeff Wood's 64 Plymouth in a Mopar - Mopar battle. Take a look at Jeff's interior next time at the races and see what Randy Van Hook did in his upholstery shop before he sold the car. It is fantastic. Kevin cuts a light that just won't let Jeff win and the team of Jeff and Ronda are left in the spectator lane along with the other half of Victory racers.
Then, double ohh Joe Ewing races Bob Westhoff in a Dodge-Ford battle. We already know Bob goes on to runner up and so Joe has to go out. With almost identical lights Joe breaks out of his 9.75 with a 9.72 getting ahead of Bob at the stripe. Bob drops back and runs 11.52 to take the win and another red car is done.
Then Bob Lantero runs the 9.75 car of Kevin Czajkowski and takes the win when Kevin goes .003 red. This is so close to winning by Kevin that its tough when you look at the time slip. But, this is a tough sport and half the racers are done after first round, we all know that. Bob will go on, as well already know.
Next 2021 Champion John Hamer lines up with last years Champ Shawn Johnston. We know this is going to be good, and it was. With almost identical lights these guys are racing down the strip and at the 1300 foot mark its right there. Shawn breaks out with John touching the brakes, and its over for the champion. Darn it......I know Shawn wanted to start the season off great, but just like that, he'll have to try again next race.
Next, this writer, Tom Hoffman, lines up with new comer Brian Haberburger in his Black Max 64 Dodge. As the tree comes down, I'm watching his side, not paying attention and he gives it to me with a red. I had a bad light, but, none the less, get the win and that black Dodge waits for the next race.
Next pair, the nuclear powered hemi of Don Bruemmer runs T Bolt number 45 driven by David Fuszner. David cuts a worse light than Don, but Don, who says he loves his shifter, goes from first to third, and runs a 9.71 on a 9.50 and can't keep up with the T bolts 10.10 on an 10.0 index. David goes on, Don becomes Dalton's crew chief.
Next, Bob Mosher's beautiful 67 Fairlane runs the rocket powered Comet of Curt Hoeft. Bob cuts an almost perfect red light and allows Curt to go on to the next round. We have a bunch of Fords in our group, and darned if they don't show their power in a lot of our Victory races. This race will be no exception.
Derek Strait in Large Marge then runs Jimmy Ferguson's stick 63 Belvedere in an interesting race. Jimmy launches first on his 12.50 dial and its absolutely banging gears down the track in a most violent way when Derek launches on his 11.50 index. Jimmy has the race in the bag at the tree, but had such a great launch that he wants to run it out and see what she will do. And that is what he does, running faster than he has ever run before. Jimmy puts down a violent 12.27 and gives the run to Derek, but is as pleased to find his 6 grand (yes, 6 grand) launch works and will be back for more. I'll post a video later, you just got to see this.......I can't believe something hasn't broken!
Last pair this round is Jeff Blickensderfer against the Ford Galaxy of Dick Monaco. Dick had been fighting problems all week end, and just couldn't get the car's first outing this year to run right. In the end, the car's idle went way up, and didn't seem to be a vaccum leak, and then went away.....and came back. Well, Jeff goes on to the next round, and Dick takes the car home to see what is going on. I just don't understand why more of these problems don't show up in the driveway where they'd be a lot easier to figure.
Round two
First pair out I line up with Derek Strait. Old habits seem to come back at a bad time for me, and this is what happens here. Tree comes down, I launch as soon as the bottom bulb comes on....I didn't wait that miniscule second, and the bulb goes red. Derek goes all the way down the track as the winner. I go all the way down the track trying to figure out how I can wait on the bottom bulb to be on longer.
Curt Hoeft then lines up against Champ John Hamer. Wow, Curt leaves first with an .015 bulb and John is not to be out done and leaves with a killer .006. Both break out just a tiny bit, but Curt comes out on top and John goes on to the spectator side of things along with myself.
Bob Lantero then runs David Fuszner and we know what has to happen here. Both cut close lights so they definitely have a race going on here. Both 10.0 cars here side by side, but Bob takes the stripe, and goes on, and on, and on.
Next Jeff Blick lines up with long time friend Kevin Miller. These to racers have been traveling to the races together ever since I've been with this group, and this is, of course, not the first time they line up against each other. Jeff cuts a 30's light, Killer Kevin doesn't. Both run dead on, but only one comes back and Jeff goes on to the money round.
Bob Westhoff lines up with Jim Hagenfoff this next pair. Jim has told Bob already he has tranny problems so Bob cuts a "safe light" and goes down to the 1000 foot mark and cuts it off. Jim stages, gets the round points, and puts it in the trailer and can't wait to get home to see what is going on. Jim has put a push button shifter in the car. As you know, that adjustment is so touchy that literally, a couple thousands this way or that and it won't work. We hope this can get fixed before next race.
Last one down the track, Dalton Bruemmer gets a bye, as he took out number one qualifier first round. There will be one more bye in this race, and that will go to eventual winner Lantero going into the final.
Money round, third round
First pair, Bob Westhoff's Ford runs the rocket powered Comet of Curt Hoeft. Bob, in typical fashion, puts such a light on Curt that it was not good for Curt. Curt breaks out trying to keep a head of Bob, but it couldn't happen. Bob goes on, and on.
Next Derek Strait, is having a pretty good day, but then, Dalton Bruemmer is too. With a couple of really close lights, Dalton takes a little too much stripe in a 11.50 on 11.50 round. Dalton breaks out, Derek's day just got better.
Bob Lantero then runs Jeff Blick, and we know how this has to go. Jeff cuts a better light against Bob, but Bob doesn't break out and Jeff does. Bob, will get the bye into the next round.
Semi final!!!!
Bob Westhoff runs Derek Strait. Bob kills the tree, I mean kills the tree, and stays ahead of Derek all the way down the track in a 11.50 on 11.50 round. Derek tries pushing the accelerator to the front bumper trying to catch Bob...and we all know how that feels. But, not able to catch Bob, both drop a little speed and the white finish line is owned by Bob. Bob goes on.
Bob Lantero runs his bye run out to check speed and runs a 10.01 on a 10.0. Bob has once again been so consistent with his index all day long that is really is something to see on these run sheets. The final will be a little different, but not much.
Final round
Well, we know how this goes, Lantero cuts a little better light than Westoff, but neither light is something one would write home about. But this is the finals, so what the heck. Both break out in that final pass trying to take the stripe, but the stripe belongs to Lantero. Watch these two this season, these two are ALWAYS in the running, and probably always will be. You know what's great about that? Both are just great guys to hang out and race with...... along with all Victory racers!!!
What a great week end. Next week Eddyville race in the corn field!!!!!!!!