Post by sportf on Jun 17, 2024 17:12:00 GMT
Cordova race wrap
25 cars showed up for the run and fun at Cordova and what a venue it was. With all those funny cars there the crowd came along and we had a great time.
Our own Chris Schneider won his funny car class not with a good car, but absolute great driving skills putting out faster cars with the Flying Butcher touch. And most all of us got to watch that as we ran amongst the alcohol and nitro present in the lanes and on the track.
I got to mention that at the drivers meet, Jimmy Ferguson won the Clay and Rosie Kossuth spirit award for thrashing on his 64 Dodge to get it legal to run with us after his engine failure last week. Well, he thought the thrash was done, but he found out "not so" when his 3447 carbs ran rough when the floats filled with gas. There was a line of corrosion on the floats that perforated them and that is something I didn't think was possible with brass, but there it was.
Jim came up with 2 more carbs from O'Reilly's and had that car back in the index before first round. And it took all of that with the running round and fitting all this to a "custom" fitted" intake and linkage. Great effort, added help from other racers, and that is Victory NSS.
Our social and snack out was one of the best ever! Poor planning on my part and I ate too much to even consider the dessert section. Well, live and learn. Good time on a pleasant evening. BTW, the weather was great due to a little overcast sky that made it a great race weekend.
Jeff Blickenderfer qualified number one with a dead on with a 6, and that effort by all set us on a pro ladder and we were ready to race.
Round 1
Steve Gantz in his great looking 65 Plywood hardtop lined up with the survivor hardtop car of Jeff Wood. Those mopar hardtops are just one great looking car and I don't think that styling will ever be beat. I think this is what put mopar on the drag race map years ago, fast cars with killer styling. But then, there are some killer Fords and GM out there as well and for sure that is what we love about this nostalgia racing.
Jeff puts out a good race light, but not so for Steve. The "dam it" bulb comes on for Steve and puts him in the spectating side of the racers. Jeff goes on.
Next in the lanes, Dick Monaco lines up his 64 Ford against the 63 Ford of last weeks winner Bob Westhoff. Its funny odd how many times a Ford on a Ford line up happens, and Bobby says that is the only way Victory can get rid of the Fords. But, the ladder is the ladder, and we all know that.
Now, Bobby has been cutting the tree a little close in the qual runs, so he figures he should be a little conservative here. Well, we ALL know what happens, and when that happens, we are WAY conservative. And, so it was. That combined with Dick's absolute killer .003 light puts Bobby out of the running and into the cheering side of the race evening, and that is that.
Next, this writer (see how I fit that in some where all the time) lines up with Derek Strait. When I pull into the burnout box, Bob Haberburger is there lining up cars. He is supposed to be running his car? What's is going on? Ok , anyway, I'm busy and will figure that out later.
Now, if I had cut a better by .005 light, or if the car had went .005 faster, I would have had this race "in the bag". But, that didn't happen and Derek takes the stripe by .005 and I go to help in the burn out box.
Then, our own Bob Lantero, last years almost champ, (gosh that was close) lines up with Dalton, the "Kid" Bruemmer. Dalton puts a light on Bob that should have finished him off, but it didn't. Bob, driving the stripe with a great run puts out Dalton with a slightly slowing pass that just can't make that finish line, and Bob goes on.
Lining up next, Tom Head in another great looking mopar 64 hardtop lines up with the survivor car of Mike Doss. Mikes car was bought NEW by dad David, and it continues to follow along on its name sake "Headache" . With a new motor this year, good parts, and every thing it should need, it has just not run the number or the consistency that it should. And so it happens this round as well as Tom cuts a conservative light, but the "headache" won't run the number, bogs just off the line again, and that is that for Mike. Two good looking cars carrying on the racing mopar tradition, but only one goes on.
Bruce Lang then goes on to line up with the number 45 T bolt of David Fusner. David's car always sounds like he's got about 15 to 1 compression because those pops coming out of that exhaust are pain full when close. But that doesn't get you a win. Bruce puts a light on David and takes the stripe on the brakes flying by that Ford with his 9.75 index against the Ford's 10.25 Bruce goes on to a night we ALL wish we could have.
Don Bruemmer then lines up his nuclear powered hemi against the equally nuclear powered hemi Barracuda of Jay Freihage. Jay lights up his tires again and spinning ain't winning, and Don goes on in the hemi battle. Jay goes back to re-figure the shocks or something and also becomes part of the cheering team. This whole drag race problem thing can be so frustrating, and yet we come back for more. Oh well.
Number one qualifier Jeff Blick then lines up with Jimmy "thrashing to get ready" Fergeson. Jimmy runs a 12.07 on his 12.00 index, but his light allows Jeff to go on to a great night we all wish we could have. Jimmy just doesn't ever quit, and he goes to the cheering side of things. Jeff will go on to runner up.
Donnie "smiling" Gaines then pairs up with former champ John Hamer. Donnie puts a killer light on John, and John just can't catch him at the stripe, and that is that. Smiling Donnie goes on, always good humor John goes to the cheering team.
Russ Berens then takes his hemi powered Plymouth sedan to the win side of Jim Hagenhoff's dual plug hemi powered 64 Plywood. Its hard to make a street car react to a good drag race start, and that is what happened to Jim. This back up car of his, and what a back up car it is, ended up turning on the "done right here bulb" and not much else need be said. Russ goes on to good night of racing.
Bob Mosher and his great looking 67 Fairlane then pairs up with Brian Haberburger's 64 Dodge. In all the excitement that happens when that tree starts to come down, well its hard to sum up. And some of that excitement is what brings us back for more punishment or pleasure. In this case, Brian lights up the "I'm finished before I start bulb", and Bob goes on to have a pretty good day in the semi finals.
Lastly, Bob Haberburger is supposed to line up with Jonathan Wheeldon's 65 Dodge 500. As stated above, I'm not sure what is going on, but Jonathan makes a solo run. It turns out that Bob's fuel pump quit right as he is going to the lanes. Now, as Bob pulls over, Jonathan is right there and they both jump under Bob's car to see what can be done. Yeah, well, in true great sportsmanship effort, as taught by his father "Fast Eddie" Wheeldon, Jonathan and Bob try what they can with no tools, and Jonathan gets a solo run here, and Bob goes to help out at the starting line.
Round 2
So now Bruce Lang in his Barracuda line up with the vintage looking 64 Ford of Dick Monaco. Dick cuts a great light on Bruce, but never the less Bruce catches Dick at the 1000 foot mark. Dick's car falls off and won't run the number. Gosh, I hate it when it happens to me, but jovial Dick gets to support the rest of the race gang after this round, and Bruce goes on to a night we all wanted.
Next pair Jeff Wood lines his hardtop Plymouth against the hardtop Plymouth of Tom Head in a 64 Plymouth race, just like in the old days. Tom cuts a great great light just on the wrong side of green and Jeff cuts a really nice light that doesn't matter. Jeff goes on to the money round, Tom, well, heads for the spectating side of the race.
Bob Mosher, on his way to a semi final finish, takes on Jonathan Wheeldon's 65 Dodge. Jonathan cuts his first "dam it" bulb with Victory, and Bob goes on. Jonathan has a great race crew with him with both parents there cheering him on. That is nothing but good, and we hope to see more of this young man at the race track in the future.
Bob Lantero and Derek Strait line up with this next pair down the track. Derek cuts a killer light on the wrong side of green and Bob runs it out dead on with a 7 and goes to the money round. Derek is still having a great season start here and will end up second in points this evening. Can't complain about that, eh?
Donnie Gaines then lines up with Russ Berens in the next battle. Both cut lights within .01 of each other and then it comes down to who takes the stripe. I'm not sure if it was the experience of former champ Russ that allowed him to take the stripe from Donnie, or it was luck, but in any case, Russ goes on, and Donnie parks the red Dodge for the night.
Then, last pair, Jeff Blick lines up with good friend Don Bruemmer in another mopar on mopar race. Jeff launches on his 11.00 index while Don hangs around for his 9.50 index to come down the tree. Don is waiting for his turn to leave, and he is waiting, and waiting, and hey lets go! Well, a little too early and Jeff will eventually go on to the runner up, while Don goes to the observation deck.
Round 3
Really good friends Russ Berens and Bruce Lang line up for first pair this money round. Its dark, its cooler, the staging lanes are full of race cars deep into the race, lots of spectators and crew milling about the lanes in the dark, lit up by the lights. Its a cool environment to be in, especially if you are one of the lucky ones still in the race.
We all want to be there, but this is for the racers that are still in. This is a heads up 9.75 race and Russ cuts a better light. But, Bruce has a good 60 foot times and manages to keep lined up with Russ. Nobody wants to lift, both want the stripe. Both guys are running side by side right across the stripe in a double break out.
Bruce does better, Russ goes on to cheer him on.
Bob Mosher is having a great night in his Ford, and he lines up with Jeff Wood in his Plywood. Bob cuts a little better light than Jeff and both run over by .01. But the better light wins this, and Bob will go on to the semis, Jeff stands by to spectate, still having a night most of us already out would like to trade for.
Jeff Blick then lines up with Bob Lantero in another mopar on mopar race. Jeff puts a light on Bob, but it ain't over yet. Bob is running down Jeff and Jeff ain't lifting till passing the stripe. Both break out, Bob does a better job going to fast, and Jeff goes on to eventually runner up.
Round 4
Bruce Lang and Bob Mosher line up in this semi final round. Its been dark for a while now, and that tree comes down in the dark, and its hard to miss. But, in all the excitement of this, in front of this huge crowd, its easy to get lost in thought and concentration. Bruce cuts a better light and catches Bob early. Bruce takes the stripe and Bob finishes up the night in a pretty darn good position.
Jeff Blick gets the ladder bye into the finals. Jeff was number one qualifier, and had to win all those other rounds to get this bye run. And, it is a deserved bye, and he runs it out showing he has the number covered.
Final round
Well, we know Bruce wins and Jeff gets runner up, but it was close at the finish. Both had good really close lights, both ran really nice right down to the stripe. But, Bruce takes the stripe with his Barracuda, and both show up with smiles for the Victory circle pictures.
In true Victory NSS tradition, the whole gang is there for the celebration, and another great night of Super Stock racing is in the books.
Great Venue with great friends to end the day. See you next time.
25 cars showed up for the run and fun at Cordova and what a venue it was. With all those funny cars there the crowd came along and we had a great time.
Our own Chris Schneider won his funny car class not with a good car, but absolute great driving skills putting out faster cars with the Flying Butcher touch. And most all of us got to watch that as we ran amongst the alcohol and nitro present in the lanes and on the track.
I got to mention that at the drivers meet, Jimmy Ferguson won the Clay and Rosie Kossuth spirit award for thrashing on his 64 Dodge to get it legal to run with us after his engine failure last week. Well, he thought the thrash was done, but he found out "not so" when his 3447 carbs ran rough when the floats filled with gas. There was a line of corrosion on the floats that perforated them and that is something I didn't think was possible with brass, but there it was.
Jim came up with 2 more carbs from O'Reilly's and had that car back in the index before first round. And it took all of that with the running round and fitting all this to a "custom" fitted" intake and linkage. Great effort, added help from other racers, and that is Victory NSS.
Our social and snack out was one of the best ever! Poor planning on my part and I ate too much to even consider the dessert section. Well, live and learn. Good time on a pleasant evening. BTW, the weather was great due to a little overcast sky that made it a great race weekend.
Jeff Blickenderfer qualified number one with a dead on with a 6, and that effort by all set us on a pro ladder and we were ready to race.
Round 1
Steve Gantz in his great looking 65 Plywood hardtop lined up with the survivor hardtop car of Jeff Wood. Those mopar hardtops are just one great looking car and I don't think that styling will ever be beat. I think this is what put mopar on the drag race map years ago, fast cars with killer styling. But then, there are some killer Fords and GM out there as well and for sure that is what we love about this nostalgia racing.
Jeff puts out a good race light, but not so for Steve. The "dam it" bulb comes on for Steve and puts him in the spectating side of the racers. Jeff goes on.
Next in the lanes, Dick Monaco lines up his 64 Ford against the 63 Ford of last weeks winner Bob Westhoff. Its funny odd how many times a Ford on a Ford line up happens, and Bobby says that is the only way Victory can get rid of the Fords. But, the ladder is the ladder, and we all know that.
Now, Bobby has been cutting the tree a little close in the qual runs, so he figures he should be a little conservative here. Well, we ALL know what happens, and when that happens, we are WAY conservative. And, so it was. That combined with Dick's absolute killer .003 light puts Bobby out of the running and into the cheering side of the race evening, and that is that.
Next, this writer (see how I fit that in some where all the time) lines up with Derek Strait. When I pull into the burnout box, Bob Haberburger is there lining up cars. He is supposed to be running his car? What's is going on? Ok , anyway, I'm busy and will figure that out later.
Now, if I had cut a better by .005 light, or if the car had went .005 faster, I would have had this race "in the bag". But, that didn't happen and Derek takes the stripe by .005 and I go to help in the burn out box.
Then, our own Bob Lantero, last years almost champ, (gosh that was close) lines up with Dalton, the "Kid" Bruemmer. Dalton puts a light on Bob that should have finished him off, but it didn't. Bob, driving the stripe with a great run puts out Dalton with a slightly slowing pass that just can't make that finish line, and Bob goes on.
Lining up next, Tom Head in another great looking mopar 64 hardtop lines up with the survivor car of Mike Doss. Mikes car was bought NEW by dad David, and it continues to follow along on its name sake "Headache" . With a new motor this year, good parts, and every thing it should need, it has just not run the number or the consistency that it should. And so it happens this round as well as Tom cuts a conservative light, but the "headache" won't run the number, bogs just off the line again, and that is that for Mike. Two good looking cars carrying on the racing mopar tradition, but only one goes on.
Bruce Lang then goes on to line up with the number 45 T bolt of David Fusner. David's car always sounds like he's got about 15 to 1 compression because those pops coming out of that exhaust are pain full when close. But that doesn't get you a win. Bruce puts a light on David and takes the stripe on the brakes flying by that Ford with his 9.75 index against the Ford's 10.25 Bruce goes on to a night we ALL wish we could have.
Don Bruemmer then lines up his nuclear powered hemi against the equally nuclear powered hemi Barracuda of Jay Freihage. Jay lights up his tires again and spinning ain't winning, and Don goes on in the hemi battle. Jay goes back to re-figure the shocks or something and also becomes part of the cheering team. This whole drag race problem thing can be so frustrating, and yet we come back for more. Oh well.
Number one qualifier Jeff Blick then lines up with Jimmy "thrashing to get ready" Fergeson. Jimmy runs a 12.07 on his 12.00 index, but his light allows Jeff to go on to a great night we all wish we could have. Jimmy just doesn't ever quit, and he goes to the cheering side of things. Jeff will go on to runner up.
Donnie "smiling" Gaines then pairs up with former champ John Hamer. Donnie puts a killer light on John, and John just can't catch him at the stripe, and that is that. Smiling Donnie goes on, always good humor John goes to the cheering team.
Russ Berens then takes his hemi powered Plymouth sedan to the win side of Jim Hagenhoff's dual plug hemi powered 64 Plywood. Its hard to make a street car react to a good drag race start, and that is what happened to Jim. This back up car of his, and what a back up car it is, ended up turning on the "done right here bulb" and not much else need be said. Russ goes on to good night of racing.
Bob Mosher and his great looking 67 Fairlane then pairs up with Brian Haberburger's 64 Dodge. In all the excitement that happens when that tree starts to come down, well its hard to sum up. And some of that excitement is what brings us back for more punishment or pleasure. In this case, Brian lights up the "I'm finished before I start bulb", and Bob goes on to have a pretty good day in the semi finals.
Lastly, Bob Haberburger is supposed to line up with Jonathan Wheeldon's 65 Dodge 500. As stated above, I'm not sure what is going on, but Jonathan makes a solo run. It turns out that Bob's fuel pump quit right as he is going to the lanes. Now, as Bob pulls over, Jonathan is right there and they both jump under Bob's car to see what can be done. Yeah, well, in true great sportsmanship effort, as taught by his father "Fast Eddie" Wheeldon, Jonathan and Bob try what they can with no tools, and Jonathan gets a solo run here, and Bob goes to help out at the starting line.
Round 2
So now Bruce Lang in his Barracuda line up with the vintage looking 64 Ford of Dick Monaco. Dick cuts a great light on Bruce, but never the less Bruce catches Dick at the 1000 foot mark. Dick's car falls off and won't run the number. Gosh, I hate it when it happens to me, but jovial Dick gets to support the rest of the race gang after this round, and Bruce goes on to a night we all wanted.
Next pair Jeff Wood lines his hardtop Plymouth against the hardtop Plymouth of Tom Head in a 64 Plymouth race, just like in the old days. Tom cuts a great great light just on the wrong side of green and Jeff cuts a really nice light that doesn't matter. Jeff goes on to the money round, Tom, well, heads for the spectating side of the race.
Bob Mosher, on his way to a semi final finish, takes on Jonathan Wheeldon's 65 Dodge. Jonathan cuts his first "dam it" bulb with Victory, and Bob goes on. Jonathan has a great race crew with him with both parents there cheering him on. That is nothing but good, and we hope to see more of this young man at the race track in the future.
Bob Lantero and Derek Strait line up with this next pair down the track. Derek cuts a killer light on the wrong side of green and Bob runs it out dead on with a 7 and goes to the money round. Derek is still having a great season start here and will end up second in points this evening. Can't complain about that, eh?
Donnie Gaines then lines up with Russ Berens in the next battle. Both cut lights within .01 of each other and then it comes down to who takes the stripe. I'm not sure if it was the experience of former champ Russ that allowed him to take the stripe from Donnie, or it was luck, but in any case, Russ goes on, and Donnie parks the red Dodge for the night.
Then, last pair, Jeff Blick lines up with good friend Don Bruemmer in another mopar on mopar race. Jeff launches on his 11.00 index while Don hangs around for his 9.50 index to come down the tree. Don is waiting for his turn to leave, and he is waiting, and waiting, and hey lets go! Well, a little too early and Jeff will eventually go on to the runner up, while Don goes to the observation deck.
Round 3
Really good friends Russ Berens and Bruce Lang line up for first pair this money round. Its dark, its cooler, the staging lanes are full of race cars deep into the race, lots of spectators and crew milling about the lanes in the dark, lit up by the lights. Its a cool environment to be in, especially if you are one of the lucky ones still in the race.
We all want to be there, but this is for the racers that are still in. This is a heads up 9.75 race and Russ cuts a better light. But, Bruce has a good 60 foot times and manages to keep lined up with Russ. Nobody wants to lift, both want the stripe. Both guys are running side by side right across the stripe in a double break out.
Bruce does better, Russ goes on to cheer him on.
Bob Mosher is having a great night in his Ford, and he lines up with Jeff Wood in his Plywood. Bob cuts a little better light than Jeff and both run over by .01. But the better light wins this, and Bob will go on to the semis, Jeff stands by to spectate, still having a night most of us already out would like to trade for.
Jeff Blick then lines up with Bob Lantero in another mopar on mopar race. Jeff puts a light on Bob, but it ain't over yet. Bob is running down Jeff and Jeff ain't lifting till passing the stripe. Both break out, Bob does a better job going to fast, and Jeff goes on to eventually runner up.
Round 4
Bruce Lang and Bob Mosher line up in this semi final round. Its been dark for a while now, and that tree comes down in the dark, and its hard to miss. But, in all the excitement of this, in front of this huge crowd, its easy to get lost in thought and concentration. Bruce cuts a better light and catches Bob early. Bruce takes the stripe and Bob finishes up the night in a pretty darn good position.
Jeff Blick gets the ladder bye into the finals. Jeff was number one qualifier, and had to win all those other rounds to get this bye run. And, it is a deserved bye, and he runs it out showing he has the number covered.
Final round
Well, we know Bruce wins and Jeff gets runner up, but it was close at the finish. Both had good really close lights, both ran really nice right down to the stripe. But, Bruce takes the stripe with his Barracuda, and both show up with smiles for the Victory circle pictures.
In true Victory NSS tradition, the whole gang is there for the celebration, and another great night of Super Stock racing is in the books.
Great Venue with great friends to end the day. See you next time.