Post by sportf on Jul 22, 2024 18:52:44 GMT
*Note below, Arlo Guthrie covered the song City of New Orleans, but was written by Steve Goodman. (7-23-24 correction)
US 41 Race Wrap, Morrocco Indiana
Wow, what a week end to race. Although it was the middle of July, the weather was great. Sun was hot when directly on you, but that was seldom the case. A little hazy cloud cover along with some big beautiful cumulus clouds and it was as good as to be asked for.
This track is a little remote and it is pancake flat for miles around. On my way there, I drove through some absolutely beautiful farm land and small towns. The corn is at least 7 foot tall and the bean fields as green as you could want. Driving through this area, I thought this would be some tough sledding in the winter, as it's so flat. "fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders, 3 conductors, and 25 sacks of mail. All along the southbound Odessey. The train pulls out at Kankakee, and rolls past houses, farms, and fields" * Yes, this is that place.
(*Arlo Guthrie song, old timers should know that already, from the song, "City of New Orleans")
US 41 has been around for a long time, and the recently ground track surface makes it as smooth as you could want. Dominic Blassco, track manager, says it's the smoothest in the country. That is probably true. Tall trees line the right side of the track from start to shut down, and this provides some nice shade on a hot afternoon when pulling into the burn out box. I mentioned this nice shade to Bob Lantero as he decided lane choice for the final. I had watched him take on Brian Haberburger in front of me as I readied for my relaxing bye run. Remarkably to me, he said he didn't notice, too busy actually trying to take out Brian to notice. Yeah, I suppose so.
At the very end of the track the return road curves around a couple of huge trees, and would actually be a nice place to picnic, except, this is a race track. And, it would be noisy.
We showed up with 24 cars on Friday, and got a couple of test hits in the evening sun, and then had our snack out/pot luck get together. WOW. Once again, I screwed up and forgot to save room for dessert. Gee, you could have gotten by on dessert alone, but wow, what a feast.
On Saturday, we had our one hit qualification run, and the weather was a lot better than I could have guessed. I managed to place 21 out of 22 cars. Scott Borrell's 9.0 stick car blew out the clutch on his hit, and Clay's car must have a crack in the oil pan up front as his car just would not stop leaking. Bob Lantero managed to qualify number one, and he got award money for that alone. This started out his very, very good day of racing. The ladder was set with 22 cars, away we go. There were 201 cars on the property this week end, and with all those other racers, the time between rounds was just about perfect for cooling the cars down, and for some socializing as well.
Round one:
Rosie Kossuth lines up her 'Lady Max' car against the real T Bolt of David Fuzner. When David lights that car up you gotta be ready for the killer sound, 'cause if you're not ready, it WILL scare ya. Ok, Rosie at 10.0, David at 10.25. Lights come down first for David and away he launches with a really good red light at ' -.009'. Rosie cuts a conservative light, and is saved by David's light. Well, two good looking cars go down the track, only Rosie goes on. David gets ready for the gamblers race, that we don't know if it's going to happen yet. But he gets ready anyway.
Next Bob Haberburger lines up with Don Bruemmer in a Plymouth on Plymouth round. I think both these cars are the same color, and I believe that was called "French Vanilla" for Chrysler at one time. Wow, can't get a better paint name than that, eh? Bob launches with a good foot brake light followed shortly by Don's "more conservative" light. Usually, Don's light would put him out, but as Bob makes the one-two shift there is a bang! And that is all you get out of those gears when the pinion gear strips the ring gear on an eight and three quarters rear. Bob coasts to the left lane side, that is all you get for todays race, and Don goes on to win this round.
Next, Camron Stark lines up his 65 Plymouth red car against Dalton Bruemmer's 65 Plymouth. Camron launches and shortly followed by Daltons launch. BUT, Daltons launch comes a little sooner than the tree likes, and Dalton, in a very unusual manner, turns on the 'dam it bulb', and that is that. Both these guys run it out and wow, both are right there on the index, but only Camron goes on. Camron is going to have a pretty good day considering this is his first quarter mile race, and first competition passes with Victory.
Next pair on this beautiful week end is myself and points leader Bob Westhoff. It is amazing how many times I line up with Bob, and I would not have chosen this guy first round. But that is what the ladder does, it puts me right up against a well qualified racer first round. But, I think I have the right "tune" in my car now to run the 10.75 index. That is what those guys on TV with the computers say. What that really means to me, is I have the right amount of weight in the box to go the number. So, Bob on a 11.50 launches first with an 0.019 light......good thing I didn't know that at the time. I launch with an 0.023 light. BOTH of us thought we may be a little late, but that is some good lights in the foot braking race business. We get down to the end, and when the finish line goes under the front wheels, neither of us know the out come. There is not "down track" win lights here, and so until you get to the time slip shack, you don't know. Bob gets his slip in front of me and as I approach I can't tell if I'm getting the "done now" yellow slip, or the "hey nice going" white slip. Well, we know what happens then, and I get to go on. Looking at the slips, no one made a mistake, both of us did good, I just got the luck that time. Bob will wait for the gamblers.
Jeff Wood then lines up with Derek Strait who is way up at the top in points, and Jeff gets ready for one of the crummiest passes he has made in memory. Derek launches "Large Marge" 65 Dodge first with a good foot brake light followed by Jeffs rather slow, not even close to what it should be light. Derek is going down track a little fast on his 11.50 index and Jeff, not only late, has his hand on the shifter at launch and goes right into high gear way way too soon. Jeff hasn't got a chance, here trying his best to make up time he hasn't got, and runs almost .250 off. But, Derek, on the brakes and on the brakes more.....but not enough. Wow, and just like that Jeff gets a break, and Derek gets ready for the gamblers race.
Next, Shaun Johnston lines up his "Kid Vicious" 67 Plywood against the 64 Dodge of Jimmy Ferguson. Jimmy runs .03 over and so does Shaun. But, Shaun's better launch light puts a stop on Jimmy's run, and that is all there is for the black convertible car made in '64, restored by Jimmy in '23. Jimmy has got some cool cars, all made cooler by him. We will see this car again, and Shaun's, next round.
Bob Lantero lines up his number one qualifying car against Donnie Gaines' 64 red Dodge. Donnie launches his 10.50 car against the 10.00 car of Bob's, but manages to turn on the "you are done here" bulb. Bob goes on to have a great day. Donnie goes on to still have a pretty good day in the finals of the gamblers race (which we don't know if its going to happen, at this point).
Then, Brian Haberburger lines up his 64 Dodge (why are there so many 64 Dodges?) against the nuclear hemi powered Barracuda of Jay Freihage. By the way, according to Kurt Tevault, hemi's are sort of like V8 engines, only more powerful. Anyway, Jay is on a 9.50 pass, Brian on a 11.00 pass Both cut almost identical lights Jay's car doesn't run the number, Brian does, and the hemi is retired for the day, Brian is not. Brian will go on to the money round soon. But some things will happen here to make that happen.
Next, Jeff Blinkensderfer lines up his little A body Mopar against the "Headache" car of Mike Doss. Boy, does Mike's car have the right name as its crew has been fighting new engine problems all this year. Mike has got a great crew and support team, and they may have the car running the number, but it did give them trouble today. Both cut lights within 0.004 of each other, but Jeff runs closer to the number and takes the win. Jeff will have a good day. The gamblers race will allow Mike the chance to lose twice in the same day. Wow, and as racers, we come back for more.
Next pair, Kurt Tevault lines up with Bob Mosher's 67 Ford. Bob's car has just the look it should have with my favorite mags on it. And then, lined up with Kurts 64 Mopar with an elephant motor, well there you have it. Real NSS racing right here! Bob's launch looked terrific, just a bit too soon. Kurt goes on one more round, Bob and son Jason park the car.
Next and last this round, John Hamer lines up his wedge powered Barracuda against the 64 Ford of Dick Monaco's. Both cut conservative lights, both run down the track, both run close, but John's number is better than Dicks, and John will go on. Dick parks that great looking Ford. And goes to the observation deck.
Round two:
This writer is then lined up with Don Bruemmer's 65 hemi. When the round was called, no one was really in a hurry to get up there, so Don gave me the high sign from his pit area, and we were first in line. With Don in the right lane, and myself in the left, the lights come down and away I go. Shorty there after, Don Launches that nuclear powered hemi and it gets a little squirrely. That can be a problem when making that much power. Don isn't going to make the finish line before me and although I take the stripe, I have no idea if I won. (remember, no win light down track). I get to the time slip shack and get the white ticket, Don gets the yellow. I go on to have the best day I can, Don runs in the gamblers race.
Second pair, Rosie lines up with Shaun Johnston. Shaun is ALWAYS a tough racer and two time champ as well. So, Shaun launches with really nice foot brake light, and Rosie is, well, more conservative. Shaun, at 11.00, sees Rosie screaming up at him at the finish line and takes the stripe, but just a little too soon. Roise gets the break out win. She goes on to the money round, Shaun will end up in the semi round in the gamblers race.
Third pair, Jeff Woods lines up his survivor 64 Plywood against the 64 Dodge of Brian Haberberger. Jeff cuts a nice .026 light on Brian and this causes Brian to break out trying to stay ahead of Jeff and that is that. Well, no, turns out at the starting line Jeff stages on a 10.56 index instead of a 10.50 index, and Brian goes on.
Then, Kurt Tevault lines up his 64 hemi against the former champ John Hamer and his Barracuda. Kurt cuts a killer James Bond light on Hamer, but then can't quite run the number....and John goes on to the money round. Wow, that happens when you miss shift or something.
Then, this pair, Camron Stark lines up his 65 red Plywood against Jeff "calm as a cucumber" Blick's A body Mopar. In an extremely unusual event, Jeff turns on the "I'm done racing this round" bulb and Camron goes on to the money round and will get paid in his first Victory race appearance.
Last, this round, Bob Lantero gets his earned number one qualifier bye run, and runs a 9.9944 which is pretty close to his 10.00 index. Bob is on his way to a great day, eh?
Meanwhile, us racers are getting our cars ready, socializing, having fun, drinking a soda or two, someone is keeping the books, writing checks, noting awards, and busting their tail keeping stuff for the tax guy in order. That would be the Hagenhoffs. Please remember this is work for some, fun for most of us.
Third round: (Quarters)
Bob Lantero lines up his orange Dart against the 'Lady Max' 64 Dodge of Rosie Kossuth. Bob cuts a better light than Rosie, and he gets the white slip at the time shack, Rosie gets quarters money and the yellow slip.
Next, I line up with Camron Stark in a red Mopar on a red Mopar race. I manage to cut a better light than Camron and the rookie gets quarters money which ain't bad for a first race, eh. I go on to have the best race day.
Brian Haberburger then lines up his black Dodge against John Hamer's Barracuda. Brian runs .07 over his index, on the brakes, when he can see John is going to take the stripe. John takes the stripe but runs under and Brian will go on to the semi's.
Semi final round:
We are down to 3 cars here, and I have the ladder bye. Bob Lantero lines up with last year's rookie Brian Haberburger. Brian calls his brother Bob for some advice on how to run this round. Bob, tells Brian that as good as Bob Lantero is, he should try to hit him hard on the tree, and go from there. Well, Brian does that alright hitting Lantero with a .004 light. Wow, Lantero was in trouble here, right up until Brian missed a shift in all the excitement and that was why Brian couldn't run the number at 11.15. That 0.15 over is such a short time in reality, it's a long time in drag racing. Now Lantero goes to the final instead of Haberburger.
I get a good test pass here and find I'm right where I want to be. Its been several hours since I set the car up, and I'm happy to see the car is still where I expect it to be.
Final round:
Well, whenever you get this far, it's been a great day and both Bob Lantero and I agree on that. No matter what happens next, it's already a great day. So, Bob has lane choice and I get the right lane. I'd rather be in the left lane here, but the best qualifier here gets the choice. That is another thing about a ladder and qualifying, you earn your position and you get to keep that through out the race. We line up and I launch first. And wow, I pull an almost Jim Hagenhoff wheelie, carrying the wheels well past the tree, and when I come down, time to shift, then again, and then I start looking. At the 1000 foot mark, Bob should be closer, but he is not. I have given him trouble at the tree, and he will not catch me. As I cross the finish line first, I'm still not celebrating though, as I don't know till I get a white time slip. Well, that happens and I get to have a best day at racing.
We take pictures at Bob Lantero's trailer, and shortly after that the gamblers final is run and we all get to see that and celebrate Jeff's and Donnie's wins as well. What a weekend to race. I think I want to race here again.