2006
The next morning found us further behind than when we arrived. We noticed oil under the right rear tire. Closer look showed the seal had worked out a bit. Quick fix - not. Sweeney busted tail getting both seals pushed back in. Fire the car for the afternoon qualifier - not. We had no brakes. Well into the evening we worked on the brakes - stuck pistons. We manage enough brake pressure to hold the car on fire up, thanks to Chuck of CNC and everyone busting their tail. After all we are having fun.
Our last chance to make the show, this time no throttle stop. We fire the car and everything looked good. Jeff lays down a nice burnout. Sweeny hops out to back Jeff up and I see a track crew guy bend down to wipe the track. As the car backs up the track Sweeny is motioning Jeff to the gaurd rail. I see the starter give the cut throat signal - uh oh. I see fuel gushing out of a barrel valve fittting spraying the winshield and running off of the headers. We tow off of the track and again the crowd shows their appreciation - standing this time. I reluctantly wave and only hope they know we will be back for a better showing.
Reflecting on the weekend events, I suddenly realize things could have been horrendously worse than they were. I surmise I forgot the throttle stop for darn good reason. Had it been removed after the low speed burnout our fuel leak would have developed while Jeff was on a full power pass. I believe my father made sure nobody got hurt this weekend. No other reason for my overwhelming, hair raising feeling of his presents during our thrash to go run the car.
The year pretty much ended on my birthday - September 22 - when I tried to take out the wall at Fomosa. I failed to put the car in low gear after the burnout. It pulled right and got a little out of the groove. For some stupid reason I peddled it and it made a sharp right into the wall. There is no description of piloting one of these things much less - for the first time bouncing off the wall, stuck throttle, seeing fire, oh the thrill. I'll be licencing next year.
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