Well 2016 has been an amazing year for the team. Since taking the car to the track for the first time in 2006, we have never run more than twice a year. Money, time and location have worked against us. We have now broken that record by getting out 3 times this spring !!
We were supposed to run on April 23rd but my annual bout with pneumonia caught up with me the week before. Once again (Praise be to God) I beat it again. But Enough about that.
The next test n tune was scheduled for May 14th and we were determined to make it. It was a good news/bad news deal. Kaleo wasn't able to join us because of illness. Because of my love and respect for my friend, I wont go into details, I would ask you to keep him in your prayers.
Dawn & I loaded Ol' Blue up and headed to the track where we were met in the pits by a good customer and now friend & honorary crew guy, Mark. We quickly unloaded, warmed up and got teched in. I decided to leave the tune-up alone. I felt that while it wasn't on "kill", it would run well enough to finish licensing. We wanted to get the 3 runs we needed because it was going to be brutally hot. By the way it was 97 degrees...Dawn suggested wetting and freezing a towel and I built a water bottle straw for the staging lanes.
Because of the heat the car count was low and we never waited more than 5 minute once we were in the lanes.
Run # 1: It started easily and Mark was perfect as a crew guy...no panic, no rushing. The car did a decent burnout. It was then I realized I had forgotten to switch from warm-up spark plugs to me race plugs..oooops.... It stumbled down the track @ 10.10 ..130mph.
Run # 2: I had switched plugs and the car came to life. It did a helluva burnout..The run started out fine but it nosed over after I shifted to High Gear. 9.87, 129mph
Run # 3: This was a repeat of Run 1, Not sure if we got enough of a battery charge between runs.
We loaded up and I chased down some signatures for my license. Dawn hurt her leg helping load the car..Nothing serious but we need to use the winch.
Big Thanks to Mark for all his hard work, and Dawn (as always) for her motivation, support and keeping the towel iced.
Thats likely a wrap for 2016 for the team. My life is in transition again and I'm not sure if I'll still be in Vegas for much longer. There is a window opening that I must consider. But as always I am looking forward to the future.
Thank Yous again to Dawn, Mark, Kaleo (Get Well Buddy), Pat & Steve Rezz, Mark P. and shout outs to Les Figueroa, Kayla Sewell for your autographs !!! You all made a kids dream come true.
ItsJustDave......out!
