2007 Season

I can't believe another drag race season has ended. Why do the winter months last longer than the summer months? We went to 7 Nostalgia events this year plus 2 Test 'n Tune sessions. We missed 5 events due to our 6/13/07 misshap (we took out #7 rod), and it all happened Soooo Fast!

We had our share of problems this year. The torque converter problem has us scratching our heads for several weeks. Then we went out with a "bang" (complete with some pretty impressive header flames) mid June. But then we came back with a new engine, and a "let's see what this thing can do" attitude for the remainder of the season. Of course Steve kept his tune ups on the conservative side, as we really couldn't afford to "cook" another engine, but we made progress every run. When we were rebuilding the engine, Steve (with the help of Matt Shaff of Pro-Formance Specialties) made changes that affected cam shaft timing and compression. The "new" engine is just what Steve (and Matt) want for our car. So here we are, mid season, with a new set-up, a new tune up, and back to square one.

The balance of the season was a learning experience. We made progress with every run, and ended the season on a good note. We had our best 60 foot, 1/8 mile and 1/4 times ever. The car did great on hot tracks, but not so great on cold tracks. We continue to find out what this car wants and needs.

We are growing, and so is Nostalgia Drag Racing. Goodguys has added at least two new Nostalgia Drag Race events to it's 2008 season - Norwalk, Ohio in September and Bowling Green, Kentucky in October. The Nostalgia Pro Comp Association is continuing to grow and add events.

We are looking forward to a bigger and better 2008 season. Nostalgia Drag Racing is growing, and we are ready to grow with it.

I will update this site with a 2008 Tentative Schedule as soon as event dates become available.

Until then, Have a good fall, winter, Christmas, New Year, and spring. See you all at the Track in 2008.

NPCA Finals

Kansas City International Raceway

October 6 & 7, 2007

Our plane landed in Indy at 4:45 pm on Thursday 10/4/07 (I really like this "jet set" racing), we hailed a taxi and arrived at Jeff's shop to pick up the truck and trailer by 5:30. We were on our way to Kansas City, MO by 6:00. We made it to the west side of St. Louis before we stopped for the night. We were up early the next morning, and pulled into Kansas City International Raceway just before noon on Friday 10/5. Quite a few cars were already there, but we still had a good selection of pit spots. By thie time we had our spot set up, and everything unload, the cars were really starting to pour in. By 5:00 the pits were full, and it was apparent that this event was going to be big.

The schedule called for a Test 'n Tune session Friday night, Open Time Trials Saturday morning, then two Qualifying Runs Saturday evening and Eliminations on Sunday. We decided to skip the Friday night Test 'n Tune, and just hang out with the NPCA gang and relax.

There were several hundred race cars at this event, but it was well organized, so things went smoothly. Our first time trial was at 11:40 Saturday. It was sunny and 83 with 64% humidity and a corrected altitude of 3255! The car ran 7.90 and 167 mph. Steve changed the pulley for the next run. At 3:15 we ran a second time trial. It was partly cloudy, 89 with 51% humidity and the corrected altitude was 3700. This time we ran a 7.60 - much better, but still not the 7.50 we need to run. At least we were making full runs, and our 60 foot times were our best ever - 1.06. Many of the other racers had a hard time with the hot track, and were not able to go from A to B, so we were happy with the car. Our qualifying runs were at 6:30 and 8:40 so the temps were down - 85 and 81 with lower humidity and the corrected altitude was 3479 and 3157. The car ran 7.49 (just a little to quick) and a 7.75 (Steve let off way to early), so we ended up qualified mid field.

Eliminations were scheduled to start at 9:00 am, but due to on and off sprinkles we didn't get our first run until 2:00 pm. We were up against a front engine dragster that we had never raced before (this was his first NPCA event), but we knew that his qualifying runs were very close to ours. The temp was 80, and the corrected altitude was 3182 - very close to the second run last evening, which would have been in the low 7.50's (based on 660 and 1000 foot times) if Steve had not let off early, so we left the tune up alone. This ended up being a Great Drag Race! Steve's reation time was .043 to his .055, we ran a 7.51 and 179.53 mph (still haven't broke 180) to his 7.53 and 177.86. We got the win, and gave the fans a good show. Steve said he could see the front wheel of that dragster out of the corner of his eye all the way down the track!

All the classes made one round of eliminations, and that was it. The rain started again, and never stopped. Once again, when we get the car running great, it rains.

This was just a great event. The stands were packed. We met and raced different people and cars. I have never had so many fans come up to us and thank us (and the NPCA) for bring our car, and putting on such a great show. Every run we made the fans stood up and went crazy (they really loved the burnouts that the NPCA cars did). It was a long haul (1050 miles) and we got rained out, but we loved the track, had a great time, and headed home with a great running car. Not a bad way to end the season.

NPCA Fall Nationals

Indianapolis, Indiana

September 22 & 23, 2007

We arrived at Indy early Friday September 21st. The weather was like mid-summer - temps in the high 80's, sunny and humid, and stayed that way all weekend. The track was holding a Friday night test and tune starting at 4:00 pm, so we decided to participate. Steve had modified the scoop opening to allow more air into the blower, and we had not been able to test it out, so this was our chance. As always, when Steve changes something, he goes back to the "fat & safe" tuneup, so the first run was a slow 7.84 ET. Steve changed the pulley, and then went out and ran a 7.54, right where we need to be in our 7.50 index class. We were happy with the car, and tucked it in for the night.

Saturday was qualifying day. We were to get two runs. As I stated above, our class runs on a 7.50 index. The car that runs the closest to 7.50 without going under, is the #1 qualifier. Our first qualifying run, the car went 7.500. Perfect time!!! We are number 1 qualifier, and no one can "squeak" in under us. Steve left the car as is, even though the air was much better for the second qualifying run. He guessed that the car would run a 7.45, and he just wanted to see how well he could predict the air/tuneup thing. He did pretty good, the car ran 7.41, our fastest time ever - it went 178.85 MPH - we still haven't broken 180 MPH.

Sunday was eliminations. We went out first round. The car only ran 7.66. We should have changed the pulley to compensate for the air (the corrected altitude at the time of our run was 3290 feet). The problem is, when we were called to the staging lanes, the corrected altitude was 2740, and we had the correct pulley on at the time, but because we were in the staging lanes for a little over one and a half hours, the air changed considerably before we ran. So, we learned that we will have to bring a couple of different size pulleys, the tools to change the pulley, and the weater data station, in the tow vehicle with us. That way we can do a little bit of last minute tuning right there in the lanes.

Every event we learn more, find better ways to do things, and have a great time with all the other racers and spectators at the various tracks that we go to. We left the truck, trailer and car at a friends shop in Indy, and flew home Monday 9/24. We will fly back out to Indy Thursday, 10/4, pick up the rig, and head to our next event in Kansas City. This will be the NPCA Finals, and will probably wrap up our 2007 drag racing season.

Niagara Reunion
Willy's Home Run
Lancaster, NY
August 10-12. 2007
If you have read the "Tech Talk" section of this site, you know that the rebuilt engine went back into the car just in time for this event. We arrived at the track about 10:30 am Friday, and got our favorite spot in the pits.

Again, Dick Collins and the Willy's Home Run teamed up with Lancasters Niagara Reunion to create a HUGE three day event. The Pits were filled with race cars from several States and Canada, and the Stands were packed to capacity. On Sunday show cars filled every available space.

The weather Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday was Sunny with temps in the mid 80's and humidity ranging from 31% to 42%. The lowest corrected altitude was 2569 ft, and the highest was 3090 ft.

Friday we made two time trial runs. Because we were starting with a "new" engine, we went back to the base tune-up, which we knew would be slow. Then Steve made small changes throughout the weekend, leaning it out a little bit each time. Our ET's Friday were 5.17 and 4.86 (Lancaster is an 1/8 mile track), and the MPH's were 124 and 141. The car sounded good, handled good, improved between rounds, and stayed together, so we were happy.

Saturday was a bracket style race for the Nostalgia Cars. We had one time trial and went three rounds in eliminations. There were a huge amount of cars there, so it would take many more rounds to get any money. Our ET's were 4.81, 4.88, 4.85 and 4.80, and the MPH's were 138, 140, 133 and 145. Based on our time trial 4.81 ET we set our "dial-in" time at 4.82. Steve's reaction times were good so we won the 1st two rounds, then "broke out" in the third round. The other guy also broke out, but by .0051 less then us, so he got the win.

Sunday was the Big Race. The Four fastest cars at the track would qualify for the "Frantic Four" and would race each other "Heads Up" with a pro tree. The next fastest eight cars would qualify for The Quick Eight, and compete in a bracket style race. After the 1st qualifying run we were "on the bump" in the Frantic Four with a 4.82 ET and 145 MPH run. Our 2nd and final qualifying run we went 4.81 and 147 mph, a little better, but not good enough. The last car to run bumped us out of the Frantic Four, so we ended up the #1 Qualifier for the Quick Eight.

I stated earlier that the weather was sunny most of Sunday. We were in the staging lanes for the 1st round of eliminations when it started to sprinkle. It quit, and racing resumed. Then it started to sprinkle again. This time it didn't quit but started to rain - hard. By the time we got back to our pit area we were soaked! They called the race and split the prize money amoung the qualified cars.

This event is the only Nostalgia event close to home, so many of our family members and friends are able to see us race. That makes this event a favorite, and it's always a good time. We are already looking forward to next year.

A Special

Thank You

To

Bob

Wenzelburger

for the

Fantastic

Photos

New York International Raceway Park
Test 'N Tune
June 13, 2007
We got to NYIRP right at 5:30 when the gates opened. It was sunny and 88 degrees, but only 31% humidity, so it wasn't bad.

At 6:30 we were ready to make our first run. The car ran 8.57 and 147.58 mph. Steve made some adjustments and went up for the second run. It ran 7.70 and 168.95 mph. Again Steve made adjustments and changed the pulley. Back to the staging lanes we went.

Steve staged the car and just started to bring up the rpms for launch. The car made a strange noise and huge orange flames shot out of #7 exhaust pipe, so Steve shut it off. We got the car pushed aside, hooked it up to the three wheeler, and towed it back to the pits.

Steve did a compression test on all cylinders. All were okay - except for #7 - it had ZERO compression. Not Good!

We had planned on leaving from NYIRP and head toward Columbus - but instead we headed back home. No NHRA Hot Rod Reunion for us this year.

Steve started taking apart the engine the next day. He found the #7 rod had just shattered - pieces the size of coins. The Block had monor (fixable) damage. The Crank was good, but the Cam was junk. We had to order new cam, rods, pistons, lifters, gaskets - you get the picture. As long as we had to replace all those parts, Steve and Matt Saff of Pro-formance Specialities will build a higher compression engine more suitable to our needs.

Goodguys 19th Hot Rod Nationals

Indianapolis, Indiana

June 7 - 10, 2007

Could could not fix the torque converter in time for us to race at Indy, so Steve found one for sale about 3 hours away, so off he went to pick it up. We left for Indy a couple hours early so we could stop at Coan (just north of Indy) and drop off the damage converter for repairs.

We finally got great weather at the Goodguys Indy event. It was sunny all three days with temps in the high 70's to low 80's. The humidity ranged from 29% to 53%, so the air was pretty good for racing. With the new torque converter and good air, Steve was thinking that he just might run in the 7.00 index class instead of the 7.50 index class.

Friday we only got 1 run due to oil downs and delays. The car ran 8.81 and 147.75 mph. Okay - we just need to lean it out a little - right?

Saturday we made two runs. The first was 7.94 and 166 mph - better, but more adjustments needed. The second was 7.74 and 170 mph - again better, but the car just isn't running like it should. We made more adjustments, the car sounded better and we thought we were closing in on the 7.50 time.

Sunday, 1st round of eliminations, we ran our worst time - 8.96 and 143.54 mph - terrible! Obviously we lost.

Several times during the event we were visited by our new fan, Dani Leigh, aka "Squirt". She is 4 years old and a die hard gear head. Her Dad had his rat rod at the event, and Dani was having a great weekend making new friends and checking out the cars.

We had thought about leaving the trailer and bantam at the home of one of the NPCA members, just outside of Columbus. That way we didn't have to tow it all the way home, then, four days later tow it back for the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Columbus. But because it ran so bad we decided to take it home and go to our local track on Wednesday (6/13) for test 'n tune. We really have to figure out what the problem is with this car.

Gasser Reunion

Thompson, Ohio

June 1-3, 2007

The car is back together and we headed for the 6th Annual Gasser Reunion. The forecast is good for the beginning of the event, but "iffy" for the end.

This track has a very bumpy shut down area, which creates problems for fast, rigid chassis like ours. Steve always has trouble stopping here, so he planned on shutting down early, until he found a smooth section of track at the top end.

Friday the temps were in the mid 80's with sunny skies. We made three runs - all slow. The tune up was way too fat. We slowly leaned it out and showed some improvement each round. Saturday was again sunny with mid 80's, until about 5:00 pm, then the clouds started rolling in and the temps fell to the mid 70's. We made four runs, again improving slightly with each run, but the car didn't have the top end power that is should have. Steve talked to several people, including Jim Oddy, and came to the conclusion that the torque converter was the problem.

Our other problem is Steve never did find a smooth path down either lane, so he will have to dial in a time based on shutting down before the finish line. This will be very difficult, but it's better than smashing up the car.

Sunday was cooler, cloudy and drizzling rain, so Steve didn't have to worry about the shut down. The event was called, and we got an early start for home, which gave us some extra time to figure out what we had to do about that torque converter.

To see some great photos of this event taken by Bob Wenzelburger, to to

http://rides.webshots.com/album/559379387twPRWC