Trevor86TA

We had our season final over a week ago. I wrote a while back about our points systems which is based on the highest 7 of 9 events. I raced in two series this year. Going into the final I was ranked 1st and 2nd in the Street and Sportsman classes respectively based on absolute points but was really 2nd and 3rd based on our scoring system.

In the Street class I went into the final day needing an extreme outcome. A friend was in 1st place and the only way to pass him was if he went out in the first round and I went on to win the class.

In the Sportsman class the guy in 1st had clinched and I was 1 round back of 2nd place (the guy in 2nd was actually the same guy sitting in 1st in Street).

Saturday was a test and tune. I was planning on going out early and working on my lights all day. Something came up with work on Saturday morning so I ended up only making it out for the last few hours. I made 1 hit right when I got there and just got back to the pits in time to get my money up to the tower for the jackpot race. I drew a mid 10 second Pro car in round 1. I left first and was way out in front still at 1200' or so when all of the sudden I heard a BANG BANG BANG BANG. At first I thought the car was breaking up like it was out of fuel or not getting spark. I lifted immediately and coasted to to the stripe still getting there first. I left the car running as I slowed for the first turnoff. The oil pressure was still at 40psi and I was wondering what had happened. When I hit the gas to turn off I heard more banging and then the car shut itself off. I stopped and checked it out but didn't see anything noticble. I tried to start it again but it wouldn't really go. It banged a few times and then would shut itself down. At that point I figured it must be something broken in the bottom end and I was done for the season. I got towed back to the pits and let it cool down. After a fw minutes I got curious and pulled the valve covers off to see if I could see any carnage. To my surprise I found a rocker out of place and a broken rocker stud on an exhaust valve. The banging was the fire of that cylinder coming back through the carb. I couldn't believe that I broken a stud even though I run a stud girdle. To end a long story, I went home and got the parts I needed to put humpty back together for Saturday morning.

I got it running early Sunday and went over all of my valve lash. The qualifyng passes went good and I was pumped to try and have a killer day and shoot for the championship. I got drew a tough vetran in round 1 of Sportsman and tried to cut a 'safe' light. He had a great light and passed me right before the stripe and dumped it just enough to not break out. He had a better light than me and it wasn't almost over right there. Mine wasn't horrible but that's racing.

I got what I really needed in Round 1 of Street Legal. I drew the friend that was sitting in #1. If I beat him, I would be able to gun for the season championship. I hate my destinity in my own hands. He had a slight advantage on the tree and I made most of it up my the stripe but he ran me out of real estate on a pretty close MOV. My season was over. His wasn't. He went 12 rounds in 2 classes to win both eliminators for the day and win a Wally. I think that was the first time in 2 years (17 races) that I went out in both series in the first round on the same day.

I got lucky and was able to hold my spots in both series. I finished 3rd for the year in Sportsman and 2nd in Street for the third year in a row...always a bridesmaid!!!

I have 2.5 years on this engine and about 300 passes. I plan to pull the engine soon and check things out. I am still undecided if I should step it up a bit or just freshen it and leave a working combo together and build something much better down the road.

I am also not sure about where I want to race next year. I like running in two classes as we have a short enough season (only 9 events from the end of May to mid September). I was going to move up out of Street if I won this year but it would be nice to win a championship. If I do move out of my Street+Sportsman combo, I would likely run both Sportsman+Pro. I have had pretty goood lucky winning rounds since I started racing but I don't know if I would be able to jump right into the Pro class and live a top the standings as I have been able to in the other classes. Other guys do it with Sportsman cars but I am still a relative rookie compared to most of the racers out there. I only have 5 seasons under my belt.

IHI

iTrader: (1)

You still finished respectively, and believe me, i know exactly how it feels to be right there all season to have something happen at the end of the year. Last season i raced i was in 1st or 2nd place all season long in modified/no box and also in the summit super series for our track...all year. With two races left for our points series, they had a street race/night race for the kids which i usually ran since it was an easy $200, well, that was the night my first crankshaft snapped and ended my season. tried going out in my uncles S10, but that class is too tough at year end to think I was going to be a miracle worker or cinderella story, we gave it a shot, but lost first round both days.

ended up dropping to 5th in the summit super series and 4th in track points (it was that close all season it did'nt take much to lose that many spots)...both completely out of the money at year end.....stupid stupid stupid racing s dumb race instead of keeping my eye on the prize.

In the big picture you did very well, running two classes in tough on drivers and equipment, so you have nothing to be bummed about. why not just jump upto modified and run one class?? They have to have a higher pay out so you know the money is good, and if you can handle getting your azz handed to you initally, running with them boyz will force you to become a better driver than you are already. This is the route i took and am glad i did, but i like pushing myself so it was just a natural transition, otherwise i could've stayed the big fish in the little pond (running street/sportsman) and been pretty much guarnuteed $200 each day unless i had a bonehead moment.

Good job this season

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Better a bridesmaid than janitor. I'm kind of bummed thinking about what could have been, until I remember all those below me. I dropped one place the final race of the year in one series, and moved up one in the other, falling short of first by a few rounds in each. First round losses early in the year were my undoing in both.

There's a fall series here that starts mid-September and goes to mid-October, weather permitting. I don't tend to run in it because they run Saturday and Sunday, when I have other obligations.

Trevor86TA

Thanks guys.

I liked running two classes for a few reasons. For one, aside from the season final I don't think there was more than a day where I didn't have at least 4 rounds of competition. Also, our season is short with only 9 events so this sort of makes it like an 18 event season for me. I also get the benefit of getting two season's worth of competition experience in one year.

I am still undecided on a move up to the Pro category though. Most of those cars run a trans brake which I don't have (yet). I think if I run in that class next year I would run my car in Sportsman trim and run both?

Plans for the winter include struts/shocks and springs, an aftermarket torque arm, maybe a fan for the transmission cooler and a few other little things to keep the car running the number on every pass.

I am already thinking about the start of next season which is 7+ months away.

Have you guys heard of many guys breaking an ARP rocker stud inside of a girdle?

IHI

iTrader: (1)

seen it in person more than once.

definately get a t brake if going pro...you can footbrake all you want, but it's alot EASIER to be as consistant in the class as you have to be with a t brake...maybe not as grass roots as footbraking, but "grass roots" is'nt paying you back at days end either...your competitors are using them to their advantage...why bring a knife to a gun fight...plus you'll never go back to footbrake once you go t brake

Trevor86TA

Since I asked five7 about his stats, I thought I'd post mine. Our track doesn't post other racers' stats but I always track my wins and losses. It would be interesting to know the average package, light and win/loss percentage against faster and slower cars. I lost a stack of timeslips though, I'll have to look for them.

Not a lot of rounds of experience yet. Seasons have been 7-9 events and average car counts are only about 32 for Sportsman and 16 for Street. Pretty said compared to the fields you guys are up against but it makes for a pretty tight racing community. Anyone else track this stuff?

AlkyIROC

Looks impressive. Easy way to keep track of how well you do from year to year. Could make good material for sponsor hunting especially those finals and event wins columns.

I haven't counted points in at least 3 years now. If I get into the money rounds, I'll be happy. Maybe next year.

I may have to play with Excel now and see what I can come up with.

IHI

iTrader: (1)

Very impressive results, but like stephen said, i gave up on points...since there's no point really. As I've evolved in this sport, you will too, and it wont be too long before you see that in this sport, winning the battle is faaaaaar more profitable than winning the war. Sure you get a trophy and a jacket, but wearing that jacket makes you look like a nerd as soon as year change rolls over, so if it costs money to run points up there...save that fee and focus on kill'em at each race for the purse instead.

At the sportsman level you have room to breath since it does'nt cost much to run and be competative, but if you move upto pro there are alot less give'me runs/mistakes being made, just the evolution of drivers/equipment...all that gets more expensive so it runs better forcing you to drive better...then it happens again in super pro, cars almost always run the number, so it comes down to cutting a light.

but it does look impressive on paper how you've laid it out

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Free entry for the class next season is a pretty good incentive for me.
Guess that makes me head of the nerd herd.

I'm sure a good number of my red light wins (or otherwise poor light in the other lane) were reputation. At least, that's what I've heard.

IHI

iTrader: (1)

free entry into points, great, your getting a free shot at whatever the track is giving away, so what the heck...but i would'nt put an ounce of energy tying to chase people to stop they're progress so you can get ahead in points...all that does is mentally mess with ya, and then more often than not you lose the round your trying to cut the person off, and you lose your shot at the days money...race for the cash, andthe points will fall where they may.

Tell me it is'nt so, you honestly break out the previous years sprotsman points jacket??!!! noooo, nooooo.......that is as baad as wearing a 1999 orielly national sweatshirt in public, or any other previously dated wardrobe LOL!!! Granted we're old enough now we dont give too craps about what other people think of us, just know when they're all standing there talking and smiling/laughing as you walk up...it is about you and your jacket I have a buddy that sticks to the sportsman class since it's easier and cheaper, he's won the title quite a few times consecutivly, and he's another one that does'nt care about what he's wearing, or should i say did'nt care until this year when we told him the deal just hang it downstairs next to the tropheys and leave it be

Trevor86TA

Well regardless of whether or not I raced in the points series I would be competing in the exact same events for the exact same cost. The only cost is the club membership which I would have anyways since our club owns and operates the track. I love winning the money bit I have to admit I am a very competitive person and I love winning.


I agree. I think that those that are sitting atop of the standings have a little bit of an intimidation factor working for them.