Comes to mind because tomorrow is the first day of the season finale race that I was trying to get the car ready for last year:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...p-17-days.html

I actually missed the first deadline (had to borrow a car for that race).

I also missed the first day of this big 2-day race last year, getting the car started at 7:45 Friday evening, having a big fuel leak, finally saying "done" at 2 a.m., then getting out to the track at 8 a.m. (good news is no points racing is done on Friday). I didn't even have time to hook up a tach (shifted by ear - not recommended). With a totally unfamiliar combo, I managed 2 round wins in 3 classes, which kept me close enough to the top of the heap in one class for end-of-season honors. I did get a tach installed the following week. And exhaust. It didn't get much better getting round wins through the rest of the month, although I did manage a few round wins in the late racing in October. I had amassed enough points in a different class, which ended in late August, to earn a season championship - I never ran this car in that class, though.

In the meantime, I've swapped out the shortblock, which I probably didn't need to do - had what I thought was excessive piston slap (turned out to be loose torque converter bolts - not the ones I installed), and an oil pan leak, which I didn't know for sure where it was coming from. Also installed an LS6 cam while I was at it. First race out in April, running two classes, I went out first round in the class in which I was season defending champ, and won the other race. As defending champ I finished tied with 2 others for third this year, one round's worth of points behind the champ. I'm in 6th place in the class that I won the first race going into this weekend - I can't catch the leader, but I can catch 2nd place if everything falls into place. In the other two classes I've been running, which also end this weekend, I'm pretty far back in points.

I'm hoping for better results this weekend. Starting in June I was having a bear of a time cutting lights. I got out the pocket practice tree last month, and have been doing better the last couple of weekends. Hopefully that will continue. Last weekend the car ran quicker than it ever has up here, and it's supposed to be cooler this weekend, so we may see some more new best ETs.

So, if you don't see much of me on TGO this Friday and Saturday, it means I'm going rounds...

Pics from the weekend after I got it running last year:

 

Time trials and two optional jackpot races Friday. I entered the first jackpot, had a -0.001 light first round. I told myself if I went out first round in the first jackpot, I'd enter the 2nd, so that's what I did. The 2nd jackpot was only run to 1/8 mile (which really messes with you - amazing how much difference it makes). 99 entered the 2nd jackpot, 7 rounds to win. Which, I did. Took out 2 delay box cars in the process.

 

Excellent!

 

Two semi-final finishes today in the 3 classes I ran. Can't complain about the way things went.

 

Good job man!

Hard to believe its already been a year since that swap..