This past weekend was the NHRA Division V ET finals at Brainerd International Raceway. I represented Bandimere Speedway in the "Sportsman ET" class (12.00-19.99 dial-in).

Best at Bandimere to date was a 12.82 @106 MPH (density altitude was about 7000' at the time). First pass off the trailer on Friday was a 12.06 @ 111.9 MPH. I figured it would be quicker in subsequent passes, and sure enough, the next pass (a -0.020 sec red light loss in the "gamblers" race) it ran a 12.023 @ 112.35 MPH, DA ~1000'.

Saturday the barometric pressure had dropped (storm front moving in), first pass was a 12.08 @ 111. Next pass was the first round of eliminations, I backed off to a 12.10 @ 100 (got tree'd, lost) - would have run a 12.03 if I had run it out. After that I was in the "Race of Champions" for our track, dialed the 12.03, backed off to a 12.06 and a win. 2nd round of the RoC, I was paired up with a '70 Chevelle SS that could easily run 11.8's, but since the lowest you can dial in Sportsman is a 12.00, that's what he did. I put a 12.03 back on the window, we take off, before I shift to 3rd he's already fender racing me - that distracted me, I missed the 2-3 shift point, over-rev'd it but stayed off the rev limiter; I figured it was going to slow a little, so I ran it out and he took too much stripe for a .007 breakout, while I ran a 12.033 @ 111.9 (DA ~1300'). They had to shut down the racing due to darkness at that point.

Sunday was rainy for most of the day, finally picked back up with 3rd round of the class eliminations at 5:30 p.m. They said they would only complete the RoC if they could finish the class eliminations. Well, the last final was run well after sundown, so we didn't finish the RoC. The last 5 remaining racers will split the pot. (Had we run 3rd round, I had a laddered bye...)

2000 mile round trip, 3-day event, 6 passes including 2 time trails, 2 first round losses, 2 round wins. At least I can say my last pass was a round win, even though I didn't actually win the race. I'm going to order a pic the "official" photographer took at the launch - the fronts are almost off the pavement.

Not too shabby for an all-factory internal parts LS engine.

 

damn, a 12.0 SI. That's awesome.

 

Thats very impressive. A stock engine pushing a full bodied car to 12.0's.

Looks like your !Denver mod is the best one yet!

BTW, I picked up my LS1/T56 today. I'll start a thread later, tonight I'm gonna begin with the wiring harness and attempt to do it "Pocket" style. Can't wait.

 

Just a daily driver with bad paint and sticky DOT tires.