I haven't turned a wheel yet and there's no coolent in the engine but I fired up the new engine for about 30 seconds today. It's sounds really mean and runs surprisingly well

After a minor fuel flooding problem, it started better than any time last year. Considering the engine is cold, it fired up really easy on alcohol. I was impressed. I expected to have to prime the engine with gas or use ether. Temperature was just below the freezing mark today but the heated garage helps. I know how bad the exhaust fumes are and had the big door open.

Still a bunch more things to do before race season but at least I know the engine now runs. Estimated RWHP is 850 hp and I'm hoping to get at least a 9.6 - 9.8 second pass this year with no power adders. Anything better than that at altitude will be a bonus.

Congrats! Nothing like baby's first cry.

When's your first date?

Cograts on getting it fired up with lots of time to spare. I am sure you have at least two months before any tracks open in Alberta and even longer until a race day.

First local race is May 21. If I travel, I can go to Edmonton on May 8 and 15. Medicine Hat is open on May 15. All these early dates are weather permitting. We've been snowed out 3 years in a row now for early May but later this week the weather is supposed to be nice enough I could dig out the hawg and go for a ride. Go figure.

http://www.hardtail.com/schedule.html

So technically I still have 3 months before the first local race. Only having time to work on the car on the weekends doesn't leave a lot of time left.

I just don't like the idea of having to travel for the first race of the season. I'd like it to be a local race to give me a chance to work out any bugs and in case there's any problems, I could easily go home to fix them.

With all the work I've done this winter, it will be like driving a new car. I don't really know what to expect.

I was thinking T&T, actually.

I have T&T oppotunities one week b/4 1st points race. I don't have anything "big" planned for the off season, just need some RT rust removal time.

Hope this season goes better for you than the past few.

Nice to hear it fired up so easy and is sounding good. Makes me think I should start doing something with my engine.

Alcohol for drivers, not for cars!!!

LOL, glad to hear she fired up and I wish you luck on the tunnel ram deal. When you get ready to win some bracket races, put the ole single plane back on and let us know how many rounds your went

I had a single plane and was lucky to get past second round before. A single 850 carb just isn't enough for the new engine and running a tunnel ram was cheaper than going to a big Dominator.

That plus the look of 2 carbs sticking out the hood just looks good.

LOL, bling bling baby!! Have to save your pennies and throw a toilet on there for next season and see if it's as good as everybody claims they are.

Toilet would be nice. A couple of locals use them but I'd want an Enderle Birdcatcher. Neither one is cheap. Even a nice stack injection system would look good.