It took until Father's day before I was finally able to get some track time. I made 2 time trial runs and then lost in the first round. Nothing seemed to go right.

First time trial run after not being on the track since late September last year and I get a .003 reaction time. That was the only thing good about that run. I think a relay stuck for the 2 step and it wouldn't come off 5000 rpm so I coasted all the way down the track. When the transbrake button is pushed, a ground signal is sent to the delay box to control the transbrake and a 12v signal needs to be sent to the ignition box to control the rev limiter. The only way to do this is with a relay.

Turned off the 2 step and went for a second time trial run. According to my replay tach, the converter stalls at 6200 rpm with the 2 step turned off I cut a -.010 red light and I'm pretty sure I tripped the 60' timers with the back wheels. Didn't get a new personal best 60' time but I broke my old ET/MPH record. With a density altitude of 4883 feet, I tripped the 1/4 mile timers with a 9.288 at 145.2 MPH. I pulled the chute just because the run felt good and I had no idea how fast I was going. Theoretically at sea level, the car should run 8.92 @ 151.66

First round eliminations. It was a long wait and now it's really hot. I dialed in a 9.30 and really screwed up on the tree. As soon as I staged and pushed the transbrake button, the engine goes to WOT instead of sitting at an idle with the starting line enhancer. Before I could react the delay box timer let the transbrake go and I was off and running. Got a LB3A (left before third amber). I spooked my opponent who should have had a 2 second head start and when I launched, he got a -.247 red light but still got the win. Everything was bad about the run and I only ran a 9.438 at 144.50 MPH.

So, 3 passes down the track this year and none were perfect but setting a new personal best helps make the day better. Any day of racing where I can drive the car onto the trailer then drive it into the garage at the end of the day is a good day. There's nothing that I'm aware of that needs to be repaired but I do need to do a few modifications.

The aluminum dash is nice however a south facing race track makes a terrible glare from the run. I either need to cover it with fabric or put a non reflective coating on it before the next race. The in car camera was working well until I turned into the sun to go down the track then the picture got completely washed out so no video from today

I'm not going to change it but the inner door handle on the fiberglass door would be much better on the front half of the door. It's roughly in line with my shoulder and I have to turn my body to flip the latch and open the door. Having the latch more forward would make opening it a lot easier.

 

Well no that you have the bugs exposed should be clear sailing, congrats on the new time!! Nice numbers for altitude! You are totally right about driving it on the trailer, something that seems to be eluding me this year.

 

Wheee! Someone taking lots of pics at the track already has the weekend photos online. I took a couple of my car sitting in the pics but haven't resized them yet.

First pic is just a mild burnout on the first or second time trial pass. Second pic I think is the second time trial run. Wish the photographer was taking video It would have looked good as the front end was coming up. At least it gives me a real good view of the back tire wrinkle. 7.5 PSI in the tires. Those 32x16 tires planted hard.

 

just noticed the flames on the roof- awesome! car looks tight

 

You never noticed the roof flames before? I did a thread on painting the T-tops a while ago. I ran all last season with them