By: Bruce Hemminger

With only 3 races left in the 2010 season, we knew more work had to be done. We planned to test different drivetrain ratios, different ignition components, and clutch set ups to be prepared for the NMRA Charlotte, NC race. Since we knew there was only 3 weeks in between the Joliet and Charlotte race, Deb and I had to get after it to get everything tested that we wanted to. Unfortunately our first time out testing we hurt the engine. We learned some important things, but getting everything back together was going to take some time. With help from Rich Groh of RGR Engines we got everything back together the day before we left for Charlotte. We also found that my main transmission had a bad main shaft. Luckily we were able to get a main shaft overnighted to the track, so it would be waiting for us when we got there.

Deb, Jeff (crew person), and I arrived in Charlotte on Thursday afternoon. We set up our pit area and then headed to the main office to get the main shaft. The weather was not looking too good and we had to make the decision to take the transmission apart and potentially get caught in the rain or fix it in the morning. I prefer to stay ahead of things as much as I can, so we decided to work on the transmission instead of waiting till the morning. We had just about finished it up and the rain started to come down. With only having to seal the tail shaft housing and seal the inspection covers, it would only take 30 minutes to finish it up and get the transmission back in the car.

On Friday we arrived at the track early to get the transmission back together and into the car. We then got ready to make a test pass to get a feel for the conditions of the track surface. On the test pass I ran 1.361, 3.920, 6.086 @ 113.08 mph, 7.968, 9.561 @ 141.39 mph. I was very happy that we decided to make a test pass because we were going to have to make changes to get the car to respond better on the starting line. With changes to the suspension and tune up for first round of qualifying, I ran 1.359, 3.897, 6.046 @ 114.38 mph, and one second into high gear the car nosed over very bad on me and I lifted. I was extremely upset because I knew it wasn’t going to be good. We got back to the pits and removed all the spark plugs and performed a leak down test. Everything checked ok except for 2 spark plugs. The straps on those plugs were burned a little bit. We then made the changes to those cylinders and got everything else ready for the second round of qualifying. In the second round, my suspension and tune up changes worked with a wheels up 1.328 (back tires), 3.863, 6.008 @ 114.13 mph, 7.873, 9.459 @ 141.65 mph. This pass was good enough to break the class ET record of 9.46 and put me in the number #1 qualifying spot. Also the car nosed over just before the finish line and another meted spark plug strap was the cause. Fortunately everything check ok in that cylinder. Getting a better handle on tune up and the track I knew there was a little more ET in the car for the third round. We made all the changes to suspension and tune up to prepare for Saturdays third round of qualifying and Sundays elimination.

Saturday morning we got to the track and warmed the car up and headed to the scales to verify weight. The car weighed with me in it 3065 lbs just it had in the first two rounds of qualifying. I then walked the track to see how the track surface looked that morning. Everything looked good and I planned to hit the starting line a little harder in the third round. Leaving the starting line higher this time it was a wheels up 1-2 shift 1.321 (back tires), 3.843, 5.988 @ 114.86 mph, 7.853, 9.433 @ 142.28 mph. Not only was this good enough to keep me in the #1 qualifying spot, back up and be the new class record, but it was also the very first 5 second 1/8^th mile ET in NMRA Real Street history. After passing a P&G test, and a nitrous jet size check. This pass is in the record books. Thankfully the NMRA decided to run our first round of eliminations on Sunday instead of Saturday night and since the temps were in the mid 90’s all weekend. We decided to get some food and head back to the hotel and get a good night sleep to be fresh and ready for Sundays eliminations.

Sunday’s eliminations would give me a bye in the first round for being #1 qualifier. I made a 1/8^th mile pass to try some things again to see if it would better the 5.98 1/8^th pass from the third round of qualifying. In the first round pass I ran 1.336, 3.877, 6.011 @ 114.96 mph. ET had fallen because it spun on the starting line, but mph was up. I can take this data and apply it to the next round. We made all the changes needed and were ready for the semi finals. In the semi final round I ran 1.369, 3.887, 6.016 @ 115.44 mph, 7.869, 9.469 @ 137.29 mph. This pass would give me lane choice for the final round. Unfortunate my competitor Tim Matherly, who was on a bye run in the semi final round, he had a mechanical failure. This unfortunate incident prevented him from making the final round and gave me my third win in a row. Deb and I plan to bring the engine to RGR Engines to have it gone over and be ready for testing and the NMRA Columbus Ohio race in a couple of weeks. Hope to see you there!!!