Oooooooh, Car Stuff........ Back on track

Thanks for hanging in there with me as we had a bit of a quiet period relative to the car. This time was not too quiet for me, however as I took my Vegas Trip, which I chronicled here, and have met a bevy of lovely ladies.... But, back to the car!

We (Driver/Mechanic extraordinary) Keith Lynch and I, have been talking a lot about where to run next, and what our goals will be for this year.  The decision on where to run, has been tentatively made. We will hold off on that announcement until a bit closer to the race date.

You all know about our problem with the hood on the Mega Maniac. We lost the hood on a run in Las Vegas. It went flying up and into the air, over 25 feet above the car and track. When it came down, it hit on a front corner of the hood, crushing that corner, and the scoop totally separated from the hood. Fortunately, at that time, the track at Vegas had a bizarre schedule for Stock, so we had time to cobble, rivet, tape, wire, and hammer things to get the hood back on the car. And we managed to at least get it back on, and into running shape, before time for our next run.

There was particular anxiety as we were very concerned about getting the hood off for fuel check, and back on again. We only had a limited supply of items to secure it, and they were consumable, so each time we took it off, and put it back on, we used up some of the supplies.

Well, we went a few rounds in eliminations and didn't do too bad, and the hood stayed in place during our later runs. By this, I mean it didn't come off during the runs. Although another Drag Pak, did lose just the scoop off his hood. He had a really pretty paint job too. At least ours was a wrap, that could be duplicated if necessary....

OK, why am I talking about the hood again?

I have been talking to the Drag Pak Group at Chrysler Corp, and today just heard that my replacement hood is available. Yeah!

I will be picking up the new hood, on Wednesday, in Detroit.

I have asked that the supplier does not punch the holes and insert the dzus fasteners as in the standard Drag Pak configuration. We have a different plan for attaching it, and believe that we can avoid future incidents of flying hoods, and actually make the hood easier to lock on, and remove than before.

We are talking to a number of sponsors, and hopefully will have one signed before we get too much further down the line. If, in the worst case, we don't actually sign a sponsor, I am ready to commission a new wrap, that I think will get us another Best appearing car award. And it will make us even more memorable. If that is possible.

So, for those you who have been patient, this is your reward. We are talking car again....

David