The car hadn't been raced since last year.
And the NHRA doesn't seem to be in any hurry to do the right thing. So we are still rated with more horsepower than is fair and honest.
We run legally, and get horsepower by going 1.20 under, and we get torn down. Fair enough. We are proven legal by the tear down.
Another Drag Pak with 5.7 engine runs, gets horsepower on numerous occasions, at least three and is never torn down until he attempts to go for a record. Then he is found to have been illegal all along, by his own admission. His defense to the illegal pistons, was were the original pistons, that they have been in his car all along. What a joke. Whether or not he knew he was running illegal pistons, is your call.
Whether or not he really knew, is not the point. Some people are insecure enough to seek any edge, legal, or not. And I really don't care if he knew.
The point is, that he was running an illegal engine. He got caught. Some would say that the fact that he got caught, just proves that "the system" works.
I say that it is nearly totally dysfunctional, and "the system" is applied unfairly, inconsistently, and arbitrarily.
And when they have a chance to correct a mistake, they don't even give you courtesy of a response.
But that is the reason why I haven't been running the car.
Due to some plans that changed, Keith took the car to run at Indy. Personally, I love Indy. I am not sure why, but it is a very comfortable track for me. I have a lot of good memories of racing, and being broken in Indy. But as I said a change of plans occurred, and I was not able to make the race this time in Indy.
I watched the results very closely, and was afraid that there was some kind of problem with car, possibiy due to the inaction over the past few months.
When the final qualifying times from Indy were posted, things looked a lot better.
And after we won the first round of eliminations. I was all the more encouraged.
Then we ran against a slower car, that had a very strong reaction time, and put together a great overall package to win. I talked to Keith as he was driving back form Indy, and gave it a good go. But you cant win them all.
A good friend, Dennis Breeden managed to wheel his Drag Pak to the Stock Eliminator win.
Congratulations Dennis!
Not sure when we will run again. It really depends on the NHRA, and whether they really believe in fairness, or not.
God Bless, and Race Safely!
David
Monday, May 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The story to be told......
I just left Chris' Mother, after she called and asked for some things for Max's school project.
Max is Chris' youngest son, a 2nd grader who has a school project.
The project he chose; was his Dad, and the race car.
So he needs pictures, and whatever.... No problem.....
I was up until 2:00 AM sorting through the volumes of photographs, and other "stuff". I put over 150 photographs of Chris when we were building the car ( I have thousands, but not all have Chris in them), onto the DVD, along with numerous videos.
I also gave him a Wally from the first race we won. (Someday he will get them all) And I had a plaque with a picture of the car on it's maiden voyage, that I also gave him. I gave him a Class Finalist Sticker from Las Vegas, and threw in some other things..
So now, I am curious to hear the story as he sees it, and tells it.
I am gratified to know that Chris will not be forgotten. He was an incredibly gifted, and unique individual. And I know that his sons, and daughter will never allow him to be forgotten.
I am now, more than ever, committed to finishing the book about our ventures with the car. I don't care if nobody else ever reads it, but his children will know every thought, every decision, every strategy, and everything that went into the car. And they will know the part that their Dad, along with his Dad, played in building that car.
God Bless and Race Safely
David
Max is Chris' youngest son, a 2nd grader who has a school project.
The project he chose; was his Dad, and the race car.
So he needs pictures, and whatever.... No problem.....
I was up until 2:00 AM sorting through the volumes of photographs, and other "stuff". I put over 150 photographs of Chris when we were building the car ( I have thousands, but not all have Chris in them), onto the DVD, along with numerous videos.
I also gave him a Wally from the first race we won. (Someday he will get them all) And I had a plaque with a picture of the car on it's maiden voyage, that I also gave him. I gave him a Class Finalist Sticker from Las Vegas, and threw in some other things..
So now, I am curious to hear the story as he sees it, and tells it.
I am gratified to know that Chris will not be forgotten. He was an incredibly gifted, and unique individual. And I know that his sons, and daughter will never allow him to be forgotten.
I am now, more than ever, committed to finishing the book about our ventures with the car. I don't care if nobody else ever reads it, but his children will know every thought, every decision, every strategy, and everything that went into the car. And they will know the part that their Dad, along with his Dad, played in building that car.
God Bless and Race Safely
David
Monday, March 5, 2012
Hello again friends
I would like to personally thank all of those who have been so supportive and kind throughout the whole New Hemi Racing saga.
No, we are not done yet. The end will come some day, but for now we are simply on a bit of a sabbatical.
My health is as good as it has been. No worries there.
Right now I am dealing with what I see as an incredibly unfair action by the NHRA.
First of all I will explain that when a car runs too fast, typically 1.20 seconds or more under their assigned index, the NHRA automatically increases the rated horsepower for your car. This generally results in you needed to add weight to compensate for the increase in horsepower, which usually slows you down.
Prior to the end of last year, we were told, by someone who has a hand in these things, that we would NOT get horsepower at the end of the year, if we didn't run 1.20 under, which is an automatic trigger for horsepower. We were told that "they" knew that we were running fast, and being pretty honest about it. So they would take care of us. And we didn't run 1.20 under. We ever garnered a National Record for A/SA, and the National Class Performer Win for Stock/Automatic, and still did not run 1.20 under.
But guess what at year end? We got horsepower, in spite of what we had previously been told.
If I had know that we would be getting more horsepower, I would have petitioned the NHRA earlier for a reduction in horsepower for our combination, due to at least 2, and more likely 3, horsepower hits we took due to runs made by a car with an illegal engine. The illegality was identified when that car was torn down, and he admitted that he had always run that way.
So how is this fair? After I learned that we did horsepower, I wrote a letter to NHRA to the group responsible for the horsepower, and asked that the horsepower for those illegal runs be lifted. But since it was after the end of the year, it was too late. Therefore my request, in spite of the unfairness of the additional horsepower, would not be considered until the next cycle of change in six months.
Not at all fair, and I am really wondering if the NHRA cares about fair.
We are waiting to get a resolution on this issue. Until then, whether or not we even race again in the NHRA, is an open question.
But once again my friends, I appreciate you support, and prayers.
God Bless, and Safe Racing.
David
No, we are not done yet. The end will come some day, but for now we are simply on a bit of a sabbatical.
My health is as good as it has been. No worries there.
Right now I am dealing with what I see as an incredibly unfair action by the NHRA.
First of all I will explain that when a car runs too fast, typically 1.20 seconds or more under their assigned index, the NHRA automatically increases the rated horsepower for your car. This generally results in you needed to add weight to compensate for the increase in horsepower, which usually slows you down.
Prior to the end of last year, we were told, by someone who has a hand in these things, that we would NOT get horsepower at the end of the year, if we didn't run 1.20 under, which is an automatic trigger for horsepower. We were told that "they" knew that we were running fast, and being pretty honest about it. So they would take care of us. And we didn't run 1.20 under. We ever garnered a National Record for A/SA, and the National Class Performer Win for Stock/Automatic, and still did not run 1.20 under.
But guess what at year end? We got horsepower, in spite of what we had previously been told.
If I had know that we would be getting more horsepower, I would have petitioned the NHRA earlier for a reduction in horsepower for our combination, due to at least 2, and more likely 3, horsepower hits we took due to runs made by a car with an illegal engine. The illegality was identified when that car was torn down, and he admitted that he had always run that way.
So how is this fair? After I learned that we did horsepower, I wrote a letter to NHRA to the group responsible for the horsepower, and asked that the horsepower for those illegal runs be lifted. But since it was after the end of the year, it was too late. Therefore my request, in spite of the unfairness of the additional horsepower, would not be considered until the next cycle of change in six months.
Not at all fair, and I am really wondering if the NHRA cares about fair.
We are waiting to get a resolution on this issue. Until then, whether or not we even race again in the NHRA, is an open question.
But once again my friends, I appreciate you support, and prayers.
God Bless, and Safe Racing.
David
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Today... As Chris would would said, It was like Herding Cats...
Today was an interesting day.
Chris' oldest son David was with me, and we went to see Chris' younger son Max play basketball in a local Church league.
Max is now eight years old, and is an aggressive (in a good way) and competetive little guy.
His little sister Bella, now 6 1/2 is a cheerleader for Max's team, so it was like a double header.
At one time, there two short basket ball courts with two opposing teams competing on each. Additionally the stands were full on both sides, and the cheerleaders were cheering.
Max and Belle actually got the Church after David and I had arrived, and she informed her mother that Grandpa is here, there is his car. She knows my Hemi Orange Challenger and often to refers to me as Grandpa with the car.
Well, when the courts were filled with kids with absolutely no basketball skills, and the crowds were cheering, and little brothers and little sisters running amuck around the court and in the stands...
I loved Max's energy and competiveness, he actually scored twice. And Bella was terrific as she waved the Pom Poms and jumped and cheered....
But the whole experience, which Chris would have loved to see, because he loved his kids so much, would have quickly been labled by him, as Herding Cats...... a term he often used when the kids being ........kids.
David and I are spending the evening playing around wth the same computers, that Chris and I played around with back in the late 70s, a old S100 computer called an IMSAI, with a Lear Seigler ADM - 3A connected to it. And just like when Chris was young, and I was younger, it is not at all without adventure...
I just wanted to share that picture with you, and my son would have used to characterize the situation...and I always enjoyed his colorful descriptions of situations...maybe because he got a lot of that from me.
It is new year.. and who knows what it holds?
But I thank God for life, and for time with my grandchildren. And today was a particularly rich experience.
Good Bless, and Race Safely
David
Chris' oldest son David was with me, and we went to see Chris' younger son Max play basketball in a local Church league.
Max is now eight years old, and is an aggressive (in a good way) and competetive little guy.
His little sister Bella, now 6 1/2 is a cheerleader for Max's team, so it was like a double header.
At one time, there two short basket ball courts with two opposing teams competing on each. Additionally the stands were full on both sides, and the cheerleaders were cheering.
Max and Belle actually got the Church after David and I had arrived, and she informed her mother that Grandpa is here, there is his car. She knows my Hemi Orange Challenger and often to refers to me as Grandpa with the car.
Well, when the courts were filled with kids with absolutely no basketball skills, and the crowds were cheering, and little brothers and little sisters running amuck around the court and in the stands...
I loved Max's energy and competiveness, he actually scored twice. And Bella was terrific as she waved the Pom Poms and jumped and cheered....
But the whole experience, which Chris would have loved to see, because he loved his kids so much, would have quickly been labled by him, as Herding Cats...... a term he often used when the kids being ........kids.
David and I are spending the evening playing around wth the same computers, that Chris and I played around with back in the late 70s, a old S100 computer called an IMSAI, with a Lear Seigler ADM - 3A connected to it. And just like when Chris was young, and I was younger, it is not at all without adventure...
I just wanted to share that picture with you, and my son would have used to characterize the situation...and I always enjoyed his colorful descriptions of situations...maybe because he got a lot of that from me.
It is new year.. and who knows what it holds?
But I thank God for life, and for time with my grandchildren. And today was a particularly rich experience.
Good Bless, and Race Safely
David
Friday, December 30, 2011
New Year's Eve... Happy New Year
I just wanted to say Happy New Year to you all.
And to say THANKS for all of your encouragement and support.
A couple of the other contingency sponsors have stepped up.. I had previously forgotten to acknowledge VP, and I have also received payment from Moser for the National Performer award.
There still are a lot of folks who owe for Columbus, and and even more who stiffed me for wins last year, when Class was supposed to be paid.
Once again, Happy New Year to all!
David
And to say THANKS for all of your encouragement and support.
A couple of the other contingency sponsors have stepped up.. I had previously forgotten to acknowledge VP, and I have also received payment from Moser for the National Performer award.
There still are a lot of folks who owe for Columbus, and and even more who stiffed me for wins last year, when Class was supposed to be paid.
Once again, Happy New Year to all!
David
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Merry Christmas
In my last post, full of anticipation, I said I would report on the Indianapolis Banquet and our awards.
Initially, when the award was annouced, and we all started chasing it, there were several things that we were told.
So we spent a lot of money and won a lot of races, and ultimately won the award.
But guess what, the really big championship sized trophy, wasn't all that big. In fact it was a standard Class winning sized trophy. But I have it now. I was also told that I would get our Class trophy from Vegas at teh Banquet, but nobody there had a clue about that.
Initially, we heard that a Gold Card came with the win, but later heard it would be a Jacket, and that was apparently later to changed to .....absolutely nothing.
There were other promises and to date, they are still unrealized. But who knows...
Well at least we would get the Program card for the Banquet to keep as a souvenir. The only problem with that, is there is no mention of our award in the Program. I don't t think this was the fault of the Division people, as they just didn't get the news in time.
So it was all of the Junior dragster winners that got their awards, and spoke their thanks, and a bunch of other awards as well, and then... they called the three winners, Super Stock Automatic, Stock Stick, and Stock Automatic, handed them their trophies, and that was that.. Wham bam, thank you maam.
At least we got a free dinner. We had two tickets, one from Division, one from NHRA, and the kind folks at Milan Drag Strip gave me one too. Thanks friends.
The food was quite a bit below average, and they ran out of the chicken, and and other stuff too... we stopped at a restaurant afterwards, to get some real food.
So, all in all, the whole thing was pretty much disappointing all the way around.
The only good part was seeing a couple of old friends, and meeting a couple of new ones.
I would have posted a picture of the trophy, but it same as the others, and if you have seen one, you seen them all.
As you can tell, I was more than a bit disappointed about the way the whole program was handled. That last trip West cost as much as we won from the Contingency Sponsors, so now I can only hope that the Contingency Sponsors actually pay up. Mopar, and Comp Cams are the only one to pay so far, and quite frankly I am still owed by many for the Columbus Sports Nationals win. It is sad that when you support a product, and win, these contingency sponsors are either very slow pay, or no pay at all, except for a couple.
Next year, my car will have a lot fewer stickers on it. No, I will leave them on but put a big red NO in a circle over them so folks know they don't pay.
To everyone who follows the blog, even the competitors, I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, and happy New Year.
God Bless, and Safe Racing.
David
Initially, when the award was annouced, and we all started chasing it, there were several things that we were told.
So we spent a lot of money and won a lot of races, and ultimately won the award.
But guess what, the really big championship sized trophy, wasn't all that big. In fact it was a standard Class winning sized trophy. But I have it now. I was also told that I would get our Class trophy from Vegas at teh Banquet, but nobody there had a clue about that.
Initially, we heard that a Gold Card came with the win, but later heard it would be a Jacket, and that was apparently later to changed to .....absolutely nothing.
There were other promises and to date, they are still unrealized. But who knows...
Well at least we would get the Program card for the Banquet to keep as a souvenir. The only problem with that, is there is no mention of our award in the Program. I don't t think this was the fault of the Division people, as they just didn't get the news in time.
So it was all of the Junior dragster winners that got their awards, and spoke their thanks, and a bunch of other awards as well, and then... they called the three winners, Super Stock Automatic, Stock Stick, and Stock Automatic, handed them their trophies, and that was that.. Wham bam, thank you maam.
At least we got a free dinner. We had two tickets, one from Division, one from NHRA, and the kind folks at Milan Drag Strip gave me one too. Thanks friends.
The food was quite a bit below average, and they ran out of the chicken, and and other stuff too... we stopped at a restaurant afterwards, to get some real food.
So, all in all, the whole thing was pretty much disappointing all the way around.
The only good part was seeing a couple of old friends, and meeting a couple of new ones.
I would have posted a picture of the trophy, but it same as the others, and if you have seen one, you seen them all.
As you can tell, I was more than a bit disappointed about the way the whole program was handled. That last trip West cost as much as we won from the Contingency Sponsors, so now I can only hope that the Contingency Sponsors actually pay up. Mopar, and Comp Cams are the only one to pay so far, and quite frankly I am still owed by many for the Columbus Sports Nationals win. It is sad that when you support a product, and win, these contingency sponsors are either very slow pay, or no pay at all, except for a couple.
Next year, my car will have a lot fewer stickers on it. No, I will leave them on but put a big red NO in a circle over them so folks know they don't pay.
To everyone who follows the blog, even the competitors, I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, and happy New Year.
God Bless, and Safe Racing.
David
Friday, December 9, 2011
Innovations list...
I have repeatedly said that Drag Pak #24, the Mega Maniac has more innovations than any other Drag Pak. Well, the list is pretty well complete now, although I am sure that when I talk to Keith again, he will be able to add one or two more, but the number is well over 40.
I had previously said that I would post the list here, after redacting (a political term for hiding things I don't want anyone else to know) the Secret Squirrel items.
But frankly, I am finding so many things on the list, that really are Secret Squirrel items, and so many others that simply are the things that give us our edge. So, I just can't do it. At this time.
If this list were public, and people realized how different my car is from all of the others, I am sure that we would be awarded the "Best Engineered" award.
Even members of the Drag Pak #24 Secret Squirrel Club are not able to implement all of these innovations. However they are able to benefit from quite a few of these of them.
You might ask why they can't implement all of these changes. And that would be a pretty good question. I am impressed that you are so insightful!
Drag Pak cars are built by several different chassis builders. The is the original one, Mike Pustelney at MPR Race Cars did the prototypes for Chysler (and for Ford with Mustangs, and also now for GM with the COPO Camaro) and there are other less well known chassis builders.
So the Drag Pak cars, although they all have to "fit the mold" of a Drag Pak as approved by the NHRA are not all the same.
So, some of our innovations simply won't fit on some Drag Pak cars. Does that mean they don't need them, you ask? No. It just means that someone who has a 727 transmission can not do exactly what we have done in my 904. And if someone's chassis is not set up exactly the same as mine, those innovations would not necessarily apply.
So, you ask, is there something Secret Squirrel about your 904, and your chassis?
Yes, I answer emphatically! But I am not telling you.
More later after the Division 3 Banquet/awards ceremony.
God Bless, and Race Safely
David
I had previously said that I would post the list here, after redacting (a political term for hiding things I don't want anyone else to know) the Secret Squirrel items.
But frankly, I am finding so many things on the list, that really are Secret Squirrel items, and so many others that simply are the things that give us our edge. So, I just can't do it. At this time.
If this list were public, and people realized how different my car is from all of the others, I am sure that we would be awarded the "Best Engineered" award.
Even members of the Drag Pak #24 Secret Squirrel Club are not able to implement all of these innovations. However they are able to benefit from quite a few of these of them.
You might ask why they can't implement all of these changes. And that would be a pretty good question. I am impressed that you are so insightful!
Drag Pak cars are built by several different chassis builders. The is the original one, Mike Pustelney at MPR Race Cars did the prototypes for Chysler (and for Ford with Mustangs, and also now for GM with the COPO Camaro) and there are other less well known chassis builders.
So the Drag Pak cars, although they all have to "fit the mold" of a Drag Pak as approved by the NHRA are not all the same.
So, some of our innovations simply won't fit on some Drag Pak cars. Does that mean they don't need them, you ask? No. It just means that someone who has a 727 transmission can not do exactly what we have done in my 904. And if someone's chassis is not set up exactly the same as mine, those innovations would not necessarily apply.
So, you ask, is there something Secret Squirrel about your 904, and your chassis?
Yes, I answer emphatically! But I am not telling you.
More later after the Division 3 Banquet/awards ceremony.
God Bless, and Race Safely
David
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