Forgettable Racing Stories

Jody Lang · 03-07-2010, 11:48 PM

With Phoenix being fresh in some of our minds, I'd like to hear some of your stories about racing weekends from hell.

Can you top the 2 weekends in a row funfest at Phoenix? Might not be too hard seeing as we at least got to run class in Super stock. Even a few time runs in Stock!

Ed Fernandez · 03-07-2010, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody Lang

With Phoenix being fresh in some of our minds, I'd like to hear some of your stories about racing weekends from hell.

Can you top the 2 weekends in a row funfest at Phoenix? Might not be too hard seeing as we at least got to run class in Super stock. Even a few time runs in Stock!

Cecil Co. divisional about 5-6 years ago.Took over 5 1/2 hours to run one round of qualifying for Alcohol F/C and Dragster.End of story.

Mike Carr · 03-08-2010, 12:02 AM

A forgettable week was during the 2002 Numidia D1 LODRS. On Tuesday of that week, fuel pump went out in my Camaro on the way home from work at 2 am. Friday morning on the way to the track, bent the hitch of the trailer in a restaurant parking lot that was on a grade. Friday at the track, the alternator went in the Sunbird (thankfully Billy lived not too far away and was able to go home and get one that night). We had swapped batteries out of the Suburban to put in the 'Bird that day. Forgot to latch the hood al the way down so Friday night on the way back to the hotel, we got about 500' down Rt 42 and the hood blew up, nearly smashed the windshield, bent the braces and would not close at all....stuck at about a 90 degree angle. Thankfully Dad and I (with help from Billy again, as he was driving by and saw us) was able to bend them with a breaker bar to at least get the hood closed to drive back to the hotel and tie it/hold it closed with a rope. Quite a fun four days.

greg fulk · 03-08-2010, 12:02 AM

I can't top 2 weekend in a row BUT the local track got the bright idea back in the day (1992 or some where in their) to have the Mid West Pro Stock cars come in for a show.....WELL the local track is "not the best" but was an IHRA track....they came with 8 cars & I think one of them ran something like 5.70 (this is an 1/8 mile track) . We had a local guy that run 5.50's & was faster then them! anyway the track owner got the bright idea to "spray the whole track" ......he did this @ like 9

m then dew fell on it....about 10:30 he lit the track with a torch! VERY PRETTY to see an 1/8 mile track go up in flames! after it burnt out then he sent "all the race cars " out on the track to do laps ...as in just drive round & round . I had a 73 Nova footbrake car that ran 8.0's & was the the one to "test" the track.....8.90 something about hit the xmas tree when I left so the race was POSTPONED! lol

Alex Denysenko · 03-08-2010, 12:12 AM

2009 IHRA World Finals, Sports Nationals, TOC, Summit All Stars, etc. Rockingham NC

http://www.classracer.com/classforum...ad.php?t=21243

Bret Kepner · 03-08-2010, 01:55 AM

Well, since the IHRA was at State Capitol this weekend, how many folks remember the FIRST IHRA National Event at that track....almost two decades ago?

Trust me...there weren't many of you there TO remember it.

danny waters sr · 03-08-2010, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

Well, since the IHRA was at State Capitol this weekend, how many folks remember the FIRST IHRA National Event at that track....almost two decades ago?

Trust me...there weren't many of you there TO remember it.

I remember , I towed my h/r car ( C.O.D) on open trailer and pick-up truck. the trip itself was a disaster.You are right not many to remember this race.

Jim Cimarolli · 03-08-2010, 09:28 AM

Houston national event a few years back, we all got stuck, couldn't get our rigs out, NHRA wouldn't let us even try. We had to get home on our own, come back the next weekend to another postponed event. By the time we did get pulled out the next weekend nobody from NHRA was even there to supervise the situation. There was one track employee there with an old tractor, he had his hand out, and he jackknifed trailers into trucks, tore up hitches etc., and just shrugged his shoulders and said he was sorry. I got my pickup out on my own, but my trailer had to be pulled about an 1/8 of a mile through mud knee deep.

FLEMING · 03-08-2010, 09:28 AM

1996 Steele Alabama,On the way down there the newly rebuilt motor in our dually decided shatter a piston... So the decision was made to buy a crate motor from a local dealership and we changed it at a local guys garage.. Get back on the road and finally get to the track... Well they had gotten snow there in the weeks before, we got there it was beautiful sun was out, in the upper 60's... Well... all the water in the ground from the snow decided to come up through the track, there was nothing they could do so after 1 round of time runs the race was cancelled..

Man I miss the old days..

Jack Matyas · 03-08-2010, 09:29 AM

There were times I felt like John Force -- I've crashed and I've been on fire ( only to not see Elvis ) but nothing and I mean nothing compares to the empty feeling I had when half my engine was "stolen" at Pomona in '08 ....................................

03-07-2010, 11:48 PM	#1
Jody Lang Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 305 Likes: 28 Liked 90 Times in 28 Posts	Forgettable Racing Stories With Phoenix being fresh in some of our minds, I'd like to hear some of your stories about racing weekends from hell. Can you top the 2 weekends in a row funfest at Phoenix? Might not be too hard seeing as we at least got to run class in Super stock. Even a few time runs in Stock!

03-08-2010, 12:02 AM	#3
Mike Carr VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Enon Valley PA Posts: 1,650 Likes: 234 Liked 80 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Forgettable Racing Stories A forgettable week was during the 2002 Numidia D1 LODRS. On Tuesday of that week, fuel pump went out in my Camaro on the way home from work at 2 am. Friday morning on the way to the track, bent the hitch of the trailer in a restaurant parking lot that was on a grade. Friday at the track, the alternator went in the Sunbird (thankfully Billy lived not too far away and was able to go home and get one that night). We had swapped batteries out of the Suburban to put in the 'Bird that day. Forgot to latch the hood al the way down so Friday night on the way back to the hotel, we got about 500' down Rt 42 and the hood blew up, nearly smashed the windshield, bent the braces and would not close at all....stuck at about a 90 degree angle. Thankfully Dad and I (with help from Billy again, as he was driving by and saw us) was able to bend them with a breaker bar to at least get the hood closed to drive back to the hotel and tie it/hold it closed with a rope. Quite a fun four days. __________________ Mike Carr, Tri-State S/SS Association President Looking for 2015 S/SS Race Sponsors Contact me if interested buffdaddy_1302@hotmail.com (724) 510-5912

03-08-2010, 12:02 AM	#4
greg fulk VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: jackson Posts: 1,165 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Forgettable Racing Stories I can't top 2 weekend in a row BUT the local track got the bright idea back in the day (1992 or some where in their) to have the Mid West Pro Stock cars come in for a show.....WELL the local track is "not the best" but was an IHRA track....they came with 8 cars & I think one of them ran something like 5.70 (this is an 1/8 mile track) . We had a local guy that run 5.50's & was faster then them! anyway the track owner got the bright idea to "spray the whole track" ......he did this @ like 9m then dew fell on it....about 10:30 he lit the track with a torch! VERY PRETTY to see an 1/8 mile track go up in flames! after it burnt out then he sent "all the race cars " out on the track to do laps ...as in just drive round & round . I had a 73 Nova footbrake car that ran 8.0's & was the the one to "test" the track.....8.90 something about hit the xmas tree when I left so the race was POSTPONED! lol __________________ Greg Fulk 308 308X P/SA "ALL AMERICAN"

03-08-2010, 12:12 AM	#5
Alex Denysenko Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Michigan City IN Posts: 633 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Forgettable Racing Stories 2009 IHRA World Finals, Sports Nationals, TOC, Summit All Stars, etc. Rockingham NC http://www.classracer.com/classforum...ad.php?t=21243 __________________ Alex Denysenko NHRA 3038 SS, 3305 STK - IHRA 6 SS, 330A STK Moneymaker Racing LaPorte Indiana 219-861-1214 www.moneymakerracing.net

03-08-2010, 01:55 AM	#6
Bret Kepner Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA Posts: 418 Likes: 1 Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Forgettable Racing Stories Well, since the IHRA was at State Capitol this weekend, how many folks remember the FIRST IHRA National Event at that track....almost two decades ago? Trust me...there weren't many of you there TO remember it. __________________ Bret Kepner BRETKEPNER@Prodigy.net Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

03-08-2010, 09:28 AM	#8
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 738 Likes: 125 Liked 160 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Forgettable Racing Stories Houston national event a few years back, we all got stuck, couldn't get our rigs out, NHRA wouldn't let us even try. We had to get home on our own, come back the next weekend to another postponed event. By the time we did get pulled out the next weekend nobody from NHRA was even there to supervise the situation. There was one track employee there with an old tractor, he had his hand out, and he jackknifed trailers into trucks, tore up hitches etc., and just shrugged his shoulders and said he was sorry. I got my pickup out on my own, but my trailer had to be pulled about an 1/8 of a mile through mud knee deep.

03-08-2010, 09:28 AM	#9
FLEMING Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 244 Likes: 21 Liked 27 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Forgettable Racing Stories 1996 Steele Alabama,On the way down there the newly rebuilt motor in our dually decided shatter a piston... So the decision was made to buy a crate motor from a local dealership and we changed it at a local guys garage.. Get back on the road and finally get to the track... Well they had gotten snow there in the weeks before, we got there it was beautiful sun was out, in the upper 60's... Well... all the water in the ground from the snow decided to come up through the track, there was nothing they could do so after 1 round of time runs the race was cancelled.. Man I miss the old days.. Last edited by FLEMING; 03-08-2010 at 09:37 AM.

03-08-2010, 09:29 AM	#10
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,869 Likes: 353 Liked 1,779 Times in 357 Posts	Re: Forgettable Racing Stories There were times I felt like John Force -- I've crashed and I've been on fire ( only to not see Elvis ) but nothing and I mean nothing compares to the empty feeling I had when half my engine was "stolen" at Pomona in '08 .................................... __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO