LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Welcome to test and tune night at Mooresville Dragway, test track for Greg Anderson/Jason Line, just outside of "Race City, USA", a precursor to tomorrow's IHRA Div 9 Summit Pro-Am Tour event. 5:37 PM, 88.2 F, 32% 29.15 Baro, 3158' DA. 'Sposed to be hotter tomorrow, but hopefully we'll get a little barometer to go with it.

Photos:
- The Legend, Chip Johnson. Eventual R/U in Hot Rod
- track view
- serpentine belt starting to give up the ghost in Duck Tape Jr.
- Billy Plage in Ken Bugaj's Camaro, Charles Myers' Mirada, Row 2 - Kevin Riner and Gene Jordan
- Ray Valpreda
- "The Total Look" Camaros... Reigning World Champ Richard Alford, and Scooter Pearsall. Dennis Pope and Hillarey Sloan behind them.
- Mike Longhaney H/CM Duster
- Lil' Ernie Humes H/CM Demon, reigning Footbrake track champ at BOTH Farmington and Piedmont, and was #2 in points at Mooresville only after losing a tie-breaker runoff last year!
- eventual Stock winner, Jamie Southards!

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Any quess as to car count?

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Pretty light tonight, but they don't start until 11am tomorrow, so many may just be waiting to come in morning. Made 3 hits in the Turismo: baseline, then jet change, two more laps. Seems like I found several hundredths, so I'm happy, but I have to change the alternator/serpentine belt in the morning. The old belt has has a nick in it for years, and finally decided to deteriorate. The top layer of the belt is gone in one spot. Checked online, they have them in stock, and will get after it early tomorrow. I did end the night with the best ET in several weeks and put a .007 light on Steve Furr's Top Dragster. :D

Brian Oakes was kind enough to let me drive his Lucas Oil Firebird tonight, just playing around. It was GREAT fun to do some big wheelies (well, they felt really big, particularly after driving the FWD car for quite some time.) Haven't found the tree yet, but I've heard rumour that it's a little ways in front of the burnout box, in the middle of the track somewhere. :rolleyes: Car laid down some great laps, though, killer 60's, and shifting in the air is a blast. Thanks Brian!

Photos:
- AJ Currie's Camaro
- Bill Howell's Mustang
- Mike Moller and his turbo Lebaron. Unfortunately, broke an axle or CV joint on the first lap. :(
- front & back scales
- Hillarey Sloan. I've been assured that outfit is SFI 3.2A-1. :p
- Bill Howell pushing down on Grace's Cobra Jet at the scale as hard as he can. :p j/k!
- Reigning Div. 9 Super Stock champ, Brandon Peterson
- The Brian Oakes-owned rent-a-ride
- The one and only Mike Boyles. The doors still close on this thing like it was new!

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

are they only running a pro-am there today, or are they doing a regular program later?

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Praise the Lord and pass the CAM2... The barometer not only stuck around, but rose significantly. 10:33AM, 77 F, 60%, 29.25 Baro, 2493' DA.

Got the serpentine belt changed this morning, Butch stopped by to say hi, and got through tech. Got a 2nd card this morning on my other Gold card just in case Oakes needs a shoe today. Was #67 last night, #200 this morning, and cars have been rolling in pretty steady. I think the 1-day Pro-Am with an 11am start is going to work nicely.

Thanks to Tony Brown and the Mooresville Dragway crew for the Racer Party and feedin' last night.

Photos:
- eventual Super Stock winner, Robbie Draughon and wife Tabitha. SS/I Camaro!
- Jimmie Flynt, another stick-shift favorite! 3rd generation racer Corey Taylor alongside.
- Frank Lambert, SS/HA Camaro, Michael Crumpler behind him, driving Homer Carty's other Chevy II
- inside the office of the rent-a-ride
-

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Good luck Michael, hope the Volare reappears soon. Mine is tucked in the trailer, my IHRA debut for the year will have to wait, just doesn't make economic sense to spend $300 for diesel fuel when they are only running a 'single' vs. double Pro-Am.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Thanks. We're hoping to have it out at Dunn-Benson in a couple weeks.

Hot and a little sticky, but even pulling high gear back a little, still picked up .01 from last night. Front & Back scales here, so the line's a little slow, but will get back soon and go make a hit in the Firebird. It's the Stocker Lee Zane used to drive, running SS/KA today.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

37 Stockers in Q1, 82.0 F, 49%, 29.23 Baro, 2808' DA
Q2, 86.8 F, 43%, 29.20 Baro, 3149' DA

The jet change has helped the Turismo quite a bit, and the Firebird has been sick, only moving .002. (Each car is for sale by its respective owner, BTW)

It's gotten hot out, and the staff has been handing out bottled water to the racers at the timeslip booth. Very cool!

Hot Rod's already been called for Rnd 1...

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Here are some shots from today. Sorry had to include the s/r chevy. Just still old school.
Corbitt you did the wheel up.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Here are a few more.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Where is Tom Hemmingson?

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

(Added photos to my earlier posts, see pg1)

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Thanks Michael and Butch for the pics.
We had a great test and tune weekend..

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Michael,
Was looking at your pics.
That old School S/G car is doing it with no stop. He uses that new ez-plate system. I like it.

There is a new rule sheet coming out Monday on that Fire Suit. For it to be legal you have to send pics to Baker and get pre-approved. I'm sure that one will pass with no Problem.

Would also like to thank Tony Brown and the entire Leazer Family on having us back and also for Supper on Friday night.
Chip Johnson

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Ez plate system ?????????

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Terry,
It is a restricter plate. You put a spacer under the carb and the plates are changeable depending on what your needs are.
Very neat deal.
Chip

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Sounds better than the start/stop throttle stops. I bet the spectators like that better also.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Here's the couple shots I got with my other camera Friday night...

- Brian Oakes, SS/CA '69 Camaro. Best Engineered and #1 Qualifier
- Wesley Daughtridge, SS/PHA-1 '57 Chevy

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Terry, check it out! It's a pretty neat deal. It would be nice if it were mandatory equipment on all Super catagory cars.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Very neat. There's a number of no t-stop heads-up index races in the southeast, and this guy came up with a good solution for that market. It's a quick-change system. Met a couple of guys that have run it, and they say it works really well. It's at restrictorplate.com

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

I checked it out. Looks VERY interesting. NHRA and IHRA should out law throttle stops (and maybe delay boxes) and require this. Its about time these guys learn to drive without electronic aids. Bet that would piss off the high MPH guys with those huge gazillion dollar engines......LOL. No more 9.90's at 180 MPH.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Terry,
Not to mention the cost factor either. I would vote for it.

Michael,
I think Oakes should have gotten best appearing pit vehicle too. Did you see the 69 street car he was driving?
Chip

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Sure did! Was very careful to miss it when backing out with the Firebird each round! :eek: :p

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

We had a chance to make it out to Mooresville Saturday afternoon to take in a little IHRA Pro Am action and was impressed with the racing and how the event was run by the Mooresville crew and IHRA. Look forward to attending more in the future and getting to know a few more racers.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Hey Chip
In your post to Michael yesterday about a fire suit, in the first round of Super Stock my Camaro that Frank drives was paired with a car with a dial of 5.84 and guess what kind of fire suit pants the driver was wearing? BLUEJEANS and this is not the first time that I have seen this. I know in NHRA that car would have been backed off and lost the round, I think that IHRA should have the same policy. What is your thought on this?
Thanks Allen

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

They must've just missed it. I've seen them DQ a car in the burnout box before for pants.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Just an FYI, I did have on SFI pants and coat all weekend when I was driving the car and always do. This was an inside joke between Michael and I. However, I do get back to my flip flops, tank, and shorts ASAP when the weather is that hot, i.e. in this case while I was in line to weigh. :)

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Hey Michael
You say they must've just missed it, not being a smart a-- but who is suppose to check for all safety equipment being intact when the cars are ready to run? I only mentioned the fire pants,I didnt even say any thing about window nets not being attached on runs which I have also seen. Not trying to stir up any trouble but a rule is a rule.
Thank Allen

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Allen,
I've seen them back cars off for safety equipmnet too. I've seen them take gloves from people that had holes in them. I saw a driver get reprimanded for having is window net too loose.
I would bring it to the attention of the staging official next time it happens.

Hillary I was joking also.LOL
Chip

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

The driver in question was parked beside me at Mooresville and daddy asked him if he did not have pants. Farmington was his first race out in several years and he was unaware he needed pants, only thought he needed a jacket. (not making excuses, only saying) According to him tech officals never asked to see his pants when he went through tech.....I have been asked several times to see pants, jacket, etc.....I'm seriously guessing it was just an oversight.

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

I know you were joking, Chip. When the conversation turned from joking to actually being serious I figured I better let everyone else know we were kidding around with each other. I mean, things can get a little ugly on here every now and then. :)

Re: LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am
 

Hillarey,

maybe you should start your own clothing and/or safety clothing line!