"Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

We are here finally. Had planned to come up on Friday and test and then after it was going to be so cold, decided to wait til this morning to come up. Big mistake!! It takes us too long to get everything ready to go to get there the day of the race! But we did get teched and made the first round in the "Record" lane since it was the only one still open! I guess we didn't get the record at 10.48 in A/SA!

Lots of cars here, but they are running everything here plus more! Jrs., super pro, et sportsmen, motorcylces, Super Quick, super comp, super gas, super street, stock/super stock combo and probably something I left out.

Brad Van Lant just brought me over a nice bottle of wine. If you are here, come over this evening and we will try it out!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

you can catch all the runs live on www.1320go.com

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Only 37 cars made the second pass. I got there late for the 1st run, so I only got about 10 times on the 1st run. I will go up and see if I can find a qualifying sheet. It is up to 62 now. Wasn't but 54 for the 1st run.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Thanks Pasty! Good Luck Larry!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Patsy, you're great...keep up the good work...good luck Larry...Luke SS 311

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

We have been done for the day for a while. But we do get 1 more time trial in the morning. There are 38 cars on the qualifying sheet, but we have random pairing 1st round.

There are cars in the barn tearing down for setting records. Wade Owens, Jim Harrison and others. I will try to get some numbers for you in a bit.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Just flew over on approach to St Louis...saw a huge pink car going down the track. I could not make out the make or model.

Looked like a good crowd.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Hey Bill ! That had to be us! Haven't seen any other pink cars this weekend! LOL

Here is a copy of the qualifying sheet. Hope you can read it!

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...202013/027.jpg

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...202013/025.jpg

This is the fuel guy telling Larry that the track told him not to bring C11 or C12!

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...202013/026.jpg

This was the note on the fuel trailer when we came back from having the fuel tested that he was selling. It was Renegade and a whole lot cheaper than VP. Oh and he was told to provide VP traction compound instead of VHT. And then they had to cancel test n tune last night because it is only good from 30 to 90 degrees! And they couldn't get it to work!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

They have called Combo up. Kinda overcast. Going up to 76 today.
More later.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Well it finally happened. We spun the tires. Not just a little, but a real exercise in tire frying. PJ1 aka "Pork Job 1" does not work, nor does it feel good to be cheated by the track because of poor track preparation using inferior materials.

In my opinion Racers want three things, a safe place to race, friendly treatment, and above all a track that works.

When a track advertises that it will have an Open or a Divisional, it tells me that track prep will be equal or better than a national event prep using the same materials and methods. If the track fails to produce a race track that is good, we the racers do not receive the value that we expected.

I for one will call ahead and find out what traction compound will be used and make my decision on whether to attend. If the track will not hook, it is not a safe place to race,nor do we receive friendly treatment. I will spend my monies elsewhere!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Here is the final qualifying on which we will be paired after first round random pairing. They just called us up for first round.

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...202013/003.jpg

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

I believe most want a safe environment and great hook....have given up on the friendly part....ha!

Alex Denysenko said it years ago....just ding us another 5 bucks if thats what it takes for a track that hooks

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

In todays times many business owners [track owners] are trying to make money and are cutting cost where they can, but some are making it wrong places. New paint, mowed grass, nice new sign, but then use traction compound that does not work. Would you go back to a car wash that won,t clean your car? Stock Superstock cars different animals on the starting line and starting line crews are used to bracket cars. Just because the bracket cars a hooking they think are cars should be too. Tom

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

National records set this weekend:

M/SA Wade Owens 11.651 off of 12.85

SS/KA Jim Harrison 10.322 off of11.25

GT/I Tim Nicholson 9.86 off of 10.95

R/S Gary Summers 12.767 off of 13.95

This is all unofficial. Marty Buth may have set record also.

We got beat 1st round so we are headed home.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Larry as we all know the VP traction compound is iffy at best. All you track owners and operators that try to save money by using this stuff are kidding yourself. You will run your customers off and it will be hard to get them back.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Larry, what other fuel did they have? Renegade? If so is that what you had tested? Did it pass etc? I went to a open in Valdosta a couple years ago and all they had was "track gas" It was something like C-16? Something crazy. I am sorry for your bad experience.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

So who is the Bozo who runs St. Louis? Sounds as if all he wants is bracket cars there. Tells the fuel guy NOT to bring C11 or C12? Uses VP Non-Traction compound? Why didn't he just put a big sign at the gate saying "Class Cars Not Wanted"! Jim

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Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

We Just made it home from St Louis. It seems that the bracket races was more of a priority than the open. I am not saying we were treated bad, the schedule was followed very well.
Others were having traction problems, that have very well sorted out cars.
What irritates me, I look at a National Open as a mini divisional. There was no fuel check? Scales and tech and that was it. I am unsure what took place for the record runs, in regards to fuel check. People traveling 4 hrs plus, and not having a common fuel that is used by S/SS cars for sale is a lack of having a clue about the cars you are having a race for.

What is the difference between Wichita, Ks hosting a National Open without having scales, and St Louis having one and not requiring fuel check? The Wichita race was cancelled due to not having scales.

We are very fortunate to have a very nice facility hosting a race for us, so I do not want to sound ungrateful to the track, hopefully these comments will not fall on deaf ears and next year improvements will be made.

Sean

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

For those out there wondering. Fuel check was only required for record runs and was checked on Saturday only as no records could be made sunday. As to track conditions for some cars it was hit miss. By chance for my stick car 60's varied by .015 through 7passes over two days. Not killer but not bad on two year old slicks. Congrats to brett and Dave in the final double breakout with the 12 sec mustang taking the cash and trophy.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

i see you guys are on your way to nc.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

How does a 1985 mustang with a 302 fit in R/S? Tom

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Tom...it is a 302 with a 2 barrel carb. According to Gary Summers, it fits in Q,R, and T. Just like all of Gary's cars, it is a manual tranny.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

And it's a kicka** "Dime Rocket"! Not that Garys car is but the combo can be. 82 only.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Umm, Marty, let's try this again. What is Garys car? There are no converts in the guide for 82 and the 302 2V is a natural P car that can make O and Q. ?????????

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Gary Summers R/S is a 1978 Mustang II with a 302/139 refactored to 162. It is a 2 barrel.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Sorry, Billy........I forgot to mention that it was a 1978. It is a Mustang II. Thanks to Travis for his clarification!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Hey nice to meet ya this weekend btw.
As far as the track my car had its best 60 of its life sat morning then that was it. Mine varied . 018 not changing anything to my car.makes it hard to dial lol. I had a friend take a pic of the track and it was bare concrete at one time right where I was staging. I'm sure they were trying there best with what they had. Had a lot of fun and great weather.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

That's ever cooler than a FOX body!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

anyone have Pictures of Gary Summers car and like Billy said very cool. CR

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Who won the S/SS combo?

Thanks

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Anybody know who won?

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Dave Mercer over Brent Voges . Double breakout.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Just a quick update on the track......after getting the facts....the track was ground recently and had no rubber on it...and the test and tune was not run because of cool temps.......PJ1 formerly VHT was used exclusively as usual in Division 3.....the bare track, the cool temperatures along with a green track crew caused the poor conditions. I hear the conditions improved as the weekend progressed...I was not there so I don't have an opinion.......

Rock Haas....

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Mike,
Congratulations to you and Dave !

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Way to go Dave , Congrats on your Win in St. Louis... Good Luck in 2013.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Nice job Dyno Dave ..... Long time,,no see buddy !!!!! :cool::cool::cool:

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

I went on Autoimagery and typed in Gary Summers, and the only car shown, so far, is the Mustang rag top.
Danny Durham

Re: "Live" from St. Louis National Open 2013
 

Dave Mercer? Really! I thought he went fishin' ! Congrats Dave! Jim


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