"Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Made the 6 hr drive here yesterday and stayed at the Broadway Motel. After a little hospitality at Bud's, we called it a Night. Came to the track this morning and found the perfect spot to pit! The ladies at the gate were super friendly and welcoming. Beautiful day!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

First person we spoke with (pitted by) was fellow Minnesotan (Isanti) was Greg Rauscheir aka TBox with his 64 T-Bolt Fairlane testing a new clutch. A big thanks to Dan Wiese for taking us down the track with his golf cart since we never have raced here before! A few of the racers I've seen/talked to so far: Brian Schultz, the Koppiens, Duane Dixon, the Picht family. Will get more info tomorrow . Pictures will have to wait til I get home since I'm still computer illiterate and slow! First time trial tomorrow at 9!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Beautiful day today. Almost didn't make the program today. I noticed Doug 's back tire was real close to his quarter panel and brought it to his attention. Apparently a bolt fell out of the pan hard bar. Guess those bumpy roads weren't easy on parts. Thanks to the Koppiens (especially Josh Dragstra who crawled underneath) and all the racers who helped us get the car to the first time trial! Good crowd-53 went down. Waiting for first round to start.

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Down to the last four cars! Muhlenhardt vs J Deforrest, and Nicholson vs Lewis

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Final round it's Muhlenhardt vs Lewis

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Lewis win the final!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Congrats Mr. Lewis! U were due :)

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Good job rich Ps need hog feed in am???

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Ladder from Sat. Don't know how to enlarge!:confused:

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Interesting fact from Saturday's race. There were 53 cars with the final being the number 1 qualifier vs. the number 53 qualifier. Number 53 won. Congrats.

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Well, I'll try to upload as many pics from Saturday that I can. The beginning of the day started with me noticing that Doug's rear tire was rubbing the quarterpanel and a bolt was missing. It seemed that racing was not in our cards until the Koppiens, Josh Dragstra, Daryl Lier , and Gene Bichelmier said no way, lets get that car jacked up!! And we got both time trails in and won first round. Thanks a lot you guys! Unfortunately, round 2 went red:mad:

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Pictures waiting for time trials to begin! It's always a great time to catch up!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

More fun!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

At times my weather tach said over 100 degrees!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

I didn't realize how many pics I have to sort through!!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Having never raced at Thunder Valley, it was fun to see cars I've never seen before and those I haven't seen in quite some time!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Had a great turnout with 53 entries!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Fourth of July attire by Dan Wiese! Also I couldn't help myself and take a couple spectator pictures as well. As I sent these to my girlfriends back home I had to tell them that I DID NOT take these at the Walmart parking lot, but at the races!!!:p

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Now I tried my hand at some live action!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

More action!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

53 Stock/Super Stock cars on Saturday and 49 on Sunday....heck of a show. A few pics from the weekend:

Greg Rauscheir's 'way cool '64 TBolt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psc3e91a42.jpg

Camp Koppien:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psec2c238d.jpg

Douglas Jonak's Cobra Jet Mustang:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psb114fb2a.jpg

In the red stripes on Douglas' Cobra Jet are the names from the soldiers KIA in Iraq and Afghanistan. A fitting tribute, especially on the 4th of July:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps0a8bfe2e.jpg

Brad Van Lant:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps1ff68bb5.jpg

Alex Wiese and his family's H/SA Corvette:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps09e45c62.jpg

Tom Vigna's GT/AA Olds Calais and Rick Wessel's Z28:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psd6da449e.jpg

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

The final 2: Muhlenhardt vs Lewis - an all Chevy final! (No, Rich I didn't post that picture - you owe me! LOL)

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

NOW, to racer's party!!:p

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Alan,
Thanks for posting these pictures!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Class Racer member Bobby Devine and his slick little Nova:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps9e724fc2.jpg

Tim Nicholson (GT/I) and Mike Koppien (SS/EA). Tim was runner up on Sunday to Watertown, South Dakota's Doug Engles and his SS/HA Corvette.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps7010be66.jpg

Sunday's winner, Doug Engles SS/HA and Greg Rauscheir's TBolt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps42c7124d.jpg

John Overby's A/SA Drag Pack Challenger:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psf920c833.jpg

Saturday's final. Rich Muhlenhardt's #1 qualified IT/SA pickup against Tom Lewis from Hudson South Dakota and his #53 qualified M/SA '65 Chevelle. Tom Lewis prevailed, running six thou. over his dial. :
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps3010f992.jpg

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Thanks to Corky and company for putting this party together for the racers to socialize. Thanks to all who brought all the wonderful goodies. No one went home hungry. It was so much fun coming to your track. Everyone was so welcoming and the starting crew were fabulous.
(Last picture is Rich accepting his 100.00 bonus from Midwest Race Cabinets. He also won a can of C-12 race gas -maybe someone can post who the generous donor is)

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Doug...thanks for the clarification. After seeing your tribute, I was reminded of the Viet Nam Memorial. I've made the correction in my post. Thanks again, sir. -Al

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

We had a lot of fun ! Terry, Brian and a load of racers came with food and helping hands. It had too work. Thank you all for coming! Corky

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Looks like a fantastic event. Bichlmeier's '55 is one of the coolest Super Stockers ever.

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

What a FANTASTIC weekend! Thanks to all the racers who attended (53 on sat 48 on sun) congrats to the winners & runner ups you had a national event level of competition and thanks to all our sponsors for helping MCR be one of the highest paying races in the nation. Corky,Terry,Brian & Jamison equipment the potluck was great.All who attended where smiling and full. Last we need to thank our host track Thunder Valley Dragways. The starting line crew keep that track hooking as if we where at a national event even through a starting line temp of 130 plus. The tower kept a tight knit schedule so Thank You to Glenn Rapp & his crew!

Midwest Class Racers
Watertown Ford Chrysler
H&R Salvage

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Looks like it was great fun! I know it was when we attended in 2010. Great pictures Dr. J and Alan! This looked like so much fun that we are thinking about maybe coming next year!

Congrats to the winners!

Larry & Patsy

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

Left Thurs and was at the gate 8:00 pm. Tested Fri with a fresh clutch. Great they have a drive on ramp makes adjustment easy and safe firer works were great till late. Sat qualifying then race lots of cars great people a lot fun after the race food a lot of food that was awesome sun was hot, great time by all track was great special thanks to MCR. Earlville will be as great as this was pack and go!

Re: "Live" from Marion, SD Thunder Valley
 

A BIG Thank You to everyone that contributed to a great weekend of
first class drag racing! As noted in the previous posts (by my wife Lydia and others) the entire event met or exceeded everyone's expectations. A special thank you to my wife for the "LIVE" reporting efforts,photos,keeping me in line,and most importantly noticing a rear tire clearance problem that turned out to be a missing rear suspension bolt. Major on track malfunction
avoided by her casual but critical observation. (BTW nothing was noted on the hoist prior to leaving for this race- no parts in the trailer-??) Parts can come loose during travel and fall off at the track prior to first TT.:eek:
I guess I will have to do something real special with her for her upcoming birthday:D
Doug Jonak