LIVE from Mooresville, NC - IHRA Pro-Am

[Michael Beard]

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!

[butch8908]

Any quess as to car count?

[Michael Beard]

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.

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. 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.
- Bill Howell pushing down on Grace's Cobra Jet at the scale as hard as he can. 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!

[Chris1529]

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

[Michael Beard]

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
-

[jmcarter]

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.

[Michael Beard]

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.

[Michael Beard]

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...

[butch8908]

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

[butch8908]

Here are a few more.