Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Hello Members - Well first things first - there most likely will not be any drive thru the pits as I haven't a clue where Ken is or if he is even coming this weekend.

All that but the really good news is that there is no (like in none) forecast this week for rain of any kind .Nothing but sunshine and blue skies thru the weekend .

Today is parking and credentials - then shine your car etc . Talk about boring ....

Tomorrow is a much different story - three Q runs for Stock and S/S early .....Later

Hi Jack, and I am glad to have met you there 2wks ago. David Muller and I brought "Captain Zoom II", & "Shark Bait" out there to experience east-coast racing, and I'm glad sunny and clear blue skies followed us for much of our three race, two weeks and one BIG TRIP, from metro Phoenix to Reading (however leaving our 110? + temperatures behind)! It was great being there and racing with many of you D1 folks!

Since earlier this year here in Phoenix "Shark Bait" ran a 14.93, I put on my rear window "Maple Grove Let's See If You Can Beat a 14.93"? Although my qualifying runs were great, the only run better than that came in rnd1, when I ran an unofficial 14.918 (actually a 14.925....thanks Bobby Fazio). Shark Bait ran so great there (14.998, 14.999, and an afternoon 15.038), that I am already starting plans to come back there next year! Like Phoenix and Pomona, Maple Grove is a north facing south track, and my best et's have been at those tracks. Some may think I'm crazy for going all the way there for a fast/consistent track, but the man who back in April of 1972 inspired my interest in our sport, said this:

"A DRAG RACER IS SOMEBODY WHO SPENDS MONEY HE DOESN'T HAVE, ON THINGS HE DOESN'T NEED, TO IMPRESS PEOPLE HE DOESN'T KNOW. "
WILLIAM TYLER JENKINS

Enough said!!!

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Hi Jack, and I am glad to have met you there 2wks ago. David Muller and I brought "Captain Zoom II", & "Shark Bait" out there to experience east-coast racing, and I'm glad sunny and clear blue skies followed us for much of our three race, two weeks and one BIG TRIP, from metro Phoenix to Reading (however leaving our 110? + temperatures behind)! It was great being there and racing with many of you D1 folks!

Since earlier this year here in Phoenix "Shark Bait" ran a 14.93, I put on my rear window "Maple Grove Let's See If You Can Beat a 14.93"? Although my qualifying runs were great, the only run better than that came in rnd1, when I ran an unofficial 14.918 (actually a 14.925....thanks Bobby Fazio). Shark Bait ran so great there (14.998, 14.999, and an afternoon 15.038), that I am already starting plans to come back there next year! Like Phoenix and Pomona, Maple Grove is a north facing south track, and my best et's have been at those tracks. Some may think I'm crazy for going all the way there for a fast/consistent track, but the man who back in April of 1972 inspired my interest in our sport, said this:

"A DRAG RACER IS SOMEBODY WHO SPENDS MONEY HE DOESN'T HAVE, ON THINGS HE DOESN'T NEED, TO IMPRESS PEOPLE HE DOESN'T KNOW. "
WILLIAM TYLER JENKINS

Enough said!!!

Gary it was cool seeing you out on the East Coast! Maybe next year you can drop down and hang out at Zmax with us and run a couple D2 races would love to have you.

[CMcAllister]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Hi Jack, and I am glad to have met you there 2wks ago. David Muller and I brought "Captain Zoom II", & "Shark Bait" out there to experience east-coast racing, and I'm glad sunny and clear blue skies followed us for much of our three race, two weeks and one BIG TRIP, from metro Phoenix to Reading (however leaving our 110? + temperatures behind)! It was great being there and racing with many of you D1 folks!

Since earlier this year here in Phoenix "Shark Bait" ran a 14.93, I put on my rear window "Maple Grove Let's See If You Can Beat a 14.93"? Although my qualifying runs were great, the only run better than that came in rnd1, when I ran an unofficial 14.918 (actually a 14.925....thanks Bobby Fazio). Shark Bait ran so great there (14.998, 14.999, and an afternoon 15.038), that I am already starting plans to come back there next year! Like Phoenix and Pomona, Maple Grove is a north facing south track, and my best et's have been at those tracks. Some may think I'm crazy for going all the way there for a fast/consistent track, but the man who back in April of 1972 inspired my interest in our sport, said this:

"A DRAG RACER IS SOMEBODY WHO SPENDS MONEY HE DOESN'T HAVE, ON THINGS HE DOESN'T NEED, TO IMPRESS PEOPLE HE DOESN'T KNOW. "
WILLIAM TYLER JENKINS

Enough said!!!

Standing behind the starting line watching you make a pass, and the guy standing beside me said "You know that guy has to be having a lot of fun", and I agreed with him.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by HR9121

Gary it was cool seeing you out on the East Coast! Maybe next year you can drop down and hang out at Zmax with us and run a couple D2 races would love to have you.

I would like to race at Zmax someday, and it's a bucket list track for sure. We'll see....thanks for the thought though!

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

Standing behind the starting line watching you make a pass, and the guy standing beside me said "You know that guy has to be having a lot of fun", and I agreed with him.

Yes I am having a lot of fun, and with Thanksgiving nearly here, I surely have a lot to be thankful for. I'm living my childhood dream! Meeting and racing with great people like you (and having some success once in a while), makes it even more enjoyable!

Thank you GOD!!!

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Good morning gang - Yesterday turned out to be everything that was promised - temps in the mid-eighties although when Stock went out for first round it was still pretty chilly at high sixties .Traction was great but as the day wore on and the Sun baked the track got to 120 plus degrees things changed .By mid afternoon the FS cars had very little luck in getting traction followed by the Pros who had even less traction .The second session was much better for them.

Again this morning Stock will be out first at 9am - they will have a whopping 4 rounds today - get out the chargers and gas cans boys.

Later..........

Yeah Jack, the traction was about .065 too good for "Shark Bait", but at least I got one run quicker than my home track in Phoenix (I'd have been happier if our first qualifier would've had that air too)! I surely could've used my buds (Jammin Jerry, and Jody Lang's) finish line driving skills then, since I forgot to use my brake pedal sooner in rnd 1!