Most exciting race of the weekend - Page 2

bill7947 · 10-17-2011, 10:16 AM

That definitely was a fun race! I am glad that everyone enjoyed it. If only I had thought to tap the brakes just a little.....

Dennis P Chapman · 10-17-2011, 10:31 AM

Got to love the little cars.

Jeff Lee · 10-17-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill7947

That definitely was a fun race! I am glad that everyone enjoyed it. If only I had thought to tap the brakes just a little.....

Bill, Good job! Describe the sensation and how you were trying to figure out the strategy as you watched this CJ in your rear-view mirror. Did you feel you had cut a good light as you moved down track?

bill7947 · 10-17-2011, 01:24 PM

Hey Jeff, As soon as I picked my spot on the tree and left, there is that split second where you wait to see if the light will go green or red. When I saw green, I knew it was a terrific light. I went through the gears and just just tried to pretend it was a time trial run, so I did not get myself distracted. When I was in high gear, I started looking for him in the mirror and he looked so far away! I immediately thought that he was never going to catch me, but he was coming up on me real quick. Around five feet from the finish is where I started to seriously consider what I needed to do. I was sure I had him at the tree. I figured he had to wait on me for 7 seconds, so the odds of him having a good light were pretty slim. However, I thought I had dialed the car really hard. I had a .59 on the window, then changed it at the last minute to a .57, thinking that was absolutely all the car had. When I hit the stripe, I was ahead by a bunch, but never thought my car would run too fast, so I was sure I was safe. He blew by me so fast at the finish, that I could not even tell who got there first. And then he was gone, I could barely even see him in the shut down area. It was just amazed at how quickly he was there at the finish. My car is slow, but the way he passed me made me fell like I was parked at the finish and was not even under power. When his win light came on, I thought I had dialed too hard and did not run the number. When I saw my time slip, I could not believe that I had broke out. When I passed him on the return road at the scales, he looked over at me and he looked absolutely worn out. He had the "deer in the headlights" look, so I knew at least I made him work for it. He was a real nice guy and did not mess with me at the tree, like alot of the stockers do. Then he goes and redlights in the next round! That is what I cannot figure out. He was able to wait seven seconds and go green. But then redlights in the next round!

davidhuff · 10-17-2011, 02:19 PM

Congrats to both for a great race,just proves there is a place for new and old cars in nhra stock eliminator racing.

Jack Matyas · 10-17-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidhuff

Congrats to both for a great race,just proves there is a place for new and old cars in nhra stock eliminator racing.

How very , very true ! ! !

DMann0825 · 10-17-2011, 03:09 PM

congrats bill -we were all rootin for you[being a chrysler guy] but is what it is-------dave mann ss/e

CycloneFE · 10-17-2011, 05:16 PM

Bill,

I would like to thank you for your rendition of how you saw the race. There is no better way than direct from the racer himself(or herself). While a lot of spectators may not understand a race like that your fellow sportsman and a few of us hard core fans/wanna be racers, DO understand AND enjoy this race just as much as a heads up. You did a great job. Please don't anyone stop racing because you think some folks don't understand.

Rick Unterseh · 10-17-2011, 05:35 PM

I was lucky enough to be in the suites behind the line watching the race and when those two came up, all I saw was confused looks. I being the former announcer, stood up explained who Bill was and who the mustang was and the factory racecar deal. The next thing I realized was the whole suite was rooting for Bill. Going for the underdog !!!! It was a great race from behind the line, I bet it was even more fun being in the race !!

Jeff Lee · 10-17-2011, 07:16 PM

Great story Bill!
Did that CJ make your Horizon move when it blew by you? And since your car is relatively quite, I'll bet you had the best seat in the house to really hear that CJ scream through the lights!
I remember when I first started racing I had a Challenger that ran 14.00. And there was a VW bug that raced regularly. I think mid 21.00's. I raced him 3 times and beat him every time but I had to have everything right to do it.
Love your story!

10-17-2011, 10:16 AM	#11
bill7947 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 22 Likes: 11 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Most exciting race of the weekend That definitely was a fun race! I am glad that everyone enjoyed it. If only I had thought to tap the brakes just a little.....

10-17-2011, 10:31 AM	#12
Dennis P Chapman VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toms River NJ Posts: 1,594 Likes: 415 Liked 53 Times in 25 Posts	Re: Most exciting race of the weekend Got to love the little cars. __________________ Dennis P Chapman 1904 STK NHRA National Record Holder Car Owner.

10-17-2011, 01:24 PM	#14
bill7947 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 22 Likes: 11 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Most exciting race of the weekend Hey Jeff, As soon as I picked my spot on the tree and left, there is that split second where you wait to see if the light will go green or red. When I saw green, I knew it was a terrific light. I went through the gears and just just tried to pretend it was a time trial run, so I did not get myself distracted. When I was in high gear, I started looking for him in the mirror and he looked so far away! I immediately thought that he was never going to catch me, but he was coming up on me real quick. Around five feet from the finish is where I started to seriously consider what I needed to do. I was sure I had him at the tree. I figured he had to wait on me for 7 seconds, so the odds of him having a good light were pretty slim. However, I thought I had dialed the car really hard. I had a .59 on the window, then changed it at the last minute to a .57, thinking that was absolutely all the car had. When I hit the stripe, I was ahead by a bunch, but never thought my car would run too fast, so I was sure I was safe. He blew by me so fast at the finish, that I could not even tell who got there first. And then he was gone, I could barely even see him in the shut down area. It was just amazed at how quickly he was there at the finish. My car is slow, but the way he passed me made me fell like I was parked at the finish and was not even under power. When his win light came on, I thought I had dialed too hard and did not run the number. When I saw my time slip, I could not believe that I had broke out. When I passed him on the return road at the scales, he looked over at me and he looked absolutely worn out. He had the "deer in the headlights" look, so I knew at least I made him work for it. He was a real nice guy and did not mess with me at the tree, like alot of the stockers do. Then he goes and redlights in the next round! That is what I cannot figure out. He was able to wait seven seconds and go green. But then redlights in the next round!

10-17-2011, 02:19 PM	#15
davidhuff Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 928 Likes: 1 Liked 120 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Most exciting race of the weekend Congrats to both for a great race,just proves there is a place for new and old cars in nhra stock eliminator racing.

10-17-2011, 03:09 PM	#17
DMann0825 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 59 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Most exciting race of the weekend congrats bill -we were all rootin for you[being a chrysler guy] but is what it is-------dave mann ss/e

10-17-2011, 05:16 PM	#18
CycloneFE Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Decatur Illinois Posts: 634 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Most exciting race of the weekend Bill, I would like to thank you for your rendition of how you saw the race. There is no better way than direct from the racer himself(or herself). While a lot of spectators may not understand a race like that your fellow sportsman and a few of us hard core fans/wanna be racers, DO understand AND enjoy this race just as much as a heads up. You did a great job. Please don't anyone stop racing because you think some folks don't understand. __________________ Steve Jackson

10-17-2011, 05:35 PM	#19
Rick Unterseh Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 133 Likes: 3 Liked 31 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Most exciting race of the weekend I was lucky enough to be in the suites behind the line watching the race and when those two came up, all I saw was confused looks. I being the former announcer, stood up explained who Bill was and who the mustang was and the factory racecar deal. The next thing I realized was the whole suite was rooting for Bill. Going for the underdog !!!! It was a great race from behind the line, I bet it was even more fun being in the race !!

10-17-2011, 07:16 PM	#20
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Most exciting race of the weekend Great story Bill! Did that CJ make your Horizon move when it blew by you? And since your car is relatively quite, I'll bet you had the best seat in the house to really hear that CJ scream through the lights! I remember when I first started racing I had a Challenger that ran 14.00. And there was a VW bug that raced regularly. I think mid 21.00's. I raced him 3 times and beat him every time but I had to have everything right to do it. Love your story! __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX