I heard that axiom quite a few times yesterday... first competitive race of the season yesterday. Not registered for the Friday classes but thought it would be good to get some more real practice runs before my Saturday classes and Sunday King Street. Air was decent (if not dam cold!) and time trials were good ran back to back 11.82x's and got my stumble out of the hole sorted out when leaving off the 2-step (jet extensions and notched float and it turned out the original float was set way too low)...

first round eliminations and it was getting colder with the sun going down... lined up next to an old '54(?) Desoto with a 18.86 dial in against my 11.80 dial in (I fully expected to run 11.79 all out)... waited a couple seconds after the desoto left to mash the gas into the 2-step but was still sitting there 4 seconds or so on the torque converter.

Left like a bat out of hell with my best ever 60' (1.677) but didn't make it much further than that... lost power and some backfiring... checked gauges and switches (all good) and killed the key.... coasted the rest of the way hugging the wall and didn't see any fluids behind me... just as I was about to "take the stripe " the crew on the ATV passed me and got there first (they could have at least let me run it out )

Was really worried (first time I busted on the track) pulled the valve covers and was at least sort of relieved I tore a rocker clean off the stud big chunk missing out of the base (at least I didn't drop a valve)...

Buddy helped me pick it up this morning with his trailer and hauled it to my engine builder who had a set waiting (and to find the missing chunk ). Races today got SNOWED out so at least I'm not behind in the points chase and it looks like I'll make the King Street race tomorrow.

I think I'm one point closer to getting the wife convinced we need a trailer and a truck to pull it

Thanks for listening...

-Chris