Here we are at the second race of 2015 season, we celebrated setting a new track record last race and winning both the heat and the feature race. It would be nice to be able to repeat, but you are racing
the McArdles and from sweet little Josie in her pink Bandolero (don't let her sweet smile and quiet demeanor fool you, she is a racer) to Brian and Joseph in their Legends, they are formidable competition. You might be able to outrun them now and then, but it is like a frog going up and touching an alligator on the nose, you might be able to pull it off now and then, but sooner or later the alligator (McArdle) is going to get you. As if that is not enough, you still have to deal with, Conner Okrzesik #14, Robbie Johnston #96, Fred Laing #6, Ernest Morris #3, Chad Robinson #10, Trace Capers #01, Devin Corry #18, Brandon Slater #5 and Connelly Dubuisson #32, plus throw in Brian McArdle #44, and Joseph McArdle #44jr. and you have your work cut out for you. All in all a very respectable field of cars, it will take a perfectly prepared car and a driver who has brought his "A" game to be able to win tonight.
In practice Connelly said the #32 just didn't feel very fast, I had forgotten to bring our in car electronic timer so we were relegated to the old hand held stop watch. With the hand held I had Connelly off of what we ran last race by one and a half tenths in practice. I timed some of the competition and no one was posting really good times, I think a combination of track conditions and air temp & humidity had everybody off by a few ticks. We checked over everything and all seemed OK so it was on to qualifying.
QUALIFYING:
Connelly won the pole with a 12.958 over a tenth slower than last race, Brian was second with a 13.131, Chad Robinson third with a 13.166, Joseph was fourth with a 13.167, one thousandth of a second out of third, and Robbie Johnston fifth with a 13.174. The top five separated by just a touch over 2 tenths of a second, pretty sporty.
HEAT RACE:
In the heat race Connelly started on the pole with Chad #10 outside, second row Robbie #96 inside and Treyce #01 outside, row three Ernest #3 inside and Brandon #5 outside. Connelly got a good start and led for the first 8 laps then a caution came out, with less than 3 laps to go, single file restart, again Connelly got a good start and led the green white checker run to the finish with Robbie and Chad in very hot pursuit. Finishing order #32, #96, #10, #01, #3, #5.
FEATURE RACE:
Connelly had to throw the big dice to determine the "invert" he rolled a 1 meaning no invert, starting positions determined by your heat race finish. Connelly started on the pole and since Brian had won his heat he started on the outside of the front row Robbie and Chad had the second row with Conner and Treyce covering the third row, the rest of the field was comprised of Fred, Everett, Devin and Brandon. Joseph had to tag (start last) due to him breaking a suspension component and not finishing the heat. He had to pull out a backup car for the feature, which had him starting last.
Connelly got a really good start from the pole and got about a 3 car length lead, then a couple of quick cautions on lap 2 and the subsequent restart, I thought "here we go again another caution plagued race"-- not so fast exhaust breath-- we ran the rest of the race, 18 laps under green. Connelly and Brian put on quite a show, with the lead never being more than a couple of car lengths, on about lap 5 or 6 Brian got a big run on us out of turn 2, got his right front wheel under our left rear, got loose had to correct and did a slight wheel hop--a big cloud of tire smoke erupted, both drivers displayed outstanding driving skills and neither lost control but could easily have wrecked. From that point on they were never more than 1 or 2 lengths apart. Some passing of lapped cars took place which tightened the front two up even more with Connelly prevailing at the checkered flag by about two car lengths. There was good racing throughout the entire field with multiple passes in the middle of the pack. It was a very entertaining race in all respects, except for the "wheel hop" which almost gave me a heart attack. Finishing order of the top five was Connelly in the #32, Brian McArdle #44 second, Conner Okrzesik #14 third, Joseph McArdle #44jr who had come through the field from 11th starting position to finish fourth, and Robbie Johnston #96 fifth. We had another sweep; won qualifying, heat race and feature. We touched the alligator on the nose again, and didn't get eaten. Next race is April 4, Betty and my 51st wedding anniversary. I told her that our anniversary dinner will be a chicken sandwich at the track snack bar--big spender right????? Come on out to Sunny South Raceway and treat yourself to some outstanding racing.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
MARCH 7, 2015--OPENING NIGHT FOR 2015 SEASON
Well it has finally arrived, opening night of the 2015 racing season. It seems like the off season went by in a flash and before we knew it the 2015 season was here. It felt like we never got to do all of the things we wanted to do before the season started, but we got all of the important things done. Saturday morning Connelly was nut and bolting the car and waxing it before we loaded it up and tied it down. We made the 1 hour and 47 minute trip to SSR without incident (always the best kind) got to the track got into our new pit location very close to the flag stand where I usually watch the race (trying to save the old sciatic nerve) got unloaded, went through tech and registration, checked air pressure, fueled it up and got on the track. He made about half a dozen laps to get some heat in the tires and "busted it" for about 5 laps. Connelly got some really good times and he said the car felt great, so much so that he said "I am done". Well he lied, because right before the track closed for practice he went to Mr. Joe and asked "do I have enough time for one more pass?" He got his pass and the car was still good--why wouldn't it be we hadn't changed it or done anything to it.
We had a very good field of 12 cars tonight. We had a group of cars down from Monroe as well as the usual local competitors. Tonight's lineup was Robbie Johnston #96, Chad Robinson #10, Treyce Capers #01, Conner Okrzesik #14, Dalon More #99, Devin Corry #18,
Connelly Dubuisson #32, Joseph McArdle #44jr., Brian McArdle #44, Ronny Freeland #9, Chris Freeland #91, Fred Laing #6, all in all a very strong and competitive field of cars which included several seasoned veterans as well as some up and coming newer drivers.
QUALIFYING:
In an attempt to get the racing program completed at a reasonable hour, qualifying was held before the drivers meeting--a great idea which saved at least 15 or 20 min. In qualifying Connellly laid down the lap of his life posting a time of 12.840 seconds for the quarter mile which calculates to 70.093 mph. I wasn't sure at the time as I couldn't remember what the old track record was, but I went up to Mr. Joe at the post qualifying tech inspection and told him I thought that we might have broken the track record. Obviously we qualified on the pole with Brian McArdle second and Robbie Johnston third. When we got home and I pulled up the records on the track website and found that Connelly had indeed broken the track record set by Hunter Lewis last season at 12.869
HEAT RACES:
Because we had 12 cars in competition there were 2 heat races of 6 cars each. Connelly#32 won his heat followed by the #96, #14, #10, #99, and #18. In the second heat race Brian McArdle #44 won his heat followed by the #9, #44jr., #91, #01, #6.
FEARURE RACE:
In the feature we had a two car invert--Connelly threw a 2 on the big dice which inverted two cars putting Brian on the pole with Connelly outside of him, the #96, #9, #14, #44jr. #10, #91, #99, #01, #18, and the #6 completed the starting lineup, in that order. A case of "yellow fever" broke out from the start. The #14 had a terminal mechanical issue on the first lap--red flag-- then a series of minor spins and mishaps ensued bringing our a number of cautions. It took 11 laps to complete 3 green flag laps. The drivers just fought through and a sense of normalcy finally prevailed. I don't know whether it was an opening night thing-- just being rusty, or the cold track. At the start of the feature the track temp was 52 degrees--probably a combination of both. It took Connelly a few laps but he finally got by Brian in the #44 for the lead. Some really good racing was taking place all around the track, they were two wide and in some cases three wide, really good stuff, some of which probably contributed to the cautions. Connelly won the feature race for his first sweep of the season. The top five finishers were Connelly in the #32, Joseph McArdle in his #44jr. (he beat his dad) Brian Mcardle #44, Ronny Freeland #9, and rounding out the top 5 was Chad Robinson in the #10.
It was a weekend made in heaven for Connelly and the #32 team, Broke the track record, sat on the pole, won his heat race and the feature race and was able to roll the car back on the trailer, which is the most important thing. Looking forward to next race already. Come on out to SSR and treat yourself to some really great racing on March 21.
We had a very good field of 12 cars tonight. We had a group of cars down from Monroe as well as the usual local competitors. Tonight's lineup was Robbie Johnston #96, Chad Robinson #10, Treyce Capers #01, Conner Okrzesik #14, Dalon More #99, Devin Corry #18,
Connelly Dubuisson #32, Joseph McArdle #44jr., Brian McArdle #44, Ronny Freeland #9, Chris Freeland #91, Fred Laing #6, all in all a very strong and competitive field of cars which included several seasoned veterans as well as some up and coming newer drivers.
QUALIFYING:
In an attempt to get the racing program completed at a reasonable hour, qualifying was held before the drivers meeting--a great idea which saved at least 15 or 20 min. In qualifying Connellly laid down the lap of his life posting a time of 12.840 seconds for the quarter mile which calculates to 70.093 mph. I wasn't sure at the time as I couldn't remember what the old track record was, but I went up to Mr. Joe at the post qualifying tech inspection and told him I thought that we might have broken the track record. Obviously we qualified on the pole with Brian McArdle second and Robbie Johnston third. When we got home and I pulled up the records on the track website and found that Connelly had indeed broken the track record set by Hunter Lewis last season at 12.869
HEAT RACES:
Because we had 12 cars in competition there were 2 heat races of 6 cars each. Connelly#32 won his heat followed by the #96, #14, #10, #99, and #18. In the second heat race Brian McArdle #44 won his heat followed by the #9, #44jr., #91, #01, #6.
FEARURE RACE:
In the feature we had a two car invert--Connelly threw a 2 on the big dice which inverted two cars putting Brian on the pole with Connelly outside of him, the #96, #9, #14, #44jr. #10, #91, #99, #01, #18, and the #6 completed the starting lineup, in that order. A case of "yellow fever" broke out from the start. The #14 had a terminal mechanical issue on the first lap--red flag-- then a series of minor spins and mishaps ensued bringing our a number of cautions. It took 11 laps to complete 3 green flag laps. The drivers just fought through and a sense of normalcy finally prevailed. I don't know whether it was an opening night thing-- just being rusty, or the cold track. At the start of the feature the track temp was 52 degrees--probably a combination of both. It took Connelly a few laps but he finally got by Brian in the #44 for the lead. Some really good racing was taking place all around the track, they were two wide and in some cases three wide, really good stuff, some of which probably contributed to the cautions. Connelly won the feature race for his first sweep of the season. The top five finishers were Connelly in the #32, Joseph McArdle in his #44jr. (he beat his dad) Brian Mcardle #44, Ronny Freeland #9, and rounding out the top 5 was Chad Robinson in the #10.
It was a weekend made in heaven for Connelly and the #32 team, Broke the track record, sat on the pole, won his heat race and the feature race and was able to roll the car back on the trailer, which is the most important thing. Looking forward to next race already. Come on out to SSR and treat yourself to some really great racing on March 21.
Monday, March 16, 2015
THE 2015 RACING SEASON
Well the 2015 racing season is upon us, on Valentines day we had the open practice at SSR. The weather was perfect after a week of rain. It was great to be back at the track after being "gone" for the off season. We had some work to do --break in tires-- got that done. Ms. Debbie served some awesome chili and soft drinks I understand there were roses for the "sweethearts" but since Ms. Betty didn't come with us we didn't get a rose since I am not anybody's sweetheart, but that is what happens when you are old and ugly.
We got our tires broken in, visited with old friends and just had a very relaxing afternoon at the track. Connelly only ran it hard for a few laps and he was very satisfied with the car. He said it was really good and was looking forward to March 7 --opening day-- See you there on the 7th.
We got our tires broken in, visited with old friends and just had a very relaxing afternoon at the track. Connelly only ran it hard for a few laps and he was very satisfied with the car. He said it was really good and was looking forward to March 7 --opening day-- See you there on the 7th.
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