Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

I'm bringing the head down there tomorrow.They're welcomed to take a look see.Jack do
you have keys to one of the Keystone Condos for me?

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

congrats to jeff lawrence. he has been working on that 351c for a long time. its finally paying off!! :D

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

That's not one of the new Ford engines? If not, very impressive.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

jeff lawrence ......1972 351c 285/ 315 nhra hp

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

After lunch and some lenghty bench racing Phil and Steve Szupka were kind enough to give me lift to the train station and a nice dinner with Debbie in Atlantic City .And lets not forget the quality time ( and money ) spent with the one-armed bandits there .As the time spent at the track today was mostly wasted because of the monsoons that hit and we're looking forward to tomorrow .As of this minute (10:30 pm EST ) its still raining hard with no end yet in sight .When it will stop for sure is still up in the air but I'll be back at Atco early in the AM to let you know ..............

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

You guys are lucky back there

Out here they do not let us set records during the test-n-tune prior to a National Open or Divisional meet

Same guys on both days in tech and running things but no go out here

I have argued but to no avail

Gives you time to set a record - tear down - and get back together and run the whole event without the rush

Oh well you have to go along with whatever the rules are set by your local NHRA guys

I assume they will make it a Saturday-Sunday race instead of a Friday-Saturday race because of the rain

Hope you get it in

:-) peace

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Good morning -only good news this AM - the rains have stopped and the Sun is out - a little chilly but warming up fast - track drying has begun and we should be underway in maybe two hours .As soon as I get a schedule you'll be the first to know ............Sure is pretty out ! !

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

jack
can you get a picture of the Q sheet

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Talk about a tough day - this was it ! ! After loosing yesterday to rain this morning looked great but after only a few pairs went down the track it was evident that they would have to scrape the track as the rubber was lifting off as cars just peeled it up under acceleration .
That fact put the race hours behind and the result is that everyone will still get their two time shots and then go into elims with the race more than likely will be finished tomorrow .

Bad news is the bonus race that was to be run Sunday has now been canned .That race that was backed by Sony and Gary Richard of PC Richard Stores as of this moment has not been reassigned a new date - I'll let you know if I find out .

Record runs - no new records were set today and the three that were set Thursday were all certified and count as they passed teardown .Congrats guys ......

We are now in the second set of Q-runs and elims are set to go in about an hour but won't go very long because of the early dewpoint here at Atco .........Sorry I haven't posed more but I've really had my hands full here at this deal and that fact coupled with the poor Internet reception has made it difficult .........later .

BTW - its Sunny and a very nice Spring day here with temps in the high fifties .

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Come on now... don't start that east coast/west coast thing again. LOL setting a record during the test and tune would be nice.

Great Pics, Thanks for reporting !!!!!!


Don't let the Glendora see that golf cart up without any jack stands under it... they will find a way to enhance us or fine us somehow... LOL

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

SuperStock just got their second shot - Top D & Top S will get another try and we'll be done for the night .

Tomorrow morning we'll start over with elims at 9:30 if everything goes right .Me - I'm off to dinner soon and a good nights' rest .

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Congrats to the best stepdad/engine builder (Jeff Lawrence) there is - so proud of him! Wish I had been there to see it! :o Without him I wouldn't even have a motor!

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

and a hug

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

I can't find anything on dragracecentral?

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

C'mon man....me neither!

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

It's and open race they don't post on DRC central for them at least in div 1.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

What happened down there? News story on channnel 6 said they flew out a spectator. They gave no details other than hit by flying debris from car. Where is our crack reporters when there is 'real news'? (lol) E

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Sorry Dennis, I didn't know that. My ignorance.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

They are covering the race at MIR .........and are not here .

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Race day - finally ! ! We're going to start in half an hour or so and most racers are chomping at the bit to get going .Stock will be out first with Jeanne Linke getting bye run she earned by getting the best reaction time on her time run.

Yesterday - Jim Daniels made a very nice pass in his SS/AH car - 8.29 @160 plus with a terrific 1.13 60' with his 68 Dart .

Today is overcast so far with temps in the high fifties and later might touch 60 degrees .I'll try not to use the rain word much but it could happen later .

Pictured below are the Division One NHRA PC Richard Certification Team that endured some really nasty weather this weekend but got it done .

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

I was about 20' from the incedent.Didn't want to post anything but since you asked.A T/S cars exhaust part,collector I think,came off during the burnout and went under his slick which launched it into a spectators leg.The guys was bleeding heavy and was eventually
put in the ambulance.Don't know if he was med evaced.The part also hit Dave LeClair,
(SS racer) and he was down and in real pain.I'll skip any more details,don't want to speculate.I'm hopeful that the fisrt guys injury looked worse than it really was.
It was nice to get out to Atco again,even just spectating.Saw Dave Thomas's 9.48 run.Beautiful car.The Joe Cieri chevy malibu was real impressive.It ran five runs between
13.06 and 13.09.And he was .018 and .033 on the tree.Us slow pokes are coming after you fast guys:>):>)
Hoping to get to Englishtown national in June.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

There's a shocker.....having to scrape the track during the event!!! I sure hope they wise up there and scrape it the day before we go there for the divisional race!!! It's a real waste of time for us all to have to sit there for 2 hours while they do that! I know it needs done every now and then, so do it BEFORE we get there!!

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Rd1 Stock-Zane out ,Infantino wins , Curcio wins,Cortezz0 out,D.Ficcachi wins a double BO,M.Ficcachi goes red , Cieri red,Germanski wins his first round, Sawka goes red to Bardicoff,Bender over Fizell,Robinson wins,Szupka goes .006 but runs out to Calabro,Mocci over Richard, Barton over Roberts who spun.

SS1-R.Morehead ov Garbarine , Scardelli out,Lawrence out,Fazio wins with a .119,D.Linke wins,Hanly wins,Jacque wins,Richard wins,Sal singles.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

For those interested, you can follow the event on 1320go.com, live timing and results.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Thanks Ed for the update. That sounds like a real freak accident. I hope everyone is doing well. E

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Congratulations to Brian Van Poppel and James A Jr winner and r/u in SS.Also Steve/Fitty and Tom O'Loughlin aka the 4th Stooge in Stock.Also Iggie on his S/G r/u.And old man JA in S/C.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Better late than never - both for the race and my reporting .In my defense the Internet service was just awful - and talk about frustrating - at times if would come on and let me do several paragraphs and them go off without posting .On top of all that I was kept pretty busy this past weekend so here we are .

Anyway congrats go out to Steve Calabro for his win in Stock as it wasn't a gimme and he earned it with solid driving .His Corvette worked like a champ all weekend .And we can't forget his owner Joe Fasano who worked hard to prepare a car that has won this event the last two years - well done gentlemen . And let us not forget runner-up Tom O'Laughlin was drove great all day and just came up a little short in the final .

And then we have SuperStock winner Brian Van Popel who actually won this race when he won the semi-final .Because of the third semi-finalist ( Gary Richard ) broke his car the round before and could make the call all VP had to do was break the beam and it made him a winner .Congrats to Brian and his crew chief and helper Lee Zane ( yes, that Lee Zane ) .And again I shouldn't forget James Antoinette who drive his GrandAm super all day to a RU finish . Great job fellas ............

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Special Awards ---

Best Engineered -- This award went to Dave Thomas with his new '11 Dodge Viper Powered Challenger that also set the NHRA National Record on Thursday .

Best Appearing Car -- This award ended up as a double-header with car owner Gary Richard getting the nod with his pair of new Mustangs that race in Stock and SuperStock .Both entrys were painted by Ryan Korek of Korek Designs .

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Congrats to Steve and Brian for the wins and how about Tommy O. Great jobs by all

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Way To Go to Our awesome Son In law Brian Van Poppel who did a great job today at Atco .

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

I second everything that Doug said!

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Dear Jack, thanks for the great pictures and the reporting all weekend to keep everyone informed. You helped make our weekend even better. Thanks Joe Fasano.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Congrats to Steve and Joe! Way to start the year!

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Congrats to Steve and Joe on a very good weekend.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Joe - not to worry - it was Steve and yourself who entertained us all day Sunday .....................

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Jack, I didn't see a final car count stock and superstock.
What were the totals?
Thanks,Dan.

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Dan - Stock numbers were in the low forties with S/S low thirties ................

Re: Live from Atco,NJ - NHRA PC Richard National Open
 

Thanks Jack.