Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Well, this is a 1st. The racing is shut down right now because of the sun shining on the tree. They have called us up.

More later

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Allright Larry! On to the 4th. round!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

The class guide says LS-1 354 HP effective June 15 2010 so it is more than a rumor!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Larry -- And then there were Seven ----------------------------- Bring out your copy of the "East of the Mississippi " NHRA Rulebook and show 'em how we race ...........good luck this morning ! ! !

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

I noticed it last night on the qualifying show... I could not see anything after both stage bulbs were lit... Wondered how drivers were getting any reaction times... Guess their angle was different.... Or they had a very good pair of sunglasses.......

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Regarding the sun on the tree; they promised years ago to turn the track in the opposite direction but all the changes have been slow coming; you can expect the same kind of deal today....and hope you have that trouble in the finals after prevaling in another heads up in round 4! You've got lots of folks hanging on live timing/audiocast and ready to jump in the air with you. Go Larry and Patsy!!!!

It was nice talking with you on Friday and I'll be sure to swing by your shop when I go thru Ky and say hello to Chris. Dem dar's my ole stomping grounds and it will be fun to race with you at Bowling Green next month.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

As for the sun at in the early evening at Seattle, just look at the second round of super stock. Five of six races were red lights.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Alright Larry!!! You wasn't threatening that guy, was you.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Yesterday was full of highs and lows. We finally got the car to run better. Won a double red lite race. Got by Lambeck in a heads up race. Was dead late and won on a break out. We are going to hear the National Anthem on Sunday. Had a push rod jump off the ball of the adjuster. Went dead on with "0" and the Perfectly Strange money had already been won in the first round. I have Kevin Cour and his super charged '10 Mustang in round four heads up. But the most disturbing event of the day has to be the cam going flat in the nitro burning blender.
Larry

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Where's Whit (bazemore) when you need him!!!!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

What's with ALL of this back and forth BS banter of West coast & East coast Rule Books?

We all know the rule book doesn't mean ***** anymore, West or East....
The current structure is this... "It's not what's correct that counts, it's what accepted that matters!"

The real rule book got thrown away years a go!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Larry & Patsy thanks for all the pics you guys post, I stopped racing 5 years ago but I do miss it and its fun to see all your pics. Good Luck on the swing and thanks again.


Jerry Terry

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Great job racing! We are in staging #1 in Sonoma.....not too nice. It has very sticky mud. My dog had so much mud on her feet she was 2 inches taller. We hear around noon they will move us to staging #2 and it is supposed to be grassy. There are 5 rigs in line.

Patsy tell Larry we hope to see him in Sonoma with the Wally riding around on the golf cart.

Good luck and safe travels to all. Paula

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Great posts and pictures,We watched some live feed on espn3 and saw Larry against the mustang,but the broadcast showed no win lights or scoreboards

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There has been a bad accident with a TAD. I was outside and didn't hear his name, they just said Mark something. The car hit the sand trap, then the net and folded. Danny Gracia was one of the men to help get him out and carry him to the ambulance. There is a helicopter here, but they haven't moved him to it yet. Since we are at the end of the track it was all right in front of us. More later as we get loaded up and hit the road.

Oh the race with Cour was awful. Larry had him a little on the tree, but at the eighth we were running 103 and he was running 107. He just played with us from there.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Paula,

Its up to you to do the Sonoma reporting until the rest of the crew gets there.

Good luck to you and Mike.
Bill Lamb

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Patsy and Larry, good luck in Sonoma. Thanks for all the reports and pictures.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Larry

Give that 4-Speed deal a thought.

Hammer

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

For this run on May1?
BOISE, Idaho - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Stock Eliminator at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Northwest Division, 40th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor at Firebird Raceway:

Psn--Num--Class-Driver, Home Town, Machine-----------------ET---Index---(+/-)

1 6633 B/SA Joe Sorensen, Woodburn OR, '69 Camaro 10.207 11.62 -1.413

?

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

John Leichtamer: There would be a lot more 4-speeds in stock if they were not so afraid of that CAN. A lot more fun to drive and just as consistent.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

x2

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

I would LOVE to race a 4 speed. However, as someone who has missed the 2-3 shift in his 4 speed 68 GTO many times, I gotta say I am just not talented enough to be competitive.

I guess a Jerico and an Advanced Clutch might fix it, but just don't have the bucks to try....

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Well we are back on the road headed south toward Sonoma.

Funny things seen on the road:

Just pulled into a rest area to dump the motorhome. We were 4th in line. There is a couple with a pull behind camper being pulled by a truck and his wife following in a car. So they get up to dump and he pulls up too far with his wife in the car right behind him, then us behind her. So he is up too far to reach, so he gets out and is shouting at his wife to back up. We back up to give them room and he finally gets to where he can reach. Then he reaches in to get his sewer hose and it comes out apart, like a slinky. I thought Larry would die laughing watching them. And the looks he was giving his wife like it was all her fault! Anyway, it was humorous. Or you may just have had to have seen it.

So we are almost to Portland. We are stopping at a Walmart there and meeting my cousin for dinner. We will probably spend the night there and then drive on to Sonoma tomorrow.

More later.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Congrats on your first outting , Miss Pretty In Pink will be at the top by the end of the western swing. maybe I will get to meet you and Patsy later on this year. A Old U/SA racer The Class Of 65 U/SA . Dick Moreland and built it way back in the winter of 78. Congrats again. Alan R. Caraway

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

It was really great meeting you two,,,tough way to lose with a guy just fendering you down the track. Leg 1 of the trip over,,,hope the rest is just as fun.
Larry,I'll try to see what I can do regarding those US Classnationals photos we talked about. Have a great trip and guard that "rule book"!
Danny Durham

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

anybody have any info for how late or how early gates will be open to get into Sonoma later this week. I wont be there until late Wednesday or early Thursday just trying to plan out our drive and not end up in a big line waiting to get in...(like that will ever happen...ha)

Brad

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Hey Larry in your new rule book (west coast edition), can you tell us what it says under torque straps in stockers? There was a article in the dragster with pictures of a 1969 Camaro after he won (?) the Winternationals this year. Anyway, in one of the pictures you can see where it had 2 straps bolted to the heads (1 on each side of the engine) going to the frame. The 2010 book i looked in said only one engine torque stap allowed on the car. With 2 straps, it works just like a front engine plate. Ironically, i think it was the dragster with the article about John Calvert that had everyone in a uproar about the wheelie bars on stockers. Guess with the hype over the wheelie bars, the pictures of the Camaro didnt get looked at closely? Hope you and Patsy have a good time out west. Maybe i'll see you at Indy again this year.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

800-870-RACE call georgia seipel tomorrow Brad she will take care of you - if you guys need anything i live 4 miles from the track in Novato 408 690 2274 john "victo" victorino

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Jeff with a Jerico and a Long V-Gate shifter you won't miss a gear. Ed

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

We are back on the road this morning after spending the night at a Walmart in Portland after having dinner with my cousin, Marylou. They ran us out of one Walmart, but the nice guard told us where we could go about 15 miles away.

We are now in Salem, OR and just passed a sign that said we were crossing the 45th parallel which is halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. See I am even learning geography along the way.

And now for other things seen along the road--Last evening while we were exiting to go to Walmart, a smaller SUV pulled up next to us and honked the horn. We looked over and to our surprise she was flashing her big breasts at us and shaking them at us like she was trying to make butter!!! Needless to say Larry honked back. Larry said he felt like Chevy Chase in "Family Vacation". But he said it did kinda cheered him up after having his nose rubbed in it by Kevin Cour. The reason he says he rubbed his nose in it, he got out there and just played with Larry, backing into him. Larry says if you are going to beat him at least give him his money's worth.

Speaking of super-charged Mustangs--we just met one with its blue lights flashing. They are the unmarked police cars in Oregon!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

they opened the gates to the holding area yesterday and they were open all night. I think they will continue to be open 24 hours. Come to gate 7

Mike

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Come on Dad, we need pictures!

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We are in Weed, CA just having a high old time. I would write more, but now we're hungry!!

It has been quite a drive today. Lots of 1000'-4000' climbs, then 6% grades back downhill. Just passed Mt. Shasta. Its elevation is over 14,000'.

I have taken a lot of pics today out the window. If any of them come out, I will post them tonight.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Chris, I'm betting Mom had the camera. But you can always dream.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Wow lot of elevation .Have you checked your race car to see if it is still breathing lol. Keep the stories coming .I'm headed to Grand Bend Canada this weekend for the IHRA Nitro (NATIONALS).Good luck to you and Patsy this week.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

We will be there in a couple of hours.

For a little recap of Seattle:

We met a lot of really nice people there. The 1st people we met were Dave and Lyn Rastad from Canada. He drives Shawn Kvaas's N/SA Pontiac. It was fun talking with them, plus he has a bunch of Mopars.

Then we met Phillip Marvetz and his wife Kelly. He has a Coronet with a Nascar hemi. He was telling us about all the stuff he buys on E-bay. They introduced us to the really cool people from Canada that brought in their cars and golf carts. Steve and Vicki--it was fun to meet them, too. They also introduced us to the Tiki bar people, Brad and Fran and the blender people Terry and Becky. Now that was the happening place to be! Belle Rose has nothing on these party-ers. Buckners--you would have loved the blender!

We also met lots of other really nice racers, and also Division 7 Director Mike Rice. If anyone is considering going to Seattle next year, I would highlly recommend it. But be sure you stop by the Tiki Bar at the 1000'.

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Man Larry... You just about gave us 427/425 guys a cardiac! AT&T made some money yesterday... Shasta and the lake are gorgeous this time of year. Wait till you get down past the Sac River a ways, It dries up quick! I will stop by Friday to visit.

Barry

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Larry and Patsy, I would just like to say THANK YOU for the reports and pics. Have fun and be safe. Please keep on reporting and keeping us informed.. I think National Dragster should put you on the payroll.......

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Just spent a week in Mt. Shasta-have family there. City sits at about 5400 feet. Just enough to feel the thin air.

Glad you got to meet the "Tiki Bar" folks. They race at Mission-my home track.

Enjoy your trip!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

You are correct Alan, it would have already been official (states in the AHFS that immediate hp change will be in effect on the Monday or Tuesday following the race), that race was the first of May.....But it was definately over 1.25 under. Funny how the LS1 stick got 12 instant HP for going less under.