"Live" from Topeka!
At least we will be there in a couple of hours. We drove last night to just east of Kansas City in a horrific thunderstorm for over half the way. Fun! Fun! Cars were even pulling off to the side of the road, which is where I would have been had I been driving a car. It's amazing how much better you can see in a big truck.
We stayed in a Wal-mart in Oak Grove, MO last night. When Larry went out to make his Wal-mart run this morning, he met the people in the motorhome next to us. They were from Germany and pulling gliders. They were doing a world tour where they competing for points in gliding. Now that's cool! There are competitors everywhere for most anything! This morning we visited a very nice Blue Beacon truck wash where we ate breakfast in our motorhome while it was being washed. Now that was cool, too. (It doesn't take much to amuse me!) Last night driving thru MO I never saw the likes of "Adult" video, lingerie, toys stores and Fireworks stores! It's a wonder Bob Shaw, Brad Van Lant, and Fred Suiter ever find time to venture outside the state!! Hey, rumor has it that Paula Cotten and her people from QT are going to be running a golf cart around the pits giving away coffee and donuts like the track was doing a couple of weeks ago in Norwalk!! Well I am missing all the beautiful views this morning on the Kansas Turnpike while I am sitting back here typing. So more later! Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
A friend of mine is running his Super Comp dragster at Topeka. He said they are charging $50.00 per day to hook up to their electricity. Can you feel the enhancement?
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Last year for the Div race it was $50 for the weekend
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
$50 for the weekend that sounds like a good deal to me I guess you expect the track to pay your electricity bill so you can be on the internet and watch your satelite tv. Rv camps will charge you double for one night.
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
$50.00 for the weekend is very fair. If in fact it is $50.00 per day that is not fair.
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Well, we got here about 10:30 this morning and have things changed! If you haven't been here in a while, don't follow the signs. It says Sportsman racers Gate C. But it is really Gate E. We ended up just kinda meandering thru up by staging and the pros pits and finally got to where they parked us. Lots of paved parking everywhere. There is electricity available . They told us $150 for the weekend, but we just talked to Mike Cotten and they charged him $200. It really makes Norwalk look good where we all got electric for free. By the way, we are parked in the middle where we will be using our generator all weekend.
We got teched in in the Tech Building. Just drove right thru. That is all new, too. I guess that is where they do teardown, too. Just saw the coolest thing in Gary Stinnett's pit. He has a really neat practice tree set-up with seat, pedals, guages and all. It is mounted on wheels to where it just rolls around. We talked with Greg Luneack this morning here from Calif. Others seen: Dan Fletcher, Dan Zrust and his beautiful new SS/AH car, Ronnie West with his grandson, & Brad Van Lant. Well more later. It's almost wine time! Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Oh, Tom Rhoda will be glad to know that if he ever gets back to racing and comes to Topeka, Babydolls is still here. And a new club a few doors down--"Sinsations". Oh well, maybe it is just being from Kentucky, but I never thought sex was a spectator sport!
Anyway, back to racing--they have everyone all mixed in together in the parking. Larry took my golf cart, so I guess I will go out and meet the neighbors. Does anyone know how to adjust a Gerard awning? It is just a little windy and I can't find our book on how to adjust it so it will stay out. Thanks, Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Professor Zenzen---it was $75 for the weekend last year at the D5 event...I still have the receipt.
It's going to be a hot one this weekend by the looks of things. I'm parked right next to a NEW drag pack Challenger A/SA car from Indiana. WOW, what a sweet ride---and I'm a die-hard Chevy guy. We get 1 Qualifying shot in the AM, then Class later in the afternoon. Scheduled to run 1st and 2nd Rd Saturday late afternoon... Party in Terry Edwards pit Friday night!!! Be there...or not. |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
A suggestion overheard in tech , a sign that reads "All weight must be added or removed before entering scales".
Larry |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Larry, watch out for that guy in the orange 69 Camaro. And get a picture of him at the scales and fuel check after that first pass!
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
I stand corrected.
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
It is a gorgeous day here in Topeka. Blue skies and temp in 60's. I haven't figured DA yet. I will get it for you later. Super street starts out at 7:45, then stock, super gas, superstock, sc, then 1st round of class. It would have been nice to get a run in each lane before class, but that's the way it goes. We are supposed to run all 3 rounds of class by 12:30.
Nothing much happening right now except for warm-ups. More later. So where is Terry Edwards pitted??? Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Well we just made our 1st run. There were 91 stockers, I believe. There were 7 A/SA. Most everybody was out of it. West went 10.41 at 105. Duell only went 117. The DA was 2232'. We seem to be about a tenth slower than Norwalk a couple of weeks ago at the same DA. We only went 10.38. We should pick up a little the next run. They are running super stock now.
Well wish us luck. We're gonna need it. Later. Oh, Banks in a new Mustang in A/S went 10.98 sputtering all the way down the track and still ran 130 mph. Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Super Stock just ran...DA after the run was 2930ft, with a Temp of 78.9 and rising quickly! It's gonna be a hot one today.
They just called Stock Class to the lanes. |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Well let me begin by it wasn't a good day for Mopars! If you forget to turn on the 2 step, things usually don't go so well. Sure enough, the big red light comes on! Ronnie West and Gene Mosbek also red-lighted. I haven't actually added up, but I would say more than half the races 1st round of class were decided by a red-light. I guess we will see when DRC posts the results. A few winners 1st round: Duell, Henderson, Fletcher--beat Hagberg who had a 330 light, Findell, Williams, Cotten,Suiter, Scheitlin, Folk, Biondo, Pendarvis, Fuqua, Waldo, Grier,Gaynor, Knudsen, Picht.
More later. Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
I just checked my guage, and I currently have 3382Ft and rising for DA. Yet to run Rd1 of Class in SS, but getting closer.
Terry Edwards is pitted on the very outside row of the pits...furthest from the track. Just heard a rumor that Jami Jones' pit area will be surving HOMEMADE Ice Cream later today as well!!! |
Re: "Live" from Topeka! K/SA
K/SA Chris .001 and Mr Line .009, wow. How often are class runs that close on the launch?
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Here's as close as you get ..
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed----- Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed 3750 Ryan Haag 3269 Jeff Dona E4 ****WINNER**** 0.024 9.730 133.30 0.025 9.870 130.44 SS/EA Dial: 9.73 (+/-): 0.000 SS/HA Dial: 9.87 (+/-): 0.000 Qualified: #60 9.693 -0.957 #33 9.833 -1.067 Ryan Haag's MOV: 0.0016 seconds (approximately 4 inches). |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Does anyone remember St. Louis Round 4 at the Nationals last year?
****WINNER**** Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT---ET-- Speed---Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed 3000 M.J. Quinn 5103 Danny Byrd E4 0.022 11.782 110.46 0.006 10.998 119.15 J/SA Dial: 11.78 (+/-): 0.002 F/S Dial: 10.98 (+/-): 0.018 Prior rounds: E3 (D Dunlap ) 0.115 12.052 0.262 (J Carnero ) 0.007 11.036 0.076 E2 (B Wenzel ) 0.004 11.780 -0.010 (G Greening ) 0.002 11.057 0.097 E1 (D Robinson) 0.012 11.808 -0.012 (B Koski ) 0.044 10.980 -0.120 Qualified: #39 11.800 -0.950 #33 11.114 -0.986 This was basically a dead heat with Quinn taking the win...M.J. Quinn's MOV: 0.0001 seconds. :eek: M.J. Quinn's package: 0.024. Danny Byrd's package: 0.024. |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Boy is it ever warm here in Topeka for a MN boy...We just ran 1st Rd of Class. Jeff Town had me sucked up early. Should be a good GT/HA final between him and Don O'Malley.
Weather after my run was 89.8F with a DA 3615Ft. Off to the A/C room in the hotel for a bit. |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Larry & patsy,
the BEST meat market we ever found was just down the road from the track. We allways stop on the way out to the track,it's on the left hand side of the road on the way out to the track. Hamburger that right off some cow. Cann't think of the name ,but it was just a little type store.....Tom & Ruth |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
What happened to Nick Folk in Semi's of B/SA? Looks like he just let off and let Biondo win.
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
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I lost to my dad 2 weeks ago in Houston at the division race and I was in the left lane. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed 46 Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. 4860 Jimmy Hidalgo E3 0.026 10.663 117.45 ****WINNER**** 0.005 10.894 120.38 B/SA Dial: 10.65 (+/-): 0.013 D/SA Dial: 10.86 (+/-): 0.034 Prior rounds: E2 (P Courts ) 0.055 10.696 0.036 (S Pizzolato ) 0.004 10.857 0.017 E1 (J Mikolajczy) 0.040 10.640 0.060 (M Allemand ) 0.042 10.864 0.044 Qualified: #25 10.612 -0.938 #18 10.871 -0.979 4:52 p.m. "Dads know best." "Country Dog" takes out "Country Puppy." Jimmy Hidalgo's MOV: 0.0001 seconds (approximately 0 inches). Jimmy Hidalgo Jr.'s package: 0.039. Jimmy Hidalgo's package: 0.039. |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Cooter,
I can only imagine the pit scene after that race, defiantly one for the books for your family racing program and one to add to the 'Edmond' file. Tell him to do it again next time! LOL Years ago I was told that the big bracket guys always wanted to know which side of the track that the wiring ran down as that would split a dead heat, not unlike yours. Lately however, it seems to go to the racer that has the better re-act. Anybody got one lately that has not? Hey Jeff F., care to comment |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Most timers actually go 5 decimal points out but the printers don't.
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Well it is another beautiful day here in Topeka. Blue skies with a few clouds. It stayed pretty warm all night. Slept with the AC on last night. It is probably already in the 70's this morning. We run after S/ST who start at 8. Larry stayed mad at himself most of yesterday for his dumb move on the starting line, but I bet he doesn't forget to turn on the 2-step today at least.
We missed out on the ice cream yesterday. By the time we went over, it was all gone. But I heard it was really good! Missed the party last night, too. We were in bed by 9:30. Big partiers! I did have a really good Fuzzy Navel yesterday, tho. That's a good drink when it is hot. Tom, thanks for the info on the meat market, but we don't usually try to get in anywhere with the motorhome once we get on the road. Stock runs 2 rounds today, then 3rd round is 9:00 on Sunday morning. I haven't seen a schedule like this in a long time. Well, hopefully we will still be here tomorrow. But we have to get by Marlene Nelson first this morning. She had a .004 light in class yesterday. More later. Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Patsy, has anything been said about parking in a holding lot or anything on Monday and Tuesday next week in Joliet. I'm planning on going up Tuesday afternoon to get in line, I assume this will be ok but thought I better check. Thanks
Drew |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Drew,they usually park cars over at the Nascar track.One road north of the drag strip.You can call the track on Monday ,and they will tell you.
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Well, since Marlene put us on the trailer, we are on our way home. She had a better light and ran closer to the dial, so just like it is supposed to be, she won! We stayed and watched round 2, then packed on up. Just stopped for lunch at a rest area. Fred Suiter is here, too. Barb didn't come with him this weekend as she is having health problems. Barb, we wish you well. Hurry up and come back racing!
Just a note about track prep this weekend. It wasn't great. Worse 60's we have had all year. Then we lost another .03 in 60 this morning. Ronnie West spun badlly in class yesterday. But I noticed they stopped and cleaned up in front of him this morning. Another note on Round 1 this morning. Chris Knudsen won the 1st round, but they had to clean up after him at about the finish line on. He didn't show for 2nd round. Don't know what he lost. Well we are heading on back down the road. We plan on going to the 2 day Combo race at Bowling Green next weekend, then Joliet for the points race. See ya'll there. Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Getting closer to running 1st Rd in S/G, S/C and SS. Currently, my Computech RaceAir Pro is reading a HOT 92.6F, 22% Humidity, 28.67 Baro., with a DA 3869Ft.
Track Temp was over 125F about 30min ago when I went up there to watch Comp. Lots of spinning.... |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Well, you can see what NHRA thinks about sportsmen racers! I just got on DRC to see how Super Stock came out and I see Saturday wrapup that came from NHRA Communications. According to that everything is over for today and racing resumes at 11:00 am tomorrow. Well super stock, super comp, and super gas are still racing today! And sportsmen race at 9:00 am on Sunday morning. Talk about insulting! Evidently they don't even know we were all racing this weekend.
Patsy |
Re: "Live" from Topeka!
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
i would like to see one nat.event with a sportsman boycot,and just the other crap and see what kind of fan reaction you would get,lots of down time and people wanting a refund,it is sad the way nhra treats the sportsman racers,look at sun morn looks like hot lapping to get rid of some rounds to start the pro,s
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Re: "Live" from Topeka!
Did the track go away before the 1st round of SS? Seems like there were a few cars that didn't run anywhere near what they should have.
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The track was bad all weekend.
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It was my first National event and we had a blast! It was definatley HOT ,but had a great time. It was nice to meet and talk to some of you. I had a best mph for the weekend now I just need it to hook lol.
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