Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Say it ain't so -- for the third race in a row I've been greeted by rain on the way .What should have been an easy four hour ride turned into a six hour fiasco on New Yorks' Route 87 .Between the horrible downpour and the tractor that went on its side during rush hour traffic ------ what next ?

Good news is I'm here and pitted ( in a nice spot thanks to Diamond RV - the race sponsor ) and there are plenty of nice dry areas left.Tomorrow is test n tune but the weather is still iffy -- stay tuned and I'll try and let you know whats up .

And to make matters worse I took a few nice pictures to share with you folks tonight and if I had my USB cable that is sitting next to my computer in my office I'd share them with you -- yes , you guessed it -- its MY fault . Maybe I can hunt one up in the morning ...........................till then ............later .

PS -- Even with the rain its a very pretty drive thru the New York state countryside .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

geez Jack-you cannot get out of the rain nohow this year!! hope it drys out and the race gets completed, thanks as always for your reporting, and hopefully you will find a cable to borrow, I really enjoy the pics!!

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Thanks Jack, looking forward to the updates!!!

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

It could be worse,...you could be the driver, or owner, of the wrecked tractor! Good luck Jack.

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good luck, Jack. As always, thanks for the updates; hope you find a cable, your pictures are always top notch.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1
Bridgeport, Ct.

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack,

Thanks for the updates. I'm heading over there friday morning. do you still need those numbers for the GTO?

Bruce Deveau

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack-

Are there any more parking updates?? We are hearing that they stopped parking today due to messy pits??
2:00 pm...on Thursday

Thanks
Sal

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good afternoon -- To say today's test n tune is a washout would be a terrible understatement -- words can't describe how much water came down fast .Good news is it hasn't rained for about two hours now and the water is starting to drain off . Todays activities will consist of the usual -- cards - monopoly - adult beverages and bedpans -- not to mention cleaning mud - its everywhere .

After some searching this morning I found a Wal-Mart where a card reader was purchased and now pictures can be posted again -- hope you like them .

The first picture you would think is self explanatory -- yes , I'm old enough and yes , I was there but thats not the story , that sign reminded me of two of Division 1's best racers who lived in Woodstock - Charlene and Gary Wood - anyone know whatever became of them ?



The next pic you would think I'm way off my route to Lebanon but I swear you have to get on this road - who would think .

Next is the picture we all hate -- when a starting line looks like this its never good .

I've got more to post later ..................

Sal -- They have resumed parking ( very carefully I might add ) and will continue all day into the evening........

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Here's a few more pics -- the first is 'Lake Lang' - thats right , next to Bob Langs' motorhome , then we have the staging lanes but not full of race cars but tow rigs -- waiting to be pitted .Lastly we have the famous 'racer in the air' at the Valley -- must be 30 or 40 feet in the air -- pretty neat deal .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Weather.com has a 50 percent chance of rain tomorrow, a "slight" chance of a thunderstorm on Saturday with highs in the upper 60's (not as bad as the fourth of July when I went to a baseball game at night with a winter coat and gloves on)-welcome to summer in upstate NY. Sunday looks good though.

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

But wasn't "Woodstock" actually held in Bethel, NY?

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Why do you think they called it Woodstock ? ?

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

What a difference a few hours makes ............

The last photo shows Gary Parker stuck for the second time in as many hours .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Map.aspx


if you zoom in enough you can see west lebanon & you can see what's coming your way press "play" and it will animate the map.

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Hey Jack, Please help Gary........hes getting OLD :eek:

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Sounds like tomorrow will be another long wet day there,

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I believe that they called it that because it was the adopted hometown of Bob Dylan. If it is raining and you have some time to spend, check out http://www.woodstock69.com/

All hail Max Yasgur.......

May it not rain during races, or large outdoor concerts...... or motorcycle events!

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Yippeeeee - Thats my take on the fact that its not raining this morning and believe it or not the Sun is trying to burn thru .Many racers and their families got to spend the night camped in the staging lanes but are now being led into parking spots in the pits .With the help of the Sun and maybe some warmer temps this place should dry out quickly -- then get to the business at hand -- some great racing .I've been here since Wednesday and our racer hasn't seen the light of day yet -- hopefully this morning it will happen.

What's that sound ?? Its the Jet dryer and very welcomed by everyone I'm sure.....later .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Great Jack, hope mother nature continues to cooperates so that all present at the track can enjoy some good and safe racing and those back home and elsewhere can enjoy your great updates.

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

It's also clearing down here in central Massachusetts. First time we've seen the sun here since last Saturday...Good luck w/cleanup at the Valley. Hopefully you can have some fun up there the rest of the wknd. The update reports are great! Thank you. :) WJ

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

8:45 AM -- Sun is still out -- Tech is open and life is good .

I forgot to mention the decision by Lebanon Valley staff and the NHRA last night to let racers come in and park in the staging lanes -- nice move on their part .This enabled everyone to get together last night with family and friends to bar-b-q and have a evening of fun instead of sitting in a parking lot alone and isoloated -- other tracks should explore this move - it sure made alot of people happy .Well done boys .......

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Update -- 10 AM-EST -- SuperStreet is on the track -- Stock -- SuperStock next ..

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

jack, do you know what time tech closes
on sat morning???

thanks,
joe mocci

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Hey Jack, I always enjoy your commentary & photos.
This time I'm sitting in the pits nearby, enjoying (not) the rain shower. It's noon so I'm having lunch and watching (hopefully) as the sky gets brighter.
I had one time trial today (Super Street) and really need another, as I'm not used to this elevation.

I drove 1300 miles to get here (from FL) and am confident that I brought some of the sunshine along with me. The weather doesn't look bad for Sat & Sunday. It should be a law of nature, No rain on the 4th of July weekend!
Ed Wiley

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Update - 1 PM -- Stock 1st time trial

# 1--Shaul a/sa -1.251
Bardecoff b/sa - 1.227
Boudreau b/sa -1.226
Cokinos p/s -1.220
Matyas b/sa - 1.200
Marshall g/sa -1.192
Kreeber i/sa -1.180
Broadbent b/s -1.157
Salami r/sa -1.133
10 Bernard p/sa -1.126

Top Speed & Low ET-- John Shaul 10.04@130.45 mph -- 88 entries so far in Stock - nineteen are more than one second under .


Joe-- Tech is open Saturday from 7:30am to 8 am only -- Stock will be out first for first round before noon . Racing will begin at 8am Saturday for all catagories .I'll post a schedule later .

After a short rain delay we're back racing -- partly cloudy with temps in the low 70's and climbing .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Nice run for Jeffrey Bardekoff.

What is the weather like?

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

SuperStock Q-1

# 1 -- LaBrecque gt/tc-1.084 ( not bad for the race sponsor to be on the pole )
DiTocco ss/ha -1.067 good to see Angie back in action
Riley ss/ea -1.062
Des Jardins ss/fa - 1.037
Boucher gt/ca - 1.035
Gay ss/ma - .987
Santos gt/ha -.982
Porpora ss/b -.935
Allen ss/f -.923
Kennedy gt/ca -.903 we're on rain hold -- lightning in the area -- not good .This stuff about forty days and forty nights is starting to come true -- should I start building the ark ??????????

PS- We're looking for some female entrants for tonights mud wrestling championship - apply at my trailer . Plenty of mud -- good clean fun ! ! !

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Damn I knew I should have gone, I am going to miss the mud wrestling =( Please got some pictures of that!!!!

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

6 PM est -- Good news -- the Sun is out and shining brite -- the bad news -- its raining lightly . We're back on hold -- where is that handbasket we're all going to Hell in ? ?

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

7:15pm -- we're back racing -- after alcohol and top sportsman -- stock and s/s will be under the lights and in front of the 4th of july fans.............

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

8 PM -- Way too much weird stuff going on with alcohol and top -- so they bagged us .Back in the box and off to the mud ................Sure , and now its not raining .....figures .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Just one question Jack, Is there going to be a " Live from the MASGA Pig Roast" report from Cecil? We do need your in depth reporting and up to date results about the racing and the quality of Uncle Bucks cooking for the weekend!! Oh, buy the way, there's a S/G race there too!!

Prostreetbird

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

RE: "Good, clean, fun..."

Back in my younger days, I asked my girlfriend if she'd like to play "doctor,"

She said, "No."

I told her it was just "good, clean fun," to which she replied, "GOOD CLEAN, FUN???" "You call 'THAT 'good, clean,fun'???"

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOOD, CLEAN FUN IS!!!"

I replied, "You're right; what good is it???"

ka-chunk...



Bill, at 1:35 a.m.

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Last night after everything was finished I made the mistake of strolling thru the pits only for the purpose of walking my late dinner off . Most racers I spoke with felt that the Lebanon Valley management / NHRA sold them out last night by 'giving' their second time trial away to the Top Sportsman / Dragster drivers because they were the 'show' along with Alcohol racers .Most relayed to me they felt since this was a Lucas points race and Top drivers don't earn Lucas points they were shortchanged a run and will remember that fact when they do their schedule for next year . Are things run this way in other Divisions ? BTW , some of you have to remember -- I'm only the messenger -- please -- don't shoot the messenger ! ! ! A few got quite loud last night while relaying their feeling to me -- ouch ! !

On to good things - its not raining this morning and we should be on the track in an hour or so .Partly cloudy at the moment but the forecast is OK for today .Temps and humidity are down this morning so performance should be up this first pass and surely for first rounds today .

On the brighter side the fireworks display put on by the track last night was terrific and there were plenty of oh's and ah's .On with the show..............

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

After a slight drizzle this morning SuperStreet got their lick in followed by Stock and SuperComp and SuperGas with SuperStock on the track now .

# 1 boudreau b/sa -1.255
marshall g/sa -1.253
bardecoff b/sa 1.227
corinos p/s -1.226
matyas b/sa -1.200
kreeber i/sa --1.180
monahan k/sa -1.172
parker h/sa -1.153
conte c/sa --1.144
10 salemi r/sa -1.133

Ladder is out for stock rd 1 -- no heads up or byes

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

First round of Stock is in but I can't tell you much yet as I didn't see much of it -- one race I did get to watch was John Shaul in his a/sa 64 Fury against Garrett Moude in his g/sa 70 Matador that was dialed very near the index -- talk about a giant killer -- the crowd went wild (yes , there was a crowd --see picture below ) when Moude won a close one .Also pictured is another AMC -- Robert Salami's 92 Jeep --# 9 qualifier .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Anyone want to trade pit spots ? I've got everything from a motorhome to a backhoe in my pit .........

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack,
What class does that backhoe run? I think those tires are illegal in Stock...

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Damn it Jack,get food off your mind.It's SalEmi.If you see Garrett congratulate him for me.John made mince meat out of me on my first run in Stock in 1998.
That Jeep is fast.Wish I could run EFI on my 6.

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Sunday schedule -- s/gas -- top dragster -- top sportsman -- comp -- top dragster -- top sportsman -- superstreet -- stock -- s/comp -- s/stock starting at 9:30 sharp

Stock noteables - cote v moran heads-up b/sa
de marzo v perrone heads-up g/sa
fletcher a/sa v szupka j/sa

S/stock -- di tocco is back ! !

I'm very sad to report that Larry Wiggins--my friend and a veteran Techman here in D1 for more than 25 years had a stroke last week -- he's on the mend but it'll be awhile and it would be nice to shower him with get well's as he is truly the racers friend -- cards can be sent to --- Larry Wiggins Jr.
2617 Red Toad Road
Rising Sun , MD 21911
On a brighter note this afternoon I decided to see how others raced so I asked my friend Phil Szupka if I could tag along for a round of Comp -- I have to tell you folks I couldn't do it -- those people are not what we Stock and S/S are used to - talk about serious - well they don't talk period -- no laughing -- no joking --no nothing . I noticed in the lanes right away that things were different - God forbid someone who cracked a smile- isn't this supposed to be fun ? One positive thing I did see is the difference between a crew chief/driver and a father/son team - the father checks more / tugs a little harder on the belts etc .and really wants to be there and help -- way to go Phil .........

Finally, a few photos of tonights fireworks..........