Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Hi everyone.

First off (Not so LIVE... means i'm posting from the hotel tonite... no live connection from the track).

Now... we had a Beautiful day here in Charlotte (90 degrees, 33% hum, 29.49 baro, huge tailwind, and a sweet downhill track).
I managed to get a few pics even though we had a engine disaster after the 2nd qualifying pass.
We managed to borrow a cherry picker from Kenny Horne, imstalled our spare 318, and hope to dial it in with our one tt tomorrow before rd 1.

Also found my cheap little Nikon Coolpix sux at zoom pics from the upper deck. (but I'll post them anyway).

Here goes........

Starting with our engine change

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4770.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4771.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Ouch, Tommy! Best of luck getting the new motor dialed in. Appreciate your photos. Keep up the great photography!

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Roy Johnson and Brian Rowe

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4746a.jpg

Tex Miller and Nick Reiter

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4747a.jpg

Brenda Grubbs and Frank Maiolo

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4750a.jpg

JC Beattie

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4743a.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Mr Fisher's mirada

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4744a.jpg

Brooks Lee and Marshalls vette

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4745a.jpg

Fezell and Beaver

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4748a.jpg

Rampy and Gene Jordan

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4749a.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Zimmermn and Mesenbring

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4751a.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4752a.jpg

Defrank

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4753a.jpg

Johnny Williams and Bertozzi

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4756a.jpg

Kenney and Taylor

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../DSCN4754a.jpg

Whaley and Strickland

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4757.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Z-Max tower.
I got inside it today (forgot my camera)..... but it is first class!

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4758.jpg

Under the bleachers... only the first day.... but super clean!

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4759.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

great pics Tom. Sorry to hear about the engine. Good luck tomorrow.
I'll be at Pittsburgh Raceway Park this Sat for the PID Reunion and Tri-State Stock-Super Stock race. I think Withers is going there with his SS/C AMX too.

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Here's the new SS/AM cavalier that Grace Howell is driving...

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4760.jpg

Ernie Penner made the trek from the northwest......

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4767.jpg

Mickey Whaley

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4763.jpg

Steven Johnson

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4761.jpg

Rick Baehr

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4762.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Gene Daugherty

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4765.jpg

Mark Lewis

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4766.jpg

Jegs........................

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4769.jpg

Mike Moller

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4768.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Good morning from Charlotte.

Weather is supposed to be th same as yesterday, (however) with a 20% chance of an isolated thunderstorm.

We get one tt this morning and then right into rd 1.

BEWARE....If you are at the track and did not hear about it, please lock up your valuables. Several trailers were raided (in broad daylight) yesterday morning while we were in the lanes. One story we heard was wallets were stolen. Police said stolen credit cards were used a mile from the track, but nobody arrests were made yet. HOPE THEY ARE CAUGHT!

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Thanks for the pictures, sorry for your damage, good to see Harry right in there working on the swap.

When did Tex paint his car ?

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Tommy -- Pics taken by your Coolpik are great ...... sorry about your engine but it seems that Classracer.COM Reporters and Photogs this year all are losing them - it was just your turn .........only ones left are Toby and Michael -- and at least you have a spare ..................

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Tom:
keep up the outstanding reporting. I hope the number 2 bullet brings you great luck this weekend (we both know that yours and Harry's back up stuff is typically better than most folks # 1 piece!) hate to hear about thieve at the racetrack! We can only hope that a racer finds them first and them forms a MOB (like in the old days). A public flogging will curb this heinous (sop?) activity quicker than the police.

keep the photos coming.

Dean

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Even thru an engine change your still taking & posting pictures!
Your Good!

Thanks for providing the"ride"
Good luck to you & your Dad
G

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Dave,that's not the old Texmobile.This is a car old stick car he had that was freshened up and prittified.I guess he's starting a new contestant sticker collection.

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Tom Goldman did all the chassis and interior work on Tex Millers new/old ride
looks to be working pretty good by the pic on drag race central

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

I heard about an hour ago from Rich Bernier, that Roy Hill caught at least one of these guys in his trailer or motorhome trying to rip him off. Roy quickly threw some gas on him and said "if you take off I will light you on fire" :-) . The police got him and he rolled over on his buddies.

Roy has nothing on Hawaii 5-0 , BOOK em Roy

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

.........Roy should have lit 'em up and asked questions later. These guys need to have an example set for them so they'll think twice before entering someone's trailer/truck/home etc... Burn, Baby.....Burn. WJ

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

I knew there was a reason I liked him..

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Hell after hearing some of Roys stories he might have just set the whole thing up..

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

There was some theft at Atlanta last week too. At least that was what the announcer said.

That guy either had elephant nuts or p brains to brake into Roy's Stuff. It's a wonder anybody even heard about it. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Good Friday Morning to everyone.
I'm already home... so it really is "Not so LIVE".

Spare engine ran just fine.... but as my wife posted on her facebook page - "Tom had a TERRIBLE light (.037)". That combined with Rick Baehr's .016 sent me packing.

ps... Tailwind died completly and it got very hot and humid for first rd of SS. Everyone lost .02 - .05 from their earlier time trial (which was already slower than thursday's runs).

I have some more pics from friday.... i'll post them later.

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

.037 you should be ashamed of yourself. What were you thinking? It is a tough game we play. Great job as always. See you soon.
Brian

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

I raced with Roy "back in the old days" and these theives are obviously young. You would not want to be caught stealing from a racer and probably the only thing worse than being caught stealing from Roy Hill would be being caught stealing from Billy "The Kid" Steepe. Hope Roy has issued the proper justice in this case.

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

This is an ongoing problem at National Events-this happened to us at Columbus in 2002. I've always suspected it was done by people working at the event (not necessarily NHRA employees).

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

First off there is more to this Roy Hill story than has made it to the internet. If it has been 20 years ago the result may have been much worse. Either way the guy got what he deserved and he sure picked the wrong rig to rob.

I hope this guy is like 30 or younger, and has to face his buddies after getting held up by a 65 year old man.


Herb Jr

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Heard the whole story first hand from Roy Hill and Roy Johnson ,who was also ripped off , while we were all waiting for our drug tests on Friday .......I don't doubt that there may have been some embellishments,but the gas part and the broken hand under a tire seem to be true!.........several Super class racers coaches also were broken into, despite patrols by local police in cruisers, golf carts ,and bike patrols by track security !! ......Tom

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Just wondering out loud if the spectator count was up at all in the stands at Z-Max on Saturday, or were the stands 2/3 or more empty? Thanks. WJ

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Jack

I think you are on to something here.... First Larry Hill.... Then you..... then me.
3 "live from" reports = 3 engine disasters...... WOW!

My buddy Joe Tysinger is scheduled to start the final western swing with The Nowickis, Don O'Malley and a few others. They are heading to Nobile, Vegas, Vegas, and Pomona. He and his wife were going to try and do a "Live from" report.....
JOE - maybe you better reconsider!

Just kidding Joe.... have fun on the trip.... looking forward to your reports from the road.
Wish we were going!

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Good luck to Joe. Met him in Charlotte and gave him a picture from Spring race in Charlotte. Hopefully he can have better luck with Photobucket than I am right now trying to post larger pictures.

Butch

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Here are a few more of the pics I took before I left and headed north........

Team Worner Bros......

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4789.jpg

Stacy McCarty

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4788.jpg

Giant Killer - JG Wilson's GT/AA firebird

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4790.jpg

A/SA firebird

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4782.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Lee Zane in the DeFrank cobra

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4786.jpg

Brooks Lee and Gene Jordan and Brenda Grubbs

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4783.jpg

Jimmy DeFrank and Zane on the ready line

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4785.jpg

JC Beattie on the go

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4784.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Brenda in the Grubbs family camaro

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4780.jpg

Don Fezell

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4781.jpg

see if you can follow this.....Mike Grimm in the ex-Mike Graham GTGA 83 thunderbird currently owned by Vic Guilmino.... got it?

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4787.jpg

Johnny Fisher's mirada

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4776.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

JC Beattie's DragPak stocker.... Jim Beattie's son (owner of ATI trans)

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4777.jpg

Doug Duell's DragPak stocker

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4773.jpg

Brooks Lee's DragPak stocker

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4778.jpg

Bo Kenney's stocker

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4775.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Jeff Strickland's stocker

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4774.jpg

Gene Jordan's camaro

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4779.jpg

Lenny Williams

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...2/DSCN4772.jpg

Re: Not so LIVE from Charlotte.....
 

Thanks for posting pic of my car. I did not recognize you on the scooter, so I did not say Hi, sorry. Sorry you had motor trouble. I had career best numbers both days until elims, then the thing slowed. Lower ball joint came apart when loading the car on the trailer, and the front wheels collapsed on the ramps.Glad it didn't happen on the track.