Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Hi gang - One thing you can take to the bank this weekend is that you'll get the very best in pit reporting ,Why you ask - here it is - the boss is pitted 50' from me and will be watching me like a hawk .....no naps , no picnics , never mind going rounds - just great reporting - period - no excuses .

Now on with our regular deal - I've got to start out with some four letter words we all hate - you'll remember them - "rain" and "rush" hour traffic -- truly ugly this morning for sure .

They are trying to dry the track as I type this and I'm told we could start test n tune in a hour or so ........we'll see .

Tech is open for business ..........

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

1 pm update - Still no test n tune but they have every piece of equipment they own out there trying to dry the place .

Meanwhile I've been out scouting around and to my surprise there are some newly built cars here -- I took a few teaser pics for you .....enjoy ......later .

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Thanks as always Jack for the "live" reports, helps the work day go by faster!

Make sure my father isn't playing in the puddles...lol

Rob K.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Test n tune got started a half hour ago - spoke with Jim Powers who was the first one down the track with his drop dead red '68 Camaro - the track according to Jim - Fabulous ! ! !

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack is there! Here comes the rain!!!!!

J/K Jack! Love ya....mean it! Jim:eek:


.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack, have to work this weekend so keep us informed.....Please :p

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

'67 Camaro Jack....It has vent windows.....

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Glad to see you got the service up & running Jack. See you in the morning, I'm parked right beside you.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Vent windows, OMG that is SOOOOOOOO east coast. They are called wind wings!!!
First time I said vent windows in SoCal, they thought I was from a different planet.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack is taking advantage of the test and tune today so here are few picks of the latest DP's. Joe Garbarine's blue and yellow V10 and David Barton in a 6.1 DP. David will be running the DP in ss this weekend, and the Coronet in stock. Not sure what class the DP was in for stock, but he went 9.76 and Joe went 9.53 in AA trim at todays test session.

Don't ask what Jack is doing with a roll of tape and a flash light, he was under the car for a bit, but I was afraid to ask what he was doing.

The video's are not Toby Lang quality, as I shot them from my cell through a fence. I though it was worth posting anyway.

....

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I know your orginally from this area Charlie from reading some of your posts...

How about we call them "smokers windows".......that was also a popular name for them.

I had one( a '67) and smoked.....



I am 105 miles away from Atco.......Home that is.....Would I prefer to be there?......sure I would but I choose not to and will read the posts and make believe I'm there....LOL

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Hummmmm, All I ever remember them being called is vent windows here in the east. Calif. is a different planet in its self.....LOL.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Growing up in Nebraska, they were 'wing windows' ....we're in the middle, so a little of both East and West I guess.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I lived in PA all my life and they were always "wing windows" here.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

We have wind wings and the west coast rule book but no race tracks. You guys have vent windows and a ton of race tracks............................................ .you got the better deal!!

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

OK - beat me with a wet noodle - I missed the "Wing Windows" ....and I don't think its a East - West thing ...........more like a generation thing .

Here's a few pics I missed earlier ............

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good to see another Cobra killer on the track (Viper Challenger)

Google it - Vipers kill Cobras

Good luck Joe - even though we have not met yet

Oh and good luck Dave Thomas if you are there - another racer I have not met yet

:-) peace

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good morning - In just over two hours we'll start another race here at Atco - can't yet tell you what the car count is but there is no parking left on the asphalt - if you're late its on the sand for you .

Weather - Sunny and brite - low temps this morning but very comfortable - 69 degrees - barometer @ 29.92 but the humidity still high 66 % showing but by race time some of that will burn off - all that brings us to a DA of around 1500 feet . Some racers will have to carefull this morning so they don't "trip the trigger" as they say and a few might be able to hit the automatic HP deal - I keep you up to date on those .

Back in a bit ............

PS- Thanks to our man Kenny we got some pics and videos while I played in the test n tune ........very gracious of him to be understanding .That said I'm positive he'll doc me ! ! !

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Attention in the pits - big change in the schedule - because of the bad weather that is to roll in tomorrow late there will be no time runs Saturday and first thing we will start off with eliminations and try to complete the event in one day .

The first round of qualifiers in Stock are complete - and it slowed up a bunch from earlier .

More as I get it ...........S/S coming up soon .

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

SoCal IS a different planet.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Deleted

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Stock got out again along with S/S - most picked up several hun - getting dark out fast - they are moving the program along at warp speed .........its coming - just don't know how soon.........Atlantic City here I come - this is a double points weekend - Lucas Oil and wife points .

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

LOL...Jack , you are a classic! Double Points

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Well at least I'm sure that others are as passionate about setting records in the heat as I am .Joe Garbarine in his '05 Cavalier GT / DA set the record today and backed it up .As I type he's in teardown with John Gulius , his engine builder .Along with the record Joe is also sitting on the provisional pole . All this coupled with his debuting his new '11 Challenger V-10 car has made him hands down person of the weekend .

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

The first in car cam of the weekend is brought to you by Ron Infantino in his 69 G/SA Camaro.

They are giving everyone a third run today, and the plan is to run the whole race tomorrow. No qualifying for tomorrow.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Stock and SS are done for the day. It has been a great day of racing with very little down time. It is a little warn, but for august, you could not ask for a nicer day.

The in car cam is brought to you by Steve Calabro.


Here are some random shots in the pits.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

You guys got twice as many cars in SS and stock as the national in Seattle.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Great reporting, and terrific pics. And the in car videos are great too.

Thanks! And keep up the good work. Those of us who are at home trying to piece a new engine together really appreciate it!

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Here are some great actions shots from John DiBartolomeo, DRAG RACING ACTION Magazine

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

A few more pictures from John and the in car cam with Pete Biondo.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good morning - I'm back - maybe a little lighter in the wallet as Debbie and I made a side trip to Atlantic City last night - great food and very pretty ......and I got bukoo bonus points for making the trip .Took a few pics for those of you on the other coast and from the middle of our country .I'l probably be a first round duck - plenty tired this morning - way too much fun ! ! !

We'll start off elims in a little more than an hour -- its getting warm already - should be a super race day ...........later .

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

You dont know how good that looks Jack sitting here in TX with temps in the 108 deg range for the last month. Thanks for the COOL

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Stock just finished first round - a little slower than yesterday .Some surprises - we got to see the first old school car in Stock - Shelby Hurley in her dads extra clean ''55 Chevy P/SA ran but went red - the good news is they received "Best Engneered" for their efforts .

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Round one of S/S completed - many redlights - hard to tell some rounds as the win light on the top end not working well . Jack Sepanek had a tough heads-up against Bo Kenneys CJ - he tried hard - tuned 'er up - got a great light - but the awesome power was too much to handle . Maybe next time with Jack Sr. at the controls ........we all miss him .

Here's a few pics from that round .......

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack,

Any idea what the ET's were on the Sepanek/Kenney match-up?

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

8.92 152 (?) beat a 9.22 142, from what I remember on 1320go.com. Bo just went red in 2nd round, ran 8.88 154.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jared,

Here are the numbers,
Jack Sepanek 1198 9.90 .024 9.227 145.67
Bo Kenney 1273 9.90 .026 8.928 155.49.

Super Stock is running third round as I type.

Jack is still in and going into the fourth rd.

We had two G/SA heads up races in the third round of stock, It looks like the will finish everything up today.

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I am new to this but it definitely seemed like there was a huge difference with the roll-outs of the lanes. Anyone else think so?

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

yea. mike i can see it right on the screen

Re: Live from Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

OK - I'm over it - after losing to Kenny Kopecky I went back into reporter mode and i did my regular deal .Kenny beat me fair and square by the way as I just lost total concentration and he did his job well . After finishing my wife took me to Tullia's for a fine birthday dinner ( mine is Monday BTW ) and after a hard day racing it was welcomed .

Talk about some great racing - would you believe a double G/SA heads-up in round three - it was Pires v Quatarone and Infantino v Richard with Pires and Richard winning but having to face each other in the next round and the winner of that match would get a bye into the next round - whew - following ? ? Now it really gets wierd - Kenny Kopecky racing Pires in the semis dialed an 11.73 on his 11.70 index and no one noticed - and almost got away with it ( he just made a mistake and wasn't trying to pull something ) but in the end he ran out by a few hun .

In the final it was all Pires - David Barton tried hard with his mighty Hemi Coronet but Billys' .009 and .01 over hard on the brakes was too much to handle - congrats to both drivers - it wasn't an easy day to drive or dial .

Wish I had as much info on SuperStock but being busy going a few rounds today just didn't leave much time for it .And as usual Kenny told me he'd help out but we all know Kenny - and you can't fire the boss .

Anyway - I did get to do the S/S final between Jeff Tripp in his Monte Carlo and James Antonette in his familiar Grand Am - James left first and went red handing the win to Jeff who followed with another red - congrats to them also .