"Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Hello everyone, I'm here on Thursday for test and tune from the Div 1 opener at Virginia Motorsports Park in Petersburg, VA.

Here are a few shots at the gate coming in this morning. I also caught some Stock and Super Stockers in the lanes for the test and tune. Its very warm today, temp is 85 and the DA is around 3000ft.

I have in car cam and pit cam today from Thomas Sundstrom, he races stock over in Sweden. He runs a B/S 68 Mustang, and will be running about 5 races over here this year. Talk about being a diehard class racer.

I will have them uploaded later today. The pit cam will be something new, I will pick a car at every race I go to. I will need to practice a bit, its hard to keep the cam steady, so bare with me.

Be back later.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Great Ken glad it's 85 and it looks great, wish I was there. Thanks for the pictures, this will help with our ice storm coming our way. Claude

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

The first video is a short pit cam of Thomas's 68 Mustang B/S. The second video is Thomas going through the gears on one of his test runs.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Great pictures and movies, Ken! Leaving the house at 0300 and should be there when the gates open. Looking forward to this weekend!:D

Lew

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

I thought 68 Mustangs had rear side marker lights. Cool video.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Larry you are correct, but I think the car being from Sweden and all, we can over look it. Besides it was not mandatory to have side maker lights in Sweden in 1968.

Tomorrow we start at 8:30 with qualifying, this is a two day race if the weather holds out. They call for scatter showers in the morning and a stray shower in the afternoon, so we could have a late start.

This weekend will be important for the Jegs Allstar race. In stock, we have 4 guys fight for the lead. Dave has the lead, the but all four contenders are here this weekend.

David Ficacci
Donnie Carrol
Joe Lisa
Donald Pires

In Super Stock, there are three contenders and all are here fighting for the lead with Kent in the lead.

Kent Hanley
Joseph Santangelo II
Joe Lisa

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Look forward to all the reports,pictures and videos Ken!

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Good morning all, its raining at the moment and we will surely be having a late start today. The rain is supposed to clear out by noon, with just chance of rain later today. The rest of the weekend looks to be very nice.

More later....

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Good morning Ken. Thanks for your reports so far. Is our other intrepid "live"
reporter on the grounds with his new COPO? I'm sure all of us at home will be interested in his progress this weekend. The best of luck and good times to you all .
Thanks again for your reports.
God Bless.
Walt

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

'68 was first year of side marker lights in U.S. I believe. May not have been required on "export" models?

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Walt, Jack will not be here. The track is dry and they just called stock to the lanes.

I will be back later with more photos and hopefully an in car cam from Super Stock.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Stock has just finished up for the first qualifying run. Super Stock is in the lanes as I type.

As you can see from the photos in the tech line, the weather looked bad, but the sun is out now and the rain looks to be over. For you weather nuts here are the numbers for stocks first run.

Temp 84
Bar 29.41
Hum 50
DA 3029FT

be back later....

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Here are some photo's.... We are suppose to get another run today. They still have to run comp and top sportsman and top dragster and I think another qualifying shot for alcohol. They are also running drag bikes, so lots of classes to go.

I am editing a cool in car cam, it should be up soon.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Here is Brian Oakes in his bad *** 69 SS/CA Camaro. Brian and I don't always see eye to eye. He is always making fun I my Fords. But he does have a cool car, but I would never tell him that. I snuck the in car cam in and then snuck it out, he had no clue what was going on.

Brain, if you have a problem with me sneaking a video, come and see me. I will straight your *** out on what I can and can't do, I think I will have to build a CA car just to kick your butt........

Before everyone thinks there is an issue with me and Brian......I'm just busting his balls. Brian is one the nicest racers you will ever meet. He is a super guy that will drop what he is doing to help a racer out.

This is a great video, thanks so much Brian!

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Hey Ken, could you possibly throw up a pic of Bob Lettelier's new SS Camaro?

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Ken I just saw Brian he is looking for you. Don't worry I told him where you are parked so put the pb and j sandwich down and go hide under your bed.
Paul

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Someone go over and fix Brians steering wheel. It's causing my O.C.D. to flare up!:D

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Rob, I will get a picture tomorrow for you.

Paul, he better bring lots of friends, and you can tell him I told you so.

Here are a few more photos. We never got the second run so it's one run tomorrow and then into eliminations. The weather is supposed to be better tomorrow with no chance of rain.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Hey Kenny, ill call you in the morning to find out where you guys are parked. Im picking Mason up at 830 Then we will be there. The group of 10 is now 2 so it should be more fun. Hey you got your golf cart there? Maybe you can pick him and i up at the gate? Call ya in the am............

Lil Duane

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Ken
He said you better watch your self in the staging lanes. He loves picking on Ford guys. Also it was much better when jack does the live reporting please Jack come back

Paul

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Man, that's a low blow Paul, even for you. I'm still hiding under my bed with my pb and j, no sign of Mr Oakes.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Ken very good work, reporting and videos. Maybe you should get a "Duck" call.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Side marker lights on cars, not trucks, is and always has been prohibited in Sweden. So according to that, Thomas Mustang is stock

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Good morning everyone, what a difference a day makes. The temp is 55 at the moment, and will hit the low 70's by this afternoon.

The weather numbers for this morning are...
Temp 55
Bar 29.71
Humd 62%
DA 602

It will be about a 10th quicker then yesterday.

The schedule is for one shot in the morning for everyone and then right into eliminations to be completed today.

Be back later...

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Yo Ken - If you can, can you post of pic of Penny Bender and her new car? Thanks.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

For your viewing pleasure, here are the generated Stock and Super Stock ladders after Q1:

Stock

Super Stock

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

You gonna make Atco Faz?

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Duane, don't forget about me, please.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Won't know til I am pulling into the burnout box.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

DRC has the qualifying up and as you can see it was fast this morning. Stock should be out for first round soon. The day seems to be going smoothly and they are shooting to get it all done today.

I was in the staging lanes for Super Stock as you can see from some of the photos. Don and Rob here are the photos you ask for.

I also did another in car cam, I am editing now and it show be up soon. I try to get as many different cars as I can, but its hard when your driving, so a grab anyone I can. Dan Fletcher was kind enough to let me get the in car cam in his Peak 69 Camaro.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Here is the in car cam, thanks again Dan.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Hi gang - sorry I can't be with you at VMP or even doing some "Live " reporting but between some unforseen things happening at work and a nagging health issue it just wasn't in the cards this weekend .........but soon .

Did you notice - 1) Our own S/S standout - Lincoln Morehead is on the pole in Comp
2)Billy Leber decided to show up at a LODRS in both his STK &S/S
3) Bob Letellier brought out his new COPO in SS/CA
4)Bo Kenney on the S/S pole with his '12 Ponycar SS/AAA @-1.075
5)Penny Bender- who is driving at her first LODRS- got a tough draw first round facing the #5 guy in world last year - Joe Lisa

More later .... maybe ! ! !

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

I just got the word from Team Chapman boss that Penny Bender goes to the second round by getting around Joe Lisa!

Way to go Penny!!!!!!!!!

Ken Kopecky

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

I was very happy to see Penny win her first round in NHRA, I couldn't be happier for Bob and Penny. Sorry everyone but I have to hit the road. This is my last report from VMP, some family issues came up and I need to get home.

The only thing I can say about first round for stk was that many missed there dial. Weather should have been about 3 slower but it was more like 6. So lots of cars were not ruining there dial in.

I will be at the 4 wide next week, look for some more in car cams along a pit cam.... see everyone next week.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Heads-up city in Stock next round --- C/SA Gary Richard v Bubba Linke
G/SA Billy Pires v Mike Quartarone
B/SA Larry Pappas v Dave Ficacci
B/SA Joel Warren v Raymond Skipper

Go Penny ...........

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Ken, thanks for the pics, vids and reports.
Do what you have to do and stay well and safe.
MB

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Kenny, thank you I'm having alot of fun:)

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Ken Thank you!!! I'm just having fun, my first race for D1 and just having fun........:)

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Good for you Miss Bender!!!!!!!!!!! keep it going Lady. Ken, you most likely won't read this til you're home, but my thoughts and prayers will be with you.
You too, Miss Bender.
God Bless.
Walt

Re: "Live From" Virginia Motorsports Park DIV 1-1
 

Jack I'm just having fun that's all........