Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Hi gang - it's just like they say - "better late than never" and don't tell the boss or he'll dock me for sure - he's not a fan of being late .Anyway its nice to be back here at Maple Grove - my home track for many decades .

Being that I got here late I've been banished to the outside of the track where I'm number three in line to get in tomorrow morning.

Local weather tonight - better cover up as its going to be plenty chilly with temps in the forties .Brrrrrrrrrrr........

Came accross a few Maple Grove things the other day in my tool box ............Later ! ! !

PS- Test n Tune tomorrow - me 'n the boss will bring it to you .

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good morning kids - As I sit here and type I'm wondering if its really the end of May or the beginning of November as its downright cold here and the forecast is calling for rain later this AM .

None of this has affected the racers as the place is filling up fast as there are now four full lines of RV's etc. waiting to get into what looks like pretty full pits .

Back a little later after we get parked .

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

9:00 Update- Slight drizzle every now and then - nothing going on .Overcast skies with temps in the mid-fifties .Great day for catching up on long overdue serviceing of the tow rig / RV and the race car .And then stand around BSing and profiling all afternoon .

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Still a little drizzle here and there - nothing has gone down the track as of now -and tech is open .

So one of the things I forgot to do yesterday was get propane in the bus and it was pretty chilly last night without it - so I unhooked and headed out .One mile West of the track on Bowmansville Rd. I found Sun Valley Campground and couldn't be happier with their service as i was out of their in minutes and would you believe a super propane price at a campground? How about two bucks a gallon ....

They just called cars to the lanes but .......we'll see .

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Just ordered propane for the house two days ago... $.85 a gallon... The price was $1.05 a gallon just a couple of weeks ago... Prices are dropping...

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I was able to get a propane truck to come out to the track a couple years ago. Good to know there is a place close by though!
Good Luck this weekend!

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

By now most of us have gotten it - there will be no test and tune today .And to make matters worse the Sun is trying very hard to peek out .And it hasn't droppen any moisture on us in more than one hour .

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Been pouring at home since about 1pm and of course it hasn't rained in over 3 weeks here and I'm suppose to graduate college tonight outside.....rain seems to follow me to the racetrack and to graduation...lol. See everyone tomorrow at the Grove.

Rob K.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

congratulation on your graduation. hopefully rain will hold off long enough .:)

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Not many cars out today, but I did find a few. The first photo is Steve Ficacci's 68 AA/S Camaro. Steve has not raced the car for about 4 or 5 years. It had a complete make over and the paint work came out great. The photo does not show the detail of the paint work. I hope to get an in car cam tomorrow of Steve rowing through the gears.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

That Chevelle belonged to John Melvin in D7 about 20 years ago. Then maybe the Emmons clan? Who has it today?

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Steve's is the baddest Camaro stocker I've ever seen race and looks great!
Dwight must also be proud.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Division 1 racer Don Moulton, owne's and race's it.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Great to see Steve's camaro back . That was one badass car.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

It was owned by Rob Robinson before Melvin bought it. Rob won the Winternationals with the Heavy Hitter in .either '89 or '90. Rob was from Portland Oregon. It looks exactly like it did in 1990. Rob owned a restaurant called the Stark Street Pizza Co. which was prominently lettered on the rear quarter panels.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good morning members and guests - What a change today is - blue skies , sunshine and temps past sixty .Barometer is a bit low for here (29.29 ) 44 % humidity and .31 vapor pressure brings us to around 1800 ' .

We'll be going out in a little over an hour so stay tuned ............A bit of a breeze this AM but its a tailwind so .

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good morning all, I see Jack is on the job. I caught a few folks out early getting ready for this mornings qualifying. Like Jack said, the weather is nice. Although his weather station maybe off, but then again it could be the operator, in either case these are my weather numbers for this morning.

Temp 60
Bar 29.43
Humid 48%
DA 1095
Wind cross tail 5-8mph

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Is the live timing for the divisionals going to be "up" for this race? I went onto the site and is said delayed...

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

It's lunch time here for us poor workin folks,any updates on qualifying

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I don't have any info on the live timing, but I will go to the tower and see if they know anything.

Here are the STK and SS qualifying. Stock got their second shot while Super Stock is still waiting on their second shot. Sorry folks, I did not got number 41 in Stock, I will update later if DRC does not.

The number one qualifier in Stock is not correct, Anthony is in a Cobra Jet FS car not his G/SA Camaro.

http://classracer.com/maplestock.jpg






http://classracer.com/mapless.jpg

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Thanks for the updates Ken!
But, David Barton driving a Chevy?!? That's almost as wrong as Kevin Helms working on torque converters a few years ago at Indy!

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

The live timing has been working ok for me

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Stock and Super Stock are done for the day. A few more classes and it will be a rap for the day. The first two photos are Thomas Baker's 70 SS/JA cuda', a very cool car.

I have two in car cams from Super Stock, I did not get a chance to do a Stocker, I hope to get one tomorrow. Jack has been busy with a trans swap so his reports might not be up for a while.
8
I have lot of photos and will post when I finished editing later tonight.


Update on what's left to run tonight. They still have the TAFC, TAD, Comp, Top 8 race and clean ups.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I forgot to mention that Jeff Hull is in teardown after his 1.308 under run in his FS/C 09 Challenger, Jeff runs the 426 combo. I will report back when he is done.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I didn't think you could have a 2009 426 Challenger car since they only became avail last year? But I guess its in the guide. I like the 450 HP rating...for this weekend anyway...and the lonely 6.1 is at 440. Now that I am looking you can't have a 2011 426 since its not in the guide...This stuff is still confusing...even when you are in the thick of it!

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

JC, I just took the info from the qualifying sheet and assumed it was correct. He passed teardown with no issues.

The first video is Jeff Lawrence in his GT/AA Mustang. The second video is Billy Pires driving Eddie Bloom's SS/CM Firebird.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I was able to grab a stocker from the clean ups. This is Todd Hoven in his 68 E/SA Firebird. The sun just went down and I thought it would be nice to give a view of the driver in his office.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Here are some random shots of the day....

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

more action....

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Last batch.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Its nice to see Thomas left his car (im assuming), and is there racing it.
Tell him dad and i said hello, and sorry i missed you at VMP Kenny, i was trying to dry out in Daves truck.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good morning everyone - Well i'm back to reporting a bit but still have a bunch of work before our last quaifier later this AM - somewhere around 9ish i'm told .Yesterday came and went quickly for me and thanks to a bunch of my friends we spent part of the day under a lift changing transmissions and I swear a stick is starting to sound good ! ! But it ain't gonna happen on my watch .And thanks to Ken for filling in for me as the Flash Camaro now shifts again but still has a few gremlins to sort out this morning.

Enough about me - this place is bright and sunny at this moment with the temps in the mid fifties at this hour.Yeah , I know Ken seems to think my weather is flawed but .....And i'm showing the barometer a much improved 29.79 with the VP at .16 with the humidity at 39 percent .And its showing a DA of a couple hundred feet above.

Its time to finish my breakfast and get into the trailer ......And I think i'll head next door so I can mooch a cup of coffee from the Diamond RV folks as they always have some great Joe .......later kids

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good morning all, yes Jack was busy yesterday but his weather number are still off. My numbers for this morning.

Temp 55
Humd 39%
BAR 29.88
DA 90ft
wind cross 4mph

John DiBartolomeo from Drag Racing Scene http://www.dragracingscene.com/ action photos..

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Ah, the breakfast of champions! 👍

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

That little black coupe is nice!

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Now there is a good reason to buy a stacker. You could even write it off as a mobile repair unit for the biz. Good luck getting her race ready today Jack.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Final qualifying for Stock and ladder. I will put up Super Stock when its ready. On a side note Jeff Hull also set the record with his 1.308 under pass, teardown went well.


http://classracer.com/maplestk3.jpg

http://classracer.com/mapleladder.jpg

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Super Stock final qualifying and ladder. Stock has been called to the lanes for first round.


http://classracer.com/mapless.jpg


http://classracer.com/maplelad.jpg

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Silly question...
Is it a miss print that Mr Matyas is running FS/D with a 2015 427? Thought all the 14 & 15 427 COPO cars are natral B cars now, making C the heavy class?
Sorry for the confusion on my part, still a newbe.