"Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Most of you know me by now and you know I'm not even close to being there yet but I have family going with me this weekend and I better get a head start on this thread.
I will be quite busy this weekend so if anyone else would like to chime in feel free to help out. The one note of news to report as of now is the weather, at the moment Saturday does not look the best with 60% rain chance but we all know that is subject to change.
I will be back later with some dialog on what to look for this weekend as it's that time of the season to start thinking about points.
Here's the link for the run schedule for anyone interested. http://www.nhraracer.com/apcm/APCMvi...?a=68418&z=175

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Stop by and say Hi to my dad...Fred Thibeault...he will be with Mr. Oakes. Maybe you can give him some hints on your car 😉

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

In the States he is A.K.A. "Fast Freddy"

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

I will most definitely check out "Fast Freddy" I have to go by to see Brian anyway so that is a coincidence. I've been called many things but fast is not one of them, maybe he can give me a few hints!

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Good morning everyone, it promises to be a warm, humid day in Charlotte today for parking and tech. As I type this they should have started parking by now, as I said I will be up later today. Don't you folks worry about my late arrival, Yo Ken and Classracer have connections I'm sure I'll get a very nice place far away from all the noise.
The weather forecast has already changed from yesterday from around 60% to 25-30% for all 3 days. Just enough of a chance so they can say I told you so if it does happen to rain, that is good news.
So yesterday I promised some insight on what to be looking for this weekend as for National points are concerned if you're following along. In Super Stock, The Brothers Worner( not to be confused with country music's Brothers Osborne) will both be here looking to improve their positions firmly in the top 10. Both have reasonable chances to improve points and move up positions.
In Stock it will be another pair of siblings, Team Porta Tree will be in full effect. Allison has a 1st round loss to improve on and can move up several positions with a good finish that would firmly cement her spot in the top 10 for the second year in a row. Stephen is having a good year also and could possibly move his way into the top 10 with a good outing. Division 2 standouts Jeff Hairrington, Adam Davis and national points leader Jeff Strickland will be here to block their northern rivals and maintain their respective positions.
Speaking of Allison Smyth got me to wondering. Taking a page from Bob Frey's "Did You Know" columns, I'm starting my own. Since my memory can be a little vague, it's Cooter's own version and I'll call it "Do You Know?".
So back to Allison and this volume of "Do You Know?" When was the last time a female driver finished in the Top 10 in National points in Stock or Super Stock in consecutive years? Has it even ever happened before? Hopefully someone will have the answers to these questions later!
I'll check back later today once I get there with more on the edge of your seat reports!

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Amy Faulk may know.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Jackie Ally #1 2011 #4 2012

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

That would be my guess but she changed classes so much I don't know if she would have done in consecutive years, possibly stock? She was the about first in everything else as far as woman in sportsman classes though.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

We have a winner in Super Stock! Now I wonder if it was ever done in Stock?

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Was there any runs today?

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

None on Thursday. Click on Cooter's link earlier in this thread for run schedule. Link at bottom of first post on this thread. Only tech today.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

We'll I'm here that's about all I can say. Had a little trouble getting away from work, then traveling with my lovely wife is about like riding with a tourist agent. Her parents are also with us in their motorhome and had a reservation at trackside camping but security couldn't find their information. After an hour they managed to contact someone from the camping office who said "put them in C5." There is about enough room to park my golf cart in C5 so they are dry camping next to me at the moment, you can't make this stuff up!
So by the time I get up in the morning, find my entry packet, get teched in( opens at 8 am) and make it to the staging lanes for Q1(starts at 8 am) anyone want to take odds on whether I make it or not?
It's still good to be me though and be fortunate enough to do this and especially with my family!

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Cooter, good to see you got a Q run this morning. DRC already has the Q1 posted...

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...18318#indextop

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Yes thank you! And thank you to Ms Gloria Ley who expedited the Stock racers standing in the registration line! Her quick thinking made it possible for about 5 of us to make that first run and I got a few pictures to post a little later to boot, Ken will be proud.
Running Super Stock class right now....

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

A few random shots from this morning.

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psyhl4i6iu.jpg
Allison Smyth

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psgntkj12p.jpg
One of the Emmons crew

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...pslmvpxjoy.jpg
Me and my girls Bentley and Piper, and father-in-law Phillip watching Super Stock.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psq7jextfe.jpg

Dan Blabolil C/SA

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psvqcqid5m.jpg

Brad Ford D/SA

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Cooter, any pics of me spinning the tires hard ? Never had that happen before. This place is crazy. On the othere hand it is very nice. We are at A2.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

I was standing in the registration line when you went down, I saw the top of your car go by! We went over this morning but y'all were gone, I'll be looking for you later.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psphonyzbp.jpg
Bob Bender ready for action this morning!

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

GEEZ, It must have been icy this morning !

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

We had a light frost last night!

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psniipbok7.jpg

Photo of the weekend, my little girl Piper loves Bobby Bender. Who knew?????

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

If you're at home watching on All access we are scheduled back out at 7:00. Super Stock is done for the day.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

never mind
Mike is on it!!

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Stock Q2 is done, most lost 4-5 hundredths. Round 1 is out at 8 am tomorrow, sheets should be on DRC soon.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

This is a trial to see if I have figured out my Mac that my children gave me for a 70th birthday present. If this one works I will down load some more pictures from today early races, before 6:00. Sorry old man couldn't bear the heat any more and had to drive back to Columbia tonight.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Round 1 has been called to the lanes, the weather is almost like yesterday's run without the headwind we had.

69 deg
90% humidity
.65 vp
97.78 gow
2063 da

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

We completed first round and I was on the fortunate side of a very good run with Michael Brand, it's was a very entertaining race if I do say so myself! There was a malfunction with the timing system on Jeff Warren and Leach's run so there will be a rerun so it may take awhile to get results on DRC.
I got some more pictures I'll get up later but I got some games to play with the girls right now......

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psbbclv4cn.jpg
Joel Warren B/SA

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...pswvperhde.jpg
Jeff Strickland

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psgsc4d8mg.jpg
Jeff Hairrington

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7s6xhx1y.jpg
Mike Miller R/SA

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psxcnoifrw.jpg
Charles Myers O/SA

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5o71lvrk.jpg
Katie Sepanek I/SA

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psljm7fppb.jpg
Michael Brand G/SA

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psdwritit9.jpg
CJ McDonald H/SA

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psubhm2kqr.jpg
Jeff Longhany AA/SA

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Here are some more shots from yesterday. Some of these are duplicates from last night, but they are all the right size to post on here, Sorry.
Anyway, just a casual observation based on the way NHRA schedules the run schedule. Would have been nice to have moved the Sportsman after the first "pro" session and let them run in the cooler part and been more fun for the spectator that likes that stuff at night also, flames, etc. Plus let y'all finish early that 8:00 at night and then start at 8 the next morning.
Just my thoughts
probably have about 3 posts to get these all in.

Thanks and if anyone is interested in pictures, please let me know and Ill look to see what I have.

Hope to be in Rockingham for the last Division 2 points meet.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Second Set

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Last set. Sorry, but had to include the Henry J Super Gas car at the end. I'm an old school car guy too.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

They are running Alcohol right now then it will be TD, Comp and then Stock probably will be about an hour from now.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

Cooter call me 443-309-0365

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

We are still running and fortunately I'm still in! They were running Super Stock and I think it was Bryan Worner grenaded his motor actually catching on fire for a brief moment. They haven't made any announcements otherwise so I guess they plan to get us down to semis before we stop.

Re: "Live" from Charlotte- NHRA Carolina Nationals
 

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psmhsrlwhi.jpg
Ricky Pennington

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8zpxrkse.jpg

Terry Nagel