"Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

We are back!! After a 2 1/2 year hiatus and a very successful kidney transplant, dad is back wheeling the Monte again...and chomping at the bit to head down the track in competition once again.

Division 5 kicks of the season this weekend at Heartland Park with the first of four scheduled National Opens. The weather looks to be about as perfect as it can be (by midwest standards), with mid-70s Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so we are looking forward to a great weekend of racing.

Gates open at 3pm Friday and the Test-n-Tune runs from 4-9pm. We did a little testing last Friday at Topeka, which got the ole adrenaline pumping.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again and hoping for a good turnout!!

I'll be posting pics and qualifying sheets here and whoever else has the camera bug, feel free as well!

So...who's all making their way to Heartland Park Topeka this weekend??

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...8A69DA5F35.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...D744DAB24C.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...4EAECD8EDC.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...A68EBE8B0D.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Glad to hear your back and look forward to seeing you rowing them gear again.


Jim Parsons

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Mike,
It was great to talk to you and Jim last Friday! We look forward to seeing the whole gang this weekend.

Sean and Rose

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Good luck Mike. Tell you're dad I said hello. Were not going to make it (car isn't ready waiting on Liberty trans to arrive). Ashton Hudson is making the trip with his CS Escort. Ed

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

We'll be there, can't wait to see everyone and finally get to do some racin' after a loooong winter!

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Too bad you can't make the trip up, Ed! We're running this new combo with our old clutch and Jerico. Waiting on a new clutch from Youngblood and a 5-speed Liberty!

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

It sure has been a long winter! I don't think we've ever been this pumped to get back to the races!

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

It was great seeing you guys! Are you making any runs Friday?

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Mike you can run a 5-speed in GT?

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

That's the plan Mike. We won't make it right at 4. We should have a better showing since I figured out what was wrong with the car since last Friday. The mechanic needs fired!

It looks like a few stick cars are going to show.

Sean

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Yes, whatever engine combo you're running. Has to match.

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

We are loaded up and ready to head NE! Leaving at noon tomorrow, so we should be rolling into HPT just before 3. See you all there!

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...48E144865A.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...6600EE6074.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

See ya there Paul. We'll be there about 1p today/Friday.

Clark

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Good luck, your's is one of my favorite Super Stock cars. Have fun.

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

We have arrived! A few cars here now, lots of space (aka concrete) left. 74 degrees and lots of sun!

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...97B0A56D37.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...A6D0A7CB8B.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...5B7B9B2B9C.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

A most wonderful day for time trials today! We were extremely busy working some of the bugs out of our new FI combo, so I didn't have time for photos. Still have some bugs that will take time to work out, but we have a baseline to work with for this weekend.

We did discover that's it's beneficial to carry a spare O2 sensor. Brand new one quit, so our tune will be a crap shoot. But that's okay! Tomorrow is a new day! Just so happy to be back out racing again!

NHRA didn't have their tech guys here today, so everyone will tech in the morning. Gates open at 7. First runs at 9.

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

I'll put my 2 cents in...we're enjoying a beautiful day here. 77 degrees, 53 dewpoint, 28.8 barometer. Not sure of the car count, we just finished our 2nd Q run for the S/SS combo so I'll try and post a pic of the sheet when it's up. Gordon Breithaupt left with a hurt motor, other than that I don't have any human interest stories or pics yet. More to come.

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Thanks for the updates. :) -Al

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

I was told by Rob Park and Bob Blackwood that the tower is still trying to change over to the new classes, so I'm assuming that's why there are no qualifying sheets. Getting ready for rd. 1 now.

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...521288A310.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...C4284EB35A.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...3BDE5E244C.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...B6E2E27AFD.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...57D9C206D3.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...EA817E30B6.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...D678094756.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...F4332F72CB.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...AA9518BE1B.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...2BECF7806E.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...D7AD7956A1.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...0C99C3BFCE.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...C03E7BEA65.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...88FACA6EAE.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...9A728ED6BE.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...F593A35EF1.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...DDD35BC952.jpgV

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...1E261AF4D8.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...AB859B302B.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...4C3845A560.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...F831ED14FB.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...F6DA55E0CD.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...694A695375.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...CE7C21C776.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...4CC30D7407.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

I was in the wrong side during these photos. The next ones will be better!!

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Thanks for the pictures

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Looks like they forgot to update the new GT index's. Tom

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...D2414F64BD.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...9CD8974511.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...B6FAD7B28B.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...72D3B3B20A.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...CFFE546C73.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...F2CE874D5D.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...AECAAC76B8.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...DAE4814022.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...90952D4DF7.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...86B33D1E69.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...1064AA70C2.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...7CA644E73D.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...C4BDEE79B5.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...FA8454FBD5.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...4011582C8A.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...805D1874C9.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...3BE76F7A7A.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...D543BD2C19.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...BDC6E0B46C.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...109E7CE4B7.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

You noticed that, huh? I had the tower change ours, but not many others were updated. No pairings first round.

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Saturday results:

SST Randy Davin def Garrett Chitty
SG Keith Kuehn def Rob Rowan
SC Heremy Demers def Austin Sharp
Stk/SS Tyler Wudariczyk def Tim Nicholson

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...0F3F9C835B.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...9BB2B69259.jpg

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

It was good to see everyone this weekend. The weather was great. Unfortunately in our first round today we had Jim Voth and Larry Henderson as one pair and myself and Trista Fenner as another pair, all stick cars. Larry and Trista moved on and congratulations to both. There were several issues with car classification so the qualifying sheet and ladder had an error at the last minute as we paired up.

For those that have not been to HPT since the end of last season, they are really working on getting things fixed up. Its a nice place and very racer friendly. We were also fortunate to have Mr Bob Unkefer announcing!

Thanks for all the pictures and updates Mike. See you guys at Great Bend.

Sean

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Just got home from watching at Heartland Park, impressed with facility, lots of pavement patching done & equipment to do more on site, grass mowed, restroom super clean, tech barn looks new, everything spruced up
Souvenir shop & main concession receiving faux stone facade, road course newly paved, staff in matching tops and looked like new people, very friendly
Motorcross course adv practice this coming Wednesday, so HPT seems ready to carry on despite rumors of demise

Re: "Live" from Topeka D5 National Open #1
 

Holy crap! What an awesome weekend for some spectacular drag racing! Couldn't think of a better way to kick off the Division 5 season! We were fortunate to get by Derrick Fenner first round Saturday, but suffered a different fate against Duane Dickens on Sunday. Talking to Duane in the staging lanes, he referred to D5 as the hotbed for stick shift car, and he is right! We love how many show up each race in Stock and Suoer Stock! It makes for some very exciting racing! Whether it be Tim Nicholson with his screaming 283 or Mark Jenkins's 327 singing at 9600...you just can't beat that!!

Had a great time catching up with you, Sean! We'll see you at Great Bend, where I'll bet we'll see some more stick shift battles!

Thanks to everyone who came up to dad to shake is hand and do some catching up. I think it was very apparent how blessed he feels to be able to enjoy the hobby he's enjoyed for now his 50th season of NHRA drag racing, once again.

We'll see you all at the track!