"Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Hey guys, I just pulled in... I have not been to this track for over 10 years, man how things have changed. Anyway, as most of you know the schedule has changed. Sportsman will get 2 rounds of eliminations instead of 1. Stock will be out first at 8:30am and then its the typical rotation until eliminations... things will be moving fast tomorrow.

I will do my best to get photos, I do have media credentials, but I may not have time as the sportsman are on a tight schedule. If I get a good run in our first qualifier, I'll skip the second, that should give me plenty of time to get some starting line shots.

The weather tomorrow looks good, but Saturday looks a lot cooler and rain in the morning.

I did find a few cars out...

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Whos wagon ?

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

I believe that is Kyle Anderson I/SA 350 Malibu wagon

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

8:25 am
temperature = 61.91 deg f
relative humidity = 97 %
uncorrected barometer* = 28.43 inHg
corrected barometer* = 30.00 inHg
wind speed = 2.15 mph
wind direction* = SE (162°)
more info: current metric | historical | forecast | help
dew point = 61 deg f
saturation pressure = 0.558 inHg
vapor pressure = 0.542 inHg
grains = 84.5
air density (w/o water vapor) = 95%
air density (w water vapor) = 93%
density altitude = 2513.07 ft

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Is there no live timing from Bristol this morning?

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

No live timing, what a gyp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Good morning all, no live timing... not sure what the issue is. There is no one here that I can talk. I went to get my media vest and there is still no one around. We just made our first shot down the track, and it was pretty foggy but the track seemed ok. Its slow here as always, bar is 28.45.

I have to make another run so photos will be a little light this race. I will do my best to get some shots. If anything I will get shots from the pits or the stands.

Be back later...

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

It just came up.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Hey guys I'm back, we are moving quick, Super Stock is in the lanes for their 2nd qualifier. First round for Stock should be up in the next hour or so. I did manage to get some phots of Super Stock. Here is one set, I will have more later. If I go out early I will get photos for Stock.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

A problem with schedules like this is if you break something you are out of luck! there really is no time between runs or eliminations to get anything done. it’s so sad, even if you did break something you’re not going to go into the manufacturer’s midway and get the parts you need. Boy, how things have changed!!!

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

And that is what my other post is really about. Thanks.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

What’s up with the round 1 stock re-runs? LB3A?

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Left Before 3 Ambers. It was a tree malfunction and they re-ran those pairs effected.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Happened to my brother in St. Louis E1 stock and they didn’t give him a re-run!
Glad they are making it right!

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Did they rerun Autumn Greene and Steven Dziorny as well? I heard they were re-running the other 2, but never heard whether they were rerunning that pair or not. It looked to me like Autumn had the same issue happen as the others, but hers happened at 2nd amber instead of 1st amber.

I had this exact issue happen to me in Bristol in 2006 at the Jr Dragster ECF and they told me I was out of luck. It was even left lane...which appears to be the lane with issues today.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

I do see where they reran Autumn and Steven. Good job to NHRA for making this right. Looks like 2 of the 3 pairs ended up with the same winner...but at least both parties got a fair chance the 2nd time around.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Would imagine Todd will provide some insight if Autumn was treated unfairly. I pitted next to them at Gainesville last year, they are good people so sure hope it was handled appropriately.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Hey guys, I got some Stock photos. I will have more later, both Stock and Super Stock. We are done for the day... all the sportsman got there 2 elimination rounds in, tomorrows weather will dictate the program. One thing for sure it will be a lot cooler tomorrow, dialing your car will be a tough one.

Be back later folks...

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

More photos from Stock...

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

A few more, Super Stock will be up in a few minutes.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Super Stock from this mornings qualifying.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

A few more...

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Great pics Ken !

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Thank you...

Good morning everyone, its been raining all morning, and according to the weather channel it should be out of here by noon. Just my opinion, but if they do get racing in today it will be very late afternoon. We are not supposed to get much sun today, drying the track will be a challenge for sure.

Be back later...

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Thanks Ken for the reports and the pics!

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Hope they get some racing in today

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Thank you Ken for all the photos and reporting. I especially love the overhead action shots.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

I was watching qualifying and they were having a lot of trouble with the clocks. Did they get it all fixed? Several cars didn't get a time recorded.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Thanks folks, I think they have it all worked out with the timing system, but who knows.

The rain has stopped, but no sun out and the temps are dropping. We are supposed to have lows in the lower 40's tonight and only a high of 60 today.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Does NHRA or the track have a jet dryer there?

Seems like this would be ideal conditions to use one.

I don't seem to see them much anymore, perhaps because of fuel costs.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

NHRA national events all have track drying equipment.

The rain has stopped, Top fuel will be out around 2:30. Sportsman to follow the pros.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Of course they do and they are using a jet dryer along with their other equipment to dry the track.

Thanks for the update.
Bill

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

The sportsman are done for the day, a few shots from the of Stockers pairing up.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

What happened to E4 for the sportsmen? It was scheduled for right after pro mod.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Round 4 will be tomorrow before the pros, then back to the regular schedule for Sunday.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Good morning all, Stock will be out first... 10:15 I'm told. Its a chilly morning with temps in the upper 50's. Should make for some interesting racing for this morning 4th round.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Live timing shows they are still having timing problems. Lex Loo 666 mph, Brittany Force 3.53 ET.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Alan Reinhart said that he was told there was paper on the track this time.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

We did in fact get a re-run. Steven was red and it looked like when his red turned on our pre stage and stage bulbs went out kicking on our red. Started would not even look at me when I was talking to him, there was another guy standing next to him and he would let me start taking then point to another guy standing off to the side, he didn't care either. I went to the other guy and he immediately said "car backed out of the beams" I said no it did not, never moved. After a back and fourth about 30 seconds long... I gave up. Headed back to the water box I ran into Jimmy Hidalgo waving his finger at me saying "No, go back it never moved". So back I went to further my case, still with the "the car backed out" story, he finally said "you got video?" and I said absolutely so we went back and looked at the video and no it didn't move so he said "OK, talk to Cody". Cody looked at the video and then had a discussion with whoever was in the tower with him and said we would re-run. Now, let me be perfectly clear, we did get a re-run, but not one of these people were pleasant and the whole experience was belittling and ridiculous. 1) starting line guy was just lying to get me to leave. 2) tree had just malfunctioned probably 6 pair before us. 3) Ticket said LB3A when clearly the red came on AFTER the tree was on 2nd yellow. We won the round anyhow, our guy was .018 red and he was already gone when the tree lit red. Nothing against Steven he's a good guy and a friend.

Re: "Live From" Bristol - Thunder Valley Nationals
 

Shame you had to go to those lengths in the interest of fairness. Treating sportsman racers as a nuisance and looking for excuses to get us gone rather than seeking fair races for all is what makes racing with them unpleasant at times. Cody has always been straight up with me but some of the starter attitudes are ridiculous sometimes.