Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Hello Members - Well first things first - there most likely will not be any drive thru the pits as I haven't a clue where Ken is or if he is even coming this weekend .I checked his usual pit spot with Anthony Bongiovanni but it seems that Anthony got bumped to another area because of the Factory Showdown cars have taken over that part of the track .Also many other Stock and S/S guys n gals have had to move to different pit spaces because Comp has a whopping 23 plus entries .

All that but the really good news is that there is no (like in none) forecast this week for rain of any kind .Nothing but sunshine and blue skies thru the weekend .

Today is parking and credentials - then shine your car etc . Talk about boring ....

Tomorrow is a much different story - three Q runs for Stock and S/S early .....Later

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Ken is not entered; his next race is Charlotte.

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Sorry folks, I wont make this race, thanks for filling in Jack. See you all at Charlotte.

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Good morning members and guests - Today is what many of us have been waiting for - a cool crisp Fall day at a track that has teeth - that plus we'll get three shots at it which doesn't happen that often .Speaking of Fall last night the temps dipped into the upper forties and it was time to bring out the blankets for sure.This AM it's getting warmer - just at 59 degrees at this moment and because of some fog that rolled in you can't see the nearby mountains but the Sun is trying to peak thru .

With Stock rolling out early maybe one of our S/S brothers can catch a pic or three of the expected action .Still racers rolling in this morning .........back in a bit .

And BTW - this place is really looking sharp - once again the Koretsky family dug into their wallets - a whole bunch of new paving - manicured grass and even trimmed trees - I'm sure there is more ! ! !

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

No rain at the "Keystones" is a rare bonus. Those conditions at the Grove will cause many to lift at the 1,000' cones during Q1.
Have fun and thanks Jack.

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Stock and S/S got their first look at the track - the track is everything you could ask for and as promised it had the teeth we wanted .In Stock Anthony B is leading the pack with a 1.08 under shot .Can't tell in S/S as there is a problem with the time tickets - or lack of as both in STK and S/S none were issued .

Q2 coming up soon .......

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

1:17 Q2 of stock just finished , about 15 to 20 degrees warmer then Q1

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Good morning - Yesterday everyone got their 3 trips down the track in prep for today's first rounds and can you believe it no one is complaining .The track was super and we got it done at a decent hour .

This morning is still overcast and quite a bit chilly for our 9 o'clock start with Stock going out first .At this minute it's 59 degrees - not exactly as we'd like but hopefully in the next hour and a half it will come up some .

Congrats to Bobby Fazio on his first # 1 qualifier .

Later ........

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Not as foggy this morning as it was yesterday morning, and currently 60 degrees at 7:30. The Barometer is the same this morning as yesterday. Rd1 is at 9, then we are done for the day according to the schedule. Lots of racers trying to play the ladder in the last session yesterday. The baro dropped a little more than usual during the day yesterday. The traction has been good, only saw a few spin in the last session. The sun has been bright on the track all the time, and there may have been a few that were trying to rotate the earth in the last session.

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Good morning gang - Yesterday turned out to be everything that was promised - temps in the mid-eighties although when Stock went out for first round it was still pretty chilly at high sixties .Traction was great but as the day wore on and the Sun baked the track got to 120 plus degrees things changed .By mid afternoon the FS cars had very little luck in getting traction followed by the Pros who had even less traction .The second session was much better for them.

Again this morning Stock will be out first at 9am - they will have a whopping 4 rounds today - get out the chargers and gas cans boys.

Later..........

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Hi Jack, and I am glad to have met you there 2wks ago. David Muller and I brought "Captain Zoom II", & "Shark Bait" out there to experience east-coast racing, and I'm glad sunny and clear blue skies followed us for much of our three race, two weeks and one BIG TRIP, from metro Phoenix to Reading (however leaving our 110? + temperatures behind)! It was great being there and racing with many of you D1 folks!

Since earlier this year here in Phoenix "Shark Bait" ran a 14.93, I put on my rear window "Maple Grove Let's See If You Can Beat a 14.93"? Although my qualifying runs were great, the only run better than that came in rnd1, when I ran an unofficial 14.918 (actually a 14.925....thanks Bobby Fazio). Shark Bait ran so great there (14.998, 14.999, and an afternoon 15.038), that I am already starting plans to come back there next year! Like Phoenix and Pomona, Maple Grove is a north facing south track, and my best et's have been at those tracks. Some may think I'm crazy for going all the way there for a fast/consistent track, but the man who back in April of 1972 inspired my interest in our sport, said this:

"A DRAG RACER IS SOMEBODY WHO SPENDS MONEY HE DOESN'T HAVE, ON THINGS HE DOESN'T NEED, TO IMPRESS PEOPLE HE DOESN'T KNOW. "
WILLIAM TYLER JENKINS

Enough said!!!

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Gary it was cool seeing you out on the East Coast! Maybe next year you can drop down and hang out at Zmax with us and run a couple D2 races would love to have you.

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Standing behind the starting line watching you make a pass, and the guy standing beside me said "You know that guy has to be having a lot of fun", and I agreed with him.

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

I would like to race at Zmax someday, and it's a bucket list track for sure. We'll see....thanks for the thought though!

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Yes I am having a lot of fun, and with Thanksgiving nearly here, I surely have a lot to be thankful for. I'm living my childhood dream! Meeting and racing with great people like you (and having some success once in a while), makes it even more enjoyable!

Thank you GOD!!!

Re: Live from Maple Grove NHRA Pep Boys Nationals
 

Yeah Jack, the traction was about .065 too good for "Shark Bait", but at least I got one run quicker than my home track in Phoenix (I'd have been happier if our first qualifier would've had that air too)! I surely could've used my buds (Jammin Jerry, and Jody Lang's) finish line driving skills then, since I forgot to use my brake pedal sooner in rnd 1! :(