First time Indy experience -Thank you!

Jim beuthel · 09-03-2023, 02:28 PM

This year we decided (after 40-50 years of talking about it) to race at Indy. It was an experience we will never forget:
After almost taking out the Christmas tree in the final round of class, while trying to repair the car, we were told we had been protested (anonymously) and had to report to the tear-down barn. After waiting for an hour (or more) we were told we needed to pull the crankshaft, as that is what the protest was regarding.
NHRA proceeded to check the weight of the crankshaft, the valves and piston and rod assembly, check the camshaft, cylinder head ports and combustion chambers, the intake manifold and throttle body. After midnight, we were told everything was legal and we could put the engine together and back in the car (which we finished at 3 am, with the 1st round being at 8 am).
This post is not to B*tch about NHRA and the process and timing of this (we think there should be more tear-downs), but to thank those that helped us get the car checked and back together allowing us to run the first round (and win!). We could not have completed this without the help of: Jim Parsons, Larry Eagle and Logan McConnell. I would like to especially thank my son, JC and my brother Chuck. Thanks to Jake from NHRA for sticking around and I guess I should thank the anonymous donor of $750 who let us prove the car is legal and semi-fast.
If you want to hear my rant about NHRA and the timing of this process, you can call Chuck or me, or PM me.
Thanks for reading.
Jim & Chuck Beuthel
5209 F/SA

09-03-2023, 02:28 PM	#1
Jim beuthel Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 20 Likes: 3 Liked 114 Times in 6 Posts	First time Indy experience -Thank you! This year we decided (after 40-50 years of talking about it) to race at Indy. It was an experience we will never forget: After almost taking out the Christmas tree in the final round of class, while trying to repair the car, we were told we had been protested (anonymously) and had to report to the tear-down barn. After waiting for an hour (or more) we were told we needed to pull the crankshaft, as that is what the protest was regarding. NHRA proceeded to check the weight of the crankshaft, the valves and piston and rod assembly, check the camshaft, cylinder head ports and combustion chambers, the intake manifold and throttle body. After midnight, we were told everything was legal and we could put the engine together and back in the car (which we finished at 3 am, with the 1st round being at 8 am). This post is not to B*tch about NHRA and the process and timing of this (we think there should be more tear-downs), but to thank those that helped us get the car checked and back together allowing us to run the first round (and win!). We could not have completed this without the help of: Jim Parsons, Larry Eagle and Logan McConnell. I would like to especially thank my son, JC and my brother Chuck. Thanks to Jake from NHRA for sticking around and I guess I should thank the anonymous donor of $750 who let us prove the car is legal and semi-fast. If you want to hear my rant about NHRA and the timing of this process, you can call Chuck or me, or PM me. Thanks for reading. Jim & Chuck Beuthel 5209 F/SA