Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series

Jack Matyas · 07-01-2009, 09:01 PM

Say it ain't so -- for the third race in a row I've been greeted by rain on the way .What should have been an easy four hour ride turned into a six hour fiasco on New Yorks' Route 87 .Between the horrible downpour and the tractor that went on its side during rush hour traffic ------ what next ?

Good news is I'm here and pitted ( in a nice spot thanks to Diamond RV - the race sponsor ) and there are plenty of nice dry areas left.Tomorrow is test n tune but the weather is still iffy -- stay tuned and I'll try and let you know whats up .

And to make matters worse I took a few nice pictures to share with you folks tonight and if I had my USB cable that is sitting next to my computer in my office I'd share them with you -- yes , you guessed it -- its MY fault . Maybe I can hunt one up in the morning ...........................till then ............later .

PS -- Even with the rain its a very pretty drive thru the New York state countryside .

stage1scott · 07-01-2009, 09:46 PM

geez Jack-you cannot get out of the rain nohow this year!! hope it drys out and the race gets completed, thanks as always for your reporting, and hopefully you will find a cable to borrow, I really enjoy the pics!!

Joe Martens · 07-02-2009, 06:09 AM

Thanks Jack, looking forward to the updates!!!

John Warehime · 07-02-2009, 07:09 AM

It could be worse,...you could be the driver, or owner, of the wrecked tractor! Good luck Jack.

Superfan1 · 07-02-2009, 09:02 AM

Good luck, Jack. As always, thanks for the updates; hope you find a cable, your pictures are always top notch.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1
Bridgeport, Ct.

racerhead · 07-02-2009, 10:19 AM

Jack,

Thanks for the updates. I'm heading over there friday morning. do you still need those numbers for the GTO?

Bruce Deveau

Sal Biondo · 07-02-2009, 12:10 PM

Jack-

Are there any more parking updates?? We are hearing that they stopped parking today due to messy pits??
2:00 pm...on Thursday

Thanks
Sal

Jack Matyas · 07-02-2009, 12:32 PM

Good afternoon -- To say today's test n tune is a washout would be a terrible understatement -- words can't describe how much water came down fast .Good news is it hasn't rained for about two hours now and the water is starting to drain off . Todays activities will consist of the usual -- cards - monopoly - adult beverages and bedpans -- not to mention cleaning mud - its everywhere .

After some searching this morning I found a Wal-Mart where a card reader was purchased and now pictures can be posted again -- hope you like them .

The first picture you would think is self explanatory -- yes , I'm old enough and yes , I was there but thats not the story , that sign reminded me of two of Division 1's best racers who lived in Woodstock - Charlene and Gary Wood - anyone know whatever became of them ?

The next pic you would think I'm way off my route to Lebanon but I swear you have to get on this road - who would think .

Next is the picture we all hate -- when a starting line looks like this its never good .

I've got more to post later ..................

Sal -- They have resumed parking ( very carefully I might add ) and will continue all day into the evening........

Jack Matyas · 07-02-2009, 12:55 PM

Here's a few more pics -- the first is 'Lake Lang' - thats right , next to Bob Langs' motorhome , then we have the staging lanes but not full of race cars but tow rigs -- waiting to be pitted .Lastly we have the famous 'racer in the air' at the Valley -- must be 30 or 40 feet in the air -- pretty neat deal .

david ring · 07-02-2009, 01:25 PM

Weather.com has a 50 percent chance of rain tomorrow, a "slight" chance of a thunderstorm on Saturday with highs in the upper 60's (not as bad as the fourth of July when I went to a baseball game at night with a winter coat and gloves on)-welcome to summer in upstate NY. Sunday looks good though.

07-01-2009, 09:01 PM	#1
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,932 Likes: 410 Liked 2,052 Times in 400 Posts	Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series Say it ain't so -- for the third race in a row I've been greeted by rain on the way .What should have been an easy four hour ride turned into a six hour fiasco on New Yorks' Route 87 .Between the horrible downpour and the tractor that went on its side during rush hour traffic ------ what next ? Good news is I'm here and pitted ( in a nice spot thanks to Diamond RV - the race sponsor ) and there are plenty of nice dry areas left.Tomorrow is test n tune but the weather is still iffy -- stay tuned and I'll try and let you know whats up . And to make matters worse I took a few nice pictures to share with you folks tonight and if I had my USB cable that is sitting next to my computer in my office I'd share them with you -- yes , you guessed it -- its MY fault . Maybe I can hunt one up in the morning ...........................till then ............later . PS -- Even with the rain its a very pretty drive thru the New York state countryside . __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO

07-01-2009, 09:46 PM	#2
stage1scott Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cornville Posts: 406 Likes: 1,870 Liked 109 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series geez Jack-you cannot get out of the rain nohow this year!! hope it drys out and the race gets completed, thanks as always for your reporting, and hopefully you will find a cable to borrow, I really enjoy the pics!!

07-02-2009, 06:09 AM	#3
Joe Martens Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North Olmsted, Ohio Posts: 790 Likes: 636 Liked 198 Times in 71 Posts	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series Thanks Jack, looking forward to the updates!!! __________________ Joe Martens AA/Stock 3969

07-02-2009, 07:09 AM	#4
John Warehime Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series It could be worse,...you could be the driver, or owner, of the wrecked tractor! Good luck Jack.

07-02-2009, 09:02 AM	#5
Superfan1 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bridgeport,CT. Posts: 1,993 Likes: 1,667 Liked 2,638 Times in 440 Posts	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series Good luck, Jack. As always, thanks for the updates; hope you find a cable, your pictures are always top notch. Bill Seabrooks - superfan1 Bridgeport, Ct.

07-02-2009, 10:19 AM	#6
racerhead Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 187 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series Jack, Thanks for the updates. I'm heading over there friday morning. do you still need those numbers for the GTO? Bruce Deveau

07-02-2009, 12:10 PM	#7
Sal Biondo Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 77 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 1 Post	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series Jack- Are there any more parking updates?? We are hearing that they stopped parking today due to messy pits?? 2:00 pm...on Thursday Thanks Sal __________________ Sal Biondo 1162 COMP, STOCK, SS Biondo Racing Products

07-02-2009, 12:32 PM	#8
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,932 Likes: 410 Liked 2,052 Times in 400 Posts	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series Good afternoon -- To say today's test n tune is a washout would be a terrible understatement -- words can't describe how much water came down fast .Good news is it hasn't rained for about two hours now and the water is starting to drain off . Todays activities will consist of the usual -- cards - monopoly - adult beverages and bedpans -- not to mention cleaning mud - its everywhere . After some searching this morning I found a Wal-Mart where a card reader was purchased and now pictures can be posted again -- hope you like them . The first picture you would think is self explanatory -- yes , I'm old enough and yes , I was there but thats not the story , that sign reminded me of two of Division 1's best racers who lived in Woodstock - Charlene and Gary Wood - anyone know whatever became of them ? The next pic you would think I'm way off my route to Lebanon but I swear you have to get on this road - who would think . Next is the picture we all hate -- when a starting line looks like this its never good . I've got more to post later .................. Sal -- They have resumed parking ( very carefully I might add ) and will continue all day into the evening........ Attached Thumbnails __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO Last edited by Jack Matyas; 07-02-2009 at 12:40 PM.

07-02-2009, 12:55 PM	#9
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,932 Likes: 410 Liked 2,052 Times in 400 Posts	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series Here's a few more pics -- the first is 'Lake Lang' - thats right , next to Bob Langs' motorhome , then we have the staging lanes but not full of race cars but tow rigs -- waiting to be pitted .Lastly we have the famous 'racer in the air' at the Valley -- must be 30 or 40 feet in the air -- pretty neat deal . Attached Thumbnails __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO

07-02-2009, 01:25 PM	#10
david ring Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oneonta.,NY Posts: 889 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-- NHRA Lucas Oil Series Weather.com has a 50 percent chance of rain tomorrow, a "slight" chance of a thunderstorm on Saturday with highs in the upper 60's (not as bad as the fourth of July when I went to a baseball game at night with a winter coat and gloves on)-welcome to summer in upstate NY. Sunday looks good though.