"Live From" NHRA Gatornationals

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Its has been a long day, I had to work on the car unexpectedly, but we should be okay.

Here are few pictures in tech. Bubba Linke, the Stock Eliminator winner from Valdosta standing next to his red C/SA Camaro. James Perrone walking around, who knows were his going, he looks lost. Bo Kenny with his back turned and Jim Roberts behind Bo are waiting there turn.

Gary Richard's CJ stocker is absolutely beautiful. His super stock CJ is also just as trick. I will try to get some more pictures of both cars. Still don't know what he is racing this week. His pit area looks like he has way more cars then drivers. GM, Ford, you name it ,Gary's got it.

I will try to get more pictures tomorrow. I have some work to do on the race car and I'm hoping it will not be an all day affair. I will do my best to get lots of photos.

The weather is great and except for a chance of rain on Thursday, it should be a great week.

Gary's car looks gorgeous in the picture.Perrone looks like he's on a Portasan run.

[Ken Miele]

I'm back, sorry everyone, it has been a hectic day. The unexpected work I had to do was a tech issue. I thought It was best to not say anything, but after thinking about it for a while, I think I should let everyone now what happened.

I went through and everything was fine until they checked the center section. They told me I could not run an aluminum center section. I told them the rule says you can replace your original rear as long as it is from the same manufacture. Ford sells complete rears with aluminum center sections. The come in 2008 and 2010 CJ's. I thought I was okay since its a Ford rear.

Well it turns out I am not okay and it is only acceptable in the CJ's because they are purpose built for stock. I went by the rule, I thought I was okay. I was not aware you could not run an aluminum center section. I ask would it be okay to race this weekend and change it for the next race. That was not an option so I had to over night a steel center section. So the reason I decided to post what happen was to give a heads up to anyone that is using an aluminum center section in stock, its not legal.

I have been working on the car all day. Thanks to Gary Richard's crew, Paul and Eddie for the right tools and the use of their trailer in getting everything changed over so I could run this race.

Back to racing, here is a picture of tomorrows schedule. Rain is forecast, so I am not sure will we be racing. I promise after I clean up the trailer to go around the pits and get some pictures. Thanks for being patient everyone.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

I'm back, sorry everyone, it has been a hectic day. The unexpected work I had to do was a tech issue. I thought It was best to not say anything, but after thinking about it for a while, I think I should let everyone now what happened.

I went through and everything was fine until they checked the center section. They told me I could not run an aluminum center section. I told them the rule says you can replace your original rear as long as it is from the same manufacture. Ford sells complete rears with aluminum center sections. The come in 2008 and 2010 CJ's. I thought I was okay since its a Ford rear.

Well it turns out I am not okay and it is only acceptable in the CJ's because they are purpose built for stock. I went by the rule, I thought I was okay. I was not aware you could not run an aluminum center section. I ask would it be okay to race this weekend and change it for the next race. That was not an option so I had to over night a steel center section. So the reason I decided to post what happen was to give a heads up to anyone that is using an aluminum center section in stock, its not legal.

I have been working on the car all day. Thanks to Gary Richard's crew, Paul and Eddy for the right tools and the use of their trailer in getting everything changed over so I could run this race.

Back to racing, here is a picture of tomorrows schedule. Rain is forecast, so I am not sure will we be racing. I promise after I clean up the trailer to go around the pits and get some pictures. Thanks for being patient everyone.

Kenny, we just had an awful round of storms blow through the panhandle here. Hope that stuff misses y'all

[west coast]

YO Ken thanks for for telling the story may save somebody else the hassle of doing this same thing at the track or missing a race .Are the Mopars legal to run aluminum center sections. I believe there are some out there. That sucks, good you had the time to do it. Good luck this weekend look foward to some more in car camera. I borrowed a camera two years ago found bad habits and corrected them its a great tool like a data logger.

[Ed Fernandez]

Hey Ken,I thought this was supposed to be fun?You're supposed to leave the work back home.:>):>)

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by west coast

YO Ken thanks for for telling the story may save somebody else the hassle of doing this same thing at the track or missing a race .Are the Mopars legal to run aluminum center sections. I believe there are some out there. That sucks, good you had the time to do it. Good luck this weekend look foward to some more in car camera. I borrowed a camera two years ago found bad habits and corrected them its a great tool like a data logger.

Alum. center sections are NOT legal in stock unless it was OEM from the factory (Some of the early 70's Olds W-30's had an alum rear option) like some of the new stuff. Same deal with the alum drive shafts. Some are out there but few get caught.

[Toby Lang]

Hmmm. I wonder why they decided to check the center section? Do they always check the center section on all Fords?


-Toby

[Myron Piatek]

Aluminum center sections "appear" to be legal now because Mopar has them as a contingency product in Stock. That was the case in IHRA when Mopar use to post there. Or does that apply to the Drag Pacs only in NHRA?

[CBS]

Kenny just looks Illegal.......lol

[Toby Lang]

Yeah, he sure does.

Overnight shipping on something like that couldn't have been too cheap.


-Toby