Up and Comers

[Mike Meier]

Gary,

I used to race Billy Nees's 4-door Sunbird, the one that Mike Carr won HF/SA at Indy with many moons ago. That lasted from '06-'07 when I got the Spirit. The Malibu was borrowed from Tom Baiori for two races after I wiped the cam in mine (unfortunately that 2nd race in his car had the same result). I ran the Sunbird in EF/S because of the class restructuring. It went as quick as 17.00 ( -.750), but it was inconsistent due to electrical gremlins and was hurt by the fact that we could not get enough weight out of the car to get to the class minimum weight. While I appreciate all the help that Billy gave me by lending me that car, I'm sure he'd agree that it was bringing a knife to a gun fight and that deal was more about getting some experience in class racing. I think Ed is over-exaggerating though on my success in a FWD stocker. I only ever won 3 rounds in that car (in Stock): 1 red lite and two miracle packages which were better than .020 (one of which was against him, the other against Robert Pare). I did have a history of great lites in that car, but the car would just sputter and pop halfway down the track if everything wasn't perfect (wound up being the alternator not charging the battery).

Thanks for the well-wishing on the Spirit, I wish you well too. I still enjoy seeing a FWD go rounds eventhough I've moved on from them...lol.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

The Malibu was a car borrowed from a friend.The Spirit is Mike's car.It was bought from the mid west .It was cheap,but by the time we had to do the motor,trans misc wiring,correct ballast problems among other issues it didn't turn out to be such a bargain.The consistency problem will be worked out next year hopefully.I've been fighting my car for 9 years now.Trying some new things next year.

Ed
turn out to be such a bargain.

Oh do I hear you Ed on that bargain comment. When my engine was first built ('96), the first time I ran it at Bandimere's it carded an 18.36. There were two reasons that was a problem:

1. My car ran a 17.55 with the factory original set-up!

2. Since my car was classified as a BF/SA car then, my index was a 16.44 at Bandimere...guys used to fight for a chance to race me in the first round, because I was there doormat for rnd 2.

Thanks to the people mentioned in my other post, plus Craig Railsback (who was well schooled with the Accel Calmap's of the late 90's), plus trashing my a/c, and pwr strng pmp, I freed up more hp to move that V6 quicker along, and fortunately there are some who don't want to race me any more than I may want to race them...nice change to be competitive. The biggest (and best) change though was NHRA realizing that my V6 wasn't the equal of the Quad 4 Oldsmobile motors, nor the Turbo Chrysler motors, that came from the factory with no less than 26hp more than my original 120hp steel headed minimill.

I still applaud you and Mike for racing something against the norm (also), and I enjoy reading of all the slower stocker successes as well...Billy Nees I'll keep rooting for you too as long as you keep on racing that car you became known nationwide with too!

LET'S GET THEM V8'S (ESPECIALLY THOSE BIG BLOCKS) IN 2009!!!

[STOCK1278]

Originally Posted by david ring

I thought Alison Smyth showed some promise. She beat a pretty good driver in the semis at the Grove this year before winning the race in May.

Finishing the year at #6 in D1 (her second year in stock) Finished 41 in the National points. I'd watch out

Good Luck!

Sportsman Series Points
Driver: Allison Smyth
Class/Registration: STK/1783
Hometown: Uxbridge, MA
Points Sum Type Event Code And Location Date
105 105 HD 12-Reading, PA 05/25/2008
50 155 HD 13-Atco, NJ 06/15/2008
30 185 HD 14-West Lebanon, NY 07/06/2008
61 246 HD 15-Rising Sun, MD 08/24/2008
72 318 HD 17-Atco, NJ 10/05/2008
318 Events Attended/Counted: 5/5

Type: HD=Home Div, NA=National Event, OD=Out of Div