Week 1 of new season "Run And Won"

Hi all,

Well Friday night saw us at "The Plex" for the first Fast Friday of the season.

Of the Limited's (Not an official meet) there was Mick Doble and myself.

We warmed up the engines then sat back and waited for the first heat.

At the start of the first heat we lined up, Mick had a fuel issue and pulled in so I was left to hold the Fort for Ltd's against the other runners, the greens came on and I put my foot down and next thing I knew I had blown past the others and had a clear track in front, first lap down with no hot laps and we had pulled a 16.6 second lap, this engine has got some serious mumbo, however after the second lap we had a fuel blockage of some sort and slowed only to pull out as we were about to get the white flag with some engine issues.

The rest of the night Mick cleaned up but lost the feature after getting caught up behind a couple of slower cars and being run down on the last corner.

Team Crabbe spent 15 minutes slapping me about the head to convince me to go back to the shed and fit the spare motor, not a good plan according to me, I was all for going to the bar and drowning my sorrows, well they loaded the car and then me and next thing I knew it was 11:30pm and we fired the car up on the street (apologies to all the neighbours), I sent the willing crew home for some sleep, cleaned the car and loaded it up ready for Ellenbrook Saturday.

I made bed at 1:30am Saturday morning and spent the rest of the night restlessly dreaming of how that new motor made some serious power and how we would get it running again before next meeting.

So 7am arrived and up we got ready for the haul to Ellenbrook.

There were 8 cars at Ellenbrook of which 4 were Limited's, a poor showing by our club standards but with the others we had a good field for some racing.

Heat 1 had some hot laps before the green and we had the spare engine to lean so I pulled out of the heat and watched.

For a first up hit out it was some of the closest racing and quickest we have had, Mick Doble who had most of last season off whilst on tour of Aus has come out of holiday mode and was flying, Gavin was quick but somewhat rusty, too much weight on the rear wheels I reckon, and Greg Harvey was looking quick as well.

Of the other cars Michael Robinson was his usual lightening quick self (Ellenbrook specialist this guy).

Not sure how all the heats finished as I was in battle for the last 2 and the feature but I got a 4th and a 3rd in the heats.

The feature race was fast and close, all cars were on the one straightaway and jostling for position, Mick and Michael had a coming together which dropped both of them out, Gavin, Greg and myself battled it out for a few laps before Gavin got clear and drove away leaving me all over Greg's rear but he was to quick and held a good line which left me with only the very outside to go around him, and as we all know that fence scares me just a little so I was left behind Greg and crossed the line in 3rd.

My biggest learning for the weekend was that the motor we purchased off of Steve Bombak is one fast and strong motor, wish I had it in my car last season and not Glen's, it got back up every time you got on and off the gas, no lag just pure grunt, think I might leave it in till after the Narrogin meeting, I reckon after that Glenn will want it back.

The big motor is back at Performance Unlimited, Gary is stripping it and we will have it back together before the "Unofficial" Bunbury meeting on the 14th November, we will sort the fuel system out and I am sure this motor is going to take us right up the pointy end.

Another pleasing part about the Limited club is the camaraderie around the members, it was also a great little get together we were having between races, no sensitive people allowed as jibes were the order of the day, lucky there was no alcohol as the BS would have flown onto the track.

Peter Wodg gave me his list of Shed Racers who need to be mentioned on this blog site, Norbert denied ever inventing the term "Shed Racer" but may have slipped up at the end of the meet and dropped himself in it.

Great day even if we were in the sun for far to long and the best track I have raced on at Ellenbrook.

Thanks to Norbert, Ed and Mick for the help over the weekend and thanks to Mick Doble for the tip on hooking up the rear end, we had a car that if driven better would have finished the feature in the front.

Catch you.