Hi all,
Well another week over and no racing for us in sight, seems like a long wait until the Muster on the 2nd January 2010.
I pulled the engine out of Glen's car as he will not need it until mid February, the engine was shipped to Moora and is on loan to Anthony King.
Anthony has put it in and had a run in Moora last Saturday, interestingly he says the motor does not drive off the turns as well as his 320 but winds up and comes into its own mid straight, no wonder we have trouble keeping up with him, given the motors wind up nature I am expecting him to be very quick at Kwinana.
An email came through mid week mentioning that another red box will be departing the USA soon and heading to Gero for a fast improving driver.
We have another shed racer coming out of retirement and running in Geraldton in the flash ex Benkesser Maxim.
Team Crabbe have received their Gold Plated box ex USA, it goes into the shed Tuesday this week to look at and never be run.
Team Todd Davis are working on installing a new cam ready for the muster, Todd wiped a lobe off at Fast Friday and Bunbury.
Team G Davis is using his previously learned Arabic and will be riding a camel when he should be driving at the Muster.
You have come this far so I assume you have all seen the action shot on the home page, Michael Armstrong is heading skyward after contact with the wheel of the Harvey machine.
Still no word from the Harvey's hopefully they are both running the muster, Greg still has the wood on me and I need to pass him a couple more times to claim the Champion Old Boys trophy, we would have to be close to the oldest left, Wodg and Robbie are probably in line to claim an old boys title as well.
Well folks time to head to the Aladdin's cave and make way for our latest addition in the gold box, can't wait to unwrap it, Santa has come early to team Crabbe.
Catch you.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Some rumours and info from the weekend.
Racing:
- A 320 was quicker than the rest of us limited's, Gibbo has his car on rails, 5:85 gears and not pulling more than 6200rpm, how good is that.
- A motor was loaded into the Armstrong truck, Carol tells me that it is in fact Caroline's new motor and it would be ready for the muster.
- By the close of nominations we had 6 entries only from the Limited Division, by 6:00 pm this evening we had 12, so hopefully we have more than 10 turn up.
- All the big 320 engines are having major head problems, even the ones not yet run (new in sheds) Anthony King is the worst affected and may need an engine transplant prior to the muster.
- Tim King is building a car ready for the muster and has nominated.
- Todd Davis will be working over Christmas to get his cam changed and the car ready.
- Gavin Davis is learning Arabic and may miss the muster.
- The Harvey family have not nominated for the muster and are not answering their phones, have you seen them?
While at Bunbury I saw one of the worst behaviours from a driver and cannot understand how these people are allowed to keep racing, the limited sprintcar official was asked to run the sprintcars for the night and a driver refused to attend the drivers meeting as he had a beef with the club some years back, "Get over it" and move on, why should we all suffer because of non compliant individuals.
The 320 drivers from Moora who showed up are a great bunch, we consumed the odd beer into the wee hours, also a driver from Perth who also had a good evening.
Team SJ Crushing shrinks to one car now until the State Title, this should ensure the budget gets some light relief, it was good to get through the weekend without a tear up or failure of any type other than driver failure.
Martin used some memories of days gone by and gave me some great advice that saw me go ahead in driver knowledge, thanks Martin, he has been trying along with others to beat this information into me for a long time, it pays to listen.
To all our club members and the 400 people who read this blog we at Team SJ Crushing wish you all a merry christmas and new year, keep safe and keep those cars coming out to the race meetings with us.
Catch you.
LATE BREAKING NEWS===== The Dhu Meister has nominated for the muster, he may in fact be there showing us some new tricks he has picked up in his temporary retirement.
His race suit has shrunk and he is awaiting for the arrival of his new suit so he can go racing.
So folks get ready for the muster.
We need to get out there and show all the patrons of the speedway we can
a) muster a good sized field
b) put on a good show of close and clean racing
c) and most importantly have a great time with fun and comraderie the main focus
Another great weekends racing completed.
Good evening all,
Well another two meeting weekend has come and gone.
First we ran the Fast Friday meeting at Kwinana.
We ran 2 heat races and the feature race.
First heat we ran with the 320's starting from the front, we were supposed to start 200m behind the 320's but Michael Armstrong was too keen and only sat back about 50m, Martin in confusion signalled for me to move up with Michael and the green flag dropped, what was I to do but get on the gas and go hard, I had rounded up all but two of the 320,s coming out of turn 2 and had past them before turn 3, I had the race shot to pieces and with 3/4 of a lap to go I went to go around a 320 putting him 2 laps down, he went high and the old Crabbe returned, tail tank blindness I call it, this is where you just sit on their tail and not make a decision to go high or low, as we ran through turn 3 with the checkered flag insight Mick Doble ran under me to greet the flag, it has to be the easiest win he ever had.
The rest of the night was a blur of changing car setups and chasing a set up that would hook the car up, in the feature we had the car handling not bad but suffered from the car jumping out of gear 10 or so times, it stayed in if I ran at half throttle so that was where we stayed, Michael Armstrong was unlucky not to get past me, each time he pulled off a pass he had the ambers come on and was relegated back behind me.
Gavin flipped out in the feature and Todd struggled with engine gremlins.
Mick Doble took out first place after I went down and gave him some set up advice, should have listened to my own advice as he was hooked up and quick beating the 360's as well.
Saturday night and off to Bunbury we went.
Todd was out again hoping they had resolved the mechanical gremlins that had plagued him Friday night. Michale Armstrong was there as was Shane Webster and Peter Wodj.
Heat one was a runaway win by me with a car that was fast and hooked up.
Going into heat 2 with confidence high I was given a set up lesson by Rick Sawyer and a driving lesson by Michael Armstrong, they had an underpowered car running on rails and they drove into the distance, before the race I joked with Michael about where he was going to pull over to let me pass, it was nearly a case of where I was going to pull over to be lapped by Michael.
So before heat 3 we had a team meeting, looking at how we had missed the setup for heat 2 and we decided to make some wholesale changes to the car.
Todd discovered a cam lobe was gone and his night was done.
Heat 3 and again we had the car hooked up, however Michael with his engine running down on power but all of what was left was getting to the track was quick but could not get past me but he did give it a few goes.
So into the feature we went, Michael and I off half a lap, Shane Webster off 1/4 lap and Peter (Alias Greg) off the front with a 410 alongside him.
Prior to the start we worked out a cunning plan on where we would start from, it is obvious that as we came off turn 2 the front runners had to be coming off turn 4 so as we came off turn 2 I gassed it up and started the long haul over 10 laps to run in the front cars, Peter Wodj (Greg) had other ideas, he jumped the start to show the 410 he meant business, the yellows came on and we reformed, I thought that was it and Michael would come out of turn 2 on full noise to negate any advantage that I had previously, but he was struggling to see the lead cars and missed the start, I ran as hard as I could with a car that had no tyres left and not much side or forward bite, after 8 laps I had the lead cars a straight in front of me but the checkered flag came out and it was all over, I did not even see the white flag get waved to us.
So I ran first for the night, but the most impressive thing was to see the 3 new guys and how fast they were getting their cars to go, Wodj (Greg) excepted has a lot of experience, but after a lot of years enjoying the spoils of "Champion Shed Racer" he is back and keen on revenge against all you people who crowned him "Champion Shed Racer". We are looking for a new King of the shed racers as I write this so to all you not on the track yet beware.
Michael looks the goods for a big year but the motor he is using still needs some fine tuning.
Shane Webster has the smallest horsepower motor in the division but is showing some good turns of speed.
Catch you.
Well another two meeting weekend has come and gone.
First we ran the Fast Friday meeting at Kwinana.
We ran 2 heat races and the feature race.
First heat we ran with the 320's starting from the front, we were supposed to start 200m behind the 320's but Michael Armstrong was too keen and only sat back about 50m, Martin in confusion signalled for me to move up with Michael and the green flag dropped, what was I to do but get on the gas and go hard, I had rounded up all but two of the 320,s coming out of turn 2 and had past them before turn 3, I had the race shot to pieces and with 3/4 of a lap to go I went to go around a 320 putting him 2 laps down, he went high and the old Crabbe returned, tail tank blindness I call it, this is where you just sit on their tail and not make a decision to go high or low, as we ran through turn 3 with the checkered flag insight Mick Doble ran under me to greet the flag, it has to be the easiest win he ever had.
The rest of the night was a blur of changing car setups and chasing a set up that would hook the car up, in the feature we had the car handling not bad but suffered from the car jumping out of gear 10 or so times, it stayed in if I ran at half throttle so that was where we stayed, Michael Armstrong was unlucky not to get past me, each time he pulled off a pass he had the ambers come on and was relegated back behind me.
Gavin flipped out in the feature and Todd struggled with engine gremlins.
Mick Doble took out first place after I went down and gave him some set up advice, should have listened to my own advice as he was hooked up and quick beating the 360's as well.
Saturday night and off to Bunbury we went.
Todd was out again hoping they had resolved the mechanical gremlins that had plagued him Friday night. Michale Armstrong was there as was Shane Webster and Peter Wodj.
Heat one was a runaway win by me with a car that was fast and hooked up.
Going into heat 2 with confidence high I was given a set up lesson by Rick Sawyer and a driving lesson by Michael Armstrong, they had an underpowered car running on rails and they drove into the distance, before the race I joked with Michael about where he was going to pull over to let me pass, it was nearly a case of where I was going to pull over to be lapped by Michael.
So before heat 3 we had a team meeting, looking at how we had missed the setup for heat 2 and we decided to make some wholesale changes to the car.
Todd discovered a cam lobe was gone and his night was done.
Heat 3 and again we had the car hooked up, however Michael with his engine running down on power but all of what was left was getting to the track was quick but could not get past me but he did give it a few goes.
So into the feature we went, Michael and I off half a lap, Shane Webster off 1/4 lap and Peter (Alias Greg) off the front with a 410 alongside him.
Prior to the start we worked out a cunning plan on where we would start from, it is obvious that as we came off turn 2 the front runners had to be coming off turn 4 so as we came off turn 2 I gassed it up and started the long haul over 10 laps to run in the front cars, Peter Wodj (Greg) had other ideas, he jumped the start to show the 410 he meant business, the yellows came on and we reformed, I thought that was it and Michael would come out of turn 2 on full noise to negate any advantage that I had previously, but he was struggling to see the lead cars and missed the start, I ran as hard as I could with a car that had no tyres left and not much side or forward bite, after 8 laps I had the lead cars a straight in front of me but the checkered flag came out and it was all over, I did not even see the white flag get waved to us.
So I ran first for the night, but the most impressive thing was to see the 3 new guys and how fast they were getting their cars to go, Wodj (Greg) excepted has a lot of experience, but after a lot of years enjoying the spoils of "Champion Shed Racer" he is back and keen on revenge against all you people who crowned him "Champion Shed Racer". We are looking for a new King of the shed racers as I write this so to all you not on the track yet beware.
Michael looks the goods for a big year but the motor he is using still needs some fine tuning.
Shane Webster has the smallest horsepower motor in the division but is showing some good turns of speed.
Catch you.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Who is Kim Collins?
Has anyone seen the elusive Kim Collins? Kim who you ask?
He's the guy we once raced with who is car number 9 on our member list.
Last seen at the Watson's express day at Ellenbrook.
Well after seeing his name on the nominations list all year I gave him a call.
Apparently he is still putting an engine together and should have his crank back from the machine shop prior to Christmas, given severe budget constraints he has had to scale back on his engine program and is putting it together himself.
Kim has had a few offers to help with engine assembly so lets hope the Watson team boys can get the time to go around and give Kim a hand.
Kim is fast moving to shed racer status but not by choice. He hopes to be ready by the Muster.
Last muster Kim fed me a wheel at the start of the Feature, well maybe it was me cutting down on him, either way the shiny red bead lock had some severe scarring, at Bunbury just after the muster I saw Kim's wheel and it was looking sad as well.
Catch you
He's the guy we once raced with who is car number 9 on our member list.
Last seen at the Watson's express day at Ellenbrook.
Well after seeing his name on the nominations list all year I gave him a call.
Apparently he is still putting an engine together and should have his crank back from the machine shop prior to Christmas, given severe budget constraints he has had to scale back on his engine program and is putting it together himself.
Kim has had a few offers to help with engine assembly so lets hope the Watson team boys can get the time to go around and give Kim a hand.
Kim is fast moving to shed racer status but not by choice. He hopes to be ready by the Muster.
Last muster Kim fed me a wheel at the start of the Feature, well maybe it was me cutting down on him, either way the shiny red bead lock had some severe scarring, at Bunbury just after the muster I saw Kim's wheel and it was looking sad as well.
Catch you
Saturday, December 5, 2009
I'm in Sydney- Why you ask?
Hi folks,
Janette and I are in sunny Sydney, we flew in early Friday morning, had to get out of bed at 2:30am to make it to the airport on time, sometimes it sucks to live so far away from the city.
So we flew in and headed out to Homebush bay and booked into the Pullman Hotel, not a bad place.
So why are we here?
We are not here for TPCR World Series Sprintcars surprisingly.
We are not here for the V8 Supercars either, although I did spend the whole day there today.
We were here for the Cold Chisel concert, and what a concert it was, they are timeless.
In the words of Jimmy Barnes "we have not played for 25 years, we are just f*&()^%g old bastards" and I know how he feels.
I last saw Cold Chisel at the Belmont Hotel in about 1980, back in the days when I drove a HZ Sandman Panel Van and had hair.
Rob Watson went to Parramata and tells me that Jason Jonson won, Farrell was 4th, not a bad effort.
All our parts have arrived for repairs needed to both cars after Moora.
Wednesday and Thursday are the days I will get my car ready, hope to have it packed into the trailer Thursday afternoon so Friday will be nice and easy.
The new motor ex USA is on its way over, we are sending it straight to the dyno room and fitting up a different type of fuel system, we are putting our faith in Craig Vosbergen and his late model prowess, they run a BG fuel regulator so we think it may be the go.
Looking forward to racing both Kwinana and Bunbury, this will be the best shake down we can get before the muster in January.
Hope the crew is up for some hard work this weekend, we will try a lot of different things especially in the gearing area where we have struggled to get it right, when I say we I really mean me, they have suggested we change gears mid meeting and I keep saying "No it's alright" but they have been right on every occasion, so we will run a lower ratio and try to spin it up more.
Michael Armstrong and Mick are coming down for the weekend, looking forward to see how much Michael has improved, also hoping Caroline gets her motor sorted soon so she can get back onto the track.
Norbert sold both his cars some time back and we are hoping they are on the track soon as well, we really need to get the car numbers up at each meeting.
Well time to go to bed and keep listening to the Cold Chisel Concert in my head.
Catch you later.
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