Friday, October 8, 2010

1 Week to go, the blood is pumping.

Well another stressful week has come to an end, the weekend is upon us and to the shed we go.

The trusty 45 has had it's usual neglect during the off season and is ready to go, it will appear at Practice this Wednesday for a final hit out before Friday is upon us.
12 needs some work on fuel pressure and idle speed, it needs it's new seat fitted and some final sign writing, then it too is ready.
77 well it is still sitting there looking very neglected, no seat, no panels, no fuel lines, valves still to be adjusted, timing still to be done, what a fiasco, just too much to do and no enthusiasm for the task.
Car 88w is also in our shed, it to looks sad and neglected, no throttle linkages, no radiator, no rocker cover breathers, what is going in this shed?

Hard to believe anything will be ready by Friday, but hey tomorrows another day, we are in the shed from after lunch Saturday and most likely will not surface until late Sunday, cars ready and looking forward to a big season.

Only one person has contacted me to ask about the eye and reflex testing, it was a joke, just wanting to see if anyone could work out who it was, I won't be telling anyone but the info is available on Facebook.

Catch you

Crabby



Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Driver eye and reflex testing mandatory.

Hi all,

We will be conducting eye and reflex testing at Kwinana on the first fast friday.

It appears when the tests are being conducted by doctors there are some people getting through who really shouldn't.

Martin will be holding the eye charts and I will get to hit everyone with the 4lb reflex hammer.

We apologise in advance if this causes any stress to our drivers but when we cannot see race cars in our way it is one thing, but when we cannot see slow moving people on gophers then we are in serious trouble.

What are we to do with some of you.

Crabby

Monday, October 4, 2010

News from the North- Geraldton first meeting.

Hi Crabby,

We had the first run for the season up here in Geraldton on the weekend.

Five cars turned up these included Andrew Pedlar in his new car, Cale Sotiroff in the Reg Wells Ltd car Robbie Stephens in the Pete Smith Maxim car, a new driver to the limited's in Anthony Gaudio in a ex Pete Smith car and Mick in the trusty old XXX.

The track was fast and very smooth and with the first time running with the transponders we where able to get accurate lap times.

With hot laps came Andrews problems with his car busting the water pump drive belt for no apparent reason, Mick lent him another one only to have that bust in the first heat and his night was done.

The first heat had Mick out of pole, Robbie from 2 Cale from 3 and Anthony of the back, Robbie took the lead and all Mick could do was watch him drive away as he was to tight to be able to mount any sort of challenge. Robbie 1st Mick 2nd Cale 3rd Anthony 4th.

The second heat had Cale on pole Robbie out of 2 Mick out of 3 Anthony of the back again as he did all night. Anthony spun on about lap 6 also bringing Robbie to a halt after getting a handy break over Mick. On the restart after much tussling over position on the restart Robbie was put back to 3rd and the race recommenced with the results being Mick 1st Cale 2nd Robbie 3rd Anthony 4th.

The third heat came only to see more excitement with Robbie taking the lead again Mick in Second for all of a couple of laps until the right front wheel, stub and part of the axel parted company from the rest of the car coming into turn 1 and Mick took the first tumble of the season. the results are Robbie 1st Cale 2nd Anthony 3rd

The feature had Robbie from pole Cale from 2 Anthony of the back and finished the same way.

The track was fast and smooth all night and a credit to Pete Smith, Jacko and the crew.

The laps scorers are having a few teething problems with running the lap timing system but it is proving to be a good investment with accurate times instead if the old cuckoo clock we had before, and will be sorted out properly for the next meeting. The sprintcars were getting down to low 13 second laps.

Anthony and Cale the two newest drivers to sprintcars in Geraldton are getting faster every time they hit the track. Cale a very successful junior driver and Reg Wells grandson and Anthony a first time driver who got hooked after driving one of Pete Smiths cars at a sponsors day up here, both will be drivers at the pointy end and cars to keep an eye on.

Thanks to Kim Doble for the update.

Now for Moora to give us some info on there first meeting.

Crabby.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Bunbury Practice- a great success.

Hi to all,

Geez it's so good to have things to blog about again.

We were off in Bunbury last night for a practice meeting, the track was hooky and fast, a credit to the Bunbury Car Club, the track preparation was first rate. Thanks guys we had a blast.

So on to the happenings;
Team T Davis was there and had his race face on, I did not actually see him smile after a couple of runs, but I saw someone who knows some of last years woes are past and a look of steely determination that plainly said "bring it on, were ready".
Team Bam Bam were also there and true to their name Bam was what happened, first run a couple of laps in and it was BAM, a good whack to the front right to say "hello Shane, welcome to the club".
Team Crabbe Jr was also out and got her baptism of fire with a quick outside pass on her and then dropping in on her front just to let her know the practice is done- Race Face and Pace time now kid.
A couple of dry cleaners are in for a terrible Monday when Bam Bam's and Annette's suits turn in for dry cleaning, they will be smelling by then.

Team Crabbe Snr had a run in Annette and Gavin's cars as he was not keen on dirtying his own.
Now I must apologize to Kris Coyle here, he drove Annette's car in Tom Price to second, now I know why, I had it flat all the way around Bunbury for all the practice session, it was quick, there is nothing wrong with this motor, but a killer it ain't.
I hoped in the Team G Davis car and had a run as well, it is running the 358 motor Gavin brought out from the USA last year, this motor is not the best 358 in WA, Michael Armstrong has the best one apparently, but I can tell you all now, stop wasting your money on engines, these things go hard.
I will give you a couple of comparisons of engine's I have driven.
Rockas car with a Watson owned Speed Torque motor, big budget engine.
Bombak engine in Glens car, big budget engine.
Ex Shaun Bradford 360, now in Annette's car and much modified to up horsepower, big budget engine.
My 14 deg performance unlimited motor, ridiculously expensive engine.
My first car with Kendrick motor, budget motor though, and most fun to own.
And unfairly Phsyco.

Gavin's motor sits at number 2, it beats the bombak motor in Glen's car because it pulls off the turns as hard but still has more mid straight, Glens pulls hard off the turns but runs out by half the length of the straight.
The performance unlimited motor with 14 deg heads pulls strong, no doubt about it, but it is a lazy motor that will not rev, when it needs a freshen at the end of this season we will most likely just park it up, when you can get the performance you can from those 358's at the price you can get them for all I can say is what I said above, keep your money in the bank, buy one don't build anything else.

It is amazing how something like getting back into a car can lift you, we have had a hectic last few months and it was all I could do to stay awake driving to Bunbury.
After 2 runs I was awake, refreshed and just wanting more.

Guess I did not really rank the motors
1- leave this blank for you all to guess at
2- Gavin's 358
3- Bombak motor in Glen's car
4- Daylight
5- My first 14 deg headed motor
6- A lot more daylight
7- Watto's motor in Rocka's car


"Where for art thou Phsyco", come home soon, I need help just to keep up with these guys.

Just for info Glen is practicing at Kwinana before fast Friday, so if your there come say hello.

Catch you

Crabby



Thursday, September 30, 2010

Come on Friday 15th

Hi all

Well it seems like it has been ages since we went into our winter hiatus, went into bear mode, put on some weight and generally moped around hoping time would pass so we could again get the trusty 77 out onto the track.
Nothing fancy this year, we painted the car before Carnarvon in May and have had a couple of minor dents and scratches since then so it is not as nice as it usually is at the start of the season but it is going to be a lot quicker this year.
After much ridicule and being pig headed Team G Davis won and we have modified the fuel system, we have put some real timing back into it, we went conservative last year after we melted it first run out, now this is not Phsycho I am talking about this is the other engine I ran last season before and after Phsyco, we now have it pulling well off of the turns and actually hope to get it revving beyond 7000rpm, it has never pulled beyond 7200 since it was built.
We will be running this engine until January next year, then we will be bringing out my favorite engine, it has had a great holiday in South Carolina at Naylor Racing Engines, we have a new carby and fuel manifold on it and it has pulled some fantastic numbers on the dyno, boy can't wait until we get it all together again.
Shane Webster has taken his unleaded engine out and will be running a loaner for the first few meetings, his loaner has about 170 hp more than his original, should make for interesting watching until he gets used to it.
Team M Armstrong is ready to go, he will be out for the first fast Friday.
Team Todd Davis is also ready and looking to put in some serious meetings this year, they have joined the 21st century and have a roller cam in, Geoff must be pulling his hair out.
Team Tim Davis is working in Kalgoorlie so we may not see much of him this year.
The other Davis team have used up some of this years spares just starting the car, rumor has it they may have sent some panels back for repair.
Norbert has been working on his comeback vehicle, a 6.5hp bar stool racer, apparently some of our more experienced drivers should stay off of it, there has been a few minor mishaps shall we say.

No news from the North, they must be thinking they will ambush us when we go to visit this year.

If anyone is looking to upgrade a motor this year, we will have a 358 for sale early December, it is a good strong motor, refreshed 4 race meetings ago, it is coming in with all our tyres and spares, it is coming in an 05 j&j 87/40 raised rail which has also just been gone over with heaps of new parts in it, if you are interested in either give us a call.
Annette's engine is also in the container, it is a 23deg headed test motor with some reasonable gear in it, if we don't sell the 358 we may just give it a try in her car.

We had a call from our Eastern states limited members this week, they are keen as to get us to come over for a visit, not with the cars just to come over and talk and give them advice or maybe even take some from them, they also are keen to see a Limited Sprintcar Australian Title.
Anyone interested in a weekend away on the east coast? I will get some dates from them and let you all know if they fit in with any of our free weekends.

So finally to all you part timers and shed racers out there, a quote from the Migro clan;
"Get your backside trackside" and support your club.


I will get off the soap box now.

If you are going to practice in Bunbury this Saturday we will see you there, Annette has a race suit and seat of her own now so she will be out for her last practice before we hit the big time at Kwinana.

Catch you

Crabby

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Change of date for Bunbury practice day.

Hi all

The Bunbury car club has advised us that the practice date has changed from the 9th October to now being the 2nd October.
So change your calendars so you do not show up and be the only one there.

This is not good for team Crabbe, we are waiting for 1 seat to arrive and a race suit for Annette, my car is still in repair mode after the dump in Tom Price, we would have been ready for the 9th but not the 2nd, so we will not be there, hope it is a good night for those that do go.

Catch you

Crabby



Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Some things of importance.

Hi again,

My ears are ringing from some verbal bashing I have received Saturday night and then a bit more today, "so read this and take some action".

Practice:
The committee would like all our licensed drivers to take the effort to come down to the practice meeting being held by the Bunbury Club on Saturday 9Th October 2010, starting at 4pm and running until 9pm.
Cost is $50.00 per car.
If we can get an idea of numbers then we would put on a BBQ after the practice.

Please come so we can have a good get together, check out cars, check out speeds and just have a great chat/beer/steak (or soup for some), even veggies for the Vegans.

Also the other thing my ears are rattling about is a complaint that there is no info going out to the members.
We sent out about 4 newsletters last season and also sent out our notice of the AGM, some people say they did not get them, it is up to you to check if your address is current, have you actually supplied us with your email address? All 2010/2011 fees are now overdue, you need to check if you have paid and then check your addresses are correct.
I have been a member of the LTD Sprintcar club for 3 1/2 years and it is only this last season we have sent the news letters out, ie; I never got one before so I assume no one else did either, so why am I hearing complaints from older members about not receiving anything!!!!!!

Instead of letting us no of your displeasure come give us a hand or even ideas on what you want done in your club.

Aahh my ears feel better already.

Shed racers- and you know who you are, get them cars out of the shed, dust of the cobwebs and lets go racing, only 4 weeks and its on for real.

Catch you

Crabby

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Pithara round up.

Good evening sprintcar fans,

Pithara was a great weekend, there were 6 cars running in our division, 4 genuine limited sprintcars and 2 Moora Outlaws, Watto won 3 heats and let Dhuy win one when he pulled out with minor engine dramas.
Annette went ok, only getting lapped twice in one heat and then holding here own against most of the others, by the feature she was starting to roll around at a reasonable pace for a beginner, most passed her going into the turns as shed rolled off the gas, the car was quick down the straights.

Shane Webster finished second in the feature behind Watto, Shane looks like he is ready for a repower something a bit better than the 450hp he currently has on tap.

There were 7 cars in the open/360 division, they put on a good show with Watto jr looking fast until some minor engine gremlins caused him to pull out of the meeting.
Phil Blackman won with a couple of spirited drives, he looked to have done a Crabbe (this is a reverse Bradbury) and got tired and dropped back, however he got his second wind and went on to win.

We are about to pull Annette's car down and get it painted and ready for the season proper.

Roll on the real season.

Crabby


Friday, September 10, 2010

Were off to Pithara for another run for fun weekend.

Hi all,

Well it is time for Annette's baptism of fire.
We are going to Pithara to put her out for some real racing, after 2 lots of practices hopefully she will not be cannon fodder.
There are 11 nominated sprint cars in the open division and 3 Outlaws from Moora, Annette is allowed to run off the back of the outlaws.

Shane Webster and team Watto are also going to be there.

We have a big season ahead and it is nearly time for the real stuff to begin, first race in a month, still got to repair my car after the big dump in Tom Price, we will be ready though and are already looking forward to the Fast Friday opening night.

Will let you know how it all went next week.

Crabby



Sunday, September 5, 2010

Where are you Michael Armstrong esq?

Hi Michael,

If you go to your spare parts shelf in the secret location you keep your car, you will see a blag bag with a "Big Game Tree Stands" emblem on the front, it's for you, beware of whats inside, ti may not be entirely pleasant.

Crabby.