Saturday March 19th 2011

Saturday, March 19th 2011
We raced at the Mohave Valley Raceway Saturday night. There was a lot of wind in Vegas, so we left early to try and not have to rush getting to the track.
The track looked to be in great shape, and by the time I got changed into my racing gear and strapped into the car they had stopped wheel packing and called for the races to start lining up. Just as the mini stocks took a few laps in their first heat trouble hit. The lights went out on the corners and back straightaway. The track officials worked on them, getting them to turn on, then flicker off. This went on for about an hour until an electrician showed up and shortly had the lights working.
I started on the pole in the heat race, but lost the race to the first turn. The car was running good, but I still had a big push going into the turns, the third turn seemed worse then the first turn but I adjusted my driving and was running pretty well. With one lap to go I got passed for second, and finished the heat in third.
We made some adjustments to the car for the main event and I started on the pole again. I got a great start and took the lead. The car still pushed getting into the turns, but was working great thru the turns and down the straight-aways. After a couple of yellows the brakes started fading and I had to slow down a little earlier for the turn. This allowed the cars behind to catch up and try a bonsai move under me getting into the third turn. The resulting contact pushed us both off the track and the almost the whole field went by while we got back on the track. From then on it was wasn’t pretty, with little brakes I drove as best I could avoiding problems, but still got into the back of one car when the pack in front of me decided to wreck each other.

Sunday we found the brake line had gotten pinched in the rear suspension and smashed. So this week we will make another front bumper and fix the brakes and get back after it.

Remember, words of encouragement, sponsorship offers, or general communication can reach me at rick@duricaracing.com

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The off season

I have finally got back to work on the racecar after not doing much during the Christmas season.
The first project is the Rear suspension; I built a new Birdcage for the right rear, based on the birdcage I built for the left rear. So I now have two new birdcages on the rear suspension.
This year I am also trying out a new mounting location for the R/R shock and spring. I have always run the combination clamped to the rear-end, but most of the four bar cars seem to run it mounted in front on the birdcage, So I am going to try that the first race of the season and see how the car ( and driver)reacts.

Saturday Night September 4th 2010

Well, back to the races after our summer break, another ownership change at the track, but it was nice to see some familiar faces at the track again.

We had spent a lot of our time off working on the rear suspension in a quest to get more forward bite on the dry slick racetracks. But we went to the track with lots of ideas to change to a muddy or tacky track depending on what we were presented with.
I started on the outside pole for the heat race and was able to get a good start and jumped into the lead. The changes we made had a drastic effect on the handling and the car was pushing terribly getting into and out of the corners. I managed to stay out front though by using most of the track getting through the corners and I didn’t hear anyone behind me, but shortly a yellow flag came out. Riding around on the yellow flag I heard what I thought was an exhaust gasket but I figured I wasn’t stopping for that. On the restart I again jumped out to the lead, but now I was under heavy pressure from second and not able to use up the whole track to get through the corners. The second place car slipped by into the lead, and about that time my header broke completely. I managed to hang on the rest of the race to second.
Back in the pits the search was on for a welder to fix the broken header, luckily Steve Simpson came to our aid with a welder, but then the generator quit running. Thankfully Shane Geer helped us out with a generator and we were able to get the header fixed up for the main. We also made a few adjustments to the suspension to help the car in the main.
I started inside the second row in the main event, and at the start, the leader spun out going into the first turn, everyone managed to get past him without incident, and I was on the pole for the new start. I jumped into the lead at the drop of the green and the car was running really well. The changes we made over the break seemed to be helping a lot, but still the car pushed into and out of the turns, but the track was still a little tacky. I was out front and saw a little challenge from second, but I was able to keep my momentum up through the corners and stay in the lead, when a caution came out.
On the green I was able to stay out front, but soon pressure on the inside caused me to drop to second. Running behind the new leader I was able to keep him a car length or two in front of me and as the track dried out, my car seemed to get better in the turns and I began to close in on the leader. I was making up a lot of time getting in turn one and two, but not so much in the third and fourth turns. Finally I got a good run thru turn three and four and was on his bumper going into the first turn. I was able to drive under him as we came out of the second turn and we raced side by side down the strait. We bumped wheels and I had to let off the gas to avoid wrecking and the next lap we got the white flag. I wasn’t able to catch the leader and settled for second place. Overall the car handled very well and I think some small adjustments will have it really good.
Until next time

Saturday night at the races June 19th 2010

The last race before the summer break at the Mohave Valley Raceway. There were some additional cars and that is always good.

The track was really wet during wheel packing and we had to clean what seemed like a ton of mud off the car before the heat race. I also freed the car up a little because I thought the track would be tacky in the heat

I lined up on the outside pole for the heat race and managed to get to turn one ahead of the pole sitter. I took off into the lead, I knew I had made the wrong adjustments when I saw how the track had really slicked off. The car was pushing getting into the corner, and spinning the tires getting out of the corner. Being out fron I could adjust my line and get through the corners pretty fast. However a yellow flag soon came out and allowed the field to catch up.
I led the next lap or two but the second place car was able to get by me for the lead when I went a little too high in the second turn and hit a really dry slick spot. I did hang on and finish second.

I lined up third in the main, and on the start I moved into second place. I was racing with third when the yellow came out. On the start the leader got too good of a jump on the field and the starter didn’t throw the green flag. However someone in the back didn’t pay attention and pinballed through the field bouncing off my Left rear tire. We finally got going again and I maintained second but then the car snapped around going into the second turn a crazy fast double 360 spin. I thought the L/R tire went flat from the previous contact and headed into the pits for a tire change. Doug and Bailey checked the car over and didn’t see any damage and sent me back onto the track. When the green flag dropped I knew there was something wrong as the car seemed not to have any forward traction at all. I headed back to the pits to try and figure out what was wrong.
Doug jacked up the back and right away we saw a problem with the Left rear as it just spun freely. We quickly checked and found a broken axle. Doug put the car back together and I went back out onto the track. From then on I just stayed out of the way and hold on to finish 7th.

Lest we forget, we are always open to offers of help, donations of time or equipment and cash...
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Las Vegas Motor Speedway feb 26th 2010

Las Vegas Motor speedway Friday Night February 36 2010,

We got in a rare treat Friday night with a race at the Dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
With the Nextel, nationwide series in town, the speedway opened up the dirt track Thursday and Friday nights for Sprints and midget racing.
With a low turn out expected Friday night the track added the IMCA modifieds to the show and Tim and I worked hard all week getting an engine put together for my car.
The guys at Jacks Machine Shop did a super quick turn around on a pair of cylinder heads , getting them back to me on Thursday afternoon so we could get them on the car and loaded up for Friday night.
We got to the racetrack and changed the gear for the Vegas track, the track used plenty of water and wheel packing had the cars pretty sloppy. I didn’t go out for the first set of hot laps, but did use the second set of hot laps. After about three laps the engine seemed to lose a little power so I pulled in for a once over. We found one loose rocker arm and after a quick valve adjustment we were ready for the heat.
The draw had me lined up 7th and I knew there were a couple of fast cars behind me so I had to gain a few positions to make it into the A main. On the start I figured I would try the high groove but there were a couple of cars battling for position. The second lap around the high groove was open and I hit the turn flying, I was getting ready to get a great run off the corner when BANG! Rattle rattle … I knocked the car to neutral and heated for the infield. Of course I found a massive mud puddle getting into the infield and soaked myself. Back in the pits, it looks like another engine gone south, something broken internally. Two engines in two weeks, however, both engines were about 5 years old and I guess I just pushed the old parts too far.

Now we have another long week ahead, putting together another engine, this one was supposed to be a good motor, but I always have valve train issues and we sat it in the corner for 5 years. I am hoping a new block will cure old problems and we get another engine together that will last the season.


Till Next week

Parhump 1/30/2010

Because of my poor finish last race I was started up front in the heat race. On the start the second place car was able to get past but I held on for second. The car was working well, my new Interga dry slick front shocks from BRYKE racing seemed to be working great. I stayed with the leader and a few laps later he spun into the infield and I assumed the lead. However I was starting to get the dreaded brake fade so I was letting off the gas a little early to get into the corner with minimal use of the brakes. This allowed the second place car to work to the outside of me and after a lap of two of racing he took over the lead. I continued my pressure and coming through the first and second turns, the leader bobbled and I was able to drive past him and retake the lead. This time I knew time was short so I drove a little harder and maintained the lead and won the heat.

I started on the pole for the main and was sticking to the low line when suddenly BASH! I got drilled in the left side I was running as low as I thought you could go, but another car thought he could run a half a groove lower and pass through me I guess but alas after getting through the quarter panel the L/R shock stopped his progress but by then the damage was done and I headed to the pits with a flat (almost new)L/R tire.
Tim Helms got to work and with an assist from Dan Fitzgerald's crew guy Blake I was back on the track .

The bent shock didn't seem to have a big negative affect because I was able to work my way back through the field. I was working on the fourth place car who seemed to be struggling on the dry slick surface , and I managed to get under him but I guess he didn't see me up along side because he turned down bending up my Right door. I backed off and tried again a lap or two later and make it cleanly under him down the back straight and the 3rd and fourth corners. I raced down the front straight and into the turn when BWAM!! I get drove into. I look to my left and see the offending "drivers" r/f tire and hood trying to make it through my Left door and quarter. I guessed he didn't realize that we couldn't occupy the same space at the same time so I slowed up and was going to let him pass me so I could give him his own lesson in physics. However, he couldn't catch back up so I took off again after the straightaway ahead 3rd place car.

I inched my way closer each lap and finally was able to catch up to him. We raced side by side a lap or two, but I was able to get by him and move to third. We ran out of laps to make anymore advancement so I settled for a hard fought 3rd place.

1-9-2010 first race of the year

The first race of the year is always exciting. This year we started out at the Pahrump Valley Speedway, where they have gotten their IMCA sanction back for 2010.
We started the day looking at a 1956 Cadillac in pahrump, my daughter Bon has decided she likes the 50's caddy and would like one for her first car.
Then over to Jerry Buesigs JEM machine to drop off a block to get ready to build a new engine. Jerry has a new location in Pahrump just behind Wulfy's casino and RV park
We got to the track and got ready for some wheel packing. The track was still pretty sloppy when they waved off wheel packing and announced they were having "hotlaps" for the modifieds ( I stayed at the trailer and scrapped the mud off the car)
My pill draw had me lined up third in the third heat, and during line up we were told we would get three warm-up laps before the green. I went out and did my three laps and saw the flag man giving me the black flag so I pulled into the pits for a consult with the crew.
We found the limiting chain on the R/R had snapped the bolt ( perhaps from the roughness of the track?) and told the track we wouldn't be ready for the heat and got the car ready for the main.
After careful observation after the heats I decided to really loosen the car up and take as much side bite out by adjusted the cross weight and the panhard bar because the track looked very tacky, but rough and starting in the back I knew I would have to be careful and work my way up through the field.
At the start of the main I knew I had made the right adjustments, the car would drive through the corners without catching the ruts and would give me great drive out of the corners. I avoided a couple wrecks and passed a few cars but every time I passed a car the yellow would come our and I would have to go back behind them. Once after a particular wreck I was up to 7th, but after scoring re-aligned the field I was back to 12th. During one wreck I hit the brakes to avoid the malay, but the brake pedal went to the floor and I rammed another car also taking evasive action. During the yellow, I adjust the brake bias and the brake pedal responded with slowdown power so I decided to stay out on the track. However after a few laps of racing the pedal was again mushy. A lap or two later a car pulled in front of me to slowdown and I rammed him when my car wouldn't slow down so decided I had better take the car to the pits before something major happened.
After inspection back at the house we found that one of the brake lines had started to leak and caused the brake problem so we have that fixed. Also the clutch started acting up in the Bert transmission, so I took that out and rebuilt it and we found some bend steering parts that we have changed and now I only have to build a new front bumper and nose piece.

Check out ( and maybe buy a few) pictures of all the action at the photocross website

Until Next time!

LVMS Duel in the Desert Thursday

The last race of the year for us was the 3 day Duel in the desert at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
This year was a lot of fun, My Mom and Dad made it out Thursday and Friday to help and watch But Tim and I were on our own Saturday night.
For some reason the last three or four years has seen me changing engines on Thursday night. Last year a bad distributor had us changing engines trying to find a crazy mis fire in the engine, this year my engine started rapping during hot laps.
I ran one of the later hot lap sessions this year, and after two laps the engine started making (a bad) noise so a quickly pulled in. Right away I got my Dad started on pulling the engine out, and I headed home to get our old faithful engine and Cherry Picker. By the time I got back my Dad was just about ready to yank the engine and we got the other ready to bolt in. Unfortunately, I was in the 9th heat ( supposed to start 3rd) but we didn't get done until about the 11th heat hit the track.
I lined up 22nd in the B main and was able to pass a few cars and wound up 16th.