Another night at the Mohave Valley Raceway .After a week of high winds and cold weather (for Las Vegas) Saturday was great, unfortunately very few IMCA modifieds took advantage leaving us a short field of 9 cars.
I lined up 3rd in the first heat and on the first start the second place car drove down on me on the front straight so I slowed down a little, not wanting to be the numbskull that wrecked out for the night in a heat with only 5 cars.
Slowing down turned out to be a good thing because that same car gave the leader a wicked shot in the rear bumper getting into the 1st turn, spinning him around directly into my path. I took evasive action, and was able to drive between the two cars into the lead. However the yellow flag came out so we had a complete restart.
With the pole sitter going to the pits, I assumed the lead. When the green flag dropped I took off into the lead. The track was pretty tacky and the car was HOOKED UP! I had made a lot of changes on the car in the last couple weeks trying to get more traction on the slick tracks and I had a push going into the corners, that allowed the second place car to catch up and we put on a pretty good side by side battle for a few laps, but I held on for the win.
Somehow that found me lined up on the pole for the main event, the crew and I went to work on the car trying to get some of the push out for the main, while maintaining the forward bite.
On the start the car was good, but still pushing going into the corners. I was out in the lead, but the 18 car of Bill Meyers had closed up and we raced side by side a few laps until the yellow came out. Scoring put me back to second, and on the start I dropped back to third, while racing with the fourth place car I missed the cushion getting into the first turn and spun off the track bringing out the yellow. On the restart I started passing cars again and made it back to fourth place. The car had pretty good drive off the corner, but I had to slow down too much to get the car to turn into the corner so I wasn’t really a factor in the battle for the lead. However, I did finish fourth, without any real damage to the car, so it is hard to complain.
Also, due to an early season rainout the track added another race on May 29th, 2010.
Hope to see you at the track
www.duricaracing.com
Showing posts with label dirt modifieds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dirt modifieds. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Mohave Valley Raceway April 17th 2010
It's hard to believe, but we are almost halfway done in the Mohave Valley Raceway season with the running of the 5th race of 12 IMCA points races this Saturday night.
We made a lot of changes to the car since the last race, hoping to be able to find more traction on the dry slick track that has become MVR. I Lined up outside of the front row for the heat and got pushed out of the groove coming out of the second corner. The car was pretty fast, but pushed terribly if I missed the corner entry even a bit. It seemed I was fighting a losing battle so I figured I would pull in and make more changes to get the car better for the main before I wrecked. Just as I slowed the engine started making horrible sounds, but after a quick check of the gauges everything still looked good but I pulled into the pits to get ready for the feature.
We found the header had busted at the mounting flange, I checked and adjusted the valves just to be safe, borrowed a welder from Bill McIntosh and welded up the header and changed the R/F spring to something a little stiffer in hopes of fixing the handling.
I started inside the second row for the main and on the start the leader pushed up in the second turn and I was able to move under him for second. A lap or two later I was able to make a move on the leader while the third place car was racing under me and I moved into the lead. We raced pretty much side by side for a lap or so when the yellow came out. Scoring had me in second so I lined up on the outside for the restart. When the green came out I drove hard into the turn, but lost the battle and settled into third. I followed the race for the lead, the car was handling pretty good now and I was able to maintain third with some pressure coming on from fourth. with just a couple laps to go, the second place car jumped the cushion and I drove under him into second place, where I ended up finishing.
On the front strait the car was spewing water from the vent tube, so I hope it is just a bad radiator cap, but I need to pull the one head off the car and give it back to Tim so he can get his engine put back together. Also it looks like I need to rebuild the transmission again because the clutch was slipping badly when I drove into the pits.
Until the next time thanks for reading and check out our website http://www.duricaracing.com for more information and pictures
We made a lot of changes to the car since the last race, hoping to be able to find more traction on the dry slick track that has become MVR. I Lined up outside of the front row for the heat and got pushed out of the groove coming out of the second corner. The car was pretty fast, but pushed terribly if I missed the corner entry even a bit. It seemed I was fighting a losing battle so I figured I would pull in and make more changes to get the car better for the main before I wrecked. Just as I slowed the engine started making horrible sounds, but after a quick check of the gauges everything still looked good but I pulled into the pits to get ready for the feature.
We found the header had busted at the mounting flange, I checked and adjusted the valves just to be safe, borrowed a welder from Bill McIntosh and welded up the header and changed the R/F spring to something a little stiffer in hopes of fixing the handling.
I started inside the second row for the main and on the start the leader pushed up in the second turn and I was able to move under him for second. A lap or two later I was able to make a move on the leader while the third place car was racing under me and I moved into the lead. We raced pretty much side by side for a lap or so when the yellow came out. Scoring had me in second so I lined up on the outside for the restart. When the green came out I drove hard into the turn, but lost the battle and settled into third. I followed the race for the lead, the car was handling pretty good now and I was able to maintain third with some pressure coming on from fourth. with just a couple laps to go, the second place car jumped the cushion and I drove under him into second place, where I ended up finishing.
On the front strait the car was spewing water from the vent tube, so I hope it is just a bad radiator cap, but I need to pull the one head off the car and give it back to Tim so he can get his engine put back together. Also it looks like I need to rebuild the transmission again because the clutch was slipping badly when I drove into the pits.
Until the next time thanks for reading and check out our website http://www.duricaracing.com for more information and pictures
Monday, March 8, 2010
Mohave Valley Marh 6th 2010
Saturday. March 6th 2010 Mohave Valley Raceway
After many 2 blown engines in the last two weeks, we scraped up enough parts to put one more together for Saturday nights racing at Mohave Valley raceway.
One good head of my engine, one good head from Tim’s, Cam, lifters and oil pan out of the 383 that spun a rod bearing crank and rods from the engine that kept eating cams, a freshly machined block and a little luck we were ready to race ( we hoped).
Threatening skies greeted us at the track and they promised to get the program run off as quickly as possible. The track looked fast and when I went out for hot laps the new engine ran great, we did however have an oil leak from the valve cover. We pulled off the valve cover and re-glued it in place and went out for the heat race.
I jumped into the lead from the pole position and never looked back, the track was super hooked up and the car was handling great, allowing me to go around the track nearly full throttle. I did however have one small slip in the second turn and I thought someone would be trying to pass, but afterward I found I had a huge lead the entire race.
But, the oil leak persisted; we took the valve cover off again and applied some silicone to the gasket surface. I checked the valves quickly and every thing was good to go.
I started on the pole for the main and jumped into the lead with the drop of the green flag. Once again I was nearly flat out around the top of the track, just needing to use the brakes just a little bit to get the car into the turns.
I was tearing off the laps, not hearing anyone behind me when the race was slowed by a caution. Again I took off at the green flag but now I could hear cars behind me.
The cushion started getting a little beat up and I was using more brakes getting into the turn but the pedal was getting softer. I changed my assault of the corners trying to use less brake but soon, I had hardly any brakes, Of course, when everything is going good the yellow flag came out again.
This start I had traffic on my back bumper, with little brakes I was rim riding the top, but the second place car could run the middle groove a little better and soon he slid underneath, he also brought the third place car with him and it was a three way battle for the lead. Just as things were heating up, the oil pressure light started flicking on when I threw the car hard into the turns, I adjusted my line a to drive straighter into the turn, but that allowed the first two cars to get ahead. I was now hoping the white flag would wave before I ran out of oil, when the yellow flag came out again for a spin. When I slowed down the oil pressure dropped to zero and then finally came back up, but it was much lower then normal, so I pulled into the pits. Just as I hit the pits it started raining, the track threw the checkered flag and reverted to the last green flag lap so I finished third.
So far this year we have won three heat races and finished third in the two races I finished, and we were able to drive the car into the trailer (always a good thing as my Mom points out)
And at least this week I will have something to work with and I will put a new set of bearing in the engine just to be safe.
After many 2 blown engines in the last two weeks, we scraped up enough parts to put one more together for Saturday nights racing at Mohave Valley raceway.
One good head of my engine, one good head from Tim’s, Cam, lifters and oil pan out of the 383 that spun a rod bearing crank and rods from the engine that kept eating cams, a freshly machined block and a little luck we were ready to race ( we hoped).
Threatening skies greeted us at the track and they promised to get the program run off as quickly as possible. The track looked fast and when I went out for hot laps the new engine ran great, we did however have an oil leak from the valve cover. We pulled off the valve cover and re-glued it in place and went out for the heat race.
I jumped into the lead from the pole position and never looked back, the track was super hooked up and the car was handling great, allowing me to go around the track nearly full throttle. I did however have one small slip in the second turn and I thought someone would be trying to pass, but afterward I found I had a huge lead the entire race.
But, the oil leak persisted; we took the valve cover off again and applied some silicone to the gasket surface. I checked the valves quickly and every thing was good to go.
I started on the pole for the main and jumped into the lead with the drop of the green flag. Once again I was nearly flat out around the top of the track, just needing to use the brakes just a little bit to get the car into the turns.
I was tearing off the laps, not hearing anyone behind me when the race was slowed by a caution. Again I took off at the green flag but now I could hear cars behind me.
The cushion started getting a little beat up and I was using more brakes getting into the turn but the pedal was getting softer. I changed my assault of the corners trying to use less brake but soon, I had hardly any brakes, Of course, when everything is going good the yellow flag came out again.
This start I had traffic on my back bumper, with little brakes I was rim riding the top, but the second place car could run the middle groove a little better and soon he slid underneath, he also brought the third place car with him and it was a three way battle for the lead. Just as things were heating up, the oil pressure light started flicking on when I threw the car hard into the turns, I adjusted my line a to drive straighter into the turn, but that allowed the first two cars to get ahead. I was now hoping the white flag would wave before I ran out of oil, when the yellow flag came out again for a spin. When I slowed down the oil pressure dropped to zero and then finally came back up, but it was much lower then normal, so I pulled into the pits. Just as I hit the pits it started raining, the track threw the checkered flag and reverted to the last green flag lap so I finished third.
So far this year we have won three heat races and finished third in the two races I finished, and we were able to drive the car into the trailer (always a good thing as my Mom points out)
And at least this week I will have something to work with and I will put a new set of bearing in the engine just to be safe.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Lest we forget, we are always open to offers of help, donations of time or equipment and cash...
www.duricaracing.com
www.duricaracing.com
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
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
Friday, February 19, 2010
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 .
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.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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!
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!
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