Where,s the SAC. BOR Stories??

[The Inspector]

  Sure is quiet in here!

 No-one has any stories to tell?

Come on, wake up guys!

[Brian Watts]

After all the partying there still asleep.

Except for paradise they can be up till 4am and back up at 8am working on a car , doesn't have to be their car even. I get tired just watching their energy. Great guys and help anyone, their customer or not!!


Stories:

Crawford in the 9s, dude this was huge. I was around back in the 80s when the blowndoor slammers were big and going into the 6s was a huge deal and was at the track photographing when it happened and the crowd response and buzz after a run like that was huge. Sunday had the same feeling for sure. After the 9 sec run the next run when he was going to try and back it up I was in a man lift 40 ft off the ground behind the burnout box and looking down there was at least 25 people on the line and next to guardrail (yes I mean like 10 from the back of his car) and the stands were packed. Hadn't seen that much anticipation for a run in quite awhile.

Same buzz going on for Shawn Geers  Renn Kafer Cup car. Comes outta the gate and runs mid ten when there had only been one 10 in the class before  (Rich Dickson) and the run wasn't even straight or clean. That car has ALLOT more in it!! He was low E.T. by a full sec I think? Crazy!!

High anticapation for the first side by side 8 sec runs by the PM guys didn't happen like I had hoped even though Eric Calebrese in the Red Baron ripped off a couple. But it will soon their making the power just gotta get the track prep to be able to hold it.

The cool thing to me was the grandstands were so full you couldn't find a seat all day. Usually you get that for the ProMod,SuperStreet, and dragsters but then they empty out considerably. But the fans stayed all day! Watching the 17 sec sportsman cars as well as Lauffer's Paradise dragster!!

Parking lot was stuffed to capacity as well as show car area,pits, and swap.
My first BOR was #4 (yes I am old) so I have seen them for along time and this reminded me of the good ole days when it was packed every event.

For those people that want to travel to an event and always ask "which one"? BOR in May is hard to beat in my opinion!! The Friday Saturday night camping is a 2 day party with friends whether you know anyone or not!!

Ok I have rambled enough Had a great time and looking forward to the Sept BOR

Brian

[danimal]

towards the end of the day on sunday the announcer put out a call for available women to come to the starting line, i think that it was a joke on the crew guys... something to the effect of "short, shorter, and real short-term relationships wanted"(?)

well, sure enough, before too long there was a lady in the center island taking pics! i guess that being a starter at the drag strip has its advantages? who woulda thought that you could hook up like that?

unfortunately, not... she never even heard the cattle call over the mic, she just knew somebody :-/

[Mike Lawless]

Not Our Weekend

Our event started great with a record run for our car of 11.42 at just under 118mph on friday night. Then it ended early with the first round of qualifying on saturday afternoon when the motor started knocking after the burnout. Attempting the run anyway, it was down on power and when it started vibrating hard, I just shut 'er down and coasted thru to save parts. The run was gonna be bad anyway. No sense in risking any more hardware.
We then became spectators and crew members for John Schuerger. While being in the "Losers Section" of the grandstand was kinda fun watching the action of my fellow competitors, it's not something I want to get used to.

The Damage
We yanked the motor Monday morning and tore it down right away. I had run thru various scenarios in my mind, settling on the worst case scenario of another broken crankshaft. With the oil drained, there were a few chunks of aluminum, but no big chunks like I expected. The heads and valvetrain were in perfect condition, and the pistons and barrels were OK . The rod bearings were a bit hurt, but I've had worse looking bearings with no external symptoms. Once the case was split, we found the thrust bearing was beat up bad and had turned in the case. The crank looks undamaged, but the truth will be revealed when we have it crack checked. I still couldn't come with a reason why this would happen. All the runs had been hot, straight and normal with no indication of any abnormalities whatsoever.
And then the culprit was found. At least what I believe to be the cause. The drive tang for the oil pump was broken off, effectively shutting oil off to the motor. Had I run it any more, the damage would have been much more severe. But why did it break? Usually it's because of a chunk of stuff being sucked up into the gears, locking them up. But upon inspection, there was no internal damage. Not so much as a nick or scratch let alone any scarring indicating a locked pump. Irregardless, my opinion is the the pump tang broke, thus starving the motor of oil, and causing the bearing problem. The part hurt worst is the case, at least visibly. That and the timing gears. My eight year old Magnums have finall been damaged beyond the point of usability because of the oil pump drive tang being caught between the gears and the case.
Crack checking the crank will determine if the crank is still good. If so, all that will be required is a good polishing of the journals.

[dangerous]

What a bummer Mike. After such a fast run on Friday night!(half track and short time?)

Normally the first bearings to show any 'lack of oil pressure' will be the rod bearings.
Although if the oil clearance or end float of that thrust bearing was a little
on the tight side it may have saved your rods by failing first!.

The other scary thing that can happen is when that FW bearing turns in the case,
is that it blocks off the number 3 rod oil hole altogether!
What was the 'knock' that you heard?

[bugracer99]

 Our first trip to a PRA event (& 6th to any strip) in our new drag buggy was a blast!  Great people, lots of help in the pits & even a couple of good practice runs.  We even set a record on Sunday!  The announcer said that was "The most engine parts ever left on the track  with-out   leaving any oil !!"  Not quite the record we were dreaming about but what the hell, a record's a record!
 Except for that little oops the weekend was realy somethin' & like your govenor says, "We'll be back"

Tom V

[BusterJohn]

Well Mike...looks like we both spent our holiday in the garage...  

I got to the track on Saturday and decided to do one full throttle run since I really haven't been able to open it up this season. The car has been running so well this year but other then Phoenix I have only been able to run at an 1/8 mile track with a best time of 7.14 @ 96 mph at Irwindale a few weeks ago. I figured with it running like this I expected maybe an 11.3XX or better out of it. On my first pass it only ran a 11.61 which isn't what I expected...it just fell on it's face through 4th gear and stopped pulling. I was a little dissapointed but decided to just check my timing and clean up the jets...but everything looked ok. I decided after that to just concentrate on running the illusive 11.90 number. I was able to get close during the first round of qualifying with an 11.93 which is probably the closest I've ever been. On Sunday I got back to the track early to check my valves and plugs. A few valves were a little tight but I also found that the #4 plug had been hit by something and was almost completely closed...probably a small rock from the track that passed through the motor. I changed it out and the motor immediately sounded much better. I figured that was why it didn't run the number I was looking for the day before. My problem now was with the motor running much better I would struggle to slow down enough to better that 11.93 so I just worked on cutting a light. I was able to qualify #6 with that which is better then I usually do so I was feeling pretty relaxed about it.

First round of eliminations I get paired up Rick Oliver in the red "Transplant Racing" Ghia...Rick is a pretty good racer and a super nice guy. He has put me on the trailer before so I didn't take him lightly. I was able to cut a light on him and pulled away off the line...but as we went down the track I could see him fading way behind...I just slowed way down so I wouldn't break out and won with a 14.17 against his 23.84. He lost his throttle cable or something and was bearly able to make it down the track. Second round I get to line up with Steve Atkinson. I was all ready with a healthy serving of Redbull  ...just to help get that quick rection time. We launch together and all I heard was snap, crackle, and pop   Ring and pinion is broken!!! Oh well...what are you gonna do.

Even with the breakdown, I had a great time this weekend. I was able to hang out with my buddy Randy with the "Old Speed" car and his friend Tony on Saturday night and was able to get home early last night. I have already yanked the motor and trans. I took it apart and looks like that's all that broke. Since it's a new rhyno case I might get lucky with the pinion bore but I'll let SRM make that call. I've had this ring/pinion in the trans since last season and was do for a service...after 50+ passes on it with an 8.5" slick launching at 7k, it was overdue. He's going to pick it up tonight and we should be back on track this week.  

Anyone have a good 3.88 laying around their garage they don't need??? 

Congrats to all the winners!!! Rich Grise...you worked hard for that win and deserve it buddy. 

[Mike Lawless]

Hard to say what happened first Dave. The thrust main did in fact turn in the case and shut off the oil. But why? Thrust clearance and bearing fit were very, very nice upon assembly and no signs of any trouble until that last aborted run. So, the question I toss around is was the oil pump tang breakage first? That explains a lot. I'd imagine the tang rattling around coulda been the knock because it did peel a pretty big chunk of case out when it caught between the cam gear and case. Or, was the bearing first? There were no signs inside the pump of foriegn object damage (Known as FOD in the Air Force). The other main bearings looked really good. The thrust was a custom cut type 4, split for the flanged crank. I cut it myself and spent several hours getting the fit just right along with making sure the oil holes were enlarged to line up correctly. It had about .006" thrust and .0025" bearing clearance when I was done with it and about .002" crush fit to the main bore. It snapped into the case nicely unlike some the snap onto the crank until they're torqued down. But maybe I missed something. I'm fairly confident I did not miss anything. The motor had 25 runs on it with not a lick of trouble till now.

Anyway, the short time on the good run were 1.54, then 7.23 @ 93.7mph at the eighth. Not the best 60 foot I've ever had, (1.49 at Irwindale), matches the best eighth ET and falls short of the best eighth MPH by 0.6mph.

[Austin Larsen]

i met a bunch of people ive talked to on here but have never met in person but i was so busy all weekend i barely remember anybody

[Jim Gillum Racing]

i met a bunch of people ive talked to on here but have never met in person but i was so busy all weekend i barely remember anybody

  Wait until you get my age, Austin, you won't remember anyone.

[Austin Larsen]

wow you remembered my name i must just be that good haah

[Dean N]

BOR was fun for sure, i always enjoy hanging with great friends and meeting new ones.

you'll get a kick out of this.. not car related, well i guess it is in a way .  so, it was hot here in redding as usual, so i thought to myself, hmmm it probably wont be that cool at night this year so i will just take a light blanket; BIG mistake!  As usual the night was cold, i had on two sweat shirts and sweat pants, had the blanket and was cooooold.  I was digging around in the sub looking for something else and found three towels, so threw them on top, also thought to myself.. that windshield screen keeps heat out.. so how about keeping heat in.  i threw that on top as well.. and to top it off, i had a piece of cardboard in there, so that went on last.. all i needed was a bridge to crawl under .

anyways.. kept leaning the carb out and it ran better and better each time.  i can lean it out some more too, but a new stage 2 PP will be put in before the next time i run it.

I have to say, I witnessed what makes owning a vw and being apart of the vw community so great.   that is people helping people, trying to help others succeed.  thats is awsome and great people to be around!

[Austin Larsen]

Did i meat you dean?

[madoski]

Mike, John, sorry to hear about the damage.  Mike, it seems like you got the transaxle and suspension all dialed in (I know you did a lot of work on it and got it to where it's pretty much bullet proof), and now the engine's giving you trouble.  Could it be that you're just finding the "weakest links"?  I don't know how the oil pump would be a weak link though.  Good luck with the repairs, both of you guys.

[Dean N]

Did i meat you dean?

You sure did Austin, I stopped by friday night when you guys were getting ready to pack it in for the day.  I think you had your work cut out for you from the way it sounded.

It was good to meet you, I was the tall guy haha.

[Austin Larsen]

i thought i met you i couldn't remember if it was you or troy i met because when i met you i was like volks talk hmm no thats troy and when i got home i couldn't remember who it was i totally forgot what you looked like but it was nice to meet ya

[turbo_bob]

I was fighting the 60 foot for this whole event. I was off 1 & 2 tenths in the 60 ft. Just trying to launch harder with the new wheele bars, but the starting line just did not like my setup this time. I lowerd tire psi which did not help. I loward launch rpm and it started to come around.
This was gift day for sure:
I earned #2 quailifer with a 10.904 in S/C.
1st round Greg S. had engine problems.
2nd round MM tried too hard with a -.003 red light
3rd round Joel Carter had a hot engine. I had a half decent R/T & ET for this pass if it went to the stripe.
4th round, Chris Brown, #1 quailifer with a 10.903, red lite -.055, good thing, I was not ready and the starter was spastic, I saw green with a .274 R/T.

I would like to thank the contingency sponsors for helping out us racers. The sponsors on my car are:
Bugformance Motorsports Sacramento
SCAT
LowBugget.com
Kustom 1
Foreign Unlimeted
Palmquist Tooling Inc.

Long time sponsors:
Lloyd Mosher Ent.
Staggs Racing
Jim Behrens

[Austin Larsen]

ya after one of the runs the track guy came up to jimmy and said you guys are screwed this track is bald sumthing to that effect

[Zach Gomulka]

Same buzz going on for Shawn Geers Renn Kafer Cup car. Comes outta the gate and runs mid ten when there had only been one 10 in the class before (Rich Dickson) and the run wasn't even straight or clean. That car has ALLOT more in it!! He was low E.T. by a full sec I think? Crazy!!

Wow... That class sure has changed 

[Marty]

ya after one of the runs the track guy came up to jimmy and said you guys are screwed this track is bald sumthing to that effect

That track pretty much sucks EVERY year.

[Mike Soliven]

Even with a spool my 60's were not all that consistent.

[2manytoys]

Sometimes it is better to bring two cars.

I was planning on running the Split in the DRKC since Rick and I spent all Day Saturday doing a motor/tranny swap. The motor ran a 12.4 in a ghia off the gas, so I figured it would be good for a low 12 maybe a high 11 with my narrow butt,...but......

We made it to the track late, I got the car off the trailer and jammed over to Tech and got the green stamp and was off to the staging lanes. bummed into Lee B and he had talked to the tower and set it up for us to make one last pass.

Did a third gear rolling burnout and staged. The tree dropped and I dropped the clutch. Car pullled hard and fast off the line and buzzed up quick. As I shifted into second, the eninge stopped as fast a turning off a light.  I coasted to the middle of the track and sat on the far left side nest to the K rail smelling burning wires and wondering why the battery was now totally dead.

The motor wouldn't turn and was totally frozen. We decided to run the Blue car in DRKC,even with the little 2180 street motor that has been together since I ran the Notchback many years ago.

Rick pulled the motor out of the Zwit yesterday and apart and I will be needing one or two or more parts to fix it in order to make the Classic. I did rev it a little high, but the car was pulling and pulling. Anyway, I broke the crank iin two, destroyed a piston (#4), bent two rods, broke the case on the top and at the front of the lower pulley, shattered the rotor, the lower serpentine pully is toast, the flywheel looks like it may be history, bent some valve and push rods, etc... If you are going to do something do it all the way. Hey, the sump is still good and the carbs were way out of the way along with most of the heads. Oh, the starter for some reason engaged on the launch and shorted out, and melted the rubber on the ground strap, that was the smell I got at mid track. The tranny held up nicely,...thanks KCR.

[Austin Larsen]

at least you were able to save the carbs and the tranny
is the starter still good?

[BadDogRacing]

Looking past all the carnage, BOR59 was Good Times! Big thanks to Steve Hole and the whole BOR Staff.
Kudo's to the racers that had the right combinations and managed to go some rounds. Congrats to all the class winner's and thanks for keeping the show going. The PRA staff had everything running smooth. 
In our own camp we had limited success.

I broke a nose cone on a practice pass in a first and second gear wheel stand before Saturday night's first round of qualifying. Made a mad dash to secure a new cone and effect a repair. Missed the first round of qualifying. Hoped for the best but finished off the ring and pinnion in Sunday's 2nd round of qualifying.

Same story with the DragBus. Nice wheelie in the first practice run, broken ring gear in second practice run.....we pushed it over to the car show.

Lynn missed 2nd and went out in first round

Roger Williams went red in the first round

Nathan Cole broke something at the top end of the track in the 2nd round.

John Rocha broke out in the 2nd round.

Only one in the money from BDR was Brian Gomez, Semi's in PE

I would also like to  Congratulate the NASA Racers that went rounds at BOR.
Practice and seat time really does pay off.

Chad Axford - Winner Sportsman
Wayne Axford - Runner-Up PE
Brian Gomez - Semi's PE
Steve Teeters - R/U Super Mod (first BOR, First Pro Light, First time Index Racing)
Chris Brown - Runner-Up Super Comp

Above everything else, Catching up with good friends and meeting some new ones is the biggest reward Bugorama offers.

See You in the Winner's Circle

[Michael Meyer]

Chad Axford - Winner Trophy Class
Wayne Axford - Runner-Up PE
Brian Gomez - Semi's PE
Chris Brown - Runner-Up Super Comp

Add Steve Teeters to this list: Runner- Up in SM

[The Inspector]

 Thank you ALL for the "Stories" , Gentleman.

 Good reading,

 Austin, Try adding some more "Verbage",otherwise you,s are 'Short Stories",   J/K

 Still , appreciate hearng from you ALL!

 Keep em, coming!

[BadDogRacing]

Add Steve Teeters to this list: Runner- Up in SM

My Bad!
Thanks for the reminder Michael

[Jon Schweers]

Well for me being the “noob” in the PRA, I have been trying to fit in, and keep my big mouth shut! 
But it was nice to see the PRA do the 2006 Class Champions and the Class Runner-ups!
6 MONTHS LATE, but they did it and in front of a packed grand stands, that was COOL
I would like to thank the people who spoke up and said something about the “oversight”
It will make it better for all of us down the road, so this will not happen again   

For my weekend I had a grate time, the car had Gremlins all weekend long, but that racing
Thank you to the PRA for all their hard work, Brian Watts you are a CRAZY man to get up on that lift and takes the photos.

I would like to Thank Lance Rich Shawn Steve and Family
For there help with my first 2 races, I can’t tell you how much you all have helped me..

Congrats to both Rich and Steve

PS
Yes Mike the "Losers Section" in the grandstand it's not something I want to get used to also..

[Brian Watts]

Brian Watts you are a CRAZY man to get up on that lift and takes the photos.

Tell me if it was worth , hate to think I wasted my money LOL






At least now everyone will know it says "Mothers Milk" on the roof not just you, the painter and I, LOL

Car looks great and thanks for the "medicine" it was great!!!

Jager has a great set up to promote their product and a great spokesman.

See you next time

[Mike Lawless]

That is a BITCHIN' shot Brian. Good job!

[dangerous]

Brian! Good photos!
Can't wait to see more!!

[Brian Watts]

Thanks guys

Jason and I have been working all morning to try and get something up. I got sick somehow and sleep all day Monday so lost a day sorry

Keep checking the website-  www.acdrm.com

I think they are cool too , just trying to get some new stuff and keep it fresh for you all to enjoy

[Bad Bug Two]

…the motor started knocking after the burnout. Attempting the run anyway…
… The drive tang for the oil pump was broken off, effectively shutting oil off to the motor…

Do you have an oil idiot light and or gauge?

[redrum]

Bad A$$ Pics Brian!!!! John is the perfect spokesman, and some how he had Steve Atkinson & I helping promote at the Paradise trailer.
Thank's for being there and supporting.


Rich

[Brian Watts]

Thanks Rich, Congrats a a good day