Gateway Race 8/15/09

Racing 8-01-09 was another heads up pro tree race this time Bob Ruppel joined us in his Nova {see projects ultra Noval} First the day started off very rainy and it looked bad for racing. I called Gateway and they said it was going to start anyway after the rain. Bob V. And I drove out there around 4:00 He in my 69 Chevelle and I in the Malibu {which I had just put in another new transmission after my TCI direct drum broke after Benton} Bob R met up with us at the track. The Air was very Humid and both cars were running about 2-3 tenths of a second slow. My first 2 time runs were 12.30 and Bob V time runs were 13.30 It wasn't looking good for the Big G team. But Bob R ran 12.03 in his 2nd time run! Very good combo for winning! But on that run his battery flew out and the alternator rubbed a huge hole in the case and spewed battery acid all over the engine. We had to get him going he was the only one running the number. So with only pliers we stole the battery out of Sheila's van and put it in Bob's car. Bob V went out in round #1 with a 13.2 {in May's air it should have been a 13.0 , I changed the timing curve and spark plugs just before this race} I won round 1 because of the other guy broke out. Bob R was way ahead of his opponent but let off as to not break out but let off too much and let the other guy pass him and he lost, judging by the 1000' time he would have run another 12.03! Don't laugh, we've all done it. Round #2 I knew I had to cut a light to have any chance, so I when I deep staged I pulled up another few inches and super deep staged! It worked I cut a .140 light and the other guy cut a .238 but on the top end he nosed out ahead and ended up beating my 12.2 by .03 seconds with a 12.1. The night was over for all of us. We all had fun and Bob R drove home with no battery! Next Race will be 8-15-09

Some shots of Big G in the 81 Malibu

Bob Vasquez running the 69 Chevelle

Bob Ruppel and the Ultra Nova ran strong numbers