First of all, I love that freaking car. It has taken such a beating over the last few years, I can't believe it still moves under it's own power. Today was no different. 
Headed to Cecil County Dragway with hopes that the weather would work in my favor and that I'd maybe be able to squeeze out a 10.9x. It went 11.01 @ 125 last year. Then during the summer, I tried some changes that ended up slowing the car down a bit. I went back to my original set up prior to the challenge this year, bu was haunted by transmission troubles making it particuarly difficult shifting into 3rd and 4th.
After the Challenge, I tore the trans out and ripped it apart, fixed it and crossed my fingers that it would work. I made one shake down run this morning to make sure it would shift and nothing was going to fall off of it....all seemed well, so I took it back out and hammered it. Went:
11.04 @ 124.88 with a 1.64 short time
Close, but feeling confident I'd get there. Next pass, wanted to go out a bit harder since I bogged a bit on the first pass. Fattened it up a bit, lined it up but spun hard in 1st
11.05 @ 125.67 on a 1.80 ST
Need to find the hook...make some adjustments to my launch:
11.01 @ 124.73 with a 1.66 ST
Ugh!!! By now, even the ladies working the timing booth were sharing my pain. So freaking close...and the second time it's gone 11.01! I'm getting nervous that it's not going to do it at this point. I think about what changes to make, but after making minor adjustments, they really did not change the end result. I really am thinking that this is all I'm getting out of this set up. I consider going with slightly bigger jets, but the car didn't like them last year and ended up popping the headgasket. Plus, it's just running so damn well...egt's are a bit on the warm side, but A/F is good, no knock and it's pulling great. Decide to drop 1/2 psi from the slicks and just really hammer it, hoping to drive a 10 out of the car. After a long wait due to an accident on the track and me worrying that I was ending the year with an 11.01 for a second year in a row, I get up there for my last pass:
10.96 @ 124.74 with a 1.63 ST
Woo hoo!!!! After getting my slip and celebrating with my new friends at the timing booth, I headed back to the pits to celebrate a bit with the other SDAC guys that made it out. I was...and still am...beyond excited!
Did I mention how much I love that freaking car?
Laminate that slip!
