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Tuesday, April 26, 2005

PRAYERS ANSWERED

Please share in my joy....

As many of you know, my father was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Hodgkins lymphoma in January. He has been undergoing chemo since February. The latest PET scan results show that the cancer cells are GONE! He will continue with the chemo until this round is done, but there is no better news to hear than that!!!!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!

I LOVE YOU, PAPI!

::ERICA::

PS- I ate at a Chef Lee's today, and got the most profound fortune in my cookie...


Dream as if you'll live forever,
Live as if you'll die today.

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Monday, April 25, 2005

The "BIG" Boys (..and GIRLS)

Ispent the weekend attending my first National event (as more than a spectator). There is a reason why these boys are professionals... and its more than just a title, folks.

Its been Dan's dream a long time coming to try and qualify for a National event in Pro Mod. So, he took Bill George's '63 Vette to IHRA Rockingham this past weekend. Mind you, Bill's Vette has an older Fulton 706cid nitrous motor, and is undergunned for a National event, but a little consistancy and a lot of heart will go a long way. It was Dan's first time taking the Vette down the 1/4 mile (he races in a local 1/8th mile Quick 8 series) and first round he blasted a 6.33 @ 220 mph. At the end of 1st Round, he was #11 on the roster, and prepped for the final nighttime qualifying attempt. There were 31 cars trying to get the 16 top qualified positions. After another bogging 6.33 @ 221.6 mph pass, Dan landed at the #15 position, and most importantly, in the field for Sunday's eliminations.

There was a no more estatic crew than us... all the other teams in their high dollar motors, matching crew uniforms, radios, and whatnot; us in some raggedy looking Parker Chassis t-shirts (the ones with holes in them) qualifying in Dan's first attempt at a National event. Although he went home 1st round at Rockingham, he accomplished what many can only dream of... myself included. The man knows what he's doing... he can make do with what others could not imagine. He's the reason I'm confident going into Pro this year... with someone that good in your corner, its hard to go wrong.

Anyways, back to what I was talking about... the IHRA difference. It made me aware of how different "Sportsman" type series are. What you constantly hear our racers complain about doesn't exsist at the Pro level. Folks, reality check... you're babied in these other series. These guys mean business, they are professionals, and they aren't worried about this person, the internet, or any other nonsense... they demand the respect of a PRO, and that's how the IHRA treats them. They know their place and they do their jobs well. We moan and complain and beg to be babied.... which marks us as just that... babies in a bigger picture. People I once revered as the epitome of Professionalism in our sport are merely big fish in a small pond... and there is an entire ocean beyond the horizon. Its time to grow up and take notice.... there's a bigger picture out there, and if you want to be respected, its time to act the part.

One thing that was very refreshing was the amount of women participating that I heard over the PA in IHRA. From Alcohol Funny Car (Bunny & the Boys), Top Sportsman, and down the line... there were plenty of ladies in the ranks. That is wonderful and very encouraging to hear!

My turbos finally came in last week! Time to get to work hardcore! D-day is quickly approaching, and I don't want to miss it!

Take care racefans!

Be Safe, Go Fast!
Erica


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Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Long Time Gone...

It seems as though an eternity has passed since last season. Traveling the country race to race, you gain an extended family in the racing circuit. Fall out of the loop a couple of races, and you feel lost...

I had a great time at the Fun Ford Atlanta event. Although it pains me to not be out there racing, I manage to keep myself occupied (and keep front row seats) by shootin' the action on the starting line for Hardcore.

I loaded up my 2005 Mustang Body-in-White from Greg on Saturday. Greg is from Mustang Parts Specialties, and made the haul to Detroit to bring back the BIW for me. Thanks, Greg! MPS is the place to go for any take of mustang parts for sure! Thanks also to my buddies Cale Aronson & Matt Jones for letting me leave the trailer & 05 parked in their pit Saturday night so I could go to my hotel without toting it around with me. In case you all didn't know, Matt has my vote for the absolute BEST track burger available! YUM! You guys ROCK!

It was great seeing the legendary Pro 5.0 "Den Mother" Debbie Shepard back out at the track. Debbie has done so much for these guys over the years, and it was great speaking with her. I have so much to learn!! :) The PRO guys were out in full force at Atlanta... Chuck Samuel was driving Kevin Marsh's new IHRA Pro Stock Escort (with a little blue bottle tune up!), Mike Herring was as consistent as a bracket car all weekend, and the rest of the crowd was all on property trying for that $20k check. Chuck Simons had a scary incident Saturday(I think my heart is still caught in my throat on that one), but I was glad to see the damage being minimal and them actually taking out one of the bigger IHRA hitters on Sunday! I can't wait to be out mixing it up with these guys! I will be the first to come in under the new allowed Big Block w/ twin turbos powerplant. Its gonna take some big numbers to compete with the IHRA guys or the 800+inch nitrous guys!

The latest edition of Tire Tracks has a brief preview on my PRO efforts. A couple of the promo pictures that Focus Firm took were used, along with some details about the car and the combination. Thanks for the ink, FFW!

I spoke with Mr. Moody on Saturday as well. Motor is being assembled this week! I'm extremely excited. I'm headed up there to help out and learn about the new powerplant (never messed with anything but 302's). My turbos just came in today, and some other odds and ends are coming in as well. Its time to get busy!

On a side note... there is a song that's been stuck in my head for days now. Its by my favorite band, 3DoorsDown. The song is called Be Somebody, here's an excerpt from the song:

I'm trying to be somebody...
I'm not trying to be somebody else,
This life is mine I'm living
Don't you know me? I won't ever let you down
I won't be nobody else
This life is mine and I am my own

Be safe, Go Fast!

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Thursday, April 14, 2005

A Day Late...

...And a dollar short. Story of my life.

Ford Racing called me today... I was approved for a 2005 Mustang Body in White. Too bad they're only a little too late, but nonetheless, I'm picking it up at FFW Atlanta. Its coming back to the shop, and will find some sort of good use for it. Oh well, I've contemplated putting an '05 body on the T-Bird in 2006. Figure I'd get it out and running, and by then someone will have a carbon fiber body mold made of the '05 Stang. Yea, that's gonna be expensive.

FFW Atlanta is this weekend. I'm headed up after work on Friday to check things out. Its the first Fun Ford race I've been to this year. I just don't like sitting there when I'm not racing. Oh the PAIN! It is some consulation knowing that mine will be out very soon, albeit -AGAIN- only a race short of the $20k cheese race. A girl could get lucky, ya know.

I've had some great responses in the Marketing department... more good news to follow.

Not a whole lot happening with the car this week, just waiting on some key components to make it in to finish the fab work.

Be Safe GO FASTER!!!!!!

Erica

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Friday, April 08, 2005

Monkey Bars

So yesterday, I grabbed my monkey bar handbook (re: the SFI 25.2 spec book) and went to work figuring out what needed to be added to the chassis. Now, surprisingly, I had no problems figuring out the diagram for the transmission crossover, but I realized that I knew NOTHING about bending bars, notching them, and fitting them to the car. Dan just stood there laughing: me, tape measure in hand, trying to figure out how to measure the bar and mark where the notches go. Little did he know, I pay attention more that he realizes, and remember seeing him marking and using the notching machine. But of course, seeing and doing are two completely different things. So, I measured, and measured again, and then marched over to the tubing to pick up a section of tube to cut. I measure it out (Dan watching with a smirk...) and grab the handle of the chop saw, until it struck me....


CAN MY HAIR CATCH ON FIRE FROM ALL THESE SPARKS??!??

By this time, Dan and Biscuit are rolling on the floor laughing at me. Well, in my defense, neither of them have long hair. Laugh all you want, but the chop saw is mounted on the wall with a steel backer plate behind it to protect the wall from catching on fire. So, what exactly is stopping these hot embers from landing on my head and catching on fire? Despite mamed visions of a singed ponytail, I took my chances with the sparks and took my tube back to the car.

So, I mark at what angle the tube will attach to the current tranmission cross section, and head over to the notching machine. After a few trips to the notcher for fine adjustments, I made the cuts and my first bar without further incident. I will, however, be altering my shop work clothing to include a ball cap. Now I know why the guys are always wearing them!


On another note, I spoke to Mr. Moody, who has everything ready to assemble my motor. Right now, they are dyno'ing Gullett's stuff for Atlanta, then I promised to head up there to help him assemble the motor. After its done, we're going to put it on the engine dyno as well to tune it and get it ready. I've never had anything on an engine dyno before, but I've watched Gullett's motor being dyno'd last year, and it is absolutely incredible. Until then, though, its back to work....


Be Safe, Go Fast!
::Erica::

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Wednesday, April 06, 2005

VISA, Its everywhere you want to be...


...And right now, I want to be RACING.

Unfortunately, my Visa is hooked to my checking account, so I'm not going anywhere fast.

I did, however take inventory of all the parts that I need to order, and thankfully, I won't be eating too many peanut butter sandwiches to finish the bird. A few odds and ends to order like a boost gauge, seat belt harness, window net, and a Kirkey seat cover. Most all that is left to do is just fabrication and labor work, so it looks like a late April test session will be in my future...

My only large expense left is my 20 layer driving suit & Hans device. One can never be too safe, nor too fashionable... which sets me back a whopping $1500.

Oh well, back to the advertising grindstone... I've got a Designer Stroud Driving Suit to pay for!

Be Safe, Go Fast!
::ERICA::

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Monday, April 04, 2005

Hard at Work

Well, the weekend didn't go quite as planned. I didn't get out to see Mr. Moody, but I did spend all Sunday working on the car. All of the old bracket racing aides and wiring has been torn out of the car, and I removed one of the wheel tubs so that Dan has room to weld in the bars to complete the funny car cage. Dan welded up the pro-jack mounts and got the car up on the Pro-Jacks. He also took the plasma cutter to the inner transmission mounts and bars, making room for the required floor x brace to comply with 25.2 standards. Part of the steel floor pan will need to be replaced, and I've decided I want to take all the tin work and get it powder coated for a cleaner, more durable look.

My midplate will be here on Tuesday, so that will allow the drivetrain to be aligned and the transmission mounts fabricated. Then the rest of the cage and the double framerails will be added to stiffen the chassis, and the seats mounted and adjusted for yours truly.

Check out the Update pictures for a look at the bird gettin her makeover.

Be Safe, Go Fast!

::Erica::

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