Thompson Speedway Recap 7/29/12

Bob and Jonny listen to the engine, with Big John standing security.

LB's Recap of the Day:

Sunday July 29^th the MRS series raced at Thompson Speedway. 34 cars attended, heat races were cancelled due to a short rain shower delay.

We attempted to run practice session with our used tires from the monadnock race a few weeks ago. They had about 60 laps on them, but I had lots of rubber build up on them, and possibly flat spotted them on the lap 48 accident that race. The car had such a bad shake in the front end, I thought the tires were bad. We changed to a different set of used tires, shake remained. I hoped those tires were also bad in some way.

Jonny and Bob talk carburetors

We mounted the new set of tires, and were ready to run the heat race, when the shower passed through. Heat races cancelled. I started the race in 16^th position, and finally narrowed it down to two possible problems.  The shake was either caused by a sticking front left brake caliper and warped rotor, or an issue with the power steering servo. The condition made front brakes slow to react on corner entry, and then steering wheel shaked violently through the corner until the pads were pushed away far enough from the rotor. A single problem on the car, caused me to lift off the throttle early, and then fight a shaking steering wheel all the way through the corner.  Luckily the car balance was very close, we were able to pit for an adjustment that helped me in dealing with the brake issue some (a stagger change and some wedge).

 

Amy and dad John converse under threat of darkening skies.

The crew did a great job ( Jon, Amy, Bob, Big John, Marty, Kim, Jen, Victoria, Linda) helping me get the 16^th place finish in spite of the car issue. We also were without our Troyer expert Rob Clorite, and crew members Alan and Jimmy.

We will not be attending open wheel event at Seekonk(with our car), but should have car ready for each of the August vMRS races. We are always looking a for a bit more help on the crew, as current crew members cannot all attend each race.

I will also be helping as spotter at several events coming up, including Whelen Mod events with Bobby Santos at Stafford and Thompson.

The Barnett crew with their homemade carts, etc, amidst other more financially flush teams.  Gotta love this picture.

Link to the vMRS Points pages:
vMRS Owner's Points
vMRS Driver's Points

Howie Hodge's Chrome Horn Photos:
Amy, Jen, and Victoria
LB, Barrett, and Jordan
LB and Hinckley
LB and Pasteryak
LB, the 56 and Barrett
LB and the 55
GREAT shot of LB getting into the rear of another during the turn 4/frontstretch incident
Starting to make his way through the incident
Squeezing through...
Uh, this is starting to look bad....
Looks like if LB had been a little bit slower this could have been a whole lot worse...
And there he goes...