POWELL POUNDS SWSC FIELD
The Southwest Superchargers returned to Hobbs, N.M.
October 17 for the re-run of an earlier rained-out event.
Eleven competitors made the trip to Hobbs for the
fourth SWSC event of 2005. Once again rain postponed the race,
but only for a day. Sunday came to be an almost perfect day for
drag racing....partly cloudy, cool temps, lots of enthusiasm.
Considering the Western Regional Bracket Finals
going on and their number of cars, the SWSC racers got only one
experimental pass to evaluate their combinations.
At Noon Gary Hill (NM/ Max Wedge) and Sue Stringer
(NM/ BBC) rolled out to be Pair #1. With the new SWSC index of
7.60 firmly in mind and motor, Gary Hill goes a mildly sub-index
7.56/177. Sue runs an excellent 7.62/176. The second pair out
was Bill Norman/Norman Bros./Fat Boys (Tex/Hemi) vs. Jacob
Penner (Tex/BBC). Penner popped a cylinder wall, (no oil on the
Hobbs Motorsports surface Thank You to the SWSC Diaper Rule) and slowed to an
8.13/142 while Norman was moving to a nice 7.69/164. Next up was
Eddie Tidwell (Tex/SBC) and Mike McCoy (Colo./ B-1). Tidwell ran
his best-ever in his new car, 7.73/175. McCoy, worried about his
cars ability to run within the SWSC rules, spun, lifted,
crossed-up, and still ran 8.16/168. Greg Powell (NM/ SBC) showed
up in his funster/dragster with a new untested combination
against current points leader Julian Moody (Tex/ KB). Moody put
down a great 7.70/175 but Powell's 7.63/17 stole the round. Al
and Charlotte Schmidt (Tex/BBC & Tex/ SBC) brought their Pro-Mod
style Chevrolets to Hobbs to play. Al's Camaro ran 8.49/157 but
Charlotte's '57 Sedan Delivery slowed to a 10.89/91. Finally,
Don David (Tex/ SBC) came up for a single. David's Bantam went
7.84/174.
The Southwest Superchargers pairings for Round #1
Eliminations were: #4 Norman Bros vs. #5 Moody, #3 Hill ran #6
Tidwell, #2 Powell met #7 David, and #1 Qualifier Sue Stringer
went against #9 McCoy when #8 Penner couldn't make the call to
Staging.
Greg Powell chose to be first pair of Elims. Powell "bulbed",
ran another 7.63/177, David got the win @ 11.36/69 (broken
crankshaft). In Pair #2, Bill Norman went 7.76/176 but Moody ran
a near perfect 7.61/153. Gary Hill ran Eddie Tidwell next. Hill
got the win in this round with a 7.64/164 to Tidwell's
respectable 7.70/175. The last pair was Mike McCoy vs. Sue
Stringer. Sue broke a $3 part and stumbled to a losing 7.98/153
as McCoy took a 7.90/167 win.
Rd #2 began as McCoy (B-1) and Moody (K-B/BBC)
moved toward the bleach box. McCoy staged first but left early
(no time, no nothing!) giving Moody a break-out win, 7.57/177.
The other half of the semi's was Greg Powell and Gary Hill. In
spite of his first round red light, Powell appeared courtesy of
the SWSC "quickest loser" substitute rule. Don David broke in
winning Rd#1, Powell ran 7.63, advanced to Rd#2. So.... both
drivers pushed their mounts to sub-index runs, Hill 7.55/178 to
Powell's closer 7.59/175, double break-out rule.
As the final loomed on the clock, #5 Qualifier
Moody was...taking a nap? Well, resting his eyes anyway. Powell
was on his cell busily discussing his day so far. Both loaded up
for the lanes around 6: pm. As their "tree" came down, Moody's
red-light burns, AND he runs under, 7.57/17. Powell did his best
but broke a trans in the attempt, 8.00/ 136 for his first win in
a long while. A warm SWSC "Congratulations!" to "GPR!"
Stay here for the latest on the SWSC! Desert Thunder
Raceway will host the SWSC Oct 29. Then on to Area 51 Dragway
Roswell Nov 12.
Entries 11
7-second runs 18
8-second runs 4
Long-Distance Award Mike McCoy (657 mi) THANKS!
Congratulations to Don David on winning the Penner Auto &
Machine Burnout Challenge!
Special Thanks to the Management and Crew of "Chili's"
Hobbs
And our SWSC "Chef Extraordinaire" Herman Ybarra....GOOD
JOB!
See Ya at the Races!
FR Stringer
