PENNER PUMMELS SWSC MIDLAND
The Southwest Superchargers
have just returned from their latest gathering, the all-new
Desert Thunder Raceway, Midland, TX. This eighth-mile is all
concrete, has covered bleachers, eight curved staging lanes,
corporate sky boxes and a new dedicated responsive staff.
For the SWSC's first 1/8 mile event Q-1 began at 6:30
0p.m. Eleven Southwest Superchargers responded to the call to
staging. Race 5 of 2005 kicked off with the Race 4 winner Greg
Powell (Hobbs, nm/SBC) meeting a SWSC newcomer, Garry Coufal (El
Paso/SBC). The SWSC 1/8 mile index is 4.80, and Powell's stretched
funster posted a
5.53/131 to Coufal's 6.64/98. It was immediately evident something
was amiss on the well-prepared Desert Thunder Raceway concrete
surface. After considerable discussion and conferencing, staff and
racers came to the inevitable conclusion the weather was too cold
to promote proper evaporation of the VHT traction compound. Any
individual was hard pressed to walk down the track and keep their
shoes on but the "shear strength" (compared to the SWSC racers
750-900 h.p.) was not there. Consequently, from the stands (and
from the drivers seats) there was effectively not going to be any
traction!
Don David (Odessa, TX./SBC) and Julian Moody (El
Paso/K-B) next tempted the racing gods with short cars and mega
motors, respectively. David's predictably crossed-up Bantam made a
5.63/126 vs. Moody's 5.10/108. The Flying Dinosaur of Mike McCoy
(Pueblo, CO/B-1) ran a very crooked, very cautious 9.04/55 single,
followed by an equally wary Gene Hector (Big Springs, TX./SBC)
10.28/45. Jack Bartlett (Midland, TX/SBC) driving a well-known
rear-engined dragster recently purchased from Greg Powell
,showed up to be the next SWSC rookie of note and ran Gary Hill (T
or C NM/Max Wedge). Bartlett's 7.21/81 didn't hold a candle to the
only sub-index pass of the night, a 4.77/144 by Hill! NICE JOB!
The next pair through the water box was Jacob Penner (Seminole,
TX/BBC) vs. Sue Stringer (Alamogordo, NM/BBC). Sue managed a soft
8.60/75 to Penner's admirable 5.44/132. Bill Norman (Odessa,
TX/Hemi) drove his and brother Jerry's "Flashback"
comp-coupe-style funster to a respectable single run of 4.97/133.
Just before 8: pm, with a sharp one-run learning
curve under their belts, our dedicated SWSC racers and crews
reported to the staging lanes for Q-2. Rookie Coufal improved to a
6.27/117, but Powell slowed slightly, 6.48/115. Moody went quicker
in Q-2, a superior 4.88/140, but David stumbled significantly,
9.44/47. Rookie Bartlett stepped up, 6.39/137, but Gary Hill
produced a perfect pass, 4.80/140! Mike McCoy charged to
 6.14/119,
bye run. Penner replicated his Q-1 pass, 5.40/127 single. Sue
ran a troubled 8.39/177, bye. Finally, Hector and Norman run
7.82/63 and 5.61/105 respectively.
Bill Norman won the Penner Auto and Machine Burnout
Award during Q-2 for the best burnout on the "Flashback" funster
of the Norman Bros/Fabulous Fat Boys Racin Team.
After the DTR crew applied a fresh coat of VHT in an
effort to gain more bite, the Southwest Superchargers lined up for
Round 1 Eliminations at 9:pm sharp. First out was #4 Jacob Penner
vs., #9 Jack Bartlett. #5 Greg Powell had a broken chassis
component and relinquished his position almost happily to his old
car with its new owner at their inaugural event. But when the flag
dropped Bartlett's 6.41/131 could not catch Penner's winning
5.700/123. #3 Bill Norman pulled through to run #6 Don David. Dons
much man-handled 7.04/82 couldn't match Bills better 5.23/119. #2
Julian Moody med #7 Mike McCoy in the next pair. McCoy spun and
slid to a 6.38/85 while Moody managed a great 4.91/139. In the
strangest run on a night hard enough to understand, #8 Rookie
Garry Coufal won against #1 Gary Hill when Hill spun hard enough
to hit the rev limiter which killed (!) the engine! Coufal 7.46/11
to Hills 11.18/32 WHEW!
The SWSC semis came off at 10:pm as the final four
pulled through the Desert Thunder Raceway staging lanes. Rookie
Garry Coufal lost the closest race of the weekend at DTR to Jacob
Penner. Penner's tire-blazing 6.67/116 squeaked past Coufal's
crossed-up pedal-pumping 6.79/112 to take Penner to the SWSC
final. From the timing tower we heard semi-finalist Bull Norman
fire then shut off. Looking out the window we saw Henry :The
Wizard" Keller under Moody's K-B. Two or three minutes later we
were given the sign, single run for Norman to the finals. Bill
fried the hides repeatedly, eventually
 sideways
enough to lift the right slick off the DTR surface completely!
7.32/71.
With the cool weather, race car cool down time was
minimal. Pack the 'chutes, fill the tank, charge the battery,
check the tires, race. Repeat finalists Bill Norman (Jerry Norman
chassis) and Jacob Penner (Jerry Norman chassis) reported to the
lanes just pre-11:pm. His previous close call in mind, Norman
staged with Penner. At the green Bills hesitant light shows his
caution. As it spun for the second time towards the tower, Norman
throws in the towel and watches Jacob Penner take the win light ,
6.82/108 to Bills educated 8.07/60.
Congratulations to Jacob Penner, the SWSC Race 5
Champion! Nicely done job on a tricky, tough track surface.
Special
"Thanks" to Lee Proctor and family from the GPR pits for the fish
fry for the SWSC people. But we understand the cook shall remain
"nameless". Thanks again.
Our thanks and a sincere "Well Done" to the staff
and crew of Desert Thunder Raceway. They did everything imaginable
and possible to build and prepare a top-notch facility. Watch for
the SWSC to return to DTR in 2006.
Check out the major shake-up in SWSC points!
We'll see you Nov. 12 @ Area51 Dragway, Roswell and
Nov. 26, Abilene!
See You at the Races!
Floyd Stringer
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