COLORADO WEATHER 2
SOUTHWEST SUPERCHARGERS
0
The Southwest Superchargers most
recent outing was a nice trip to Pueblo Motorsports Park,
Pueblo, CO. This NHRA facility at 4900' elevation, though
several decades old, has been wonderfully maintained, sports
great bite, and is just generally a fine place to drag race. Too
bad the Colorado monsoon season was not as cooperative as the
PMI staff and local racers.
Friday night several SWSC regulars went out to PMI to
consolidate their high altitude tune-ups. But about7:00 p.m. a
steady rain quickly developed to end racing for the evening.
WEATHER 1, SWSC Racers 0
Saturday morning dawned cool and cloudy but the
weather man was predicting a 40% chance of showers and highs in
the mid-80's. After a well-received display at Brakes Plus of
Pueblo (two locations), it was off to the races! Round #1 of
time trials began at 1:30 for the eight SWSC attendees. Ken
Davis brought the "Smokey Bear" funny car to join our foray into
Colo. and tuned it to a nice 7.77 in his first shot at the
quarter mile. Gary Hill decided to take the wheel of his "Quick
Thrill" dragster and displayed a great 7.71. Julian Moody and
crew brought "The Pipeliner" up to run 7.82 off the trailer.
Sue Stringer had a master cylinder seal fail, no pass. Greg
Powell's funster (Hobbs, NM) managed a 7.86. Mike Jones made the
trip from Lubbock with the "Voodoo Child" and came out of the
box with a 7.81. Jacob Penner's (Seminole, TX.) dragster ran a
decent 7.80. But local resident Mike McCoy made the best pass of
Q-1, a superlative 7.54. Who said home track advantage doesn't
exist!
Q-2 was initiated around 3:00 p.m. and the tune-ups
were sharp. Powell pace quickened to 7.72. The altered of Mike
Jones improved with a 7.73. Gary Hill made a deadly consistent
7.71. The Davis flopper slowed with an 8.27. Moody's
transmission forced a slower 7.90. Penner left early, no time.
Sues car still refuses to make a decent pass, lift and shut off.
And the B-1 powered altered of Mike McCoy, slightly slower,
7.72.
Southwest Superchargers eliminations started as #1
qualifier Mike McCoy moved toward the lanes, #8 Sue Stringer
close behind. Mike took the stripe with a soft 8.70 over Sues
lackluster 11. sec attempt. Next up was #2 Gary Hill who got a
single when #7 Moody's trans refused to participate. Hill again
ran a consistent 7.73. #3 Greg Powell appeared with #6 Jacob
Penner. Powell moved first (.005 light!) but Penner's big block
came out on top 7.70 to 7.78. Lastly, #4 Mike Jones ran #5 Ken
Davis. Jones' altered hung on for a nice victory, 7.76 to 7.88
for the funny.
By this time the clouds were becoming not just obvious
but ominous. Plans were under way for an early Rd 2 when it hit.
Oh Brother did it hit!
First it was the rain. But very shortly the wind
became more than issue. Within a few minutes there were trash
barrels blowing by, lightning frequent and close, rain in
sheets, then hail, and the wind was blowing an estimated 100
mph. Several racers later said they feared losing their entire
rigs, or worse. One camper window was destroyed, one truck
slightly damaged by debris, the tracks power plant was
destroyed, an electrical transformer struck by lightning, as was
the track timing tower. I'm gonna stick my neck out here and
tell you we had a tornado less than a quarter mile from the
pits.
When the storm passed and our SWSC racers got their rigs
ready to leave, the road from PMI back to Pueblo was flooded,
water 60 feet wide at the bottom of an arroyo we had to cross to
get to town. Three hours later the water was slow and low enough
to cross and get out. Reports later confirmed a tornado in
the area, and three inches of rain in less than an hour! But
everyone was okay, the track would repair and the SWSC already
has an invitation to return in the spring of '07!
WEATHER 2 SWSC 0
Our thanks to the Crew and Staff, and Jay and Erlene,
of PMI, we look forward to returning in 2007 and finishing our
next race.
So...this time Mother Nature wins. But we'll be back,
stay tuned! The SWSC next travels to Midland, TX. Desert
Thunder Raceway Sept 23. Then on to Hobbs, NM Oct 21!
Take the time to check out the
Pueblo Motorsports Park website here.
See you at the races!
Floyd
