NORMAN NOTCHES
'NOTHER ONE
Area 51 Dragway in Roswell,
N.M. was the venue for the latest battle in the Southwest
Superchargers.
Attendance was up across the spectrum as this was the
first race of 2005 for the Roswell track under new management.
Local racers, spectators, and cars in the SWSC turned out in great
numbers for the event
The first qualifying session began with a newcomer,
Rick Usrey ( slingshot/Ruidoso,
NM) making a personal best pass of 8.15 / 166 . Usrey's running
mate in that pair was slated to be Mike McCoy ( altered /
Colorado), but he was injured in a towing accident in the staging
lanes. His doctor has said he should be ready to return to
competition by the Sept 17 date in Hobbs. Points leader Julian
Moody (r.e.d./ El Paso) next came up to run with the rookie Jason
Kiscadon (r.e.d./ Alamogordo). Moody paces Kiscadon, 7.67 to 8.46
/ 161. Jacob Penner ran Sue Stringer in the third pair. Sue showed
"no time" on the clocks as Penner (r.e.d./ Seminole, Tx) went a
sub-index 7.50. Pair 4 was Mike Jones (altered/ Lubbock) vs. Bill
Norman/Norman Bros/Fat Boys Racing (funster/Seminole). Jones runs
a great 7.73/177 to the Normans farther-under 7.40. Vann Ivey &
Co. (altered/ Las Cruces) ran Gary Hill (r.e.d./T or C) next with
Ivey's 7.66 narrowly out-pacing Hills 7.76/175. Gene Hectors
(r.e.d./Big Springs, TX) first SWSC pass of 2005 nets him an
uncharacteristic 8.39. His opponent Alex Clements (funny
car/Alamogordo) double stepped to an 8.61/149. Saving the best for
last, Greg Powell (r.e.d./Hobbs, NM) ran a #1 Qualifying 7.71!
Q-2 began just after 8:00 p.m. as Kiscadon and Moody
suited up. Kiscadon improved to 8.29/ 168 to Moody's 7.76/171. Sue
Stringer and Jacob Penner were next. Sue gets in the program with
a 7.63/175 but Penner ran farther off the index than earlier,
7.43/180. Bill Normans funster next challenged Mike Jones'
altered. Jones failed to improve with a 7.92/ 168, Norman numbers
were 7.57/168. Gary Hills dragster paired with Vann Ivey. Hills
Mopar went under-index, 7.53/181 as Ivey's Hemi made a 7.87/145.
Eddie Tidwell missed Q-1 and had only one opportunity to get in
and ran with rookie Rick Usrey. Usreys slingshot pulled the wheels
moderately and slowed to a 8.37/152 while Tidwell's mount
(r.e.d./Andrews, TX) managed only an 8.30/ 160. The final pair in
Q-2 was the funny car of Harper/Clements and Gene Hector. Neither
car got in on this run, 8.40 and 7.20, respectively. Greg Powell
made the last run in this session, 7.98/171.
All runs are eligible for consideration in
qualifying, even sub-index runs. Consequently only three cars
qualified over the SWSC index of 7.70, with fully 5 cars under the
index.
Eliminations began as #1 Greg Powell decided to run
#8 Jacob Penner first pair. Powell's small block out-ran the SWSC
index and broke out (7.65/177) against Penner's winning 8.29/149.
Pair 2 saw Mike Jones #2 vs. #7 Bill Norman. These two treated the
spectators to a nice quick 7.64/168 to 7.56/155 pass, with Normans
funster advancing via the double-breakout rule. #6 Sue Stringer
and #3 Vann Ivey suited up to be fired. Ivey charged to a winning
8.10/163 when Sue ran under, 7.68/174. The last pair in Round #1
was #4 Gary Hill and #5 Julian Moody. Moody pedaled to a winning
7.76 against Hills unusual 8.12/170.
For the semi-final round, Penner paired with Moody.
Both had good r.t.'s and Penner went to the final 7.89 to Moody's
7.91. Vann Ivey met Bill Norman in the other half of the round.
Both recorded tardy starts and Norman & Team won on a
hole-shot-type victory, a winning 8.31 to a quicker 8.25.
Just after Midnight in the City of Aliens, at Area 51
Dragway, the SWSC Final Round was run. Both cars were out of the
SMC paddock of Jerry Norman and both owners reside in Seminole,
TX. " A Seminole car is gonna take it" and "A Norman chassis is
gonna win!" was heard more than once before the pass. At the
green, Penner had the better light but got loose and lifted, and
Bill Norman went around him to claim the win with a pass of
8.01/153.
Congrats to Norman Bros/Fabulous Fat Boys Racing
Team on their win in the Hemi-powered "Flashback" funster.
And a sincere "Well Done" to Chris Otero and crew,
Area 51 Dragway on a well-organized well-run first race with a
new crew.
Thanks to all the businesses that hosted The SWSC
displays, both Friday and Saturday. Home Depot, Farley's, Chili's,
Wal-Mart, and Pepper's of Roswell.
Vann Ivey won the Penner Auto & Machine Burnout Challenge. WOW
what a burnout!
The Jerry Norman
Race Cars Driver Bounty now falls on Jake Penner for having a
better r.t. than Julian Moody in the semi final.
Race fans, we'll see you in Hobbs, N.M. Sept 17! And
watch for more dates in Amarillo, Abilene, etc.!
Attendance 15 (one injured, one broke in
T-N-T)
Attendance in Q-1 13
7-Second runs 23
8-Sec0ond runs 13
Qualifying spread .262 7.76 to 7.50
Floyd Stringer
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