FERGUSON FOILS THE FIELD @ AMARILLO
The Tate Branch Southwest Superchargers campaigned @ Amarillo Dragway August 3
and Rodney Ferguson took home the SWSC "Jerry"
With
great weather in the forecast and nine SWSC racers attempting to take home top
honors, Q-1 began as the day cooled around 7:30. First out of the Amarillo pits
was Ray Stringer driving a nice r.e.d. for Steve Meiwes of Muleshoe, Texas. His
opponent in the first pass was SWSC Rookie Paul Vinyard of Albuquerque. Paul
made a great off-the-trailer pass of 4.677/147.12 but Ray outpaced with a
terrific 4.622/152.02. What a spectacular start for the SWSC's return to
Amarillo! Next up was the slingshot of Jacob Penner vs. Christian Leffew. Jacobs
mount struggled to a soft 5.364/98 as Christian went 4.666/146.56. Ricky Esparza
brought his front-engined car out to run Rickie Weeaks' Ford-powered altered.
Esparza went straight to the head of the class with his unbeatable
4.600(!)/153.58. Weeaks' altered made a full straight run that netted him
4.935/139.51. Hereford, Tx. resident Rodney Ferguson came out in Wayne and
Gaylene Reinert's r.e.d. and lined up vs. Joe Navar. The Navar clan brought
their Top Dragster to this meet for testing with all its extra "hardware". Joe
made a 4.3629/158/91 to Rodney's 4.798/144.82. Finally rounding out Q-1 was
Gilbert Tejeda. An officially ignored 4.447/154 was the result.
Just after
8:30 the SWSC pulled out for Q-2. Penner started the round with Leffew. Jacob
improved to a 4.860/134.70 to Christians consistent 4.652/147.53. Rodney met Ray
next and Rodney made a nice 4.647/149.02 to Rays quicker 4.615/151.07. Paul V
went 4.633/149 vs. Joe's tire-shaking 6.040/74. Rickie vs. Ricky resulted in
Weeaks going 4.793/143.84 and Esparza 4.597/153.12. Gilbert made an SWSC legal
4.580/121.40.
A couple
of things here: The SWSC has always allowed legal qualifying times down to .10
secs. UNDER the index to get on the ladder. As in the case of Gilbert Tejeda.
Good Job!
And
second: The Amarillo Dragway surface was second to none August 3. The Leffew car
saw it's best 330' times ever, best 60' times at altitude ever, more than one of
the SWSC cars saw nice wheelies due to superb traction and track prep. Excellent
work by Amarillo Track Prep Team. Thanks!
So the
SWSC math wizards (-ish) went to work on the print-outs and discovered the #1
Qualifier was....at 4.600 ..(how difficult was that). Ricky Esparza. At .0003 of
the SWSC 4.60 index! WOW! A new record close-to-index pass in the group. #2 was
Ray Stringer at just .015 off. #3 Gilbert Tejeda was .019 off. #4 Paul Vinyard
came in at .033. #5 Rodney Ferguson was .047. #6 Christian Leffew made it at
.052. #7 was Rickie Weeaks altered at .193. And #8 Jacob Penner made it on at
.260 off index. Just in case you didn't notice, #1 through #6 was 4.60, 4.61,
4.58. 4.63, 4,64, and 4,65 on the 4.60 index. I love these guys!
Rd 1 Elims
got under way as #4 Paul Vinyard fired to meet #5 Rodney Ferguson. Rodney was
.09 quicker on the tree and took a holeshot victory over Paul, 4.688/148 winning
to Paul's better 4.631/149. That's gonna leave a mark! Next #1 Mr. R. Esparza
ran #8 Jacob Penner. At the green Jacob's slingshot went skyward, shut off,
broke the front and a soft 29+ e.t. to Ricky's 4.763/130. Hope Jacob has some
pipe for wheelie bars on order! Our next pair has #2 Ray Stringer and #7 Rickey
Weeaks. At the green Rickey's mount has issues and Ray advances on a on the
brakes 4.88. Next #3 Gilbert Tejeda went up against #6 Christian Leffew. Both
drivers tried to out-pedal the other, and Gilbert got the stripe 4.763/130 to
Christians 4.783/136.
E-2 roared
to life behind the "bleach box" when #3 Gilbert prepared to run #2 Ray. Gilbert
was a tad late and tried to make it up down track only to go under the SWSC
index widely, Rays excellent 4.608/151.39 winning over Gilberts 4.476/153/52.
The other pair in E-2 was #1 Esparza vs. #5 Ferguson. Ricky's trans brake
refused to do its assigned task giving Rodney the instant win, @ 4.631/148.54.
No time for Ricky E.
The SWSC/
Amarillo Dragway Final Round pitted two Texas cars (one with a New Mexico
driver) for the win. As both cars ran frighteningly close to index in the semis,
this was gonna be a tight one. Ray left with a superb .018 light, only to be
outdone by Rodney's .008! At the top end both pedaled and Rodney Ferguson took
the win with his 4.671/147 outshining Rays 4.701/137 (BRAKES!). Tate Branch
Southwest Superchargers Congratulations to the Team of Wayne & Gaylene Reinert
car owners and driver Rodney Ferguson of Hereford, Texas!
Our
undying never ending Thanks to our SWSC sponsors/partners Tate Branch Motor
Group, Mears Mazda/Volvo, TR Chassis, and Good Vibrations Motorsports of
Whittier, Ca. We couldn't do this without you!
OK, SWSC
Racers & Fans, we are next off to Penwell/Odessa Texas August 24. C'mon out,
we'll have a terrific time!
Floyd "Fuzzy Gearhead" Stringer
Winner
Rodney Ferguson
Runner Up Ray Stringer
Mears Mazda Winner
Rodney Ferguson
Mears Mazda Runner-Up Ray Stringer
SWSC Bounty.
ATI Jet Quick Qualifier
TR Chassis Progressive Qual. Paul Vinyard
Good Vibrations Quick Light Rodney Ferguson .008 in the Final!
