THIS IS MY DAY, OCTOBER 30, 2005
Sunday, Dragway 42, Sunny, Calm and Cool
I awoke Sunday morning about 6:30am to a beautiful sunny but cool 40’s day (perfect race day).
After I finished my usual Sunday morning chores, I hooked up the truck and trailer and drove to Dragway 42,
excited about the last day of the race season.
I got to the track about 10:45am and found a nice pit spot and unloaded my car.
I ran my first time trial about 11:30am the air was very good (111 density) and cool,
the result, a good run, .010 bulb - 1.542- 60’, 7.169- 1/8, 93.3- 330’ 11.329 - ¼, 118.02 mph.
Returned to trailer for cool down, ran 2nd run at 12:00noon, .014 bulb, 1.531- 60’, 7.141- 1/8, 93.7 - 330’, 11.315 ¼, 117.1 mph.
That was two good consistent runs and after making two I waited till time trial session is coming to a close and make one more.
I ran a third time trial at 1:00 pm .005 bulb, 1.536- 60’, 7.141- 1/8, 94.1- 330’, 11.305- 117.7.
Three good runs, Lane 2, Lane 1, and Lane 2. After I finished time trial session,
I hooked up to electric and charged battery, ate chili, checked car and just waited for 1st round of eliminations.
In preparing for 1st round dial in I assessed the air quality, wasn’t changing a lot.
Density 109 humidity down and little 42% temp up a little 65. I did not think car would run any faster so I dialed 11.30.
I changed the box from 968 to 972 only because I did have a -005 reaction on one run.
I AM READY LETS DO IT!
| 1964 ERVIN DICKEY |
FIRST ROUND
 |
9227
(70’S LATE MODEL CHALLENGER) |
| 11.30 |
Dial |
10.70 |
| .0840 |
Reac. |
.1110 |
| 1.536 |
60’ |
1.492 |
| 4.570 |
330’ |
4.326 |
| 7.173 |
1/8 ET |
6.729 |
| 93.9 |
1/8 MPH |
102.2 |
| 9.398 |
1000 ET |
8.769 |
| 11.337 |
¼ ET |
10.578 |
| 117.8 |
¼ MPH |
122.9 |
| WINNER |
RESULTS |
BREAKOUT |
My late reaction was due slightly to shallow staged.
Did not want to
red-light
(972).
For Round 2 I reset box to 968 and left dial in at 11.30, knowing car would pick up ET Round 2.
| 1964 ERVIN DICKEY |
SECOND ROUND
|
23 SILVER S-10 - BRIAN GIFFORD |
| 11.30 |
Dial |
10.30 |
| .0059 |
Reac. |
.0031 |
| 1.532 |
60’ |
1.404 |
| 4.557 |
330’ |
4.404 |
| 7.158 |
1/8 ET |
6.482 |
| 93.9 |
1/8 MPH |
104.4 |
| 9.38 |
1000 ET |
8.493 |
| 11.318 |
¼ ET |
10.269 |
| 117.8 |
¼ MPH |
128.2 |
| WINNER |
RESULTS |
BREAKOUT |
Nailed the tree, ran full pass, ran one over dial. Good Run!
Going into 3rd round there was only 4 cars left 3 were Pontiac.
Tom Moon got the Camaro, I got Roger Zimmer (66 GTO).
Myself and my opponent were in burnout box when I saw Tom Moon loose and the Camaro blow something up (smoke).
That caused track shutdown. There was approximately 20 minutes shutdown to prep track surface from oil spill.
Myself and opponent waited in burnout area. When track was cleared to race it was close to dark.
I did my burnout, pulled up and noticed I was not in center of the groove.
I backed up and repositioned my car and proceeded to stage just a little to deep.
My opponent was not in yet, but I knew I could not back up again and looked down at shifter indicator to check 1st gear.
Set brake and he had staged then , when I looked up to top bulb it was coming on.
I immediately release trans break button, but I knew I was very late.
When the car left, it spun bad. I thought that I would lose round 3.
I ran hard as I could to the end of the track and my opponent pulled back to about my passenger side door and we crossed the finish line.
My win light coming on, I had just escaped certain defeat.
| 1964 ERVIN DICKEY |
THIRD ROUND
|
3120 ROGER ZIMMER 66 GTO |
| 11.30 |
Index |
10.76 |
| .282 |
Reac. |
.275 |
| 1.570 |
60’ |
1.460 |
| 4.60 |
330’ |
4.422 |
| 7.209 |
1/8 ET |
6.922 |
| 93.7 |
1/8 MPH |
98.2 |
| 9.439 |
1000 ET |
9.044 |
| 11.387 |
¼ ET |
10.893 |
| 116.5 |
¼ MPH |
124.0 |
| WINNER |
RESULTS |
BREAKOUT |
After winning the 3rd round and returning to my trailer I hooked up the battery charger for a couple minutes and left the fans run to cool engine.
I know, should get back to the lanes soon, car did not crank good to start (low battery), but it did start.
I drove to the front of staging, I was the only car left in box class.
The third round of no box was just finishing and the staging lane attendant told me to be ready to take my bye run to win box class.
I knew that I had to make a full run because after third round oxygen bottle was low, so I closed it.
The lane attendant told me to make my run.
I strapped in, hit the starter and nothing, battery was to low to crank engine.
I would have to forfeit. OH!!! NO!!! misfortune strikes again.
Lane attendant told me I had until the end of round 3 of no box class to get it running.
There was a young guy standing there and he offered to go to the pits and bring back his battery charger for me,
so I said OK and thank you, off he went and returned in about 2-3 minutes, hooked up my battery and my car immediately started.
Now if only the lane attendant will still let me run! I ran to where he was and said "OK I’m ready", and he said bring it in.
I ran to my car strapped in, helmet on, and proceeded to pull in.
I noticed temperature was up a little but could do nothing but run it.
I backed into water, pulled out, set line loc, floored gas pedal, smoke the hides and pulled up to line, temperature was 180 (good).
I lit the top bulb and bumped in, set brake, at the flash, I let go of the button and made a very good run,
"WHEW" even after all that mess.
| 1964 ERVIN DICKEY |
FOURTH RUN
|
BYE RUN |
| 11.62 |
Index |
- |
| .012 |
Reac. |
- |
| 1.557 |
60’ |
- |
| 4.624 |
330’ |
- |
| 7.264 |
1/8 ET |
- |
| 92.4 |
1/8 MPH |
- |
| 9.526 |
1000 ET |
- |
| 11.500 |
¼ ET |
- |
| 115.6 |
¼ MPH |
- |
| WINNER |
RESULTS |
- |
After the 4th round bye run I stopped at my trailer to cool engine and charge battery, as it was about dead.
I hooked jumper cables to truck and ran truck engine.
I knew that I had some extra time because there was more cars in no box, meaning more rounds to final, but I also knew I should get back to staging and be ready.
Car started good. I pulled into front of my lane, (it was a good feeling to be only car left) and I wanted for two more rounds of no box class to decide winner charging my battery while waiting.
Well wouldn’t you know it, Brian Gifford won the other class as he was double entered.
So in the final it would be him and me once again.
I had already beaten him in the second round of box class earlier in the afternoon.
Staging attendant called us together for the calling of lane choice.
We both wanted lane 1, so the official flipped a coin, I called it and lost.
Brian got lane choice and took lane 1 in the final round.
It didn’t matter anyway as I proceeded to put the smack down on him for a second time.
The final round went something like this...
The fourth round bye run gave me a good run to dial off of.
My opponent staged first and I carefully bumped into the stage lights.
We were both ready, my light came on and I hit the tree good.
Seeing the
green light
as I passed the tree.
I ran a full out pass crossing the finish line about 6-8- ahead of my opponent and running right on my dial in of 11.49.
TAKING THE WIN! AN AWESOME FEELING THAT IS!!
FINAL ROUND
| BRIAN GIFFORD 23 |
FIFTH ROUND
|
1964 ERVIN DICKEY |
| 10.26 |
Index |
11.49 |
| .0191 |
Reac. |
.0048 |
| 1.4078 |
60’ |
1.5680 |
| 4.1478 |
330’ |
4.6241 |
| 6.4938 |
1/8 ET |
7.2641 |
| 103.95 |
1/8 MPH |
92.59 |
| 8.5158 |
1000 ET |
9.5233 |
| 10.2298 |
¼ ET |
11.4980 |
| 127.14 |
¼ MPH |
115.14 |
| - |
RESULTS |
WINNER |