JC Ward
May 15, 2010
we were late getting out to the track due to the fact that while i was loading the car the left main leaf spring broke. since we don't have any here we had to call my cousin/crew chief and have him bring one over. while waitong for him we found out that we had over-charged and so we had to change that out as well.
when we finally got to the track we had just enough time to hotlap twice and take some pictures of the car. the car handled a little better and i timed in 5th out of nine cars. in the heat race i went in turn one to hard, pushed up the track, and fell to the rear of the field. shortly after that a rookie driver spun his car and i got collected in the incident.
The car was not hurt at all but i made the same mistake in the main and pushed up the track again. this time however there was no cautions and i was able to pass a few cars to finish 4th. it is the best i have finished so far. the car is getting better and i am getting more used to how it feels. with four races to go i feel that we can do better.
we were late getting out to the track due to the fact that while i was loading the car the left main leaf spring broke. since we don't have any here we had to call my cousin/crew chief and have him bring one over. while waitong for him we found out that we had over-charged and so we had to change that out as well.
when we finally got to the track we had just enough time to hotlap twice and take some pictures of the car. the car handled a little better and i timed in 5th out of nine cars. in the heat race i went in turn one to hard, pushed up the track, and fell to the rear of the field. shortly after that a rookie driver spun his car and i got collected in the incident.
The car was not hurt at all but i made the same mistake in the main and pushed up the track again. this time however there was no cautions and i was able to pass a few cars to finish 4th. it is the best i have finished so far. the car is getting better and i am getting more used to how it feels. with four races to go i feel that we can do better.
Apr. 17, 2010
the car was better this time out. i hotlapped three times making some adjustments after each time. we gained almost a complete second on time but we are still off the fast time by a second. however, compared to thw rest of the feild i am not that far off. i qualified fifth out of nine and had a mechanical failure in the heat. that failure was the bottom pully for the belt that runs the water pump so the engine got hot. this in NASCAR terms made me a start and park for the main.
the car was better this time out. i hotlapped three times making some adjustments after each time. we gained almost a complete second on time but we are still off the fast time by a second. however, compared to thw rest of the feild i am not that far off. i qualified fifth out of nine and had a mechanical failure in the heat. that failure was the bottom pully for the belt that runs the water pump so the engine got hot. this in NASCAR terms made me a start and park for the main.
Apr. 10, 2010
the first time the street stock got to be on the track and it wasn't even painted. since we did get to race it we found out more about what needs to be done to make it racable. the clutch linkage needs to be worked on so i don't have to start in gear all night again. i also have a bad wheel hop entering the corners. although i wasn't the fastest car out there i wasn't the slowest either. i tinmed in sixth fast out of seven cars and finished fifth in the main. the best news is that my 2001 Ford F150 was the pace truck for the night.
the first time the street stock got to be on the track and it wasn't even painted. since we did get to race it we found out more about what needs to be done to make it racable. the clutch linkage needs to be worked on so i don't have to start in gear all night again. i also have a bad wheel hop entering the corners. although i wasn't the fastest car out there i wasn't the slowest either. i tinmed in sixth fast out of seven cars and finished fifth in the main. the best news is that my 2001 Ford F150 was the pace truck for the night.
Sept. 23rd, 2006
Needing a big points night I started practicing early in case there were changes to be made. The car felt good so I left it alone and qualified sixth out of thriteen cars.
I started on the outside front row of the A-heat and took the lead in the first corner on the first lap. I held the car to the inside and made the other drivers go to the outside. By doing this I managed to hang on to win the race.
The main was a very different story. On the first lap coming out of turn two I got into the left rear tire of the car in front of me. When we seperated he spun around with a flat tire and I went head on into the tires at the start of the back wall. Then the car flipped up in the air and came down on its nose and then rolled upside down onto the roof of another car and then rolled off the nose of that car onto its right side. It rolled over once again to end up in the infeild on all four wheels.
All drivers involved are okay but the car is bent beyond repair. With one race left to go I find myself in fifth place in the points and hoping for a few no shows.
Needing a big points night I started practicing early in case there were changes to be made. The car felt good so I left it alone and qualified sixth out of thriteen cars.
I started on the outside front row of the A-heat and took the lead in the first corner on the first lap. I held the car to the inside and made the other drivers go to the outside. By doing this I managed to hang on to win the race.
The main was a very different story. On the first lap coming out of turn two I got into the left rear tire of the car in front of me. When we seperated he spun around with a flat tire and I went head on into the tires at the start of the back wall. Then the car flipped up in the air and came down on its nose and then rolled upside down onto the roof of another car and then rolled off the nose of that car onto its right side. It rolled over once again to end up in the infeild on all four wheels.
All drivers involved are okay but the car is bent beyond repair. With one race left to go I find myself in fifth place in the points and hoping for a few no shows.
Sept. 9th, 2006
It was a bad day at the races.
I qualified fifth out of fourteen cars and that is normal. The car felt better but still was angry with the second groove.
I started the A-heat race on the outside front row and fell to last when the car spun out of control in turns three and four.
I had a good starting position for the main but that was the best thing about the race.
Aftering losing the car coming off of turn two and putting another car into the wall, the car started to over heat real bad. It forced me to leave the race and finish fourteenth.
Two weeks until the last two races and I not only hope to do better, I need to.
It was a bad day at the races.
I qualified fifth out of fourteen cars and that is normal. The car felt better but still was angry with the second groove.
I started the A-heat race on the outside front row and fell to last when the car spun out of control in turns three and four.
I had a good starting position for the main but that was the best thing about the race.
Aftering losing the car coming off of turn two and putting another car into the wall, the car started to over heat real bad. It forced me to leave the race and finish fourteenth.
Two weeks until the last two races and I not only hope to do better, I need to.
Sept. 2nd, 2006
During the off weeks we changed the motor and made some slight adjustments to the car. After hotlapping I knew that the new motor was just as strong as the old one and the changes to the car made it easier to drive. I qualified fifth out of eleven cars and started the A-heat race on the outside front row. The car did not like the outside to well and I finished fifth.
I was on the outside of the third row when the main started but the car was angry with the second groove so the first chance I could get I dropped to the inside. The car was running hot due to a colapsed top radiator hose but I kept racing. Running fifth and with only two laps to go enough pressure was built up that the overflow bottle blew a hole and the water in it was sent all over the electrical wires and forced me to leave the track.
No major damage was done so all I have to do before next week is replace the top hose and the overflow bottle. I will also make an adjustment to the car to try and help it handle the second groove.
During the off weeks we changed the motor and made some slight adjustments to the car. After hotlapping I knew that the new motor was just as strong as the old one and the changes to the car made it easier to drive. I qualified fifth out of eleven cars and started the A-heat race on the outside front row. The car did not like the outside to well and I finished fifth.
I was on the outside of the third row when the main started but the car was angry with the second groove so the first chance I could get I dropped to the inside. The car was running hot due to a colapsed top radiator hose but I kept racing. Running fifth and with only two laps to go enough pressure was built up that the overflow bottle blew a hole and the water in it was sent all over the electrical wires and forced me to leave the track.
No major damage was done so all I have to do before next week is replace the top hose and the overflow bottle. I will also make an adjustment to the car to try and help it handle the second groove.
Sept. 2nd, 2006
I had a new motor in the car and made some slight adjustments in the off weeks. I took the car on the track for a few hotlaps and found out that the new motor was just as strong as the old one and the changes made to the handling were correct. Although the times were the same as before the car was a lot easier to drive.
I qualified fifth out of eleven cars and started on the outside front row of the A-heat. I finished fifth.
At the start of the main I was on the outside three rows back. The car was not handling to well in the second groove so the first chance I got I dropped to the inside. The car was running hot but I kept racing and eventually the top radiator hose collapsed and enough pressure built up to blow a hole in my overflow bottle. This ended the race for me. I was running fifth at the time and had only two more laps to go.
Everything is alright though because there was no damage done to anything and all I have to do before next week is replace the top hose and the overflow bottle. I will also make another adjustment to try to help the car in the second groove.
I had a new motor in the car and made some slight adjustments in the off weeks. I took the car on the track for a few hotlaps and found out that the new motor was just as strong as the old one and the changes made to the handling were correct. Although the times were the same as before the car was a lot easier to drive.
I qualified fifth out of eleven cars and started on the outside front row of the A-heat. I finished fifth.
At the start of the main I was on the outside three rows back. The car was not handling to well in the second groove so the first chance I got I dropped to the inside. The car was running hot but I kept racing and eventually the top radiator hose collapsed and enough pressure built up to blow a hole in my overflow bottle. This ended the race for me. I was running fifth at the time and had only two more laps to go.
Everything is alright though because there was no damage done to anything and all I have to do before next week is replace the top hose and the overflow bottle. I will also make another adjustment to try to help the car in the second groove.
August 19th, 2006
In the weeks off we took the last of the weight out of the left rear and fixed the brakes.
Before getting to hotlap a car from another class oiled the track. The officals and cleaning crew went to work but did not due a good job.
Knowing this only after being on the track the car was unusally loose. However I did make some adjustments. I lowered the rear of the car and put back some of the weight we had taken out. I qualified fourth out of ten again.
Unlike the last race we had with only ten cars this time we were split into two heat races. I started on the outside front row of the A-heat. The car did not handle the outside too well so I dropped to the low groove and waited for the leader to mess up. When he slid up the track in turn two I got underneath and passed him in turns three and four. I won the race but again had no virtualy no brakes.
The left rear brake line was leaking so we pinched it off and started at the back of the main with only three brakes.
The racing surface was still slick and at one point I almost wrecked the car coming off of turn two. I did gather it up and soon was in a battle with three other cars. The car in fornt was doing a great job keeping us at bay. So good in fact that the car outside of me and I were both trying to get into the second groove. This caused some bumping and rubbing. It also caused us to loose the position to the car behind us. When the fourth place car slid up the track in turn two I followed the car in frone of me passed and from there on out it was follow the leader. After the race was over I had learned that the car that was running second had come off the track with a flat tire. That moved my finish, by surprise, to fourth.
In the weeks off we took the last of the weight out of the left rear and fixed the brakes.
Before getting to hotlap a car from another class oiled the track. The officals and cleaning crew went to work but did not due a good job.
Knowing this only after being on the track the car was unusally loose. However I did make some adjustments. I lowered the rear of the car and put back some of the weight we had taken out. I qualified fourth out of ten again.
Unlike the last race we had with only ten cars this time we were split into two heat races. I started on the outside front row of the A-heat. The car did not handle the outside too well so I dropped to the low groove and waited for the leader to mess up. When he slid up the track in turn two I got underneath and passed him in turns three and four. I won the race but again had no virtualy no brakes.
The left rear brake line was leaking so we pinched it off and started at the back of the main with only three brakes.
The racing surface was still slick and at one point I almost wrecked the car coming off of turn two. I did gather it up and soon was in a battle with three other cars. The car in fornt was doing a great job keeping us at bay. So good in fact that the car outside of me and I were both trying to get into the second groove. This caused some bumping and rubbing. It also caused us to loose the position to the car behind us. When the fourth place car slid up the track in turn two I followed the car in frone of me passed and from there on out it was follow the leader. After the race was over I had learned that the car that was running second had come off the track with a flat tire. That moved my finish, by surprise, to fourth.
August 5th,2006
During the week I took the flat tire off the rim and switched it with the tire that was on the right rear. This was a newer tire and would do better as the right front. The spare right front tire then was set on the wheel the flat came off and then was put on the right rear. After hotlapping the car I found that this change of tires made the car a little more loose then it was before. Oh, I also took some weight out of the left rear corner of the car.
After qualifing I was fourth quick out of ten cars. We only had one heat race and it was like playing dodgeball. I had to avoid more would be cautions then in all the mains this year. With a few laps to go I was on the ouside third row of a group that was two wide three rows deep. On the last lap going into turn one there was contact between two of the cars in front of me and I had to squeeze my way between a car that was sidways and another in the third groove. When I came out of turn two I was in third place and that is were I finished.
The main was less involved then the heat. I did have some tough driving but no spinning cars to avoid. Working patiently through the feild I finished third for the second time that night.
The brakes were extremly week during and after the main so with two weeks off I will look into this promblem.
During the week I took the flat tire off the rim and switched it with the tire that was on the right rear. This was a newer tire and would do better as the right front. The spare right front tire then was set on the wheel the flat came off and then was put on the right rear. After hotlapping the car I found that this change of tires made the car a little more loose then it was before. Oh, I also took some weight out of the left rear corner of the car.
After qualifing I was fourth quick out of ten cars. We only had one heat race and it was like playing dodgeball. I had to avoid more would be cautions then in all the mains this year. With a few laps to go I was on the ouside third row of a group that was two wide three rows deep. On the last lap going into turn one there was contact between two of the cars in front of me and I had to squeeze my way between a car that was sidways and another in the third groove. When I came out of turn two I was in third place and that is were I finished.
The main was less involved then the heat. I did have some tough driving but no spinning cars to avoid. Working patiently through the feild I finished third for the second time that night.
The brakes were extremly week during and after the main so with two weeks off I will look into this promblem.
July 29th, 2006
After a two weeks rest the car and I were ready for battle. The hotlap session went as it always does and after qualifing I was third quick out of the thirteen cars. It was the the fastest lap that I have had this year.
Once again, it will always be this way, I dropped out of the trophy dash. By the end of the A-heat race I was side by side for a photo finish for third. We never did find out who really got the position.
Because I finished second in the last main I had to have a rear start along with the winner and third place car. We were told that the main was going to be tweny-five laps. I told myself that there is no need to get in a hurry. Soon after the start I found myself in the middle of three wide, due to no ones fault but my own. I made it through and shortly found myself back in the same situation. This time I did not fair so well as I got pinched between the other two cars and blew my right front tire. That was the end of the race for me.
All is good though as there was little damage to the car and I should do better next week.
After a two weeks rest the car and I were ready for battle. The hotlap session went as it always does and after qualifing I was third quick out of the thirteen cars. It was the the fastest lap that I have had this year.
Once again, it will always be this way, I dropped out of the trophy dash. By the end of the A-heat race I was side by side for a photo finish for third. We never did find out who really got the position.
Because I finished second in the last main I had to have a rear start along with the winner and third place car. We were told that the main was going to be tweny-five laps. I told myself that there is no need to get in a hurry. Soon after the start I found myself in the middle of three wide, due to no ones fault but my own. I made it through and shortly found myself back in the same situation. This time I did not fair so well as I got pinched between the other two cars and blew my right front tire. That was the end of the race for me.
All is good though as there was little damage to the car and I should do better next week.
Life As I See It