We finally got in through the gates around 10:45 or so and then the fun started. It took me about 20 minutes to find a decent place to park, one that gave me room enough for the truck, trailer and car and was a dust free area. We ended up near the tech inspection area!!

We unloaded the car and the first thing that I did was set the timing because when we put the new oil pump in the car, the distributor had to be removed so the motor could be lifted up a little and after all was said and done, I didn't know where the timing was. We spent the next ½ hour cleaning the car. It was about 12:15 when we were done making the car shine. I wanted to take it for a time trial run but the staging lanes were so jam packed with bracket racers waiting to go, I wouldn't be able to make a pass and be back in time for the 1:00 call for 1st round elimination's. So I just waited.

The call came and I got into the lanes waiting for my 1st round opponent, a really sweet looking black 502 Monte Carlo. I was a little nervous since this would be the first time I was in competition in over 7 years!! She had lane choice because she qualified with a 12.04 to my 12.14 and she wanted the left lane. I rolled into the burnout box in the right lane, spun the tires a little and then activated the line lock and did a great burnout - smoked the hell out of the slicks!! She lit the pre-stage and stage bulbs and actually deep staged. I staged the car, through it in neutral and rapped the throttle a couple of times. Then I put it in first gear, brought up the RPM to about 4000 and bumped the car into the staging beams until I was fully staged. Then the fun started!!

The pro tree came on and I left hard! I cut a .569 light and was out in front early (she cut a .575 light). I went through the gears and as I shifted from second to third, I looked over to see where she was and I was at least 3 ½ cars ahead so I lifted my foot off the throttle and crossed the finish line. Then I got the time slip and just about soiled my pants!! I lost because I broke out. Slowing down across the finish line, I ran 11.94 at 106.36 miles per hour - I couldn't believe it but that's racing!! I guess I should have let off earlier!! That was it for competition.

I ran another time trial later in the day to go all out and the car didn't leave as hard (a 1.75 to the earlier 1.69 60 foot time). It ran 11.98 at 114.34 miles per hour.

We will try again this coming Saturday when we finish off our July race.