The Liquid Quarter Mile Publication
Smooth Water
“Chaplains Blog Book … IHBA Finals … Part I”
Jim & Linda Jack
The NAPA Auto Parts IHBA World Finals at Firebird International Raceway is in the books for 2008. The IHBA Finals are always worth the wait and the season ending race lived up to its name: Plenty fast…Pure fury…Premium fires…Pleasantly fun…Pleasingly satisfying.
The furious and fiery countenance of ten Top Fuel Hydro’s thrilled the fans and lit up Firebird Lake with plenty of fire from header flames, fiery blower explosions and fire-balled engines giving up the ghost as they franticly forged toward the finals finish line.
With another ten Top Alcohol Flats, nine Top Alcohol Hydro’s, along with a whole slew of Pro Mod’s and sportsman boats, the action proved to be just what the doctor ordered…if you’re a speed junkie for drag boats.
With many IHBA titles still up for grabs (typical scenario for this premiere event), this race proved why it is the best drag boat race of the year (it compares to what the U.S. Nationals is in drag racing) bar none.
Wednesday afternoon was credential arrangements and visitation day with some of the early arrivers. Early Thursday morning, Linda and I caught up with the IHBA Rescue team to pray with them for their protection and hopefully a peace-filled and safe event. Thursday’s test and tune had many of the one hundred and seventy plus boats taking to Firebird Lake to test the waters for the upcoming wild weekend. Only a couple of TFH’s ran (“Loose Cannon,” “Toxic Rocket” who ran the best at 5.00). The “Bad Habit” TAH ran in the 5.50 range to prepare for the weekend activities. Kebin Kinsley had his “Wild Child” TAFC on display as well in the pits along side of Ed Pacilio’s TAH. Kebin also ran in the weekend “gambler” for a little test and tune data, recording the fastest and quickest gambler run ever at 5.57 and 217 mph.
Speaking of cool rides at the IHBA Finals, Bob Pizza of “What a Tomato” TAH fame showed up with his two week old new car. A brand new red Dodge Challenger SRT, with a 6.1 liter hemi, and a six speed transmission. Bob flew to Detroit and drove it back home to the bay area in California. I asked him if he broke it in gently, and he said, “When I left the plant, I smoked the tires as I blazed out of there pedal to the metal and banging gears.” What other way would you expect a guy who drives a 220 mph drag boat.
Andy and Joe Reynolds surprised us with the debut of their new TAH “Déjà Vu” and immediately got it down the track in the 5.50’s. The power plant, supplied by Bob Genther, also had his new TAH…but the Ellison (I think) pontoon craft was only a bare hull and chassis. Next year should be interesting in the TAH class.
Friday morning dawned beautiful, but a light wind came in from the East (as the local weatherman predicted) and had some of the racers concerned, but it died down by late morning and the weekend crowd was now ready for the action to commence with the first session of Pro qualifying after two morning sessions of sportsman qualifying.
In my walks through the pits, I discovered that former TAH racer, and now Pro Mod owner/driver, Dave Sharp from Tucson, AZ gets sea sick when on a boat…go figure? His former “Fair Warning” Fineline ran a 6.45 at 186 mph on one of his qualifying runs, but Dave got her slowed down into the low seven-teens; as did Brien Dunn whose awesome looking “Milwaukee Bullet” ran a 6.69 than ran a 7.009. Terry Kain ran a 7.006, Steve Rajcic ran a 7.007, but the top spot ended up being Darrell Kindley with a 7.002 to lead the eighteen boat field. Tim Kelley debuted his new “Alter Ego” Pro Mod (7.05) with Glen Hutchison tuning and went two rounds.
If you ever visit with the Chuck, Sue, and Johnny Heidemann’s “Nightmare” TAF team, don’t worry about locking up your stuff. Earl (lock) Smith unlocked Fred Hart’s trailer on Friday morning before Fred arrived and when Fred realized the lock on side door of his trailer was missing, Fred looked quite worried. After checking for any missing parts in the trailer, Earl confessed to the prank (but Fred still wasn’t smiling). Earl then proceeded to unlock the back doors too. Watch out for the Earl of locks, he’s quick!
Friday’s TFH got started with Ron McClellan running a 4.85, Glen Wilson running a 4.90, and John Haas running a 5.08 with virtually no roll out as the boat started in gear and John gassed it as he approached the starting line. Mike Fry in his “Mean Streak” TAH ran 5.47 for the top spot on Friday.
Friday morning was a special day as Jeff Peterson (and his brother Rick), from Washington state arrived to claim his prize as the first ever winner of the Team RFC, e-Bay auction “Drag Boat Experience.” Jeff was the highest bidder (all proceeds to RFC) for the autographed helmet worn by IHBA champion and top speed record holder John Haas, who drives Lou and Marianne Osman’s “Speed Sports” TFH. Jeff also collected two RFC T-Shirts, two “Speed Sports” T-Shirts, two RFC hats, two RFC lanyards, an autographed 1:18 scale Bad Diecast “Speed Sports” TFH, autographed pictures, lunch with the team, along with two full weekend tickets (compliments of Firebird Raceway). And for Saturday’s first Pro session, Jeff and Rick were taken by the IHBA to the starter’s barge prior to the first pair of TFH’s.
The “Speed Sports” and “Toxic Rocket” were first out and John Haas gave the guys something to see from just a few feet away as he set the pace for TFH with a number one spot 4.72 and 246 mph blast. Glen Wilson slowed to a 5.41 at 171 mph. Jarrett Silvey ran a 5.62, Scotty Lumbert in the new “Spirit of Texas” blew up on the launch, James Ray in his “Tequila Sunrise” ran a 5.18 and at over 200 mph and crashed on the big end, which delayed the qualifying. James was transported to the hospital with some broken bones and a few minor cuts. [James was visited by SDBA chaplain Craig Garland on Sunday, and by yours truly on the following Tuesday, hopefully being released in early December] Linda Jack and Karen Boyce (of RESP) were already at the hospital checking on a driver who was pitched out of his boat earlier when James arrived. Ron McLellan only ran a 4.90 at 239. The other fuel boats (“Loose Cannon,” “Problem Child,” “Nitro Chicken”) ran slow or broke before completing their runs. Bob Parish ran good enough to secure his TFH driver’s license in his “Dragonater.” Jeff and Rick stayed on the barge for three hours and were treated to the thrill of a lifetime as they took pictures and had a blast on the barge. Thanks to IHBA for their part in our DBE.
The TAH class had some good runs too as Mike Fry ran quicker with a 5.43 alongside of Kent Price who logged a 5.44. Pizza and Kinsley both ran in the 5.50’s and Jeff Gregory ran a good 5.61. Don Bausher ran a 6.73 for number one in the TAF class.
Saturday’s last Pro qualifying session is always a special sight as the sun sets early this time of year in Chandler, AZ and the header flames are a beautiful sight for the thousands of fans at Firebird Lake. For some reason, the timing lights in the left lane decided to play tricks with the clocks and unfortunately we had some runs that were not timed properly (Doug Verstuyft, and Glen Wilson in TFH, and Joe Blattler in TAH), and a very good run with no time at all for Jarrett Silvey. But the last run of the day was in the right lane and Scotty Lumbert in David Kirkland’s “Spirit of Texas” didn’t disappoint the crowd as he leapt off the line with huge header flames running a legitimate 4.83 and over 240 mph to cap the day.
Ashly Ruf, who qualified number three in ME, also earned her Pro Mod license in Dawn Singleton’s “Rapid Fire” boat with a 7.57 pass on Saturday. The ME class had fifteen boats in the 10.0’s with Steve Prewit ending up number one with runs of 10.002 and a 10.003. Hey Steve, “Hold my water while I pray for you.”
Randy White in his PCE eight second jet boat got tossed out on Friday morning and then again on Saturday morning. He was transported to the hospital and then released early in the afternoon just in time to see his daughter Cheyenne race in the first round of SE. Cheyenne, didn’t do so well in SE, but she did eventually win the second chance on Sunday defeating Dave and Fran Kathriner’s PE boat in the final (both boats sporting the same # 858 on them).
Sunday’s first race in TFH had big time implications for the IHBA championship. Number one qualifier John Haas faced number eight qualifier Jarrett Silvey (“Hot Licks Bullet”) to determine the 2008 TFH champion. Jarrett had a perfect .000 reaction but a broken barrel valve slowed him to a 5.11 at only 192 mph allowing John to drive by with fire-balling 4.68 low ET of the meet run (John’s half track times were 2.76 and 217 mph). What a race for the championship!
Newly licensed Bob Parish in the “Dragonater” shocked the crowd with a winning 5.09 to a blower exploding 5.02 over Glen Wilson. And Scotty Lumbert showed that his Saturday night run was no fluke ripped off a 4.78 for his round one win.
The record holding “Liquid Quiker” TFH of Ron Mclellan and Bob Montgomery broke the starter on the line and never made it down the track in the first round. The “Loose Cannon” broke the crank and various other parts in qualifying and left Sunday morning before the first round convened, so Eddie Knox’s “Problem Child” took its place and driver Rex Childers got by the round.
In the second round, John Haas slowed to a 4.90 as the “Speed Sports” plowed a lot of water off the line, and Scotty Lumbert who barely made it in time for round two got the win and set the stage for the two fastest boats on the property to duke it out for the World Finals crown.
At 5:35 pm the two TFH’s left the line with header flames high in the sky, but not long after the launch, the blower studs sheered off the manifold on the “Spirit of Texas” allowing John Haas to get the win at 4.81 and 244 mph. It was the first win for John at the IHBA Finals, and also the first win for Lou Osmon at the IHBA finals after trying for twenty years.
The final really capped off the event for Team RFC “Drag Boat Experience” winner Jeff Peterson who collected the John Haas autographed helmet (regulator and all) worn during the event. John had the entire “Speed Sports” crew sign the helmet for Jeff. A story book race for Jeff, John, and Lou too.
Special thanks go out to Firebird Raceway for everyone’s help with our “Drag Boat Experience.” We hope to do it again next year!
Kebin Kinsley threw the rods out in the first round of TAH. Bob Pizza didn’t have any air so his TAH wouldn’t shift in the first round. Kent Price (“Black Dragin”) ended up beating Andy Reynolds in a close final 5.57 to a 5.58.
Don Bausher won the always tough TAF class and ran the best number of the year with a 6.50 to beat newly crowned IHBA TAF champ Steve-o Westerfield. Noteworthy in TAF: Don Ermshar red lit in round one, and Fred Hart finally got his “Justice”…though he lost in the first round, ran a 7.06 at a whopping 175 mph. Nice going Fred and Mary…from nearby Queen Creek.
Scott Loomis (“Crap Shoot”) had to go five rounds on Sunday and eventually beat Shawn Reed in a great Pro Mod final 7.02 to a 7.00. Nice going guys. These guys are probably the most feared Pro Mod racers on the planet.
Jim Tucker made the competition “Say When” as he defeated a twenty boat field for the PE crown. Allen Forsyth ended up winning the IHBA championship in PE when red hot Gary Davis (who won the last two events) got beat in the second round.
Bill McGuinn didn’t give the TE’s any clues as he drove his “No Clue” boat to an exciting World Finals win for him and Peggy with a 9.04. Ralph Richardson (“Liquid Addiction”) won the overall 2008 championship.
Greg Carr “Ain’t Scared” of anyone in the ME class, as the 2008 division 2 and 3 champ showed it by beating 2008 division 1 champ Rick Barretta in the final.
Hey, the gals were out in force at the IHBA Finals, Dawn Singleton, PM; Ashley Ruf, ME; Cheyenne White, SE; and Jane Bradley, SE. Barb Kunkle was on the property, but a broken engine kept her from bringing her boat. PWC winner Hailee Kindley beat Mallori Carroll, and Mary Silva competed too. These women have a real passion to race (just like the guys) so stay tuned to part two of my column for the spiritual side, my IHBA Finals Sunday sermon about passion…having “a passion for God.”
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