Smooth Water
“Chaplains Blog Book…Firebird Lakefest 2009…Part I”
Jim & Linda Jack
I don’t know about you, but as we roll into late spring in the Valley of the sun (with the weather already reaching our first 100 degree day on April 21st), I was ready for some hot runs at this year’s IHBA Lakefest at Firebird International Raceway.
With Lucas Oil stepping up in the world of drag boat racing, everyone should be excited to get the new season underway. What will happen in this grand sport has yet to be determined, but all drag boat racers must do their part to make this effort a successful one. My prayer this year for drag boat racing is that it’s incredibly safe, financially sound, and wonderfully smooth for everyone involved.
The economy has been the big story of 2009, but the IHBA can make some big stories of its own on the liquid quarter-mile. Fast and furious fuelers, fantastic flat bottoms, featured flyers of the future, and fun at Firebird foretold the fate of the weekend.
After eight NHRA drag races to start off the season in the past eleven weeks for Linda and I it was great to see all of our wonderful friends connected with drag boat racing. It’s a five month off season from November to the end of April, but once the engines fired up, it was business as usual.
Thursday and Friday were nice days (a bit warm for the non Phoenicians), but Saturday turned out like the weatherman forecasted…too windy to run after the first round of the sportsman boats. Just as the Top Fuel Hydro’s were on the rope and ready to rocket down the track for their first official runs of the year, the racing was called off for the day due to the windy conditions. If it isn’t safe, don’t run um. Thanks to IHBA.
Congratulations to Ken Dollar (and wife Patty) on his new role as Race Director for the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series. It’s great to see this hard working man back on the scene at the IHBA races.
On a social note, Fred and Mary Hart, “Justice” TAF had a Bar-B-Que at their house in Queen Creek on Thursday night and had the “Nightmare” group of Chuck, Sue, and Johnny Heidemann and crew over. Mary said, “They are such a delight.” Sue got all of the flatties together at the track and the boats and crews lined up for a group photo that looks mighty fine.
Friday night, Don and Phyllis Ermshar had a Bar-B-Que that fed many of the racers and staff of the IHBA including Linda and myself. Thank you to the Ermshar’s for taking good care of so many people. Thanks also to Mary!
Firebird Raceway is celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2009 and has a wonderful 25th Anniversary Program show-casing all of their events for this year. The IHBA drag boat racers got a nice big spread with some great pictures…especially the 2008 IHBA Napa Auto Parts World Finals Top Fuel Hydro final between “Speed Sports” and the “Spirit of Texas” with huge header flames as they were side-by-side in the top fuel finale.
Friday’s test and tune ran smoothly as many of the nearly eighty boats on the property got in plenty of runs. The brand new carbon fiber “Toxic Rocket” made its maiden voyage to the tune of 5.10 and 217 mph. It was bouncing all over for the first half of the run then settled down to make it through to the finish line. But, unfortunately, the new boat ended up with holes in both sponsons and many cracks in the hull…and I was told that the boat was a total loss. Too bad, a lot of time and money for only one run down the track. I know that Joe Cassidy and Glen Wilson were very disappointed to say the least.
Also on Friday, Bryan Sanders made a great run in his Hydrochondriac Pro Mod with a 7.00 and a .008 light to let everyone know that he was ready to run for the title. Kebin Kinsley made a nice run in Ed Pacillo’s “Bad Habit” TAH to the tune of 5.61 and 212 mph.
With five Top Fuel Hydro’s left, along with seven Top Alcohol Hydro’s, eight Top Alcohol Flats, and ten Pro Mod’s, the show was going to be good on Sunday as none of these teams had any idea of what to expect with most of them running right out of the box for Sunday’s first round of eliminations.
Consistency is the best way to do everything in life…and the John Haas driven “Speed Sports” TFH owned by Lou and Marianne Osman was the picture of consistency on a beautiful spring day at the IHBA Lakefest at picturesque Firebird Raceway.
Amos tuned the nitro burning monster to three great runs on Sunday with a first round 4.76 and 240 mph. A second round 4.77 and 247 mph. And then as the number one and two TFH’s of 2008 squared off for the final, John beat an on fire “Hot Licks” boat of Dennis Gibson (sporting new Gibson / Miller injectors), and driven admirably by Jarrett Silvey with 4.68 and 250 mph to a 5.07 and 198 mph. It was close at half track, but as the “Hot Licks” motor started eating itself up, the “Speed Sports” just motored on through for the best marks of the weekend. A 4.73 average for the day is pretty hard to beat in any league.
The “Spirit of Texas” TFH owned by David Kirkland and driven by Scotty Lumbert, and crewed by the infamous “fuel monkeys” started in gear in the first round (and then shut off) allowing Rex Childers in Eddie Knox’s “Problem Child” to make an uncontested run for the win at 5.21. Jarrett Silvey beat Bob Parrish in the other first round duel, which gave the “Hot Licks” boat the single in round two. Scotty Lumbert and the “Spirit” team came back out during round two and ran a motor breaking 4.81 and 240 mph to put on a show for the fans. David wasn’t too upset with the rods breaking as the boat made a good run. “The boat only has ten runs on it,” David said, and he feels confident that it can be a four sixty machine in the near future.
Andy Reynolds had a good weekend in TAH. The “Déjà Vu” boat performed well, but the driver performed exceptional in the final beating Mike Fry in his “Mean Streak” with a 5.63 and 212 mph to Mike’s losing 5.49 and 216 mph (top marks of the weekend in the class). Bob Pizza had nice early shut off 5.75 in the first round and then left the line crooked in round two (“driver error” he said) and hit the buoy’s disqualifying himself. Kent Price destroyed a motor during Friday’s test and tune and then wouldn’t start for the first round. Jeff Gregory had a wild ride in round one and almost lost it, but thankfully (and prayerfully) he brought it back under control. Kebin Kinsley was on a great pass in round one when an air shifter fitting broke sending it back into low gear and sending the rods through the block. Norm Grimes was seen hanging around the “Bad Habit” boat over the weekend…and all indications say it was it was on a terrific pass until it broke!
Once again, Don Bausher’s “Habit Forming III” was the class of the TAF’s as he cruised to victory running low ET and top speed in round one with a stout 6.53 and 168.74 mph. Don beat Johnny Heidemann in the final. My good friend Eric Lyon says he thinks that Don may break the TAF record when we get to Chowchilla in June. Eric should know he tuned Tony Scarlota to the record a couple of seasons ago.
Vic Esposito broke into the winners circle at Firebird by beating the always tough Bryan Sanders in the final with a 7.05. Get your freak on Vic, you finally won at Firebird Raceway. Nice going to Vic, Dennis, and Mitch for the impressive win.
Tony Scarlata in Greg Snyder’s boat “Wet Dream” beat Dave Lipinski’s (number one qualifying) “Hot Shot” in the final of PCE.
Dave Kathriner finally got back into the winners circle after a few years with his “Joint Venture” PE. George, Larry, Fran, and Jen were extremely happy Sunday evening. Congratulations to a deserving team that ran well all weekend.
Bill McGuinn is fast becoming the man to beat in TE. After his impressive win at last year’s IHBA World Finals, Bill once again found himself in the winners circle for back-to-back victories (as Duane Thornton went red in the final) at Firebird Raceway’s famous lake. Peggy must have found some new recipe for spiking Bill’s breakfast as he has been on a winning spree since last September’s NJBA race.
Bob Prigmore did it again in ME as “Lights Out” driver Josh Partridge unfortunately turned on the red light.
Jay Johnston had plenty of “Just 4 fun Too,” he lost the Gambler final by .004, then started off the year right by ending the day with an 11.04 victory in SE. Nice going brother!
Roger and Elizabeth Sayles have two trophies to take home as the husband and wife team won both of their categories. Roger in RR and Elizabeth in PWC. It was Elizabeth’s first race as she beat out Mary Silva. This may be the first husband and wife to ever win at the same IHBA event.
The Unlimited Lights and the Sprint Boats put on a good show at Firebird. The windy conditions gave them some extra time to shine on Saturday. The Sprint Boat teams gave some prominent people a chance to go for a wild ride on Saturday afternoon…Phyllis Ermshar got to ride as well as Don Ermshar much to the delight of the racers and crowd. I think I saw Phyllis smiling through the helmet she was wearing!
Blessings to all of you…please remember to keep Frank Nagore up in prayer as he recovers from injuries suffered in a crash at Lake Elsinore in March.
We’re off to a great start in the 2009 drag boat season. Stay tuned for part II of the Chaplains Blog Book at Firebird Raceway’s first IHBA race of the year.
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