Been a little quiet, lost a very dear friend of mine yesterday. Bret Marceline passed away Thursday...way too early in life!! I'm going to miss him. My thoughts are with my good buddy and his family.
I'm really going to miss him.
The guys are going to be in the shop over the weekend...and I'll keep you updated!!
Jay
May 30, 2008
May 29, 2008
Working in the Shop
Good morning everyone,
Going to be a busy couple of days here at the shop in Massachusetts as we begin preparing for the race at Atco, New Jersey next month.
The car's in the shop and I'll be working on it all day today. I'm going to have Terri takes some pics of me so you can see what we do between races to prep the car.
Thanks to everyone commenting on the blog, please keep them coming.
I'm expecting great things in June with races national races in Englishtown, NJ and Norwalk, OH, plus a divisional race at Atco.
In the latest Division 1 Points Standings, Follow A Dream is in fourth place with 128 points. Mickey Ferro, who has four events in his total leads things with 170 points; Frank Manzo is second with 170 and Frank Schuster is third with 139 points.
Talk to you later today,
Jay
Going to be a busy couple of days here at the shop in Massachusetts as we begin preparing for the race at Atco, New Jersey next month.
The car's in the shop and I'll be working on it all day today. I'm going to have Terri takes some pics of me so you can see what we do between races to prep the car.
Thanks to everyone commenting on the blog, please keep them coming.
I'm expecting great things in June with races national races in Englishtown, NJ and Norwalk, OH, plus a divisional race at Atco.
In the latest Division 1 Points Standings, Follow A Dream is in fourth place with 128 points. Mickey Ferro, who has four events in his total leads things with 170 points; Frank Manzo is second with 170 and Frank Schuster is third with 139 points.
Talk to you later today,
Jay
May 25, 2008
Video From Last Night's Final in Reading
Good morning everyone,
Very excited to share with you last night's final between Marty and Frank Manzo. Click on the YouTube video below. Have a happy Memorial Day!!
Jay
Very excited to share with you last night's final between Marty and Frank Manzo. Click on the YouTube video below. Have a happy Memorial Day!!
Jay
May 24, 2008
Second Straight Final
Long day, but a great day in the books after making getting the Permatex/Wynn's/Texas Roadhouse 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS into the finals for the second straight race.
Came up a little short to Frank Manzo for the second straight race, but we're getting closer! Marty ran a 5.73 to Frank's 5.63 in the final.
Come back tomorrow for video of the finals, plus some comments from me.
Jay
Came up a little short to Frank Manzo for the second straight race, but we're getting closer! Marty ran a 5.73 to Frank's 5.63 in the final.
Come back tomorrow for video of the finals, plus some comments from me.
Jay
Post Qualifying from Reading
Follow A Dream is always trying to keep you up-to-date from the track. Today, you can checkout video comments from the track, plus my thoughts on the 11th anniversary of my accident.
May 23, 2008
Qualified 5th in Reading
After a tough first round of qualifying we put it together in the second run. We ran at 5.743 that puts us fifth heading into tomorrow's quarterfinals. First round of eliminations set for 5 PM.
Frank Schuster is the top qualifier with after a run of 5.672. Marty will take on Eric Lourie the #4 qualifier in the quarters. Lourie's top qualifying run was 5.712.
Heading to Texas Roadhouse to have a meal with the team.
Jay
Frank Schuster is the top qualifier with after a run of 5.672. Marty will take on Eric Lourie the #4 qualifier in the quarters. Lourie's top qualifying run was 5.712.
Heading to Texas Roadhouse to have a meal with the team.
Jay
May 22, 2008
Arrived in Reading
Hi Everyone,
Late on Wednesday night. We left the shop in the afternoon and I'm now in Reading for this weekend's Division I race. Big weekend, because tomorrow is the anniversary of my accident.
I really feel things are coming together as we continue to improve upon things we learned in the first two races.
I really expect great things to happen over the next several races, and it should begin at Maple Grove Raceway, where as most of you know, I began to follow my dream!!
Good night,
Jay
Late on Wednesday night. We left the shop in the afternoon and I'm now in Reading for this weekend's Division I race. Big weekend, because tomorrow is the anniversary of my accident.
I really feel things are coming together as we continue to improve upon things we learned in the first two races.
I really expect great things to happen over the next several races, and it should begin at Maple Grove Raceway, where as most of you know, I began to follow my dream!!
Good night,
Jay
May 19, 2008
Pics from Southern Nationals
Good Monday Morning Everyone!!
Videographer Steve Baker has been around Follow A Dream for a long time....he's a great friend and awesome videographer. Steve was the the Southern Nationals with us about a month ago shooting video of the new car. He got plenty of great stuff of the Permatex/Wynn's/Texas Roadhouse Chevy Impala SS.
He grabbed some stills from the video and sent them to me, so I'm sharing them with the rest of the Follow A Dream family.
Enjoy,
Jay
Videographer Steve Baker has been around Follow A Dream for a long time....he's a great friend and awesome videographer. Steve was the the Southern Nationals with us about a month ago shooting video of the new car. He got plenty of great stuff of the Permatex/Wynn's/Texas Roadhouse Chevy Impala SS.
He grabbed some stills from the video and sent them to me, so I'm sharing them with the rest of the Follow A Dream family.
Enjoy,
Jay
May 18, 2008
Doing Some Work Around the House & Enjoying My Wife
Spent the day with my wife. Ann and I got the deck ready for summer. It was a perfect day!!
May 17, 2008
Getting Ready for Reading in the Shop
Hi everyone,
The crew was in the shop all day today working on the motor and clutch. Also getting the trailer ready for Reading over Memorial Day weekend. Can't wait to get back to Maple Grove Raceway. As most know, it's the track that really led me to "follow my dream".
Jay
The crew was in the shop all day today working on the motor and clutch. Also getting the trailer ready for Reading over Memorial Day weekend. Can't wait to get back to Maple Grove Raceway. As most know, it's the track that really led me to "follow my dream".
Jay
May 12, 2008
A Day in the Shop
Did a lot of things around the shop today. Main thing was took apart the cylinder head on the motor from the Atlanta weekend. As you'll recall we burned a piston in the first round of eliminations. Other than that, pretty much a quite day as I get ready for dinner.
Talk to you tomorrow,
Jay
Talk to you tomorrow,
Jay
May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day!!
Hope all of the mothers in the Follow A Dream family had an awesome day!!
Jim and I took our mom Mary out to dinner and just enjoyed the day. Just a nice day all around with my wife Ann and the kids!
Jay
Jim and I took our mom Mary out to dinner and just enjoyed the day. Just a nice day all around with my wife Ann and the kids!
Jay
May 8, 2008
Speech at Barnstable Middle School
Evening everyone!
Resting right now after an after-school speaking engagement to students at Barnstable Middle School in Hyannis.
I always come away from talks with kids with a good feeling. It's invigorating to tell kids that they don't have to wait for bad things to happen before they start working toward their future goals.
I have two school speeches tomorrow, so I'm going to get some rest. Thanks to everyone for reading.
Jay
Resting right now after an after-school speaking engagement to students at Barnstable Middle School in Hyannis.
I always come away from talks with kids with a good feeling. It's invigorating to tell kids that they don't have to wait for bad things to happen before they start working toward their future goals.
I have two school speeches tomorrow, so I'm going to get some rest. Thanks to everyone for reading.
Jay
May 7, 2008
I Get To Finally Sleep in My Own Bed!!
What a road trip!!
I'm home from a long two weeks on the road, but it was worth every minute of it!
The speech for Permatex at the Automotive Sales Council went very well this morning. With the help of Tony Battaglia of Permatex I was able to catch an earlier flight and get home to see the wife and kids sooner than I thought, which puts a smile on my face.
My daughter Mary Beth picked me up from the airport and I was able to get to my step daughter's Spring Concert at school, so needless to say, I'm a happy guy as I get ready to settle down for a nice evening in my own bed.
Talk to you tomorrow,
Jay
I'm home from a long two weeks on the road, but it was worth every minute of it!
The speech for Permatex at the Automotive Sales Council went very well this morning. With the help of Tony Battaglia of Permatex I was able to catch an earlier flight and get home to see the wife and kids sooner than I thought, which puts a smile on my face.
My daughter Mary Beth picked me up from the airport and I was able to get to my step daughter's Spring Concert at school, so needless to say, I'm a happy guy as I get ready to settle down for a nice evening in my own bed.
Talk to you tomorrow,
Jay
May 6, 2008
Speaking in St. Petersburg, FL
Hi Everyone,
It's wonderful in Florida! Got up early for my speech at the Automotive Sales Council on behalf of Permatex. This is the first of several speeches this week. I'll be back on the Cape talking to a couple of schools on Thursday and Friday.
In the meantime, yesterday was rather uneventful. No delays with my flight, which is always nice. Listened to a Blues Brother cover band in the hotel last night and got a good night's sleep.
Wanted to thank Joe Loomis and Mike Bradford for checking in on the blog.....keep the comments coming. Joe and Shannon, can't wait for Reading!! I feel that it's going to be a great weekend for the team, because that's Marty's home track.
Jay
It's wonderful in Florida! Got up early for my speech at the Automotive Sales Council on behalf of Permatex. This is the first of several speeches this week. I'll be back on the Cape talking to a couple of schools on Thursday and Friday.
In the meantime, yesterday was rather uneventful. No delays with my flight, which is always nice. Listened to a Blues Brother cover band in the hotel last night and got a good night's sleep.
Wanted to thank Joe Loomis and Mike Bradford for checking in on the blog.....keep the comments coming. Joe and Shannon, can't wait for Reading!! I feel that it's going to be a great weekend for the team, because that's Marty's home track.
Jay
May 4, 2008
Chillin in VA
Hi Everyone,
The car is packed up and heading back to Cape Cod, and I'm just sitting here at a hotel getting ready for my flight tomorrow to Florida for my speaking engagement on behalf of Permatex in St. Petersburg at the Automotive Sales Council meeting on Tuesday.
I'm just so proud of the team this weekend. We came very close to finding the winner's circle. Thanks to all of the sponsors, I can feel a real good season coming together.
My good friend and foe Frank Manzo continues to have Lady Luck smiling on him. After we made sure he was ok after the race, I shook his hand, and gave him a little good natured ribbing! Our little $2 part that failed is nothing compared to a new motor!!
Talk to you tomorrow,
Jay
P.S. Pat thanks for checking out the blog...hope all is well with you. And for others checking out the blog, please feel free to make comments.
The car is packed up and heading back to Cape Cod, and I'm just sitting here at a hotel getting ready for my flight tomorrow to Florida for my speaking engagement on behalf of Permatex in St. Petersburg at the Automotive Sales Council meeting on Tuesday.
I'm just so proud of the team this weekend. We came very close to finding the winner's circle. Thanks to all of the sponsors, I can feel a real good season coming together.
My good friend and foe Frank Manzo continues to have Lady Luck smiling on him. After we made sure he was ok after the race, I shook his hand, and gave him a little good natured ribbing! Our little $2 part that failed is nothing compared to a new motor!!
Talk to you tomorrow,
Jay
P.S. Pat thanks for checking out the blog...hope all is well with you. And for others checking out the blog, please feel free to make comments.
Virginia Day 2...Second Place
Ahh...what could have been!!
We made the finals against defending champ Frank Manzo, but a $2 part on the throttle linkage on Permatex/Wynn's/Texas Roadhouse 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS Top Alcohol Funny Car broke in the finals... causing the throttle linkage not to work and the car shut-off about 150 feet down the track. That aside, we're very happy with the second place finish. It's just a little disappointing because Frank's car also broke on the run...but hey, that's racing!
Overall, great weekend for the team!!
We had an awesome run (5.662/254.62) in the semis. This car is still new...five passes this week, and four last week in Atlanta. Now we've got a couple of weeks to prepare for the race in Reading, which I know is going to be a great weekend, because that's Marty's home track and the one that holds special meaning to me, because it's really where I decided to start following my dream of owning a drag race team.
Gonna work on the car now and I'll talk to everyone tomorrow.
Jay
We made the finals against defending champ Frank Manzo, but a $2 part on the throttle linkage on Permatex/Wynn's/Texas Roadhouse 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS Top Alcohol Funny Car broke in the finals... causing the throttle linkage not to work and the car shut-off about 150 feet down the track. That aside, we're very happy with the second place finish. It's just a little disappointing because Frank's car also broke on the run...but hey, that's racing!
Overall, great weekend for the team!!
We had an awesome run (5.662/254.62) in the semis. This car is still new...five passes this week, and four last week in Atlanta. Now we've got a couple of weeks to prepare for the race in Reading, which I know is going to be a great weekend, because that's Marty's home track and the one that holds special meaning to me, because it's really where I decided to start following my dream of owning a drag race team.
Gonna work on the car now and I'll talk to everyone tomorrow.
Jay
May 3, 2008
Virginia Day 2...Semis
Man...that one felt real good. Marty ran a 5.662/254.62 to beat Schuster. Now it's time for old friend and foe Frank Manzo in the finals.
Virginia Day 2...Quarterfinals
Sometimes...someone smiles on you and that's what happened in the first round of eliminations.
We're moving on...even though we missed on the tune-up...Marty ran a 5.924/252.10...Scott McNiece red-lighted so we're on to the semis to meet Frank Schuster.
Time to go thrash.
We're moving on...even though we missed on the tune-up...Marty ran a 5.924/252.10...Scott McNiece red-lighted so we're on to the semis to meet Frank Schuster.
Time to go thrash.
May 2, 2008
Virginia Day 1
Kudos to everyone for a job well done here in Virginia!!
Man, the team is really working its tail off to get this beautiful brand new 2008 Pro Start Chevrolet Impala SS faster and faster.
We're qualified second heading into tomorrow's eliminations, and I'm cautiously optimistic heading into Saturday.
I'm got tip my hat to my brother Jim and the rest of the crew for the improvements they made since last week's season opener in Atlanta. We got quicker each time down the track today. First run was a 5.744/243.33 and then Marty ran a 5.725/256.65. The car shook off the line otherwise it could be been a very good run.
We're taking baby steps to make sure things are safe. Remember this is a new motor that we put in after we burned a piston last Saturday. Thanks to our great sponsors we're able to do things it takes to be an excellent race team. The chute problems we had last week have been taken care of, and every thing worked well today.
This Permatex/Wynn's/Texas Roadhouse 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS Top Alcohol Funny Car is going straight as an arrow down the track, and I'm ready to get after things tomorrow.
Jay
Man, the team is really working its tail off to get this beautiful brand new 2008 Pro Start Chevrolet Impala SS faster and faster.
We're qualified second heading into tomorrow's eliminations, and I'm cautiously optimistic heading into Saturday.
I'm got tip my hat to my brother Jim and the rest of the crew for the improvements they made since last week's season opener in Atlanta. We got quicker each time down the track today. First run was a 5.744/243.33 and then Marty ran a 5.725/256.65. The car shook off the line otherwise it could be been a very good run.
We're taking baby steps to make sure things are safe. Remember this is a new motor that we put in after we burned a piston last Saturday. Thanks to our great sponsors we're able to do things it takes to be an excellent race team. The chute problems we had last week have been taken care of, and every thing worked well today.
This Permatex/Wynn's/Texas Roadhouse 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS Top Alcohol Funny Car is going straight as an arrow down the track, and I'm ready to get after things tomorrow.
Jay
Virginia Is For Racing
Well, we're at Virginia Motorsports Park and ready to rock and roll for this weeke's Northeast Division I opener. Today, Eddie and I spent the day getting supplies and now we're working on getting everything set-up. Probably will be working on the set-up until 10 PM tonight.
Marty's driving down. Our first qualifying run is set for 3 PM Friday afternoon.
We've never had great success here. Weather's always been a little iffy.
Talk to you tomorrow after the run.
Jay
Marty's driving down. Our first qualifying run is set for 3 PM Friday afternoon.
We've never had great success here. Weather's always been a little iffy.
Talk to you tomorrow after the run.
Jay
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