Hello, all. It's been a busy week. I told you I'd write back soon. Well, it's not soon, but I'm writing back.
It's Friday evening, and the car's jacked up, the motor's apart, the heads are freshened, and new rods and pistons are ready to go back in. Alan has been hard at work cutting floaters and discs. Ozzie has been working on parachute system stuff and numerous fabrication projects.
The show car is being prepared for the vocational school competition at the New York International Auto Show, where I'll be the keynote speaker at the breakfast that kicks off the show. It's at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in downtown New York City, and this is our fourth year representing Permatex there. We're leaving Easter Sunday to pick up the body at Circus Custom Paints in New Jersey, and then we're off to New York.
From there, it's straight to Houston for the Spring Nationals. Guess what? That's not going to be our only race for the next month. When we leave Houston, we will, as the great and fabulous Ed Parker says, turn left instead of right. We're not heading back to Massachusetts; we're going to Las Vegas for the SummitRacing Nationals.
The Division 3 race in Indianapolis, Todd's hometown, is right on the way back home from Vegas, so we're running that race, too. We're all excited about this opportunity to run back-to-back races. I really appreciate the Dream Team and everybody's dedication.
Hope you all have a great weekend! I'll talk back at you at the beginning of next week.
Jay
March 26, 2010
March 18, 2010
BACK HOME
Hello All,
Arrived back at the shop around 1:30 this afternoon after a stop @ Coventry Regional Career & Technical Center in Coventry, RI. The culinary department made us a wonderful breakfast & then I spoke to 1000 students. Had the Permatex funny car on display outside the school-what a beautiful day! While I showered this morning, Charlie was awoken by a Coventry, Rhode Island police officer banging on the back door. He was requesting that we move the truck & trailer off of school property because we were in the way & we were early-a full 24 hours early, the event wasn't scheduled until Friday morning! Charlie didn't know what to do & by the time I got out of the shower, I was starting to get concerned that I had the date wrong. Took about a half hour to work it all out & everything went fine-we were right-today was the day.
Our first race of the season in Gainesville, FL went well & everyone is excited about moving forward with the 2010 season. I'm looking forward to keeping everybody updated as we continue the season and will touch base again soon.
Have a great day.
Jay
Arrived back at the shop around 1:30 this afternoon after a stop @ Coventry Regional Career & Technical Center in Coventry, RI. The culinary department made us a wonderful breakfast & then I spoke to 1000 students. Had the Permatex funny car on display outside the school-what a beautiful day! While I showered this morning, Charlie was awoken by a Coventry, Rhode Island police officer banging on the back door. He was requesting that we move the truck & trailer off of school property because we were in the way & we were early-a full 24 hours early, the event wasn't scheduled until Friday morning! Charlie didn't know what to do & by the time I got out of the shower, I was starting to get concerned that I had the date wrong. Took about a half hour to work it all out & everything went fine-we were right-today was the day.
Our first race of the season in Gainesville, FL went well & everyone is excited about moving forward with the 2010 season. I'm looking forward to keeping everybody updated as we continue the season and will touch base again soon.
Have a great day.
Jay
March 17, 2010
GREAT SEASON DEBUT IN GAINESVILLE
Hi, everyone. This is Todd. My first weekend back in Jay's car couldn't have gone much better. Other than a couple of blasts off the starting line in Valdosta, Ga., a few days before we got to Gainesville, I hadn't been down the track in years, so to reach the semifinals at a huge race like the Gatornationals was a dream. I've gotten three runner-ups in the past, but even they weren't as good as Gainesville 2010.
Rain on Friday limited qualifying to just two shots, and we ran a 5.66 at 256 mph right off the trailer. (The best I'd ever run before this weekend was a 5.67 at 255.) In eliminations, we took out Ulf Leanders of Sweden in the first round and Alexis DeJoria in the quarterfinals. Everybody's nemesis, Frank Manzo, beat us in the semi's, but even that had a positive result: I went 259 mph, another career best.
If it wasn't for an unbelievable thrash by the Dream Team, we never would have made it to the line to race Frank because the burst panel blew against Alexis and the guys had to completely rebuild the engine. Everybody pitched in, and it was a beautiful thing to see. We made it up there just in time, and they obviously had everything right because, like I said, the car went almost 260 mph.
We stayed to test on Monday, and, right when things couldn't get any better, they did again. Tommy put just the right tuneup in the car, and it responded with a 5.58 – my first .50 and by far the best I've ever run – at just shy of 260. Jay's speaking in Rhode Island on Thursday, and Eddie, Charlie, and Spencer will finally get home after a long, hard, and very successful trip. Houston is next, and we may have a few surprises to announce, so stay tuned!
Rain on Friday limited qualifying to just two shots, and we ran a 5.66 at 256 mph right off the trailer. (The best I'd ever run before this weekend was a 5.67 at 255.) In eliminations, we took out Ulf Leanders of Sweden in the first round and Alexis DeJoria in the quarterfinals. Everybody's nemesis, Frank Manzo, beat us in the semi's, but even that had a positive result: I went 259 mph, another career best.
If it wasn't for an unbelievable thrash by the Dream Team, we never would have made it to the line to race Frank because the burst panel blew against Alexis and the guys had to completely rebuild the engine. Everybody pitched in, and it was a beautiful thing to see. We made it up there just in time, and they obviously had everything right because, like I said, the car went almost 260 mph.
We stayed to test on Monday, and, right when things couldn't get any better, they did again. Tommy put just the right tuneup in the car, and it responded with a 5.58 – my first .50 and by far the best I've ever run – at just shy of 260. Jay's speaking in Rhode Island on Thursday, and Eddie, Charlie, and Spencer will finally get home after a long, hard, and very successful trip. Houston is next, and we may have a few surprises to announce, so stay tuned!
March 10, 2010
WE'RE IN FLORIDA
Hello From Sunny Warm Florida!
It's Wednesday morning and we have arrived in Gainesville. Got to the track last night around midnight and Todd, Charlie, Ed, Scott Spencer, & I sat around shooting the breeze until about 2am. Woke up this morning ready to set up the pit area, get the car teched (NHRA saftey inspection), and ready to race. Testing at South Georgia Motorsports Park on Monday & Tuesday went well. We got Todd all fitted in the car and made all final adjustments. Todd made four runs, getting acclimated to the car and did a phenomenal job. The new parachutes on the car worked great. Steve Baker of SB Video Productions and his friend Fred (photographer)were both with us in Valdosta and got some great photos & video. Check the site and we'll get some of those up for you to see soon. Today & tomorrow we'll be servicing the car and putting new connecting rods in and then Friday begins qualifying. The entire team has worked unbelievably long hours with tireless dedication to get us ready to start the season. I can't say enough about what a terrific crew we have-they are the best!
Well, gotta run for now. Stay tuned to the blog-we'll try and update you all throughout the weekend.
Thanks & have a great day!
Jay
It's Wednesday morning and we have arrived in Gainesville. Got to the track last night around midnight and Todd, Charlie, Ed, Scott Spencer, & I sat around shooting the breeze until about 2am. Woke up this morning ready to set up the pit area, get the car teched (NHRA saftey inspection), and ready to race. Testing at South Georgia Motorsports Park on Monday & Tuesday went well. We got Todd all fitted in the car and made all final adjustments. Todd made four runs, getting acclimated to the car and did a phenomenal job. The new parachutes on the car worked great. Steve Baker of SB Video Productions and his friend Fred (photographer)were both with us in Valdosta and got some great photos & video. Check the site and we'll get some of those up for you to see soon. Today & tomorrow we'll be servicing the car and putting new connecting rods in and then Friday begins qualifying. The entire team has worked unbelievably long hours with tireless dedication to get us ready to start the season. I can't say enough about what a terrific crew we have-they are the best!
Well, gotta run for now. Stay tuned to the blog-we'll try and update you all throughout the weekend.
Thanks & have a great day!
Jay
March 6, 2010
ON THE ROAD HEADED TO GEORGIA
Hey Everybody!
It has been a busy week. Eddie, Charlie, Ozzie, Scott, Terri, & I have been putting in long days to get us ready. Some longer than others-eighteen plus hours some days for myself & Charlie. Ozzie got the new chute launchers all squared away, Charlie got the new safety shutdown system ready, & everything is loaded. We're now sitting on Cape Cod in traffic, if you can believe that. The Sagamore Bridge is under construction! Charlie is now taking a nap, Eddie is driving, & Scott Spencer's head is spinning-not sure if he know what he's gotten himself into! We're due to arrive in Valdosta, Georgia on Sunday evening & will then offload the rig and get the car ready for testing Monday & Tuesday. Jimmy & Todd will be meeting us there on Sunday. Stay tuned, I'll try to update the blog on Monday night to keep you all informed of our progress.
Have a great weekend!
Jay
It has been a busy week. Eddie, Charlie, Ozzie, Scott, Terri, & I have been putting in long days to get us ready. Some longer than others-eighteen plus hours some days for myself & Charlie. Ozzie got the new chute launchers all squared away, Charlie got the new safety shutdown system ready, & everything is loaded. We're now sitting on Cape Cod in traffic, if you can believe that. The Sagamore Bridge is under construction! Charlie is now taking a nap, Eddie is driving, & Scott Spencer's head is spinning-not sure if he know what he's gotten himself into! We're due to arrive in Valdosta, Georgia on Sunday evening & will then offload the rig and get the car ready for testing Monday & Tuesday. Jimmy & Todd will be meeting us there on Sunday. Stay tuned, I'll try to update the blog on Monday night to keep you all informed of our progress.
Have a great weekend!
Jay
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