Blog Update - Track night and travel plans June 15, 2015

This past week has been busy on two fronts - get ready for Race Night Saturday Night and get ready for a little road trip for fishing.

Saturday Night was night two for the race car and it went well right up until the end. We worked out most of the handling problems with the car and timed well and did OK in the heat race. We made a few minor adjustments before the Main Event and started well, running up into 2nd place for a few laps. Then a series of cautions caused the field to jam up again. Then we had a red flag after running hard for about 15 laps. They had to clear some oil from the track so we stopped dead for about 15 minutes...on the restart the car had a serious miss. We were in 3 rd place and could have moved to 2nd with a little luck, but the miss was so bad we had to fall out. Car would not start to get on the trailer for the trip home so we were all concerned.

Sunday morning up early to find the problem - removed the distributor cap to find the rotor was melted and all distorted. The heat buildup while sitting on the red flag melted the rotor. Replaced the rotor and she fired right up. So we have some heat problems to deal with before the next race which is two weeks away.

A few pics from Race Night!













All in all a good night - car ran well, we expect a few issues with a brand new car. Nothing serious broke and we still finished 4th in the main event...and right behind the leaders until the engine problem.

No racing next week - next race is June 27th which gives Jimbo and I time for a few days on the road for a little fishing!

So we get everything ready in the camper and load up the boat and head South to Noxon Reservoir for a few days of camping and fishing....

Stay Tuned for pics and fish stories by the end of the week. Plans call for leaving tomorrow morning and returning Friday or Saturday - depends on the fishing and weather!!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Race Debut - Great Night at the Track!

OK - Quit with the emails - here is the full rundown.

Loaded the car before noon right after a little car portrait photo op in the yard - just in case it got bent up in the first night of racing!





Off the trailer at the track - Tech inspection all went well. A few practice laps to see if the new springs and sway bar solved the push in the corners...then some tweaks to improve handling. Times on the track kept getting better as we made a few minor adjustments. Changed some tires around and had everything pretty much ready to go within an hour of the time trials.

We were like 5th in line for the time trials and quickly on our 3 lap run moved into 1st place. A car behind us beat our time but it felt real good to end up 2nd in the time trials.

This shows our time when we took the lead in the time trials! But we ended up 2nd



Feeling pretty good now we waited for the first heat race...we got a bad start position behind some slow cars so used it as more learning and set up some more suspension tweeks! Trophy dash was pretty much the same thing, so the team decided to make a push in the Main Event!

First Night Out and finished 4th in the Main Event! Had 3rd right up until a caution flag which closed up the pack with only 10 laps to go!



Lots off supporters for the team!



All in all it was a great night, brand new car and didn't break anything and our times were right up there with the winners, nobody ran away from us. Couple minor issues to check out and as Dustin gets more comfortable in the car and the way it handles...we should be in the hunt all season!!

Thanks for all the support and inquiries!

Stay tuned for more summer adventures in Kalispell - Run again next Saturday Night!

And a beautiful Montana Sunset at the track!



Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - June 1st - Car debut

A bunch has been happening around here on the car. I got the website up and running and the car has been published, so the secret is out!

Last Thursday we loaded up the car and took it to the track for some testing. We were the only car out there for most of the afternoon. Had to "rent" the track for an hour, so only so much we could do.

The car ran great - had a few minor handling issues and managed some adjustments. Dustin got more comfortable as the hour went on and he probably got a good 100 laps or so.

Determined the car needed heavier springs in the front and a larger sway bar. So that has been the project this week and a few other tweaks.

The lettering is all finished on the car and it looks GREAT!



















We shall see how the changes we have made work out on Race Night this coming Saturday Night - stay tuned for the results!!

Gonna be a busy summer - Millhoff is coming to visit in July...to see Glacier, should be fun!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Busy in Kalispell on the car!

It has been a real busy time here getting the race car ready for the opening race on June 6th. Many, many little things left to do to get it perfect for testing on the track later this week.

Yesterday was a big day, the car rolled outside in the sunshine and got loaded on the trailer for a short trip over to the alignment shop to set the alignment.

Always under the watchful eye of Clyde!



Not going to reveal the full car until race night...but here are some "detail" shots!













Yesterday a good part of the morning was working on the trailer and installing an 8000 pound electric winch to use to pull the car onto the trailer - it worked perfectly.



What is left to be done?

New tarp top for the trailer and Tuesday the final setting of the suspension. Check every bolt in the car for tightness. Lube the front end. Final radio installation. Final fitting of the windshield. Decals for sponsors.

This week will be busy, hope to get on the track for practicing and final suspension tuning by the end of the week.

STAY TUNED for the final unveiling next week!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - settled in Kalispell and busy!

Well, I have been busy since my arrival at my good friend's in Kalispell, Montana. One of my favorite places in the world.

Trailer is all set up for most of the summer...



A few deer in the yard the other night....



Went for a drive the other day to Talley Lake to scope out the boat ramp and camp ground for a fishing expedition.



The ever present "Clyde" watching our activities....



The Project - My good friend Jim Flinchbaugh has had a busy winter, building a new stock car for this summers racing season - stay tuned for the unveiling - it is a big secret for now! Still a few parts to finish before the first race on June 6th!





Yesterday took time off from the car to go to a black powder shoot at the local range! Had great fun watching some old style guns shoot long range and a bunch of good shooters....took a few pictures!

















Buffalo Target at about 500 yards!



It got hit many times...good shooting!



I have been shopping for a replacement refrigerator for the RV and hope to have a new one installed soon. Also waiting for my Doctor records to arrive at the doctors here in Kalispell to get some test done.

Have a few trips scheduled and of course the car unveiling on June 6th - stay tuned for more details!

Having fun in Kalispell - just found out some friends from the RV park in Twentynine Palms are literally across the street at an RV Park here in Kalispell and will be here for the summer working...plan to meet up with them soon!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - Time for relaxing and maintenance

So much has happened since my trip back from Ohio - again Thanks to all my Barberton friends for making my gallery showing at Nine Muses a huge success!!

Upon return to Salt Lake City I had my annual carotid artery sonogram scheduled and I have been concerned since I have not been feeling 100%. Well, I passed the carotid scan however the doctor refused to sign-off on my physical for Yellowstone and with my symptoms suggested it was time for a complete physical and a visit and examination by a cardiologist. I was referred to a well respected combination Internist and Cardiologist here in Kalispell Montana.

On Tuesday the 5th of May I departed my very good friend Steve Carter's house in Salt Lake City and made the one day drive to Dillon, Montana, had a great trip with rain most of the way. Spent the night at my favorite RV Park in Dillon - Southside RV Park and had a nice dinner out at Sparky's Garage. Then and early start towards Kalispell, another easy drive and my timing was perfect as the evening of the day I left had snow in the mountain passes out of Dillon. I arrived at my good friend Jim Flinchbaugh's about 3:30 in the afternoon.

Jim had leveled my spot for the RV and even dumped a tractor bucket of gravel in my porch area to keep the mud down and allow me room to get my awning out. What a great friend.

Settled In!





My current plans are to take care of maintenance issues - both on the RV and this old body!

1. Replace the refridgerator in the RV!

2. Replace the batteries in the RV!

3. Appointment for physical with Internist / Cardiologist!

4. Enjoy another wonderful summer near Glacier National Park in Kalispell!

Stay Tuned for more updates as the summer progresses!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!