A new week...

Well we ended last week giving SFX a bit of a check up. We pulled the planetaries to have a look at how they were holding up under the heavy schedule of events. They looked great, I was pleased that they show no wear at this point in the season. I also looked at the ring gear as I put a large plug in the rear so we can get a look without pulling it all of the way apart. It also looked great.

Doug came over and took the clutches apart for an inspection and adjustments. Most of the parts looked good and the adjustments were made. By the time we got done putting everything back together it was to late to start the engines to test the clutches (we didn't want to wake the neighbors) so Travis and I did that in the morning as we were getting loaded up to head for Oak Harbor,OH.

The last two days have had their ups and downs. First we headed for Oak Harbor and as is usual for most traveling these days we had a few detours along the way but we made the trip with time to spare (not much).

The track looked like it was going to be awesome and one that would make the balance choices easy, just put it all on the front and try to keep it between the white lines as you hit the wheelie bars :-).

Well that wasn't to be as the weather was threatening and sure enough it let loose just before starting time. The rain only lasted about 15 minutes but it ruined a great looking track. The track crew did a good job of getting the track back to a useable condition but nowhere close to where it was pre rain.

The first two classes were struggling to get a hold of the track but it did seem to be getting better as the SM4WD trucks were finishing up. Enough so that we were moving some of the weight back to the front that we had taken off.

The first hook (and last) would be the "Bionic Buzzard", Tony had a pretty good hook and as the "Judge" was getting hooked to the sled the skies let loose once more ending any chance of finishing our class. It got so slick so fast that the Barga's couldn't pull the tractor of off the track without the help of the sled pushing. So it ended up being a tractor push instead of a tractor pull!!!

After an hour and a half of wallowing in the mud again we were on our way to the next event in Mt. Vernon, OH with the NTPA RN 2.

We did have a much better day weather wise and got down the track pretty well. I wasn't able to get after the engines right out of the hole but it hooked pretty good at about 100' and started pulling me to the left but I was ready for it to do that as it looked like it was doing that most of the night. I may have over braked to the right a little as I thought that the best track on the big end was to the left but I ended up doing ok. We got out to about 340' with Don Deane at about 337' and Ken Miller was around 317'.

We didn't like the way the top engine was acting at the end of the pass so we may need to check it out some when we get home tomorrow.

We were really looking forward to hooking with the "Funny Farmall" and the "Judge" with their "A" game on board to see where we are, oh well maybe at Springfield,OH on Tuesday.

S'no Farmer