We have been very busy getting up and down the roads of the Midwest. I feel like a glorified truck driver instead of a puller.
After Springfield we headed to the Butler co. fair which is as close to home as we get these days. We had a very good night. I had a great hook with the SFX but close to the end the front engine striped all of the teeth off of the blower belt, a brand new one at that. As it turned out we had broken an intake rocker and that must have let the engine detonate at the end of the run.
We were the only one flagged at the end of the run on what was to be a floating finish. We worked on the tractor to be ready for a pulloff but luckily we didn't have to come back as we would likely have hurt more parts.
We worked on the tractor till midnight getting it fixed so we could head for Tallmadge the next day.
Tarry made a very nice pass with the truck and all seemed to be OK with it so we didn't even have to wrench on it. A loose track but I think Tarry ended up in 4th.
At Tallmadge they had put together a track that I thought would be great for SFX and it was, we made a very nice pass to win the class. The SFX is just working super this year, we made a few changes to the tractor over the winter and it seems to be making a big difference.
Next up was Tiffin,OH a pull that we had heard a lot of good things about and they were all true. This was a very nice event with two tracks. We were both on the grandstand track which was great for the tractor and ok for the truck (a little to soft for the trucks).
Tarry was up first with the truck and made a great pass to join Jeff Writsel (SP) in the pulloff. Jeff was up first and lost a belt at about 200' so all Tarry had to do was make a good effort to get the win. She made another great pas out to 315' for the win.
This was a GREAT track for the SFX. At about 200' it just launched down the track unlike any track I've been on this year. We got out the end with ease and got ready for the pulloff with the Judge as he also got out with ease. Ron II went first and had a very nice pas out to 311'. I put the sled in the same spot as the first pass but it pulled me to the right pretty hard most of the way down the track this time. I still got out to 329' for the win so it was a great double win for our team on this night.
Our next stop was Piketon,OH with the 2DW, we've heard that the track was usually not a great one but on this night it seemed to be pretty good for the trucks. It would have been just ok for the tractors. Tarry made a good hook out to about 309' just behind Tricky Dick with Jeff Writsel making an awesome pass for the only fullpull of the night.
I have been trying to keep up with the maintenance on the engines as best I can but it is hard at times. Rick and Doug have been great about helping me keep things running when something bad happens.
We have missed some events that we've been to in years past as we are running all of OSTPA events this year. I miss some of these events but it's a choice we made and need to follow through with.
Next up is Eaton,OH with both the truck and SFX. Rick will be driving the truck tonight, it should be a good class of trucks tonight and is the home track of the unstoppable Petro trucks so it should be a fun event.
Later,
Todd
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The quick down and dirty for tonight
We had a great night for pulling, great wheather, great track and it turned out ok as we didn't break anything that we know about yet.
We had two very good hooks as we got into a pulloff with Ron Barga II driving the Judge. We both had good hooks in the pulloff and Ron got passed me by about 4'. Not bad concidering they brought their "A" game tonight as this was an A event with OSTPA. Tony came in 3rd with the Bionic Buzzard at about 308 in the first round.
S'no Farmer
We had two very good hooks as we got into a pulloff with Ron Barga II driving the Judge. We both had good hooks in the pulloff and Ron got passed me by about 4'. Not bad concidering they brought their "A" game tonight as this was an A event with OSTPA. Tony came in 3rd with the Bionic Buzzard at about 308 in the first round.
S'no Farmer
Sunday, July 20, 2008
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
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
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Getting Started...
Just getting started with this web site thing. Our son Tad has put this neat site together and he is teaching us how to keep things up to date.
We just came home after a few weeks on the pulling circuit. Sno Farmer Xtreme had a great start with 7 firsts, 2 seconds and a 2 fifth placings (only ran two motors) had some issues with the back motor twice. The two wheel drive Hoosier Avalanche has been a fun experience for Rick and I taking turns at the wheel. The TWD is very different than the Econo Mod, but pulling is the same. The power is really wild, the noise is deafening, the ride is sweet! I'm sure it will take me awhile to get comfortable with it. My biggest struggle is getting backed up to the sled. The throttle is tricky and the engine makes lots of noise and takes a lot to get the truck moving and if the sled hook person isn't paying attention it takes a few tries to get backed up straight. Once the chain is tight, its a nice straight ride. I'm learning that I need to get into the throttle a little sooner than I have been if I'm going to do any good. Time will tell!
And here is Todd driving S'no Farmer the original which is at a bit slower pace than the current S'no Farmer Xtreme!
Until next time, see ya on the track,
Tarry
We just came home after a few weeks on the pulling circuit. Sno Farmer Xtreme had a great start with 7 firsts, 2 seconds and a 2 fifth placings (only ran two motors) had some issues with the back motor twice. The two wheel drive Hoosier Avalanche has been a fun experience for Rick and I taking turns at the wheel. The TWD is very different than the Econo Mod, but pulling is the same. The power is really wild, the noise is deafening, the ride is sweet! I'm sure it will take me awhile to get comfortable with it. My biggest struggle is getting backed up to the sled. The throttle is tricky and the engine makes lots of noise and takes a lot to get the truck moving and if the sled hook person isn't paying attention it takes a few tries to get backed up straight. Once the chain is tight, its a nice straight ride. I'm learning that I need to get into the throttle a little sooner than I have been if I'm going to do any good. Time will tell!
Here is a throw-back to the Econo Mods With Wound For Sound in the RCA Dome
And here is Todd driving S'no Farmer the original which is at a bit slower pace than the current S'no Farmer Xtreme!Until next time, see ya on the track,
Tarry
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Welcome to Feiss Motorsports Blog!
Hello all,
Soon this blog will be filled with comments from Tarry and Todd about their current schedule, how events went, how they placed in events, where they plan on pulling next, and hopefully photos of events and places they travel to. I'm going to post a few test pics and hopefully they will follow suit and keep us all informed of their progress around the Midwest.
Here is a photo of Todd on S'no Farmer Xtreme at the Louisville Farm Machinery Show Feb. 14 2007
Here is Tarry pulling Hoosier Avalanche, in Burlington KY May 31 2008 (graphics added electronically)
Hopefully this is just a teaser of what will be appearing in the future. Thanks for checking out Feiss Motorsports and the Feiss Motorsports Blog!
Tad
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