Here we are in the Windy City, the middle of January and baby it's COLD outside.

It's easy to see why people get depressed, but being an eternal optimist, I'm looking forward to putting 2009 behind me.

The 2009 season didn't deliver many of the expectations the Frantic Fueler team had hoped for, today is a new day and as we prepare for 2010, I'm reminded of the fact that we RACE a Front Engined Fuel Dragster. If it was easy everyone would have one, truth is it's NOT easy. Yes, traveling the country, meeting the best fans in the world and enjoying our outings is a blessing.

Let's not forget the countless hours at the shop going over every inch of each part, trying to find a thousandth of a second, it's mind numbing sometimes.

On occassion, it's easy to let expectations get the best of you, and we are way harder on ourselves over lack luster performances than anyone could imagine.
That's what makes our particular illness great, each member of the Frantic Fueler team takes it personally and have the determination and drive to improve.

With Dragster Dave leading the charge, and the team behind him we race into 2010 working to make the Frantic Fueler one of the countries finest AA/FD.

We are looking forward to a rewarding season, seeing some old friends, making some new ones and hopefully getting back the on track performance we know the Frantic Fueler is capable of.

C'ya out there.

Scott

The Spectrum Illumination Frantic Fueler spent three days, Seven hundred miles and a truck load of team members traveling the roads of Michigan.  We started with our annual trip to Frankenmuth's Autofest and let me say, IF you think the automotive hobby is dead, you haven't been to Frankenmuth. They registered over 5500 custom cars on Friday ALONE! The block party Friday night drew over 180,000 people along with a bunch of bands, lots of beverage and 5 front engined fuel dragsters.

We kicked off the party with a drive down Main, one by one the Fuelers headed out. The Probe, Green Gang and John Logghe's beautiful dragsters took the lead, with Al Bergler and the Frantic car following behind. Bergler and the frantic car stopped at the Brewrey in the middle of town while the other continued to the park at the bottom of the hill. All the teams did "between round" prep and got ready for the 9 pm fire up. Since Main street is closed to traffic from 5 to 10 pm, LOTS of people spent the evening wandering the street finding some of the coolest cars in the country along side. As 9 pm approached a lot of folks started milling around near the Frantic Fueler, all shined up and ready for some night time flame throwing.

Sarge did a spectacular job keeping everything under control, and supplied us with a pizza dinner to boot!
Al lit up the night sky first, the weed burner headers shooting fire and glowing with heat.
Then the Frantic car, Dragster Dave leaned on the barrel valve some and soon the flames were shooting out of the pipes and a loud WHACK got the crowd reved up.  After all the fun the team went to work, loaded up the trailer and hauled to Flint for some sleep, well after some well deserved cocktails.

6 am, good morning sunshine!

The team meets in the lobby for breakfast and we head over to Martin for the Funnycar Nationals. Once in our spot we get setup for a planned motor change, everything is going to plan. As the day goes on alot of friends and fans stop by to see the new paint and watch as we button her up for our warm up. Pretty standard stuff as we head up for the 7 pm show, Jason and Stephanie do a great job with this large scale event, there is something for everybody at this event.  We are scheduled to go against Joe Hendrix Old Style racing dragster, fresh off a victory at the Blue Suede Cruise, Joe and Randy set a personal best of 5.97 there and are always a tough opponent. Both cars head to the line, as burnouts are being done I see something shoot from Randy's header and very shortly after we watch as the the car completely melts down.  Randy's ok and out of the car which the track team moves off to the side. Dragster Dave is back at the line and I wave him in.  A flash and Dave mashes the gas, the Frantic car lauches straight and true then suddenly starts sounding like the motor is being pulled down, WAY down.  Dave lifts for a moment then hammers it again, legging out a 6.40 ET. Several pistons were pinched so we changed a whole rack full, within an hour we are putting the final touches on the motor. During the torque sequence AA Dale notices a pulled stud, we tried to get it to hold but it just was not going to happen. We decide not to make the second run, a difficult way to end the season.  The team breaks camp and we head down the road for a short night's sleep.

Sunday morning and the team is together having breakfast ready for the last leg of the three day tour.   Dragster Dave, Betsy and the family head West for some well deserved R&R. The rest of the Frantic Fueler team and I head East to the Gilmore Museum, one of my favorite stops in MIchigan. Needless to say if you are a car guy, you NEED to get there.  A short trip thru the country and we arrive, we are greeted with open arms pull in and unload the car. By sight about 1500 or so Muscle Cars enjoyed the car show as we did. It was a fabulous day hanging out at the Gilmore and all in all a terrific weekend for the Spectrum Illumination Frantic Fueler. Sure, there are things to work on, it's NITRO, there is ALWAYS something to work on.

As we close out our 10th year of Nitro racing, I would like to say how PROUD I am of our entire team.   All who work tirelessly to bring the Frantic Fueler to life, and to our families who allow us the time to chase an uncatchable foe, THANK YOU all. Stay tuned for our 2010 schedule and happenings,
C'ya out there....
Scott