The NHRA Heritage Series race at Cordova was to mark the return of the Spectrum Illumination Frantic Fueler to the site of last years 5.81 off the throttle track record. What REALLY happened was far from stellar, as Friday found the team trying to figure out what was wrong with the car.

Upon our usual warmup on Friday, the car started fine then went into the strangest funk, the idle was all over and impossible to get under control. We all kind of looked at each other as if to say "what the F@%*!" We checked the obvious, then began isolating the not so obvious. Loosing time, and the Friday night runs getting closer the decision was to change motors. The team dug deep and in a short time "B" was between the rails and getting button up to fire. A quick spin and she's lit, very quickly it's obvious the problem is still there. We have some discussion and begin taking EVERYTHING apart. Swap the mag, the coil, plug wires looking for a possible cause. Go thru the blower, blow out all the fuel lines anything that may be the culprit. It's now way past run time and the other cars have gone out to make their runs. Since we couldn't find ANYTHING that would indicate the motor was an issue we changed motors again, back to our "A" motor. Both motors have run great numbers, just "A" is favored for what ever reason.

Saturday morning after countless discussions with anyone and everyone, we get the car back together and get ready to fire it up. During our late night discussions and some investigating we had found that our alchohol may be contaminated. The Frantic team goes to work, changing out the alchohol for some "fresh" stuff and fire her up. After a few tense moments she's back to running fine and getting prepped to run. Ernie and Jimi are pushing their cars into the trailers soon the rest of the "touring" teams are doing the same. A heavy weather cell is in the area and headed our way, a few misplaced bets and suddenly it's pouring. The Frantic team all grab hold of the tent polls and get ready for a shower. It blows and rains heavy for 45 minutes, then as quick as it came it's gone and everyone is busy getting ready to run.

We pull into the lane hoping for some redemtion, we'll be against the Orange Crate. Dale and Radar are one of the best running cars in the Midwest, and ofcourse we want to beat up on them.

Both cars line up and a quick flash and they're GONE. The Frantic Fueler squirts out about 300ft and starts wandering around, then a hard move right and Dragster Dave clicks it off.

We collect him at the top end and head for the trailer shortly after we get back, word comes that we won't make the second pass. The change in weather held the crowd down and thet track owners made the only realistic call.

Next up, July 25th Cedar Falls - Night of Fire!

C'ya out there.