PINKS ALL OUT!

Yes, Pinks All out! Our racing team is heading to Maryland for the race! We logged on and waited, trying for hours to register for the event. Despite the wait, the slow internet connection, because of the thousands of people registering, both cars got in! :) For those of you that don't know much about the event, it is a show on the Speed Channel! Unlike the other show, Pinks, I do not loose my car. The only thing that happens is we can bet money and lose it! So, as I am running out the door, look for an update! If you don't know much about the show, tune in or look it up online! Our episode will not premiere until fall so be sure to watch for it then! I really think the two of us have a great chance of making it onto the show! We both race very exotic looking cars, young, and from that small corner in the US, VERMONT!! :) Wish us luck!

The 2009 Season thus far...

Unfortunately because of lack of time & readiness our family has only made it to one race. Overall things went really. I caught great lights on the tree .003 & .005 etc... I cannot complain for being rusty from the long winter. The car did great for not having a lot of touch up or revamping before the race. She ran hard, but great. We caught our best 60 ft - 1.506 but followed by a 10.789 best for the day. Somewhat of a Cinderella Story for the day. I lost 2nd round because of the drastic change in weather between rounds (a drawn-out rainstorm) . Despite entirely letting off during the checkered through the final 50 ft, I still broke out by running a 10.789 on my 10.79 dial in. A tough loss but with a nice day and nothing broken, we can't complain.

The other 1/2 of our racing crew, the Bosley's, have gotten two races in so far this year. Last weekend was a tough loss for them as well. Justin, the driver of a 1969 Pontiac Firebird, lost 2nd round as well. He ran right on his dial in, 9.53, but cut one bad light, .064 , and lost it. Overall he had a good weekend as well. Some minor tinkering on the car and he ended up passing the quarter the fastest this year and also managed not to break anything. Definitely a great way to end both of our weekends with nothing to go home & fix. :)

About the sport, Drag Racing!

The sport of Drag Racing is rare. Many states including Vermont are not fortunate enough to have a drag-strip. Therefore many people have not seen or even heard of the sport. My explanation may be somewhat confusing, but if googled, many videos can be found to better your understanding.

Drag racing consists of of two straight lanes of pavement at least 1/4 mile long, normally longer to allow for a safer shutdown. Two competitors are lined up side by side against one another. They first burn their tires, to allow for a better grasp on traction while traveling down the strip. They then pull ahead and prepare to launch their race cars. As the two creep ahead to stage their cars, they also keep a close on the 'tree' lights. The first two lights determine if they are 'staged.' When both competitors are fully staged, the following 3 yellow lights on the tree will drop. A racer will want to time their car just right so that when they leave the light will be exactly green. They then proceed down the track, full board, all out, pedal to the metal, but as anyone learns, this sport, is a race against oneself.

The key to the sport is to be precise, consecutive, or consistent. You only get a few passes or time trials before you have to predict what you will do during the actual race.

During eliminations, each racer estimates what they believe their race car will do in the quarter mile. There are many influential factors (weather, wind, heat, elevation, car temp, traction, time of day, etc) which makes the estimate much harder than it seems. The key is to run as close to your dial-in as possible. If you run faster or beat your time, you are disqualified. If you leave the launching line before the light is green, you are also dq-ed. And if your competitor runs closer to their dial in than you, you lose as well.

The tree also plays a great part. The difference within the two competitors dial in, is also the difference in when the racers light turns green. If each of them make the pass exactly as they should, the two of them would cross the finish line at the exact same time. The faster car always has to catch the slower one.

Example:

Car #1
Dial in: 10.79
Actual ET: 10.809
>>WIN by 0.019<<>

The history of it all...

A small town in vermont is the only place I have ever known. Naturally, as a young girl with a limited amount of things to do, I was the shadow to many people's footsteps, including my fathers. I learned to enjoy the quality time I spent with him working out in our garage on anything that had wheels! More often than not, by the end of my garage adventure, I was covered in grease, with dirty clothes no mother or detergent could love. But most of all, I enjoyed every minute of it. My knowledge accumulated over time and I began to be more involved. Instead of annoying my dad when I was out there, I was able to help him get work done!

Nine years ago and counting would make me eleven. I recall my dad asking my sister & I if we would like to go to Canada to watch one of his friends 'race.' Neither of us knew much about it or who would be there, but we were easily swayed into another adventure. It was definitely a day to remember. Not only did my family & I enjoy ourselves watching live drag racing, but we witnessed first hand, what it was like to be part of a racing team. The hard work, dedication, and joint effort they exhibited as a family was aspiring. And after many weekends of spectating my dad decided he too, needed a drag car!

His first investment was a 1983 Chevrolet Camaro. I believe we raced that for two years before moving into a faster and more equipped race car. But from the beginning it has been a family effort. Each weekend we traveled with the Bosley's (the aspiring racing family) into Canada for a race. The two families group effort is what made for a smooth transition for our new hobby. At the time their son, Justin, raced a 1974 Pontiac GTO! When possible, he and my father made their pass against one another. Each member in our family also had a role. Mine, was anything I was allowed to do, I did! From the get go I loved drag racing! To be able to burn your tires, go fast, and not get in trouble is something no one can complain about! :p I video-taped, checked tire pressure, fueled the car, un/loaded the car, etc, etc. Absolutely anything! My goal was to work hard enough so that someday, I too, could drive a race car!

Like everything else in life, hard work pays off! As I got older, I became very comfortable with the car and continued to work hard, earning my role. And as I got comfortable with the car, now a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS, my dad also eased up about me racing it. After endless ragging, from me, my family & friends, and other fellow racers, he gave in and let me have the driver's seat, for good! :) Spring of 2009 makes for my fourth season in the seat! My passion for racing has yet to ease. I look forward to each and every weekend I am able to do what I love, race, with the people I love, my family!


-Joleen

My reason to blog...

First & foremost, I am new to this, so please bare with me... But as the title goes, I decided to blog for a couple reasons... One, A good friend of mine is a fashion fanatic and has introduced me to this blogging world where opportunity can seem endless, and time diminshes before your eyes... Overall just a good way to broadcast yourself, your ideas or thoughts, to the world. Secondly, I would like to share with others my story, of something simple in life, such as drag racing, and how it has, and continues to change my life.

I would greatly appreciate any feedback that you may have to offer. I would also be more than happy to exchange links to further both of our exposure!

-Joleen