Just Can’t Make This Stuff Up!
June 24 – Make-up features are the first to run at Hutchinson. Jacob’s competitor didn’t return, so Jacob took his first win by default. As we learned long ago, a win is a win. Matthew led his race on his way to the first win of the season when the car dies with only a couple of laps to go. Seriously, I just can’t make this stuff up. Luck has not found Matthew this season. Turned out to be a bad module even though it was BRAND NEW! Let me repeat, it was brand new.
No drama in the heat races. Boys found another problem on Matthew’s car and fixed it. Jacob changed his setup and after what felt like a flurry of activity, it is feature time. Matthew is out first and runs a solid race taking second place behind B. It took Matthew a little too long to find his line and when he did, he closed the distance a bit, but B doesn’t make many mistakes so if we ever do beat him, it will be a hell of an accomplishment! It just feels good to run up with him.
Jacob also took a second place finish in his feature. The first three laps of the race were incredibly exciting as he ran side by side with Cheeseburger. It was a heck of a race with Jacob driving it in so hard, that I swear my fists were locked up with tension. But, he couldn’t hold it at the level he was pushing it, and he lost it between one and two. Luckily, the other car missed him and Jacob didn’t flatten any tires when he spun out. Ran the rest of the race well and definitely keeps learning and improving with every race. And both boys ended up with 2nd so that was kind of cool.
Saturday we travel onto Jetmore. I am so excited to have all of us together. Rylee is able to come as well even though she has to return the next day for work. But in the end, Jetmore was just painful. First, they didn't mud in the track and it was breaking up and rough. Jacob was mixed in with thunder cars so I am not even sure where he ended up. They watered the track right before the feature and we didn’t know it. Really missed the setup and Jacob just kept loosing positions. Later, we tried to get the check which would show where he finished, but couldn’t find the pay out window and just gave up. But, I am getting ahead of myself.
Boys saw some problems with Matthew’s gear going bad but decided to run feature anyway which was a decision we would soon regret. Pinion gear came apart causing driveshaft to break and ripped out tranny. At least, that is near as I can explain what happened. All I know is I saw sparks and parts fly as he quickly tried to dive off the track. Barely made it off out of turn 4 and the track didn’t throw a yellow. Thankfully, nothing happened but I made sure to comment to a passing IMCA official that that was sure dangerous (and he agreed with me).
So, we loaded up the cars all of us pretty fed up and frustrated and damn trailer door breaks! You have no idea how heavy that thing is until this happens!
Next day, I saw something I had never seen. Steve, Uncle Rich and Grandpa Brandt couldn't figure out that darn door! Took four hours and thought they had it fixed. Got to the track and yes, it broke again! My first thought was we should just go home now given how the weekend just kept getting worse. But, of course, there is no way to act on that thought.
Now, I started taking some notes about the weekend because by Sunday, I was exhausted. So, at the time I am writing this, we are traveling home at the end of the night after the race at Wakeeney. We are joking with Jacob about a Ricky Bobby flip and running from the car screaming I'm on fire like in the movie but it wasn’t so funny a couple of hours ago.
Jacob is running his heat race and gets bumped going into turn and next thing we know he is airborne flying off the track. From where we were in the pits I couldn't see it roll but next thing I know the ambulance, fire truck and wreckers were all rushing toward him. I actually looked at Steve and said why are they going over there with the ambulance and about that time, we see Randy running over! I told Steve they can kick me out forever as I jumped on the 4-wheeler and took off! I was sure he was fine and didn't even feel worried until I saw him come around the ambulance with an EMT on each side. Then my insides started shaking. He was telling them he was fine but something about that moment was just a small wave of scary for me.
Anyway, the first official on the scene had tried to keep him in the car until Jacob pointed out it was on fire. Yes, when it rolled, the fuel in carburetor I think started the air filter on fire. If I am not technically correct, forgive me! They sprayed fire extinguisher to put it out and thankfully, Randy retrieved Jacob’s gear so it didn’t get covered. EMTs talked to me about when the adrenaline comes down and what to watch for as Jacob insisted he was fine. We got back to the trailer and I started packing up while the boys are all pulling tools out! I was SO done while they figure they can get it fixed for the feature! The driver that hit Jacob came over and apologized. He felt really bad. We also tried to coach Jacob as I think part of the problem was he over corrected but I am honestly not sure. This is where I get so frustrated with Steve when he doesn’t park where I tell him to (ie beside Randy) though I am sympathetic to pulling the long trailer and not being able to leave easily.
Anyway, port a power goes to work pushing roof back up and fenders back out. They had to blow out fire extinguisher stuff and dirt and change air filter. Matthew gives advice via text as he was clearly concerned about Jacob being ok both physically and mentally. What an awesome big brother. I need him with us.
In the feature, there are 17 cars and Jacob had to start 15th. He ended up getting 12th which we were all more than happy with of course! We think he might be down a cylinder, was definitely out of tow and who knows what else. They will need to go through it all this week. I have to make some stickers again of course! But, you definitely have to admire the fact they didn’t give up. I couldn’t be more proud of them and I did finally stop shaking before the feature.
Of course on one hand it was a good weekend because no one got hurt. But as far as racing and points and finances go, I think this one tops it and not in a good way. I sure hope it is a long time before I have to experience such a weekend again! Wow.
So, boys already have jumped on repairs. It is going to be a lot of late nights to get ready for next weekend. I was told we had Hays, Mayetta and Hutchinson; however, the web site doesn’t show Hutchinson moved from Friday to Sunday so I am still not sure of our schedule!
~CBR Mom
No drama in the heat races. Boys found another problem on Matthew’s car and fixed it. Jacob changed his setup and after what felt like a flurry of activity, it is feature time. Matthew is out first and runs a solid race taking second place behind B. It took Matthew a little too long to find his line and when he did, he closed the distance a bit, but B doesn’t make many mistakes so if we ever do beat him, it will be a hell of an accomplishment! It just feels good to run up with him.
Jacob also took a second place finish in his feature. The first three laps of the race were incredibly exciting as he ran side by side with Cheeseburger. It was a heck of a race with Jacob driving it in so hard, that I swear my fists were locked up with tension. But, he couldn’t hold it at the level he was pushing it, and he lost it between one and two. Luckily, the other car missed him and Jacob didn’t flatten any tires when he spun out. Ran the rest of the race well and definitely keeps learning and improving with every race. And both boys ended up with 2nd so that was kind of cool.
Saturday we travel onto Jetmore. I am so excited to have all of us together. Rylee is able to come as well even though she has to return the next day for work. But in the end, Jetmore was just painful. First, they didn't mud in the track and it was breaking up and rough. Jacob was mixed in with thunder cars so I am not even sure where he ended up. They watered the track right before the feature and we didn’t know it. Really missed the setup and Jacob just kept loosing positions. Later, we tried to get the check which would show where he finished, but couldn’t find the pay out window and just gave up. But, I am getting ahead of myself.
Boys saw some problems with Matthew’s gear going bad but decided to run feature anyway which was a decision we would soon regret. Pinion gear came apart causing driveshaft to break and ripped out tranny. At least, that is near as I can explain what happened. All I know is I saw sparks and parts fly as he quickly tried to dive off the track. Barely made it off out of turn 4 and the track didn’t throw a yellow. Thankfully, nothing happened but I made sure to comment to a passing IMCA official that that was sure dangerous (and he agreed with me).
So, we loaded up the cars all of us pretty fed up and frustrated and damn trailer door breaks! You have no idea how heavy that thing is until this happens!
Next day, I saw something I had never seen. Steve, Uncle Rich and Grandpa Brandt couldn't figure out that darn door! Took four hours and thought they had it fixed. Got to the track and yes, it broke again! My first thought was we should just go home now given how the weekend just kept getting worse. But, of course, there is no way to act on that thought.
Now, I started taking some notes about the weekend because by Sunday, I was exhausted. So, at the time I am writing this, we are traveling home at the end of the night after the race at Wakeeney. We are joking with Jacob about a Ricky Bobby flip and running from the car screaming I'm on fire like in the movie but it wasn’t so funny a couple of hours ago.
Jacob is running his heat race and gets bumped going into turn and next thing we know he is airborne flying off the track. From where we were in the pits I couldn't see it roll but next thing I know the ambulance, fire truck and wreckers were all rushing toward him. I actually looked at Steve and said why are they going over there with the ambulance and about that time, we see Randy running over! I told Steve they can kick me out forever as I jumped on the 4-wheeler and took off! I was sure he was fine and didn't even feel worried until I saw him come around the ambulance with an EMT on each side. Then my insides started shaking. He was telling them he was fine but something about that moment was just a small wave of scary for me.
Anyway, the first official on the scene had tried to keep him in the car until Jacob pointed out it was on fire. Yes, when it rolled, the fuel in carburetor I think started the air filter on fire. If I am not technically correct, forgive me! They sprayed fire extinguisher to put it out and thankfully, Randy retrieved Jacob’s gear so it didn’t get covered. EMTs talked to me about when the adrenaline comes down and what to watch for as Jacob insisted he was fine. We got back to the trailer and I started packing up while the boys are all pulling tools out! I was SO done while they figure they can get it fixed for the feature! The driver that hit Jacob came over and apologized. He felt really bad. We also tried to coach Jacob as I think part of the problem was he over corrected but I am honestly not sure. This is where I get so frustrated with Steve when he doesn’t park where I tell him to (ie beside Randy) though I am sympathetic to pulling the long trailer and not being able to leave easily.
Anyway, port a power goes to work pushing roof back up and fenders back out. They had to blow out fire extinguisher stuff and dirt and change air filter. Matthew gives advice via text as he was clearly concerned about Jacob being ok both physically and mentally. What an awesome big brother. I need him with us.
In the feature, there are 17 cars and Jacob had to start 15th. He ended up getting 12th which we were all more than happy with of course! We think he might be down a cylinder, was definitely out of tow and who knows what else. They will need to go through it all this week. I have to make some stickers again of course! But, you definitely have to admire the fact they didn’t give up. I couldn’t be more proud of them and I did finally stop shaking before the feature.
Of course on one hand it was a good weekend because no one got hurt. But as far as racing and points and finances go, I think this one tops it and not in a good way. I sure hope it is a long time before I have to experience such a weekend again! Wow.
So, boys already have jumped on repairs. It is going to be a lot of late nights to get ready for next weekend. I was told we had Hays, Mayetta and Hutchinson; however, the web site doesn’t show Hutchinson moved from Friday to Sunday so I am still not sure of our schedule!
~CBR Mom
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