Ultimate Power - Excitement Nationals 1st / 3rd May 2004 (Sat Report)
"FROM THE PITS"
by Richard I. Stirling
Copyright © 2004 http://topnitro.co.uk
Well, this is going to be a fairly short report from me, compared to a normal race day. The top and bottom of it is that it has rained pretty much all day at Shakespeare County Raceway for the first day of the Ultimate Power Excitement Nationals promoted by Lee Child of LA Racing Parts. Near to lunch time the rain did stop and activities commenced to start getting the track dry but, just as we were beginning to get excited, the rain had it in for us again and that was that. In between chatting to various racers and crew chiefs I did have an opportunity to shuffle around the pits and one or two things caught my eye on this pretty miserable Saturday.
Lindsay Deuchar was the first interrupt the deafening silence in the pits by entertaining us with a most welcome warm-up. Nitromethane would be preferred but I'm not complaining! The car looks really neat and the plain blue and white colour scheme has that little touch of class. Needless to say that the warmup did not last for ever, but if you would like to listen to it, click here I believe this is Lindsay's first appearance this year and the best of luck for the rest of the weekend and, indeed, the rest of the season.
Because of the rain it meant that many of the pit areas were completely sealed up and that you could barely see a car never mind point a camera at it. One place I received a warm welcome was at the pit of the personable Paul Harvey and his Mailkey dragster. I felt I could see something that was triggering far off memories and Paul soon enlightened me to the fact that the car was Ray Hoare's "Turbo Saxon" machine which dates back to 1974. Clearly it has had much tender loving care since the 70's to bring it all up to date. Its also nice to see that Internet Service Provider www.breathe.com has stepped up to major associate sponsor on the dragster for this year. I was also pleased to find I have a shared a common interest with Paul's liking for 351 Cleveland V8 engines. I understand a hyper-rare aluminium version is wending its way across the Atlantic ocean as this report is being prepared. This I shall have to see....
I wasn't anywhere near the relevent area when the next 'excitement' arose and I hurried around to Trevor Capewell's pit as he was warming up his Top Methanol Funny Car. It was a short warmup, but it sounded crisp and it looks like they mean business when the racing eventually gets underway at SCR. If you would like to hear Trevor's warmup click here.
Ian 'Turbo' Turburville seemed in determined mode to get down to some serious racing this weekend with his Nitro Harley. I enjoyed an entertaining conversation with him and just as the weather was brightening up and we were ready to create a smell (warmup), the heavens opened and that was that. I understand a potential new owner has confirmed intent to take possession of the bike at the end of this season (after Ian's had a full seasons racing - that sounds like a 'Turbo' deal!) and that opens all sorts of other possibilities for Turbo. Later in the day, he was preparing a chassis joint for welding in the morning.
The weather continued to be miserable for the remainder of the afternoon. As I trudged wearily back through the pits for the umpteenth time to find some sort of entertainment (or inspiration) I came across these mechanics having some excellent fun with a radio controlled mini-bike. It was fun to see the thing spin round and jump over this ramp they had set up in the pits. Within seconds I found myself reaching for the camera and what you see above is the sum total of actual racing that happened on Saturday at the Excitement Nationals. Many thanks for looking at this report and come back after Monday and (weather permitting!) hopefully there'll be a more fact filled document for your delectation!