Time for an update. As I showed previously in Dec 2024, I lowered the rearend about 1" to 1-1/2" and added the 2 degree pinion shims. I'm MUCH happier with how it sits now as it looks more "natural" than it did before. It still sits fairly high but, with the slicks on it, it appears more like the tire size raises it up than the springs. So I'm calling it good and done from this aspect.
Since the Gainesville track is not running brackets until the end of this month, we decided to try out the track in Orlando - namely Orlando Speedworld - as it's likely I'll be on newborn granddad duties in the latter part of January and unable to make the Gainesville schedule. I STILL have not figured out why these Florida tracks don't run brackets more than 1 weekend a month Jan-June then MAYBE 1 time in the fall. All this great weather and only 7 weekends a year? "Oh, but the racers like it as thewy come race on Saturday and stay overnight then race again on Sunday."
Newsflash: Not everybody has an RV and can stay overnight at the track!! Or wants to race both days on a single weekend! But I digress....
We had never been to the Orlando track before but we'd heard good things about it so even though it's a 2 hour tow (plus toll road fees), we decided to give it a go. Plus, I was hopeful I might meet some fellow FABO members. (Every time I go to a track I usually drive my wife nuts when I wander off and walk the pits looking for other old Mopars. You just never know who you might meet and I've always found people quite friendly.) We went yesterday but in the middle of walking the pits, I got a call from the boss saying to come back to the trailer as my son and family had surprised us! Unfortunately, I did not meet/identify any FABO members on this visit - hopefully next time! So I hustled back to the trailer to meet up and see our son, his wife, and granddaughter (and granddog!). The granddaughter only wanted to be inside the avatar so I finally had to turn off the main power switch as the horn and all the switches were clearly fun toys for her!
The noise didn't seem to bother her as they had ear muffs for her so I'd say she'll be ready in about 14 more years!!
As for the track, we were pretty impressed.
Very well run compared to Gainesville! No blaring music over the speakers and when an announcement was made, you listened as it was something you needed to know. Heck, the speakers even worked - something not too common at Gainesville. The officials were approachable and friendly. Heck, one guy even thanked us for coming! When's the last time you heard that at a racetrack!! I'd say the only 2 things I didn't like was there are no "dial-in" boards at the starting line. I call those the digital readouts that show your dial-in before you stage so you insure they have your dial-in correct. At this track, I guess you're supposed to look 1/4 mle away at the big scoreboards to see it. Looking into the bright sun on a clear day and this old cowboy could not see it at all! Once the sun went down, it was no problem to see. The other thing I didn't like was there are no flashing win lights on the lanes in the shutdown area so you know which lane won. Since you can't see the win light on the scoreboard, you have to wait until you get your timeslip to see how you did. Although it's not that long in terms of actual time, it can seem like an eternity when you just went through wheel-to-wheel with your competitor!
As for the car and it's rear suspension change, I'll call it a success as I saw no noticeable differences. The 60' times were all similar and the car's launch characteristics of picking up the front end were the same. The first pass off the trailer right about 11:30am and in the 50 degree air matched the first pass off the trailer at Gainesville back in October except with about 1.1 extra mph. I attribute that to the better DA of the air.
So into eliminations we went. After we discuss things, I always throw out a dial-in number and have the boss pick the final number. You know, a woman's intuition kind of thing! Plus, if she's wrong...nah, let's not go there!!
I'll make a long story a bit shorter and just say we had a great day. We went 6 rounds for the win in the Sportsman class even setting a new PB for the car at 11.07 @ 119.5 mph in the 5th round.
In the finals, I got ahead and on the brakes and scrubbed 9 mph off and ran an 11.099 on an 11.09 dial. No telling what the et might have been on that one! And like anytime you win the bracket, it takes some luck and I had my share this time with some of my competitors turning on the red-eye. I've had my share of those so I'll take the return favor anytime I can get it!!
In summary, the car performed well, the driver got lucky, we got a surprise visit with family, and we thoroughly enjoyed the new-to-us track. After it all, we loaded it up in the trailer and headed home. Of course no trip pulling the trailer would be complete without finding one challenging parking lot and true to form, I did just that when we stopped for food. Easy in...and... not so easy to get out. Had to walk the lot and strategize a bit before finding a way out.
mad:Why do so many people park 1 vehicle way out in a mostly empty lot with a daily driver/beater???)
Just an overall great day!
Here's some pics from our day there at Orlando Speedworld. We'll definitely go back and make it part of our "rotation."
The tired horse (almost out of fuel!) after the finals win awaiting pics then the winner's pic:
