Mike
06-30-2009, 04:08 PM
Race report Team Latus Top Fuel Harley
Well after 5 weeks off it was off to Ohio. It is difficult going 5 weeks
between races. It almost seems like starting over. We arrived early Friday
morning and did our service and maintenance on the bike then decided to
test. The track looked good. We went out and spun the tire. Came back and
took out allot of clutch and fuel and tried again. Made it down the track with
a 6.5 at 210 mph. We decided that would be good enough for first round of
qualifying. Sat am went out and spun the tire. Took more out to make sure we
were at least qualified in second round and went 6.61 @ 201 mph. Not great
but had us at # 4 out of 16. The track seemed to be coming around and the
air was getting better so we decided we would try to run a good number. We
spun the tire hard. We ended up # 7. We had Tracy Kyle who qualified # 10
with a 6.8. We miss read the track and spun the tire again. Tracy ran a 6.8
for the win. Tracy then went the next 2 rounds and the bikes he was racing
din not even get started at the line because of mechanical failure. He went
to the finals and Tak spun the tire and Tracy got the easy win. We then had
2 weeks before Kansas City. Stegmann and I decided to climb Mt Shasta
between races. We did summit but was allot harder than both of us thought.
Now off to Kansas City. We had never raced at this track before. After
arriving we all realized that the shut down area was not quite up to par as
far as safety and the AHDRA decided to make all pro classes 1/8th mile only.
While we do not like to race 1/8th mile it was the best thing to do. First
round out we were qualified # 2 with a 4.27 It was over 90 degrees with
about 90% humidity and 140 degree track temp 2nd round. We actually went
a little faster 4.26 and stayed 2nd. 3rd round we tried to add quite a bit to
see what the track would actually take. We just barely spun the tire and
slowed down. We ended up 4th with everyone close. Sun morning we had
Tommy Grimes 1st round. He had qualified # 5 with 4.29. It was going to be a
close race. I knew I had to cut a good light. It was very hot and the track
did not look great. We decided at the last minute to take power out of the
bike and slow it down. We made the right choice because we ran 4.38 to
Tommy’s 5.27 because he spun the tire. One down. Next we had Sternotti
and the Ray Price Team. They had just won their 1st round like us with a 4.34.
Again it was going to be a close race. I knew I would need a great light. It
ended up being over 3 hours between rounds because 3 people in other
classes had heat strokes and had to be taken to the hospital. It was very
hot. At the last minute we again decided to take power out of the bike “very
hard to do against Price/Sternotti” I cut the best light of my life and we
ran a 4.44 for the win. Two down. Going to the finals against Turner. Turner
had just won with a 4.42. Again was going to be close. I cut a great light
against Turner but we were spinning the tire. I could not believe I was still
ahead at 330’ then he started to come around me. It was so close at the
finish line I did not know who had won. We had a 4.506 to Turner’s 4.453 but
we won because I had a .046 light to his .108. We won the race by .009 of a
second. I really have to give this one to the team for making the correct
decisions on the tuning. This win moves the Team Latus Top Fuel Bike into
second place with 3 races to go in the AHDRA. Next race is in Bristol Tenn.
Here is our schedule for the rest of the year
July 03 – 04 Pinks Arm Drop Woodburn, OR exhibition with Chicago Joe
July 10 – 12 Woodburn NHRA Lucas Oil division 6 10 top fuel bikes WHRA
July 25 – 26 Mission Canada Canadian Open NHRA 12 top fuel bikes WHRA
August 1st Salt Lake City IHRA Funny Car Fever 12 top fuel bikes WHRA
August 08 - 09 Bristol Tennessee AHDRA
August 22 – 23 NW Nationals Woodburn, Oregon AHDRA
October 09 – 11 Rockingham, NC AHDRA Finals
November 05 – 08 Las Vegas Lucas Oil NHRA Finals 12Top Fuel bikes WHRA
By Steve Dorn
Well after 5 weeks off it was off to Ohio. It is difficult going 5 weeks
between races. It almost seems like starting over. We arrived early Friday
morning and did our service and maintenance on the bike then decided to
test. The track looked good. We went out and spun the tire. Came back and
took out allot of clutch and fuel and tried again. Made it down the track with
a 6.5 at 210 mph. We decided that would be good enough for first round of
qualifying. Sat am went out and spun the tire. Took more out to make sure we
were at least qualified in second round and went 6.61 @ 201 mph. Not great
but had us at # 4 out of 16. The track seemed to be coming around and the
air was getting better so we decided we would try to run a good number. We
spun the tire hard. We ended up # 7. We had Tracy Kyle who qualified # 10
with a 6.8. We miss read the track and spun the tire again. Tracy ran a 6.8
for the win. Tracy then went the next 2 rounds and the bikes he was racing
din not even get started at the line because of mechanical failure. He went
to the finals and Tak spun the tire and Tracy got the easy win. We then had
2 weeks before Kansas City. Stegmann and I decided to climb Mt Shasta
between races. We did summit but was allot harder than both of us thought.
Now off to Kansas City. We had never raced at this track before. After
arriving we all realized that the shut down area was not quite up to par as
far as safety and the AHDRA decided to make all pro classes 1/8th mile only.
While we do not like to race 1/8th mile it was the best thing to do. First
round out we were qualified # 2 with a 4.27 It was over 90 degrees with
about 90% humidity and 140 degree track temp 2nd round. We actually went
a little faster 4.26 and stayed 2nd. 3rd round we tried to add quite a bit to
see what the track would actually take. We just barely spun the tire and
slowed down. We ended up 4th with everyone close. Sun morning we had
Tommy Grimes 1st round. He had qualified # 5 with 4.29. It was going to be a
close race. I knew I had to cut a good light. It was very hot and the track
did not look great. We decided at the last minute to take power out of the
bike and slow it down. We made the right choice because we ran 4.38 to
Tommy’s 5.27 because he spun the tire. One down. Next we had Sternotti
and the Ray Price Team. They had just won their 1st round like us with a 4.34.
Again it was going to be a close race. I knew I would need a great light. It
ended up being over 3 hours between rounds because 3 people in other
classes had heat strokes and had to be taken to the hospital. It was very
hot. At the last minute we again decided to take power out of the bike “very
hard to do against Price/Sternotti” I cut the best light of my life and we
ran a 4.44 for the win. Two down. Going to the finals against Turner. Turner
had just won with a 4.42. Again was going to be close. I cut a great light
against Turner but we were spinning the tire. I could not believe I was still
ahead at 330’ then he started to come around me. It was so close at the
finish line I did not know who had won. We had a 4.506 to Turner’s 4.453 but
we won because I had a .046 light to his .108. We won the race by .009 of a
second. I really have to give this one to the team for making the correct
decisions on the tuning. This win moves the Team Latus Top Fuel Bike into
second place with 3 races to go in the AHDRA. Next race is in Bristol Tenn.
Here is our schedule for the rest of the year
July 03 – 04 Pinks Arm Drop Woodburn, OR exhibition with Chicago Joe
July 10 – 12 Woodburn NHRA Lucas Oil division 6 10 top fuel bikes WHRA
July 25 – 26 Mission Canada Canadian Open NHRA 12 top fuel bikes WHRA
August 1st Salt Lake City IHRA Funny Car Fever 12 top fuel bikes WHRA
August 08 - 09 Bristol Tennessee AHDRA
August 22 – 23 NW Nationals Woodburn, Oregon AHDRA
October 09 – 11 Rockingham, NC AHDRA Finals
November 05 – 08 Las Vegas Lucas Oil NHRA Finals 12Top Fuel bikes WHRA
By Steve Dorn