While the trip to Denver didn’t result in a Wally, it was an experience! We exited first round in Super Stock and second round in Stock. After the race, we took a few days to enjoy the area however, not before heading up the mountain with the race rig encountering 9+% grades. Our Super Street friends made the campground reservations near Central City, CO without investigating the travel route. Note to self: Never follow your friends blindly!

From the campground, we left for the Topeka double header divisional race, driving down the mountain at 4:30 am in the dark, and that was only the start of the drama for the trip. Our SS Goodyear tire test session was rained out on Thursday and Bill had a tire blow out on our pit bike. After calling every motorcycle/powersports store in Topeka, Bill unable to get a spare tire had to resort to plan B for the weekend; riding my bicycle.

In Stock after the first qualifying pass, as I approached the last turn-off, I saw a car in trouble at the end of the track. I radioed to Bill to “send help immediately”. Unfortunately, I wasn’t calm enough to express what was going on. Bill, believing whatever was happening was serious, ran frantically to the starting line to stop the race. He then jumped on…the bicycle, peddling like a crazy man to the end of the track, thinking his wife was in trouble. Everyone was okay but sadly a racer’s car was totaled.

Then for the first round of SS qualifying, I was belted in, ready to move up in line, only to discover I left my helmet in the Stocker. Thankfully, I get ready early. I called Bill over to explain my situation. With a “deer in the headlights” look, he ran to get…the bicycle, and headed back to our pit spot to fetch my helmet.
Thankfully, no drama pursued for the next qualifying run in Stock! All was great until I made the last qualifying SS pass. Then just before the finish line, due to a bearing failure, the #3 rod exited the oil pan at 8,000 RPM. We stayed for Stock eliminations where I departed first round in a .002 break out which was 4 stinking inches. With Bill scheduled for rotator cuff surgery on Tuesday and having had enough drama, we withdrew from the second race to head home so we could take out the engine while Bill was still able to use his arm.

Off course, given the entire trip, it was not surprising when just 4 miles from home, we lost a wheel bearing on the trailer. We removed the wheel and allowed the bearing to cool before limping home.

We are now in repair mode; for the trailer, pit bike, SS engine and Bill. Our next scheduled race is the Divisional in Ennis. Pending Bill’s recovery, we plan to race the Stocker. It’s doubtful the SS engine will be ready before the last race of the year. Plans are to repair the current SS motor and build a new motor for next year.
I have high expectations for our last three races of the season, with no drama!