... but not as great as it could have been.

Went into last weekend High Altitude Bracketnationals summer series ending race in 1st place in Run Tuff (no electronics, no transbrake, 10.0 and slower) and 4th place in Pro ET (no electronics, transbrake ok, 7.50 - 13.80).

One and half round lead in RT and four rounds out of first in Pro.

Friday was time trials and jackpot races and points race saturday. Friday night broke transmission in first round of jackpot race... lost 2nd gear. Won the round and tried 2nd round skipping 2nd gear but 3rd was starting to go. Friday night before holiday weekend not much hope of getting it fixed for saturday.

A buddy offered to let me drive his car saturday. 67 Firebird with a 505ci PONTIAC motor (this is the guy that gives me the most crap about my chebbie powered firebird) Lots more power (~700HP), lots more weight (3600#), lots less gear (3.55:1), and about half a second faster (11.0x@124). Had a few time trials to learn how to drive it... lots of little idiosyncrasies.

After my friend offered up his car, another buddy had help lined up to thrash on the tranny overnight but I told him not to worry about since I had a car.

Ended up losing 1st round Run Tuff because the 15mph head wind decided to quit about the time I staged. Broke out by .04 after shaving off 6mph. Won two rounds in Pro taking out the points leader in the 2nd at which point I needed two more rounds + one guy to go out before me to take the championship.

Third round lined up against a fellow that needed to win to have a shot at a podium spot (6th) and trash talking ensued. He double-bulbed me while I was still in the water box which really pi$$ed me off. His little maneuver worked though when I went -.013 red. My own fault for letting it get to me. I should've just sat there a minute or so before staging (hindsight).

So, finished the season 2nd in RT and 5th in Pro which is still by far the best I've done in this Quaker State series in the five years I've been racing.

http://www.bandimere.com/standings/p...ate%20Run-Tuff

http://www.bandimere.com/standings/p...te%20Pro%20E.T.

Who knows what would have happened driving my own car

Now time to gear up for the fall series and the last King Street race. Had the championship in King Street last year but stinking it up this year sitting in 12th place. Conceivably could still make the podium if I do very well (quarter finals or better) at the last KS race 9/18.

Buddy found the tranny broke the drum and folded a snap ring. Said he's never seen one fail like that in 20 years working racing transmissions. Anyway, was lucky because didn't circulate metal through everything. TH400 basically all stock except manual valve body. Held up to four years of strip punishment with ~550HP (probably 1000+ runs). Car's back together and ready to race Sunday.

Was invited to Division 5 ET finals in Topeka but declined because it is same weekend as KS race and "Footbrake Nationals" race here at home plus the expense of going out there. Someday I would like to go.

Thanks for reading.

-Chris