2009 Historical

Summary - 2009 a new chassis and something to build for in 2010. Sundance Vacations Speedway was certainly good to us and we're looking to next year. The car was good, the motor was weak. We had fun, we had our normal fights and frustrations but we stayed true to the goal of racing and that was to put a car on the track and see what we need. We now know and over the winter break we'll build up that motor to compete at a level we should be at. You can see from our lap times below, we started improving only to have mechanical issues take us back.

Best Time	Speed	Diff from Leader	Date
15.112	79.406	0.904	Oct 10
15.661	76.623		Sep 19
14.942	80.310		Aug 8
14.893	80.574		Jul 25
14.998	80.010		Jul 12
15.375	78.048		Jun 27
15.420	77.820		Jun 14

Many thanks to the track and crew at Sundance, our competition and most of all, the family and friends support we received through out the summer months.

05 September 2009

After weeks of rain and thinking the car was prepped..we showed up at Sundance Vacations Speedway ready for a night of double features. Too bad our prep wasn't very preppy! Dean had the pole for the first feature, a rain out make up. Coming to the start of the race Dean hit the gas only to find..nothing responded..well a mess ensued as everyone behind him kinda piled together. Not a nice way to start the race. Dean came in, we made a minor timing adjustment and sent him back out. This time he opted to start in the rear and it was a good move. However, with a car that had about as much power as a big wheel, popping and missing through the event about 8 laps in Dean was caught by the leaders. The leader went around Dean with no problem but when the 2nd and 3rd place racers, running side by side, got to Dean well they had no choice but to punt him out of the way. Dean went into the infield in turn 1, spinning sideways, the car runnnig hot and BOOM overheated, blew off the radiator cap, steam pouring out Dean had to bring her in and call it a race.

Once we got it cooled down, we refilled the radiator, fired it up to ensure we did no real damage but it was running choppy at best. Once it got warm water started spewing from the radiator fill neck. Thinking the cap went bad a quick run to the Smiley's part truck for a new cap and find that the fill neck had seperated at the seams. No plugging the leaks so our night was finished as quickly as it began.

Back at the home garage, we tore the motor down, checking for damage and didn't find anything drastic. A good thing. We have since put it back together with a new solid cam, lifters, and rockers, getting rid of the hydraulic setup in hopes we can get some power for the remainder of the season. 3 races left to try and perform, setup confidence for next year and a stong 2009 finish. We believe the 2Kwik chassis has the potential, once we get power we expect to be a strong top 10 team!

22 Aug 09

Mother Nature won! Rained out weekend with lots of clouds but no real rain to speak of. 4 more chances if mother nature cooperates....

Sept 5- LABOR DAY WEEKEND Double Header SM, SS, FWD (extended to 30-laps, Double Points), LEG, PLUS Sport Mod Make up from 7/25- Special 5 PM Start Time

Sept 19- “Mark Corbisiero Memorial” Street Stocks-77 laps (DP), SM, FWD, LEG + Mini Cup cars

Oct 4- Sport Mod Twin 30s (Two 30-lap Features), SS, FWD, LEG

Oct 10- 10th Annual King Of The Mountain (DP ALL DIVISIONS) weekend (extra distance events) Sport Mods-100 Laps (We'll probably have to pit stop for fuel!)

We did have the kids cleaning crew stop by Friday night. Tyler will most likely be in Management as he gets everyone involved. Newest cleaner Luke pitched right in and did a good job! Thanks guys!

08 August 2009

NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! Was the cry after the heat race on Saturday. After 2 good rounds of practice, a decision was made to try and free up the car even more to get it through the corners better. Well the plan backfired as the car seemed to be riding on bubbles instead of tires and Dean could not, under any circumstance get the car to turn. So embarrassing to have a car go from decent to bad in so little time! With 23 cars vying for the 20 starting spots, we were forced into the consi after such a poor performance in the heat race. Going back to the original setup proved a good move as Dean easily drove into the feature by finishing 3rd of the 8 cars racing to make the show. During the feature race the car responded well. We are getting close to performing as a top 10 car. After getting collected in the inevitable mid-pack spin outs and bumping, the front end took a hit and both tires were facing opposite directions. Dean held on to finish the race in 15th. Respectable but we can do so much better!

In 2 weeks we have the make up feature, which we are already qualified for and then a scheduled night of racing. Going to be a busy day with everyone trying not to make the mistakes that put us behind the curve yet again!

Plenty of prep help on Friday, thanks to Tyler, Nate and Renee for cleaning the car as we looked good going to the track.

Update July 27th 2009

We made some big changes to the chassis setup. Got some eBay tools to help, had a garage full of questions and answers and well it may have paid off! Imagine 2 weeks ago, starting from the outside of row 1 for the heat race and before the middle of the back stretch being relegated to last. This week was quite a different story. Dean started on the pole, figured out a good way to start the race and ZOOM off and running. The car cornered exceptional for the 1st time in our 4th attempt. The changes we made were working. Dean led back to the stripe and into corner 1 a little push was evident. He lost the low line to Ricky Ross who proceeded to run away from the field. Dean fought hard on the outside and stayed in position 2.5 as he was fast out of the corners, almost too exciting to watch. 22 cars showed again for 20 starting positions and for the first time..we didn't have to run the consi. Dean fought hard after he was able to get in line and held onto 5th of the 7 car heat race. We are very close to being able to work on power. Goal one of getting the car to turn is real real close. Much anticipation for a little change we made for the feature only to have Mother Nature decide Pennsylvania isn't wet enough! The skies opened up and a torrential downpour put a halt to the evenings events. Loading up was quite an adventure but we were happy with our initial performance.

No racing pictures this week however, from the hood we had a little racer want to help with bolt checks. T came into the garage asking to help. We said if you can turn that bolt, you can help. Well kind of obvious he couldn't BUT as part of the bolt check friday fun, we also detail the car. What better job for a little racer? Give him a shop vac..put him in the car and say GO! Great job T..

Update July 12th 2009

Learning more and catching on. Seems to be the theme for Team 25. The day started with the excitment of being ready to race. Once we got to the track though the day quickly fell apart. Our generator died a quick death and took the air compressor with it! We had NO air for tires, and impact guns to remove tires! We don't run an alternator, so where were we getting power to charge the battery! We went out for the heat race with new tires, lesson learned here..never run new tires for an initial race. The setup was awful and starting 2nd Dean quickly fell to last as the car would not corner. with 21 cars signed up..it was either race or go home. We had a good 10 minutes between heat and consi and after quick tire swaps and changes, thanks to borrowed tools from our new best racing friend Earl Paules, Dean started last but quickly moved to 3rd of the 6 cars racing and tada! we made the big show.

Intermission was fan appreciation. Thanks to all the kids and adults that ventured down to see Team 25 as we were at the end of the long row of participants. Made us feel really good to know we're appreciated as we try and figure out what we need to be more than an also ran. Goodies and autographs for the kids and we gave away 6 Team 25 Orange T-shirts. Luck was with Alexander Wargo, Courtney Blieler, Zachary Althouse, Mark Kisenwether, Deana Judge, and Kim Barbush as they now have the orange tye-dyed 25 t-shirts. Congratulations.

The feature race was a 75 lap extravaganza that found us with our usual luck. Starting last in the Kluth 2Kwik Chassis, Dean was able to compete and stay with the pack. Getting as high as 14th before trouble found us. Action ahead of Dean caused the field to check up and the further back you get the less reation time you have so Dean got into the back of a car and BANG..off went the front bumper! The hard hit knocked the tie rod off the right wheel so steering was gone and into the turn 3 wall he went. Dean managed to get the car back to the pits and frantic work by the crew got the wheel fixed and out he went. A few more cautions and Dean played Nascar having fun with pit stops as we made changes to see how the car would react, a really good opportunity to learn the chassis. On lap 64 though, our efforts went out the door with a left rear tire going flat. Dean spun into the infield, and watched the end of the race from there as there wasn't another caution or opportunity to come in and get the tire changed.

Sundance Vacations Speedway put on a quality fast paced show. It is a total blast to race there and we will figure it out! Thanks to everyone involved, especially the tire changer, who's name escapes me, as he spent a good 30 minutes repairing a rim to ensure we had no issues. You just don't get that at every track! And sorry to the racers waiting their turn at the tire truck..oops! The Action pictures from track photographer Kevin Green are simply awesome..go buy some! We do and as you can see by the 3 pics below..Dean went off roading! A good story for us to tell but even better in a picture! Hopefully the track won't want us for ground repair! 2 weeks and we'll be at it again...

June 29th 2009

A rough and rumble night of racing for team 25. 21 cars came to race and since 20 only qualify for the feature we had to get it right. Starting the heat race 5th of 8 cars Dean went out and the setup was way off the mark. Car would not turn left, we were the slowest car on the track! During the race, Dean was holding the bottom line and yet found himself in the midst of an over zealous driver and was hit! Dean had to come in as the car sustained right front damage and was unable to turn. Once the car came back to the pit crew, we saw a broken steering tab on the spindle, bent tie rod and bolt and heim. Luckily we had the parts with us to make the repair. As our luck would have it they called for the consi race and we were not ready. Once again the class act at Sundance Vacation Speedway decided all 21 cars could run the feature. If we could get the car fixed we could at least take green and get some money for the night. We found the track welder, good thing we paid for insurance, and he repaired the spindle..better than new. Matt, Dan and Ken quickly learned what setting the toe was all about and it was fnn to watch them learn the math skills all over as we needed 3/8ths of an inch and well..breaking up and down from 16ths was quite entertaining. We got the car done in time for the feature. The crew heads to the stands as Dean heads for the track. We expected to just run around the back, taking the green to get paid. Holy crap..once the green flew so did Dean! Thanks to some advice from racer Earl Paules we hit closer to the setup and dean was in the competetive grove. Starting 21st he had a car that could actually PASS other cars! Yes I said pass!! Dean had the 25 up as far as 13th when a crash in front caused everone to check up. Dean caught the left front tire on the car ahead and broke the left side spindle! Off the track via tow..even though we ended early on lap 18 of 40..we actually had a car that could race! A great feeling to know we are getting closer.

Maiden voyage - A fantastic weekend of racing. No mechanical issues kept Dean from the 40 laps of feature racing. Setup issues kept us from being more than an "also ran" however, those things can change with more seat time and track knowledge. The team goal of surviving the initial race was met with more success than we imagined. A special thnk you to the #8 team of Earl Paules for their help with tires, way over what any team has ever done for us, and it got us into the race. As a first time racing team at Sundance Vacations Speedway we learned it was without a doubt a class act, from tires to fuel to pits to payout, flagging and announcing, first class all the way. Next event will be June 27th at Sundance Vacations Speedway.

May 2009 - We built it...we decaled it..we tuned it..it let us down! It being the Late model. Something about that class of car has us beyond frustrated. Our first late model was fire prone, Dean didn't really like that, this late model had mechanical problems. 3 Motors in 2008 and once on the track for opening day 2009, the current motor also failed. Ever so frustrated placed the "for sale" ad and quickly the car found a new owner, someone with more late model skills and luck We wish them well with this awesome chassis and if they have less mechanical problems the car is sure to find it's way to victory lane.

NEVER GIVE UP...NEVER SURRENDER..Love that line from the movie Galaxy Quest. Once again a serious road trip to upstate NY and we are now the proud owners of a Kluth Chassis SST Modified.

We have the car in our garage and are working on getting it ready, planning on a late May, early June restart to the season. Shake downs and fun at Mahoning Valley Speedway and then trying our hand at a couple of SST tour dates in Chemung and Oswego. Maybe more..more details to come..

Lisa the decal specialist...

 

Update! March 29th 2009

The car is getting closer to racing. Not ready for the first practice which was rained out but we should be ready for the next! Between the garage help of Ken, Matt, Dean and Lisa the car is taking shape nicely...

The car is back home at the SLED Garage. Feb 9 2009

 

S&D Bodyline is building a new Aluminum body for the 2009 season. Why Aluminum? In the rubbing is racing environment of Mahoning Valley Speedway it's easier to bang out a panel! Toyota Camry nose and tail with a Camaro roof. Should we call it a CAMOTA or a TOMARO?