OK I've Been Busy

Damn its almost been 2 months since I last posted here and the summer is flying by already.

After the debacle that was the first Ionia race of the season things have got markedly better and the top of the kitchen cabinets are starting to look much better now that there are a few trophies up there. I had threatened to win something until the Corsica decided it would rather have a nap on the trailer. Which resulted in us having to build up another car, though we are fairly sure the Corsica will be back its just a case of when.

Sand Lake - first outing for Grand Prix - mud bog - 2nd in heat - broke tie rod in feature - nuff said

Finally at Hartford things started coming together with 2 trophies in one night and an interesting experience traveling down the track with no wheels on the ground because I was up in the air wedged in between a pack of cars. If anyone has video I would love to see it.

Then back to Ionia again, where somebody actually asked me are you the guy with the web site? Guess people come here once in a while. Well Ionia has never been the most fortuitous of tracks for me but perhaps I am getting better because 2 more trophies came home in the truck. The Grand Prix has a few issues though. The front end needs some TLC after kissing the wall rather deeply courtesy of #207 and the back axle is at a rather strange angle which made getting the car on and off the trailer a somewhat challenging experience.

Well better go load up yet another car this time a Cutlass Ciera and head out to Luddington

Acura Legend is rotten

You rarely see any Japanese cars get raced in the scrambles, primarily I think because people seem to think that their Japanese junk is worth more money than it is and you therefore rarely find them for sale in the $200 range. Well I can now attest that Japanese junk is just that junk.

I ran an Acura Legend at Ionia last weekend and when we prepped it we knew that the car was fast and weak. Apparently Acura's rust in all sorts of strange places. For example I have never seen the inside sheet of metal on a door rusted through but due to poor drainage design on the windows they were rotten. More critically so was some of the frame.

Now the car was fast and after navigating the mess of the first corner I found myself in second but I also found myself with the brakes failing badly. That meant I had to corner on other cars and I was beating a weak car hard. I kept plugging until - nothing - totally dead. Tried to restart and it felt like I had no power. As I was cursing I caught sight of the battery box strapped to the floor next to me. The ratchet strap and come off, the top of the box was off and so were the cables off the battery. How the heck do battery cables pop off.

The answer revealed it self at the end of the race. The complete engine cradle and floor of the front of the car had dropped. In fact the oil pan was now a fingers width above the ground. Now thats bad tin worm when an entire engine cradle collapses. It was so bad I couldn't even get it back on my trailer. Thanks to the guys from TAK Motorsports for getting it out of there.

And the moral of the story - stick to driving GM junk its the only junk tough enough.

Coopersville demo scramble

Just heard tonight that there will be a demo scramble in Coopersville on August 10th. Bring gifts as its my birthday the next day..........

Tunes to race to

Normally I pull the stereo from every car I run, as I try and eke as much money for parts out of every one, but once in a while I leave it in there and for some reason I was wondering what would be good tunes to crank while sliding around amidst mud and crunching metal. There are so many car tunes out there and you only have to listen to Car talk on NPR to hear some of the more obscure ones, but stuff little Little Red Corvette and anything by the Beach Boys just don't cut it for the occasion.

So with that in mind I started thinking and this is what I came up with.
Ministry - Jesus Built My Hot Rod
White Zombie - Dragula (I've crashed a few times on Gran Turismo with that playing)
Reverend Horton Heat - Galaxie 500

If we forget the car content and just go on tempo
The Pixies - Planet of Sound
The Levellers - Riverflow
Motorhead - We are the road crew
PIL - Public Image
The Ruts - Babylon's Burning
or could always bring a bit of class to the event and pump out Grieg's In The Hall of the Mountain King

Anyone got any better suggestions?

Juan Pablo Montoya is a naughty boy

Watched the NASCAR race at Atlanta on TV yesterday and my guess is that NASCAR will be spanking Juan Pablo Montoya's behind.

1 Can you actually say "Pissed Off" on live TV as he did at the end of the race?
2 Mid way through the commentary guys reported that he also said over the radio "Jeff Gordon is making me (Expletive) loose." We didn't learn what the expletive was.

I say more power to ya Juan. Anyone who is pissed off at Jeff Gordon is a friend of mine. Plus you run as 42 too.

Demo Scrambles in Michigan this summer

Demo scrambles are often known as demolition derby racing or autocross or off road racing.

Sat May 19, 2007 @ 4 PM
Ionia Fairgrounds, Ionia, MI
Mardi Gras Festival
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)

Sun June 17, 2007 @ 2 PM
Tuscola County Fair Grounds, Caro, MI
Figure 8 - Compact & Big Car
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Bump-N-Run)
Two shows in one!

Wed July 4, 2007 @ 4:30 PM
Sand Lake 4th of July Festival, Sand Lake, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact F8
Compact Demo Derby Off-Road Racing
** Fireworks at Dark

Thurs July 19, 2007 @ 7 PM
VanBuren County Youth Fair, Hartford, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)
** Fireworks following show

Mon July 23, 2007 @ 7 PM
Tuscola County Fair Grounds, Caro, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)

Tues July 24, 2007 @ 7 PM
Ionia Free Fair, Ionia, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)

Wed July 25, 2007 @ 7 PM
Mason County Fair Grounds, Ludington, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)

Tues August 7, 2007 @ 7 PM
Newaygo County Fair Grounds, Fremont, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)

UPDATE
Fri August 10, 2007 @ 7 PM
Coopersville Summer Fest, Coopersville, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)
1st Time Event

Tues August 14, 2007 @ 7 PM
Cadillac Fair Grounds, Cadillac, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)
Mid-Season Championship - Double Points

Wed August 22, 2007 @ 7 PM
Onekama Fair Grounds, Manistee, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)

Fri September 7, 2007 @ 7 PM
Allegan County Fair Grounds, Allegan, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)

Sat September 15, 2007 @ 4 PM
Ionia Fair Grounds, Ionia, MI
State Championship - Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)
$75 entry fee / $5,000 purse

Sat September 29, 2007 @ 4 PM
Ottawa County Fair Grounds, Holland, MI
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing Points Championship
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Demo Scramble)

I don't have the dates for Hudsonville fair or anything from the East side - let me know if you have dates you are aware of.

Figure 8 Races in Michigan this summer

Sun April 29, 2007 @ 2 PM
Kalkaska Trout Festival, Kalkaska, MI
Figure 8
Compact & Big Car

Sun June 17, 2007 @ 2 PM
Tuscola County Fair Grounds, Caro, MI
Figure 8 - Compact & Big Car
Demo Derby Off-Road Racing (Bump-N-Run)
Two shows in one!

Sat June 30, 2007 @ 6 PM
Cadillac Fair Grounds, Cadillac, MI
Figure 8
Compact & Big Car

Wed July 4, 2007 @ 4:30 PM
Sand Lake 4th of July Festival, Sand Lake, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact F8
Compact Demo Derby Off-Road Racing
** Fireworks at Dark

Sun July 8, 2007 @ 7 PM
Mecosta County Fair Grounds, Big Rapids, MI
Figure 8
Compact & Big Car

Wed July 11, 2007 @ 7 PM
Montcalm County Fair Grounds, Greenville, MI
Compact Figure 8

Mon July 16, 2007 @ 7 PM
VanBuren County Youth Fair, Hartford, MI
NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
- Demo Derby (open to all year autos)
- Compact Demo Derby heat
- Truck Demo Derby heat
- Compact Figure 8 heats
- Burn Out Contest (open to 1st 20 cars)

Thurs July 26, 2007 @ 7 PM
Mason County Fair Grounds, Ludington, MI
Figure 8
Compact & Big Car

Fri July 27, 2007 @ 7 PM
Ottawa County Fair Grounds, Holland, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact & Big Car
Compact Figure 8

Fri August 3, 2007 @ 7 PM
Kalkaska County Fair Grounds, Kalkaska, MI
Mid-Season Championship - Double Points for Big Car
Figure 8
Compact & Big Car

Mon August 6, 2007 @ 7 PM
Newaygo County Fair Grounds, Fremont, MI
Figure 8
Compact & Big Car

Tues August 7, 2007 @ 7 PM
Kalamazoo County Fair Grounds, Kalamazoo, MI
Demo Derby (open to all year autos)
Compact & Big Car
Compact Figure 8 - Double Points

Sat August 18, 2007 @ 7 PM
Cadillac Fair Grounds, Cadillac, MI
Figure 8
Compact & Big Car

Fri August 24, 2007 @ 7 PM
Onekama Fair Grounds, Manistee, MI
Figure 8
Compact & Big Car

Sat September 8, 2007 @ 6 PM
Cadillac Fair Grounds, Cadillac, MI
State Championship Figure 8 - Big Car
$100 entry fee / $2,500 to feature winner of Big Car Figure 8
State Championship Figure 8 - Compact Car
$75 entry fee / $1,000 to feature winner of Compact Car Figure 8

Again I dont have the date for Barry County Fair or anything from the East side of the state. Let me know any dates you are aware of and I will add them

Demolition Derbies in Michigan this Summer

Here is a list of demolition derbies that I am aware of in Michigan this summer

Fri April 27, 2007 @ 7 PM
2nd Annual Spring Fling, Kalkaska, MI
Kalkaska Fairgrounds
Demo Derby - '78 & newer

Sat June 16, 2007 @ 2 PM
Tuscola County Fair Grounds, Caro, MI
Demo Derby
Compact & Big Car

Wed July 4, 2007 @ 4:30 PM
Sand Lake 4th of July Festival, Sand Lake, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact F8
Compact Demo Derby Off-Road Racing
** Fireworks at Dark

Fri July 13, 2007 @ 7 PM
Montcalm County Fair Grounds, Greenville, MI
Demo Derby – ’78 & newer
Compact & Big Car

Sat July 14, 2007 @ 7 PM
Mecosta County Fair Grounds, Big Rapids, MI
Demo Derby – ’78 and newer
Compact & Big Car
Truck Demo Derby heat

Mon July 16, 2007 @ 7 PM
VanBuren County Youth Fair, Hartford, MI
NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
- Demo Derby (open to all year autos)
- Compact Demo Derby heat
- Truck Demo Derby heat
- Compact Figure 8 heats
- Burn Out Contest (open to 1st 20 cars)

Fri July 20, 2007 @ 7:30 PM
Steuben County Fair, Angola, IN
Demo Derby – ’78 and newer
Compact & Big Car

Sat July 21, 2007 @ 7 PM
VanBuren County Youth Fair, Hartford, MI
Demo Derby – ’78 and newer - Double Points
Compact & Big Car

Sun July 22, 2007 @ 7 PM
Ionia County Fair Grounds, Ionia, MI
Mid-Season Championship
Demo Derby – ’78 and newer - Big Car
$50 entry fee / $2000 to feature winner of Big Car Demo Derby
Compact heat

Tues July 24, 2007 @ 7 PM
Tuscola County Fair Grounds, Caro, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact & Big Car
Truck Demo Derby heat

July 27, 2007 @ 7 PM
Ottawa County Fair Grounds, Holland, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact & Big Car
Compact Figure 8

Sat July 28, 2007 @ 7 PM
Mason County Fair Grounds, Ludington, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact & Big Car

Sat August 4, 2007 @ 7 PM
Kalkaska County Fair Grounds, Kalkaska, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact & Big Car

Tuesday August 7, 2007 @ 7 PM
Kalamazoo County Fair Grounds, Kalamazoo, MI
Demo Derby (open to all year autos)
Compact & Big Car
Compact Figure 8 - Double Points

Fri August 17, 2007 @ 7:30 PM
Ogemaw County Fair Grounds, West Branch, MI
Demo Derby
Open to all year autos - no Imperials
Compact & Big Car
$1,000 Feature Winner - Big Car

Fri August 17, 2007 @ 7 PM
Cadillac Fair Grounds, Cadillac, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact & Big Car

Sat August 18, 2007 @ 7 PM
Berrien County Youth Fair, Berrien Springs, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer
Compact & Big Car

Sat September 1, 2007 @ 4 PM
Montcalm County Fair Grounds, Greenville, MI
State Championship Demo Derby - '78 and newer
$100 entry fee / $2500 to feature winner of Big Car Derby
Compact Demo Derby heat

Sun September 2, 2007 @ 4 PM
Michigan Bean Festival, Fairgrove, MI
Demo Derby - '78 and newer

Mon September 3, 2007 @ 2 PM
Michigan Bean Festival, Fairgrove, MI
State Championship Truck Demo Derby
$50 entry fee / $2000 to feature winner of Truck Demo Derby
Compact Demo Derby

I don't have the dates for Hudsonville, The Barry County Fair in Hastings or much from the Eastern side of the state. If you know of other dates I will add them.

Holland Snowball Demo Scramble #2

Another picture.