Well after a year of very very hard work, it was time to see if our new Embry-Riddle Jet Dragster was going to fly. We were going to try and make the Test and Tune out at Moroso Motorsports Park on Wed. July 12th, but with rain in the forecast, we went to our sponsors in Daytona Beach to test fire her up to check for leaks and make sure everything was working correctly. First fire up and it felt good, a few small leaks, but things looked good. Then the problems started. She had a leak in a major area where we were going to have to pull the engine to repair. Well Dr. Torch to the rescue. My welder just so happens to live in Daytona, so I give him a call and ask him what he is doing for the next couple of hours. What would we do without friends. He came over to Emnry-Riddle to help Chris and George pull the engine. Welded up the spot and we refired the dragster about 2 hours later. It was a long day.
We headed home very optimistic. We then decided we would take the dragster to our local track on Thursday night to make sure everything was working. We fired her up and made just a couple of engine only launches. She handled great. It was time it hit the road to see what she could do.
Friday morning we tried to pack everything we could think of as you just can't go to your local auto parts store to get supplies. We pulled into Moroso Motorsports Park about 3:00 and were welcomed back to our home track. We unloaded the Embry-Riddle car and I was busting to see what she could do. We fired the car up, things looked good, I started on the fire show, and nothing, then raised the rpm to do burner pops, and nothing. So I went down the dragstrip doing an engine only to see how she handled. The car ran straight and had no problems. We were still optimistic that it was just a minor glitch. Went back to the pits and Chris made some adjustments, back to the starting line. We had fire this time, but no burner pops. Again another engine only and back to figure this out. We started to call some of our friends in jet racing to see if they had ever had this happen. They all gave us some suggestions. We were feeling good. Back to the starting line and I couldn't get her to respond at the higher RPM's. Now were started getting frustrated. It was 12:00 a.m. and we were getting really tired. We had time for one more run, and back we went. Fired her up and we still had the same problem.
Back in the pits, we were tired and frustrated. Then Chris thought that if we took the pipe off of the Miss Ta Fire, which has some of the fuel system in it, we could get it to work. The big question is would it fit. So, here was the plan. E. Lowe would take the kids back to the hotel, Chris and I would drive the 3 hours home to remove the pipe, get extra parts and come back for the next night of testing. We got home at 4:00 a.m. and hit the bed for about an hour. With a lot of coffee, we were back at it hard at work. We removed the pipe and hit the road. Back at the hotel, the kids are trying to drive e. lowe crazy!!!! We all met back at the track. We remove the ERAU pipe and cross our fingures. The Miss Ta Fire pipe slides on like melted butter!!!!! A cheer goes up and we are back in business. There is a road race going on that day at Moroso and racing doesn't start until 5:00. Get get everything put back together and wait. We decide to take it out back of the track to fire it up and see if it is fixed. We start the car. We have smoke, We have fire, I throttle the car up to 80% for the burner pops cross the fingures and nothing.
I know they say there is no tears in racing, but the looks on everyone's faces said it all. We towed the car back to the pits, Chris had one more ace up his sleeve and we were going to try it all. Change the hot streak nozzle and back to fire her up. At this point we just knew it was going to work. She fires, smoke, fire, and then.......nothing. Well I guess that is racing.
They had been announcing at the track that we were there and going to run the car later. So not to disappoint the fans, we pulled the car to the starting line, did a smoke and fire show made an engine only run down the track. Loaded the car up scratching our heads.
We were very hot and tired, but the glass was still half full. We took stock in what we had done this past week. The car fired up, she spit fire, and she ran straight as an arrow down the strip. Life isn't all bad. We will figure this out and the Embry-Riddle Dragster is going to fly.
On a side note a very good friend of ours passed away. Bob Foster. He was a special friend who we will miss a lot. I am dedicating my next races to Bob, as he loved to hear how I would fly down the drag strip. I know all of my good buddies are looking out for me, and I hope to do them proud.
We are hitting the road for the next 3 weeks. We are racing in Nashville July 22nd, then head to Oshkosh for the air show right after. Then it is off to Texas. Now, this Texas race is very special to me because of a racer and a good friend Ancel Horton. He passed away about a year ago. I want to do this race in his memory. It will be very special for me to see his wife Peggie again.
Now for the fun stuff. To you know who, I won't be able to tell you what color your flame is as Chris hasn't had time to install the rear view mirrors on the car!!!!!
say I shouldn't quit my day job. The days are long and hot, but it is nice to see people from all across the world that are attending this years show.
