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GREENVILLE, S.C. - After a false start two weeks ago in Ontario, the second half of the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series schedule will kick off with this weekend’s Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.
The persistent rain showers that washed out the Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park not only forced IHRA officials to postpone the event, but also thwarted the efforts of Pro Modified competitor Alan Pittman, who was anxious to see if some new-found horsepower would be what his team needed to get back into the championship hunt.
After a strong start this season, Pittman, team owner Mel Bush, and Pittman’s crew have been frustrated by two consecutive DNQs. They expected to have some teething troubles when they introduced their unique supercharged ’62 Chevrolet Bel Air “bubble top” earlier this year, but a string of successful outings, culminating in a victory in just their third race, may have led the team to overlook a number of seemingly minor problems which resulted in failed qualifying efforts in Edmonton, Alberta, and Milan, Michigan.
In an attempt to get his program back on track, Pittman, a chassis builder from Greenville, South Carolina, spent the first part of the week leading up to the Canadian Nationals working in the dyno room of engine builder, and fellow Pro Mod competitor, Carl Spiering. Positive gains were realized as a result, and the better of his two rejuvenated powerplants was bolted back in the classic red hot rod just a day before the scheduled first day of qualifying in Toronto.
Since he didn’t have an opportunity to test before the race, it was going to take a do-or-die effort to shake out the new combination while attempting to make the tough IHRA Pro Mod field.
Unfortunately, the rains came before any professional qualifying could take place, and the plug was pulled on the event. Now, two weeks later, Pittman’s Chevy sits in the trailer, ready for the trip to Michigan. It still hasn’t turned a wheel on the quarter-mile since being upgraded.
“It was pretty frustrating to just sit around up there in Canada and not get a chance to run the car,” Pittman said. “We thrashed for three or four days to get the engines tested, and then we never had a chance to see if what we gained would help us out on the track.
“Once we got back home I had so much work to catch up with in the shop that we never even unloaded the car. So now we’re right back where we were two weeks ago – we’ll make our first test pass during Friday’s first qualifying shot. I’m pretty confident that we’re heading in the right direction. We want to make a strong move in the last half of the season, and we’re planning to start in Martin this weekend.”
Pittman Looking To Address Unanswered Questions in Martin
GREENVILLE, S.C. - After a false start two weeks ago in Ontario, the second half of the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series schedule will kick off with this weekend’s Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.
The persistent rain showers that washed out the Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park not only forced IHRA officials to postpone the event, but also thwarted the efforts of Pro Modified competitor Alan Pittman, who was anxious to see if some new-found horsepower would be what his team needed to get back into the championship hunt.
After a strong start this season, Pittman, team owner Mel Bush, and Pittman’s crew have been frustrated by two consecutive DNQs. They expected to have some teething troubles when they introduced their unique supercharged ’62 Chevrolet Bel Air “bubble top” earlier this year, but a string of successful outings, culminating in a victory in just their third race, may have led the team to overlook a number of seemingly minor problems which resulted in failed qualifying efforts in Edmonton, Alberta, and Milan, Michigan.
In an attempt to get his program back on track, Pittman, a chassis builder from Greenville, South Carolina, spent the first part of the week leading up to the Canadian Nationals working in the dyno room of engine builder, and fellow Pro Mod competitor, Carl Spiering. Positive gains were realized as a result, and the better of his two rejuvenated powerplants was bolted back in the classic red hot rod just a day before the scheduled first day of qualifying in Toronto.
Since he didn’t have an opportunity to test before the race, it was going to take a do-or-die effort to shake out the new combination while attempting to make the tough IHRA Pro Mod field.
Unfortunately, the rains came before any professional qualifying could take place, and the plug was pulled on the event. Now, two weeks later, Pittman’s Chevy sits in the trailer, ready for the trip to Michigan. It still hasn’t turned a wheel on the quarter-mile since being upgraded.
“It was pretty frustrating to just sit around up there in Canada and not get a chance to run the car,” Pittman said. “We thrashed for three or four days to get the engines tested, and then we never had a chance to see if what we gained would help us out on the track.
“Once we got back home I had so much work to catch up with in the shop that we never even unloaded the car. So now we’re right back where we were two weeks ago – we’ll make our first test pass during Friday’s first qualifying shot. I’m pretty confident that we’re heading in the right direction. We want to make a strong move in the last half of the season, and we’re planning to start in Martin this weekend.”
