Re: Larry Dixon

[megadeth]

it's nice to have that information as a point of reference but the idea that you can take any crew chiefs notes and just plug it in to any setup and immediately be as successful as Mike Greene and the Army team have been this year is ridiculous

Mike I never said that you and Randy did. That info makes a big difference. I understand changing a chassis or using a new car can change everything but I doubt they changed anything from the previous combination.
And if they had a new car built it was built to the exact specs of the previous car with the exception of rule changes.
As I stated before 5 years of info from probably the best ever Top Fuel Crew Chief can only make you better and Mike is proof of that.

 

[MM]

then i guess Jimmy Prock must have lost his log book since they are struggling so much this year?

 

[BF]

then i guess Jimmy Prock must have lost his log book since they are struggling so much this year?

I wasn't going to say anything but this is the "post of the thread" right here.

 

[vegasnitro]

Not a good example Chris. If you were a doctor and read those books then you could apply it. Same goes for Mike he is a Crew Chief with access to 5 years worth of info from an 8 time Top Fuel champion Crew Chief covering just about every different type of conditions i.e. weather, humidity, track temp etc... That makes a big difference with the calls on race day wouldn’t you think?
Do you think he changed the set up of the car from what Alan was running or just continuing the winning formula? I’m assuming the latter.
Everybody always pulls the proverbial "have you been around a fuel car" rabbit out of their hat when the results speak for themselves.
As for Capps and Ed they have their own tune-up they chose to be more aggressive and its paying off. Of course they share info Don has stated that many times it's a well known fact.
Once again it’s my opinion doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t make it wrong either relax people.

What I am saying is, I am not a doctor, so no matter how many medical books I read, I won't be one either.

I have also never been around a fuel car, and I could not be given possession of that log book and be expected to be competitive.

I think it is somewhat farcical to assume that one crew chief at DSR has greatly benefited from the log book and another hasn't when they have won the same number of races this year (your position). My feeling is the log book might have helped some, but Ace and Mike Green are flat out getting it done this year.

Let's not forget that the only returning part on Tony's team is Tony himself. New crew chief and all new crew, yet they are still adding trophies to the collection. Big tip of the cap to the US Army team for that.

Lastly, these are only my opinions as well Bob, I am perfectly relaxed and am rather enjoying the lively discussion.

 

["Chuck"]

it's nice to have that information as a point of reference but the idea that you can take any crew chiefs notes and just plug it in to any setup and immediately be as successful as Mike Greene and the Army team have been this year is ridiculous

Leave it up to the keyboard crew chiefs and drivers to bag on one of the greatest drivers of all time and then come up with that whole "log book" theory crap. But I guess thats what happens when you have your own top fuel car and are out there racing every weekend right?

 

[Randy]

That info makes a big difference. I understand changing a chassis or using a new car can change everything but I doubt they changed anything from the previous combination.
And if they had a new car built it was built to the exact specs of the previous car with the exception of rule changes.

The beginning of this year Grant Downing at Worsham Racing replaced the better part of our entire funny car chassis with all new tubing. He used the exact same design with the exact same tubing diameter. For the first several runs it wouldn't get out of it's own way. I'm not going to say what we had to do to get it to run at Vegas but it was very different in the bellhousing. By the end of the weekend we were on the downhill side of being competitive again. I would never have been able to get away with the tune up I ran before.

All that to say, same specs, design, etc., means nothing. Chassis have personalities, and when you throw all new fuel systems, management, new batch of clutch discs, etc. 5 grams on the clutch can make a big difference..

Speaking of clutch discs, some teams (most) are so anal about getting matching batches that they order several pallets full of them at the beginning of the year so they are always pulling discs from the same batch (hopefully). Alan Johnson started out with no data, just a Rockwell tester. My experience with a Rockwell tester on clutch discs could best be described by the following statement: "If you don't like the Rockwell results of the disc you are checking, move the checker over 1/2 inch on the disc and try again." LOL.

If it was a matter of notes, a crew chief could set up a web site and email all his customers who use PayPal the tune up trick of the week.

RG

.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Larry will be fine!

 

[Muddy]

Log books give a starting point IF you can find condtions close to what the current conditions are. Beyond that it's up to the crew chief to make the final adjustments to fit the current conditions. And by the way there are hundreds if not thousands of tiny variables that can have a major impact on performance and keeping all the parts where they belong.

As far as the dragster now that AJ has the funny car performing I suspect he'll turn his atention to the pipe rack. He admited that he was challenged by the funny car because he was not satisfied with his prior experience.

I'm sure LD has had some reservations about what the car is going to do based on performance this year and that along with everything else is causing him him some distractions. Once the car is doing the samething every lap he will settle down and be the driver we are used to seeing. AJ didn't hire him because he thought he might be a great driver.

I'm not saying you can engrave the names on the trophys but count on both teams being in the chase come Vegas2.

 

[T.Smith]

Wilkerson tuned our car for a year and a half, we kept all the log books, run sheets and Race Pak data...it took us two years to learn how to make it run faster than he did.

 

[megadeth]

Leave it up to the keyboard crew chiefs and drivers to bag on one of the greatest drivers of all time and then come up with that whole "log book" theory crap. But I guess thats what happens when you have your own top fuel car and are out there racing every weekend right?

Comprehension vitally important when reading!

 

[megadeth]

then i guess Jimmy Prock must have lost his log book since they are struggling so much this year?

Aren't they using their Boss engine this year? That's a big difference since John and Mike tested it all year last year.

 

[megadeth]

Mike Dunn said it at the end of the broadcast Larry needs to figure it out and he is sure he will. I tend to agree that's what this post was originally about.

So everybody thinks its bashing LD when it's not the case at all.

 

[MM]

Aren't they using their Boss engine this year? That's a big difference since John and Mike tested it all year last year.

but don't they have access to the magical log book?

 

[megadeth]

but don't they have access to the magical log book?

Dude you need to get over it!

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Yer right Chris. Tony's early success this season is far more impressive than Larry's.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Larry will be fine!

Always good to quote yourself!! Well done in Topeka!

 

[megadeth]

Always good to quote yourself!! Well done in Topeka!

So he finally sorted it out! That was the census by pretty much everyone including myself but there was a problem and that is what this thread was started for.
Larry acknowledged it himself but lord help you for pointing it out especially if you have never driven one before. What a howl!
Something also caught my ear on Sunday's broadcast so who is actually doing the tuning Alan or Jason or is it a collective effort?

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Bob,

I feel pretty much any criticism on the Mater is 100% above board. It's a message board. And that goes for the arc of criticism as well. It's a cyclical beast. Anyone (including myself) who's banged on a driver or two is going to get swamped by his/her fans.

I have no problem with anyone showing concern for the events that seemed to plague Larry this season. I hope no one has a problem with my defense of Larry.

It's the sort of thing I feel is welcomed and makes a portion of this forum a daily fix just like the BRUT Revolution I continue to wear.

I'd love to know the tuning scenario too!

 

[megadeth]

Bob,

I feel pretty much any criticism on the Mater is 100% above board. It's a message board. And that goes for the arc of criticism as well. It's a cyclical beast. Anyone (including myself) who's banged on a driver or two is going to get swamped by his/her fans.

I have no problem with anyone showing concern for the events that seemed to plague Larry this season. I hope no one has a problem with my defense of Larry.

It's the sort of thing I feel is welcomed and makes a portion of this forum a daily fix just like the BRUT Revolution I continue to wear.

I'd love to know the tuning scenario too!

Thanks Steve!
At least some people get it! The irony of it all is Larry is one of my favorites drivers on the circut go figure!

 

[force fan]

This is a joke of a thread...

I agree with you........