John...what happened at Wichita?

[Bob West]

I saw your post about getting into the guard rail???

[68 chevelle]

WHAT!

[Bob West]

He posted on the maktenfive.com site that he would miss the race Aug. 9 because he got into the guard rail. Thats all I know.

[Bob West]

Re: August 9th Tulsa Raceway Park who is coming?
« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2008, 08:47:03 AM »

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Count me out. I put it in the guardrail last night at Wichita during the finals. Got some work to do before she's ready to go again.

Maybe you can get it together for the Street Machine shootout @ Ozark???

[John_Heard]

Was running Keith Lopez in the final round of True Ten Five and the car got loose about 400' or so? Ended up collecting the guardrail, couldn't get it to pull away. Just spent the last 4 hours getting it out of the trailer and in the garage. I'll post some pics later of the damage. We're probably done for the year, don't know yet. Have to see what all is tore up. For sure got both left rims and tires, and rubbed the guardrail from front to back. Smashed header tubes, a-arm, not sure what all else yet? I'm fine, nothing wrong with me other than a bit bummed out. Got some running around to do, I'll post some more info later.

[Pegasus]

John sorry to hear about your bad luck .
Yesterday at OIR we were racing with track temps at 145 and air above 5500 ft. I could never use the second stage without it getting loose.
TT5 cars are a handfull on slick tracks.
I was hoping to see you and your car at the Street Machines this year.



PS At least you were in the finals so it must have been running well.

[sc racing]

That sucks good to here your ok.

[Craig W.]

Oh man! Wow, that sucks John! I was so looking forward to seeing you run and running against you at the Nova Gathering.

Glad you're OK. Sure hope the damage isn't too bad.

[David Lemmond]

Damn John, I hate to hear this. Let me know on the a-arm, I'll get you something out quickly if you want to get it back together before the end of the season.

[1320quick]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck John. Hope your able to get it repaired quickly and get out and enjoy the car still this year...

[moeraces]

John, i hate the hell outa that pal , sorry , that sux so bad i can hear it in n carolina,, Mike

[gmracing355]

John, Im sorry to hear about your accident but am glad that you were not hurt. Sorry I live far away as I would be over to help.
Greg

[Mike Peters]

I left the event before John hit the rail. Track temp for the 1st round of Q'ing was 146* but had cooled down to 102* for the 1st round of eliminations. Track prep was poor. There was gooey track bite outside the groove. John was getting down the track as well as anyone and wound up #1 qualifier and had his opponent covered by a large margin going into the finals. Ol' Blue was running well and you could just see the potential of the new power though he couldn't use it. Sorry this happened John and I was just sick about it when you called and told me. Glad you're OK my friend.

[John_Heard]

Don we had the same conditions at Wichita, real hot track and bad, bad air. The car was working good though, MPH was off a bunch but I was learning what it wanted in the tune up and the launch, making improvements every pass . I was getting better on the tree every round too, man things were looking really good. They said it got lose on the transition from concrete to asphalt. Looking at the video it started to smoke the tires there before it came around on me. It did it the round before, but I was able to lift and get back in it. That last pass it was like ice though and the guard rail was a magnet. Ugh.. I'm gonna learn that 31 box better, I could have clipped that spot off with the limiter and probably got over it? I wanted to go to street machines this year, we still might make it? If we're there it'll have a big rash on the side of it LOL.

David - I need to call ya and discuss what to do on the arms. I can't tell if they are bent or not, but something ain't quite right I think.

You know guys I've always been one that would lift when things started getting bad and I didn't use to get back in it - I would just abort - better safe than sorry? For some reason Saturday I had a hair up my butt and was pushing things too hard and paid the price. I've learned a lesson that I won't forget anytime soon!

[John_Heard]

BTW: David Lemmond's a-arms are tougher than hell!! You should see my front wheel.. Smashed the crap out of it but David's super light a-arms held their own! Welds all look fine, nothing broke anywhere. We might have bent one - but nothing broke. This guy does good work that you can trust not to fail on ya...