Larry Dixon’s Gainesville Crash & Interview

This past weekend at the Gatornationals, Larry Dixon’s Top Fuel car chassis broke at the foot box resulting in a heart-stopping crash. Both videos are courtesy of NHRA.

 

 

THEORIES ABOUND, BUT NO DEFINITIVE ANSWERS REGARDING DIXON CRASH CAUSE by Bobby Bennett

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Disappointing News on the Shelton Drag Strip

On January 30, 2015 Ridge Motor Sports Park issued the following press release which includes information on the long awaited drag strip at Shelton, WA.

It would appear that wait only gets longer – if ever. I’ve posted a link to their press release below. – Roger

http://ridgemotorsportspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Ridge-2015-development-press-release-1-30-2015.pdf

Posted in Discussions | 2 Comments

Go Hawks!

thankyou

January 17, 2015: Tomorrow is the big game here at CenturyLink field where the Seahawks are hosting the Green Bay Packers for the NFC title game! I suspect the Hawks will win with their #1 defense, and also suspect the Hawks will be facing New England in the Super Bowl.

It has been another great ride watching the Hawks this season!  ON TO THE SUPER BOWL! – Roger

Feb 1st 2015: It’s THE big game day, Super Bowl XLIX. Feed the Beast and REPEAT!

Proud of our Hawks today and congratulations to the Patriots. Hard to understand that last play call when you have the best running back in the NFL. Lynch played a great game! Going to the Super Bowl back to back is very special!

 

This says it all, Lynch had a big game but his number wasn’t called when the game was on the line… – Roger

Lynch as the game ended, Seattle Times photo

Lynch as the game ended, Seattle Times photo

IMG_2012

 

http://youtu.be/xAsjRRMMg_Q

 

The Historic NFC Championship Comeback:

 

And Russell Wilson Mic’d Up Leading the Offense:

Blitz

Blitz

Roger & Pam after last season's NFC Championship

Roger & Pam after last season’s NFC Championship

IMG_0333

 

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Pacific Raceway 2015 TENTATIVE Drag Racing Schedule

Remember, this is a TENTATIVE schedule and subject to change at any time. Courtesy of Pacific Raceways

Updated tentative schedule as of January 26th, 2015:

NOTICE: The August 29th Race Has Been Cancelled!

 

Posted in Edwards & Young Updates | 1 Comment

’71 Chevelle Update

Mike Gardner photo 2014

Mike Gardner photo 2014

January 4th, 2014:

Today Chris and Paul removed the transmission and have the engine nearly ready to pull from the car. Chris intends to have both transmissions gone through and we’ll tear the motor down to freshen after 199 hits and also do some upgrades to the fuel delivery system.

We’ll be updating this page as we move forward, including the comment section below. – Roger

February 8th, 2015:

Today with Chris and Paul we got the 406 out of Chris’ Chevelle and torn completely down. Except for the high leakdown in #8 cylinder of 28% (poor ring seal), the rest of the engine was in tremendous condition. Bearings, piston skirts look like new!

I’m very impressed with that Dart Little M block. Other than some small shadows in the cylinder walls, I don’t see any core shift, and the lifters with the taller bores look fantastic!  – Roger

February 28th, 2015:

Today Chris and I got the heads torn down and checked all the valve springs on our Rimac bench tester. All, except two springs, were in excellent condition at 275# on the seat and 750# open. We’ll be replacing the two that had dropped to 260# while we are going through the motor.

Next the block goes out to DG Machine to have the block honed with torque plates and have the valves ground. There is nothing evident in the engine that would account for the inconsistent runs last year which gets back to issues with the transmissions. – Roger

March 24th, 2015

Yesterday Chris picked up the block and heads from DG Machine. Today I assembled the heads with new intake seals. We’ll start assembling the block in the near future – Roger

Assembled Brodix head. Titanium retainers, 10-degree locks, 1.550" PacAlloy springs. 275# seat pressure.

Assembled Brodix head. Titanium retainers, 10-degree locks, 1.550″ PacAlloy springs. 275# seat pressure.

March 28th, 2015:

Today Chris and I were checking all the clearances on the 406, since we didn’t get any real specifics from Shafiroff that machined/assembled the original short block. We also ordered a new set of main bearings as the lower half on the #4 main was flaking the top coating. So we’ve opted to wait for the arrival of new main bearings. – Roger

March 30, 2015:

While waiting on the main bearings, Chris began file-fitting the new rings for the 406 today. – Roger

Chris filing & checking ring end gaps

Chris filing & checking ring end gaps

March 31, 2015:

Today we got the new main bearings polished and installed the Callies crank after checking main bearing clearance and thrust clearance with a new FelPro rear main seal. We also installed the new Jesel Timing Belt and checked camshaft thrust clearance.

Next we’ll file-fit the four remaining cylinders and begin installing rod/piston assemblies. Making good progress! – Roger

Installing the  Callies Crank

Installing the Callies Crank

New Jesel Timing Belt installed

New Jesel Timing Belt installed

April 1, 2015:

Today Chris and I got four piston/rod assemblies installed in the 406. When we have the rods resized at the next overhaul, we’ll open the rod side clearance. – Roger

406 Wiseco pistons and 6" Manley rods

406 Wiseco pistons and 6″ Manley rods

Bottom end of 406

Bottom end of 406

Four pistons installed

Four pistons installed

April 2, 2015:

Today we got the last four pistons in, clayed the valves with 1.6 rockers (we’re using 1.6 rockers on the exhausts this time around, were 1.5’s), installed the balancer. – Roger

April 4, 2015:

Today we got the 406 fully assembled, leak-down tested, and primed ready for install in the Chevelle.

And after I left this afternoon, Chris got the engine resting in the Chevelle this afternoon! – Roger

2015 406 Build Sheet

 

406 valve train, 1.6 rockers on exhausts, 1.5 rockers on intakes. New roller lifters

406 valve train, 1.6 rockers on exhausts, 1.5 rockers on intakes. New roller lifters

Crane pressurized roller lifters for tall lifter bores in the Dart Little M block with open valley.

Crane pressurized roller lifters for tall lifter bores in the Dart Little M block with open valley.

Completed 406, primed and ready to install

Completed 406, primed and ready to install

install

April 11, 2015:

Today we installed the new floats in the Dominator, installed the carb and primed. Just the transmission remaining!

April 18, 2015:

This past week Chris got our old A-1 TH400 out to Dirty Dan’s Trans and we learned that unit, except for the shafts and planetary section, is a complete loss.

He then took our last transmission out to Dan and learned that it is in reasonable condition except that an assembly error was applying high gear all the time. Therefore while going down the strip high gear was dragging all the time, which gets back to what our data and engine inspections were telling us, that the problem with the car being inconsistent and slow was in the transmission as we had concluded!

We should have the transmission back and ready to install next week. – Roger

April 23, 2015:

Today Chris got the transmission in the car, we fired it up, set the timing and ran the transmission through the gears and checked the trans brake. She’s ready for the strip! – Roger

Posted in Edwards & Young Updates | 7 Comments

Edwards & Young “Tech Tips” Moved to our Blog

As of December 30th 2014, I have moved our Tech Tips section from our original racing site to here on our blog. If you access the old page location it will automatically transfer you to the new page here.

You can also access these articles from our main menu above below the header.  Have a good New Year! – Roger

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Time to get a handle on electronics technology in bracket racing

Brought to my attention by my son, Chris, this is an important discussion and such technology should be banned in my opinion. It is becoming very tough for the average bracket racer to compete against such technology as mentioned in this article – Roger:

Why is bracket racing the only form of racing without rules? by Jok Nicholas – December 2014

Related:

BOBBY BENNETT: THE TITANIC DIDN’T ADJUST AND SEE WHAT HAPPENEDCompetitionPlus – January 12, 2014

Posted in Discussions, Links To Feature Stories | 6 Comments

’57 Highlight Video

Videos are an important part of your racing program, especially with a car that can be tempermental to hook. We use the videos that Pam takes as a tuning aid:

 

httpvh://youtu.be/tQFqCcSUzjo
 

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Dan Ferguson Wins PDRA Top Sportsman Crown

The following report is from Dan’s father Todd:

Back from race at 3am Tuesday morning. Took until 10pm Monday night to finish the race that was to finish Saturday night. Many delays due to rain! Many changes in the race lineups due to people leaving along the way.  30 cars showed up for qualifying and only 14 remained for the 16 car field when they started eliminations for Dan’s Top Sportsman class on Monday afternoon. Dan won his first round race and had a bye in the second round. The Championship number 2 racer went out in the first round and number 3 lost in the second round. So, by the time he ran his bye run, Dan had been declared the Championship winner!!!

He came out in the bye run and made a statement running a 4.18 with a .005 reaction time!

It was a beautiful clean and fast pass down the track! His goal was to win the race but in the semi final round was a little slow on the light with a .024 to his competitors .019 light but ran 4.156 on a 4.16 dial in, running too fast by 4 thousandths and losing. He really wanted to win the final round race but it was not to happen.  He was very happy to be the 2014 PDRA Top Sportsman World Champion though.

Best,

Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

danferguson

 

Pictures and 2014 PDRA Champions

Dan Ferguson beats the odds to clinch PDRA Top Sportsman championshipFastDoorSlammers.com – October 29, 2014

Ferguson Beats The PDRA OddsNSSN – October 2014

Posted in Links To Feature Stories | Tagged | 1 Comment

Pacific Raceways For Sale

Updated May 29th 2015

Legendary Raceway Offered For SalePacific Raceways – September 2014

Q&A Regarding Raceway Listed For SalePacific Raceways – September 2014

 

KIRO TV Report on Pacific Raceways – September 2014
 

Historic Pacific Raceways for saleKing5 News – October 1, 2014

Pacific Raceways Tech-Campus Vision Prompts Sale Listing By Susan Wade – October 1, 2014

SUSAN WADE: PACIFIC RACEWAYS – AND MAYBE ITS HISTORY – ON AUCTION BLOCKCompetitionPlus – October 3, 2014

DONER AND SEATTLE: COULD MAGIC HAPPEN AGAIN?CompetitionPlus – October 27, 2014

RACING STILL AT CENTER OF PACIFIC RACEWAYS’ FUTURE, OWNER SAYSCompetitionPlus – January 5, 2015

Fiorito family reaffirms commitment to Pacific RacewaysNHRA – May 29, 2015

Posted in Discussions, Links To Feature Stories | 3 Comments

Tesla – Not Your ’57 Chev!

I don’t believe our race cars were put together like this in the days of Detroit iron!

http://youtu.be/8_lfxPI5ObM

http://youtu.be/TEReFPI4jSc

http://youtu.be/YVqlZO7tHFE

Posted in Discussions | 2 Comments

Torri Sets Personal Best Mark at Pacific Raceways

9/21/2014:

On this beautiful September day at Pacific Raceways, Torri wheeled her ’66 Tempest to a new mark for the car at 12.126 @ 109.11 MPH setting both ends of the record for her Pontiac with a 1.653 60-foot time.

Unfortunately on her last time run of the day the TH-350 transmission with an unknown amount of runs took out 2nd gear ending her day. – Roger

Torri launching at Pacific Raceways - Mike Gardner photo

Torri launching at Pacific Raceways – Mike Gardner photo

Edwards & Young 2014 Photos

Posted in Edwards & Young Updates | 1 Comment