07/31/2023
9th Annual Summer Showdown at TPR race report. Let's go kids!
I got to the track about noon. Set up and started well more like continued building a Custom Works based Triple P Shift23. Front end was together just needed to build shocks, cvds, electronics, cage, last years GSR body panels new wing mounts etc. The plan was to finish it up throughout the day then hot lap it after the races. Well then I thought ya know I could run all three sprint cars. So I signed up Outlaw, 10.5 Sportsman, and Non Wing sprint. All open wheel all the time because well I'm an open wheel snob lol.
So with Randy Lathrop 's chili bowl set up, no practice, steering not completely trimmed out, no tail tank, a Maclan esc I couldnt remember if it was a good spare or if it was one that was giving me issues before. I had two esc's sitting on my pit table at home so it was a 50/50 shot. I threw on the track to see what she'd do. Couple hot laps, trimmed the steering it was good enough. Started the race not bad few laps in like 7 maybe the left steering turnbuckle flew out. Welp that was fun.. I'll fix it after my outlaw race. Finished 3rd or 4th in my outlaw heat. Car didnt feel too bad went free torwards the last minute and half. So won the Non Wing Heat race on the DE wheels, DNF 10.5, 3 or 4th in Outlaw heat.
We took a lengthy break car count was low and we wanted the track to be better for the next round and mains later. I had another bright idea this one was a good one. We had two 5 gallon jugs of blue gatorade. Man some Malibu would be great in this. So that happened to one of the jugs. During the break I got the Triple P fixed, tail tank mounted and installed, added a Rocket Racing fan mount with a 30mm power products fan.
Round Two fight. Blake Surrell put small tires back on his non wing GFRP and smoked me. Finished 2nd will start 2nd for the A. 10.5 was next car felt really good I was surprisingly comfortable in it after a rear toe change. Well that was before the left front decided to leave the chat. The backing screw holding the axle came out. And no I didn't check that when I pulled the front end off the midget to build this car. I'd start last in the feature. Outlaw raced right after finished 3 or 4th again. The left front steering spindle keeps loose. The screw is pulling out of the plastic. I have been running the cw inline spindles with C4 spacers. I'll start midpack in the B.
Feature time feature time! Outlaw B first up, lined up 5th finished 5th the spindle fix didnt work. Will put the AE stock ones back on after the races and test it. Non wing finished 2nd had nothing for Blake. I guess an R6 13.5 will need to be ordered. I think my R5 is getting tired. 10.5 starting last, I think Ive got all the bugs worked out of it. The car was great driver not as much stepped on it a few times and got behind. Tires finally came in around 2 minute mark and it was time to go worked my way up to 3rd. I do believe if it wasnt for my mistakes early giving them a multiple lap cushion I could have made it more of a race. I think my car was faster I could catch them and pull away. Just got behind the eight ball too early. Thomas Andrew Kuter joked after and said man that car came to life after Craig Francis said David Parent was in third. Lol
Two out of three podium finished and like Meatloaf sung two out of three ain't bad. This next week I'm going to switch the motors out of the Outlaw and 10.5 see if I like the Triple P as an Outlaw better. Hot lapped the Outlaw after the races after changing the spindles out and it felt better. There is nothing worst than an ill handling car you just can't get comfortable with. I love racing my sprint cars. And the Outlaw Class at TPR is pretty stout I want to be able to get up there and be in the mix not in the way. We'll keep digging. And thanks to Glen Bean for the pit help and Randy Lathrop for the build advice
