Racing News for MBA Racing - How we did at the Races and other intersting things going on related to our racing in 2010.

Governor's Cup- Sacramento Raceway, CA  09/24/10 - 09/25/10 West Coast Pro Gas Race #8

Last race of the season.  Spirits are high from last weekend, cars are ready, drivers are amped and Team is on top of it, lets go after it!  Qualifying runs are completed Friday and no big WOWs are on the table.  Two more runs coming Saturday.   Fired up the BBQ and threw on some Tri-tips, added in the side dishes and the MBA Racing Team had a pretty good dinner to end the Friday mmmmmm.  A well fed Team is a happy Team = a winning Team.

Saturday is upon us.  “Cupcake” has Sugar-Rush right where she needs her along with the assistance of her Crew Chief Mike C, a great team they make.  She is set and ready for rounds of eliminations.  “Mean Barbara Jean” on her last qualifying pass throws down a 10.603 for the #1 qualifier position in D-Gas, wahoo, we like that.  While sitting in the pits she confidently states that “Hot Wheels” is going to throw down a 8.600 on his pass.  She gets some funny looks from the Team.  Fine they can be like that, she is solid on her feeling.  Listening to the announcer as “Hot Wheels” comes up to the burn out box they talk about his wife being #1 qualifier (yeah) and what does he do on his run........... lays down a 8.600 for #1 qualifier in B-Gas, way to go there mister.  Great job to the MBA Team!!

Busy day in the pits.  Kids coming by for autographs (my favorite part) and other fans.  Getting quite a crowd on the fence to cheer us on.  (love this)  As rounds of eliminations pass we are now at final round in B-Gas Mike “Hot Wheels” Winston takes the WIN in B-Gas for an end of season win.  What a way to end the year.  The Team is bouncing off the walls of the trailer.  “Hot Wheels” pulls back in the pits and Lowded 67 is smiling :)

Thanks to our AWESOME Team for all their hardwork and dedication, it does pay off!

Mike “Hot Wheels” Winston in the Winners Circle for B-Gas - Great Job!

Crew Chief Dave and “Mean Barbara Jean” running off with “Hot Wheels” trophy.

Mike “Hot Wheels” Winston with his trophy, #1 qualifier and “Mean Barbara Jean”'s #1 qualifier.

How did MBA Racing do overall in points for the year............ drum roll    Mike “Hot Wheels” Winston did an awesome job battling his competition all year and came out as #4 in points in B-Gas.  These boys race hard but also play hard.   ”Cupcake” Apryl did some serious driving this year in her first year in C-Gas and came in as #4, some big competition in this class.    “Mean Barbara Jean” did her stuff and brought the Fire Chicken to a #3 finish in D-Gas. ”Cupcake” and “Mean Barbara Jean” are the only females competing in the club.  They are having a grand time competing with the guys.   GR-RRReat job to our TEAM!!!  We appreciate each and every one of you!
Thank you to the great folks at the tracks who keep us safe by providing the best of the best facilities for us to play at!!!

Infineon Raceway, CA  09/19/10   West Coast Pro Gas Race #7

I would say we woke to a morning of questionable clouds but who could sleep after such a spectacular Saturday, I know that “Mean Barbara Jean” and Mike “Hot Wheels” Winston did not, we talked racing then listened to all the sounds of the pits outside.  Time to get the cars on chargers and get ready to race, there are points to be grabbed for each of the MBA drivers.  After running in PINKS ALL OUT which is just what we did, factoring in cool, moist weather the cars were liking running faster than the indexes.  By the time rounds of eliminations came the Team had the cars in line.  Mike “Hot Wheels” Winston missed the stripe by 3.63 inches, the guy in the other lane commented that the GTO was like a train coming on, funny what we all say to each other.  Gosh we love this sport.  “Cupcake” was going rounds doing a great job of fendering in the last 320 feet in one round, I think she really likes that.  Last round well her competitor laid down an 000 light, that is a tough one to beat. 

"Cupcake" and Sugar-Rush having a great time at the tree.

“Mean Barbara Jean” and the Fire Chicken were in eliminations with one of our Team-mates Alden... darn :( it was bound to happen at some point during the season.  Was a close race.  We got down to the 1000' and then we started to look at each other, our fenders, each other, our fenders, I know we were both laughing, margin of victory was .0052    People thought we were nuts in the staging lanes before the run, I gave him a kiss on the check and we were totally messing with each other.  Good run there buddy.

The Fire Chicken and “Mean Barbara Jean” were riding the high from PINKS ALL OUT and it carried them to the Finals in D-Gas.  Second round the gentleman thought he was going to play a trick tree game, well that didn't go so well for him.  Final round we get Lucky Jack and it has sure been his year.  We had the pleasure to have some guest pit crew members for the day of which are present in the picture below:

Infineon Raceway, CA  09/17/10  - 09/18/10 PINKS ALL OUT Event

We signed up for this almost a year ago, it sold out in a couple of hours to 425 drivers.  The first of my WOWs.  As the date drew closer we heard about 80 alternate drivers would be added bringing the car count to 505.  Another WOW.  Then another as our Team-mate Alden was one of the alternates WOW!  First test run the cars didn't like too much on Friday as we setting the cars to run all out.  They had been set all season to run index, so it is not as simple as waving a magic wand.  Next run out they were getting a bit more in sync.  By the two runs on Saturday, the Fire Chicken was happy, Sugar-Rush had some track issues and Lowded 67 had the displeasure of the person in the lane next to him leaving coffee and cereal in the vehicle that ended up on the track, toss that run away.  Racing is like a book where the chapters are continuously being written.  When I heard then announcing the coffee/cereal incident on Mike's run I thought Jim the announer was kidding, first time I heard that one.  WOW

The PINKS ALL OUT Camera Crew stopped by for a visit, that was pretty cool, what a neat bunch of guys.  Nice to see they have a sense of humor after being dragged all over the US, tight schedules and guessing people probably nagging at them to put them on TV.  Who knows what I said on camera, almost makes me afraid to think as I was on unfiltered for the weekend, “Cupcake” and "Hot Wheels" are the funny ones when people talk to them.  WOW

“Cupcake” being interviewed by the awesome guys from PINKS ALL OUT, these guys ROCKED!!

“Hot Wheels” turn with the camera.  I wonder what they were saying to him considering they had finished talking to “Cupcake” and “Mean Barbara Jean” and who knows what these two said, it was sure a fun weekend...... LOL

Rich Christensen having a chat with “Mean Barbara Jean”.  He is a pretty cool guy.

At 3:00 ish they called all the drivers down to the lanes to announce who they would be selecting to run.  This time around trying out for PINKS ALL OUT we decided not to get our hopes up, I mean heck there were so many cars out there.  We went to have fun and then on Sunday we had a points race.   If one of us got selected that would be pretty slick.  So Rich announces there is going to be some first time ever with this event.  I can't tell you.... you will need to watch the show.  Check www.speedtv.com for when it will air, we heard 11/18/10 but check to make sure if in case the date changes.  What I can tell you is that one of us did get selected to run. WOW I stood there like a ding dong and did not react until “Cupcake” screams and starts jumping on me, then duh reaction :)   We had short amount of time to have the driver and car down in the staging lanes or we would be disqualified.

PINKS ALL OUT was such a fantastic time.  Head spinning, people talking to you, cameras in your face.  Focusing on driving (brain telling you DO NOT MESS UP NOW for crying out loud, don't be a dork LOL), that I didn't really get a chance to register at that time how cool it was to be there doing what I was doing until later.  So I'm lucky that I now can savor the high of PINKS ALL OUT in pieces.  Now I can't wait to see the show.  What a blast the entire Team had.

We got picked to be in the 64 cars selected.  Made it thru round one, now down to 32 cars.  On this run the track has went away with all the cars they had been running so fast back to back.  Rich has us run two out of three to see who gets the final spot in the 16.  Lost race one, won race two by a small margin, stage for race three, we got the arm drop and have the lead, going down the track, come on Fire Chicken keep going baby…….. yeah we get the stripe wahoo.  Final 16, man that feels sweeeettttt.   Time for the PINKS Crew to do their stuff on the cars and interview the Teams.  This is so much fun.  Best part is a lil girl that waited to talk to “Mean Barbara Jean”.  She was so happy there was a girl in the final 16 racing.  I have to say that was “Mean Barbara Jean”’s highlight of PINKS ALL OUT.  Getting ready to start the Fire Chicken to pull up to the water box, deep breath and it’s time to race….    Pulled up and staged, arm drop, they are off, Fire Chicken against Camaro, she sees the Camaro starting to pull away and as this happens the thought go thru her mind, I bet he has a big block under that hood, that little extra horsepower, Camaro wins.  We had a blast, this was one heck of a thrill that we will remember.  Thank you PINKS ALL OUT Team! 

Infineon Raceway, CA  08/14/10   West Coast Pro Gas Race #6

The track was overloaded with Indy cars in our typical parking spot so off we went to find a new place to park for this race.  Mike “Hot Wheels” Winston found a GR-RRReat place where a couple of our friends joined us.  Best thing about the spot....... the American Flag that one of our buds put up on his pole, way to go :)

This is a cool picture from up track of Apryl who did a heck of a job driving as this was the Final Round for C-Gas.  Way to go “Cupcake”!  Weather at Infineon can be quite a challenge for the Crew Chiefs with the cool moist air in the morning, heat coming on in the afternoon and constant wind change.  Dialing cars to these ever changing conditions is a talent, as well as driving.  “Cupcake” handled Sugar-Rush like a Pro, round after round.   For our friends that our not from California, yes that is water you see in the background down by the hills.  This track is in Napa Valley and just over the hill from the coast.  We love this track and it is run by the very best gal around, Georgia!

GR-RRReat job to Apryl “Cupcake”/Sugar-Rush, her Crew Chief Mike C and the Team for the finish in the Finals.  Nice Team picture:

After all the qualifying runs WAHOO one of the MBA cars came out as #1 Qualifier.  Thanks to the Crew Chief and Team for an awesome job.  “Mean Barbara Jean” and the Fire Chicken were #1 Qualifier in D-Gas, again. :)

Fox Hunt - Sacramento Raceway, CA  08/06/10 - 08/07/10 West Coast Pro Gas Race #5                          

Weather was forecasted to be mild but turned out to be on the much warmer side.  Needless to say when the racing suits went on and we were in the cars waiting to go the heat started to make us melt HA HA.  Turn it on, we LOVE IT!!!!

Apryl “Cupcake” giving thumbs up as she waits in line for her run.

"Mean Barbara Jean" waiting to make her run.

After all the qualifying runs were completed and we all moved around, the dust settled, and one of the MBA cars came out as #1 Qualifier.  Thanks to the Crew Chief and Team for an awesome job.  “Mean Barbara Jean” and the Fire Chicken were #1 Qualifier in D-Gas.

A special treat at the track was thanks to one of our fellow racers Hui.  He treated all the gal racers to fresh leis flown in Saturday morning.  Goldie got one also.  Thank you again Hui, that was very sweet of you.