FHRA Drag Race Week 2013.

[Niko L]

The Drag Race Week was the first race for us. We missed the Spring Nationals at Motopark, but now the car was ready to race.

Thursday

We did final adjustments and attached final parts to the car on Thursday afternoon at Mika's working place. On the warmup start, it suddendly stopped running. Well luckily the problem was not bigger than an empty Gas Tank. Then we could drive the car on trailer and head to Alastaro.



On the Pits we changed the rear tires. Those steelies are for trailering, because those slicks don't fit inside the Trailer. Then we left Alastaro for Pori, where we could have a good night sleep on our relative's place.




Friday

Friday was the first Qualification day. We missed the first round, because we were adjusting the Air Bags that are inside of rear springs. We flipped them around and added a bit more air pressure. After that, they worked a lot better and we were ready to go on round two. Though we had to change the car from K/SA to J/SA, because we didn't have enough Ballast Weight with us. But on the next race, it will run in K/SA as planned.



It was time to do the first run with this car. Burnout wasn't major success, but Mika got the tires smoke, however. The start was on idle, because it was the first start, but after that Mika went full throttle, but shifted to 2nd Gear way too early and also the 6400 RPM limiter was too low, since it was running those RPMs before the finishing line. ET was 13,197 with 164,91 km/h. So a decent run, though. The car smoked a bit at the end of the track, and that was because of the cover for original fuel pump wasn't as tight as it could have been. But that was an easy fix.



Here are two SnapShots of the first run.



For the next round we set up the RPM limiter to 7000 RPM, and it helped. Though it still was bit too low, but top speed and ET were both better. A decent run and 12,441 with 169,78 km/h. 60 FT time was almost two tenths better than on the first run, because of higher launch RPM. We were both satisfied with that run, the second run ever and under J/SA Index.

[Niko L]

Saturday.

On Saturday we missed the first Round again, since the Fuel Pressure Regulator broke. The one that Hannu Palasmaa gave us didn't work with our Fuel line fittings, so we had to try repairing the one we had. Luckily Mika was able to fix that and we managed to set the Fuel Pressure back where it should be. At the same time we also adjusted the timing a little.

Next run was 12,640 with 169,56 km/h. Also Mika suprised us all with a good RT (.026). For the Final Qualification Round we added a Rew limiter of 7400 RPM, and that was much better, now it was possible to run full throttle until the finishing line.





The final Qualification Round wasn't a major success. Mika took a huge red light, because we tried higher launch RPM. Both wheels left the ground on the start, but Mika shifted immediately to 2nd by an accident, and that was it. Horrible 60FT time, and 12,940 at the end. That was new Top Speed Record, though with 170,28 km/h.




We were going to have a 16 car Ladder and at this point we had no idea of the results.

[Niko L]

Qualification Results.

1. Arto Sulopuisto with B/S Firebird. 10.213, which is 0.98 under NHRA Index.


2. Bo Nylund with E/SA Mustang. 10,832 which is 0.80 under NHRA Index.


3. Lars Nyberg from Sweden with D/S Fairlane, ran 10,657.


4. Jarmo Markkanen with A/S Firebird, previously owned and raced by Jim Waldo. He was suffering from clutch issues at least in Eliminations, even though he made it to the Finals.


5. Tarmo Mikkola with SS/GA Camaro, ran 9,913 which is 0.63 under NHRA Index.


6. Hannu Palasmaa with A/S '71 Chevelle. He had traction problems, and ET of 10.255 was 0.34 under NHRA Index.


7. Tarja Gynther with E/SA Camaro ran 11,476, 0.22 under NHRA Index.


8. Noora Laine with K/SA Buick Skylark. She ran 12,565 that is 0.08 under NHRA Index.


9. Mika Lindström with J/SA '74 Chevelle. 12,441 that is 0.009 under NHRA Index.


Sunday

Looking at the 1st Round Ladder, Arto Sulopuisto had a solo run first. Then there were us against Tarmo Mikkola. We both knew that there would be no possibilities in that race. Next pair was Bo Nylund against Hannu Palasmaa, then Lars Nyberg VS Tarja Gynther, and the last pair was Jarmo Markkanen against Noora Laine.

First Sulopuisto had the easy Bye run. Then Lindström VS Mikkola. We had absolutely no idea what to put as a Dial In Time, but we were going to try a new record time instead of winning the race, because we knew that Tarmo would eliminate us on the first round. So we put 12,40 on the window. Bad RT for Mika, .311 but otherwise that pass looked good. We got really lucky, since Tarmo red lighted at the start by .043 and we took the win! Mika went full throttle though and new record time 12,392 with 171,85 km/h was done. On the next pair Bo Nylund won Hannu Palasmaa, who used a bit too much brake at the finishing line. Lars Nyberg took excellent .003 RT against Tarja Gynther and went to 2nd round. On the last pair Jarmo Markkanen beat Noora Laine who red lighted by .097. Also Markkanen drove exactly to his Dial In Time, 10,200.

We were on the first pair with Arto Sulopuisto on the 2nd Round. We put 12,35 as a Dial In this time, and Mika took excellent RT, .007. Sulopuisto left with .011 RT and took the win, so no suprise this time. Mika ran 12,414 and Arto drove .006 off dial in. Then Bo Nylund had a Solo Run and continued to Semi Finals with Sulopuisto. Markkanen won Lars Nyberg and Markkanen headed to Finals because of Solo run in the Semis. On the other pair Arto Sulopuisto beat Bo Nylund. Final Round was a battle of two Pontiac Firebirds that Sulopuisto won because of Markkanen's clutch problems. Congrats to both!

For the Nitro Nationals starting on Thursday, we will add more Ballast Weight to run in K/SA and then we will do a little modifications to brake system, to get a bit more brake boost. Then we can launch with higher RPM and burnout should be easier to do also.

Qualification Rounds.

Elimination Rounds.


And then Slow Motion Launch.


See You At The Nitro Nationals!