Ok Boys and Girls it's Storytime

[regan wilson]

Gotta go for now I'll post pics later Forgot I had to resize before uploading to the Bucket. Oh and I screwed up second round again. Flickered the bulb staging and got flustered ! The announcer said I was so red it made Rudolph's nose jealous. That's it for racing until the Nationals at the TX Motorplex in October

[71Dragtruck]

Thanks for the updates Regan, I feel your pain on the flickering bulb, did the same staging 2nd round a few weekends ago, pre staged and second set started to flicker, rolled too far when went ahead and went deep setting my trans brake, red light and out.

[regan wilson]

I was actually too shallow. I got flustered thinking Autostart was on and I had to get in ASAP. Bumped back in and anticipated the light. I just lost my focus.

[regan wilson]

[IMG][/IMG]

[regan wilson]

[IMG][/IMG]

[regan wilson]

[IMG][/IMG]

[SCOTI]

Nice hardware.

[aggie91]

Congrats on the award! Truck is still looking good as always!

[regan wilson]

Thanks guys. Would have rather had a Wally but I dang shure didn't turn it down.

[71Dragtruck]

Yeah I'd be happy with that too, way better than a kick in the nuts lol.

[mattfranklin]

I just found this thread and I'm enjoying reading the story.

[regan wilson]

Well I just woke up in a place I've never been before. Gateway International Raceway in St Louis. I think my truck might have been built here but I've never been here.

[regan wilson]

Well I got home from St Louis Monday afternoon. It's a neat racetrack with all kinds of things going on all the time. We made two time trials Friday then one on Saturday morning. While we were waiting a Tech Inspector came by. He said don't pack up and leave because we are giving you Best Appearing! All I could say was you're Sh****ng me and Thank You. Ran first round Saturday afternoon and made it through then we were done for the day. In the downtime also I did a VIN decode and sure enough my truck was built in St Louis. I sure wanted to bring home a Wally even more after that. Sunday morning were first out and I made it through second round.I drew and old friend of mine third round and lost a tough one. I missed the tree with a .037 light to his .019 and almost pushed him out the back door but he was 10.902. At that point in the day all I could do is watch the race then get up early Monday and come home . But I did get my cool wall hanger.

[regan wilson]

I'm getting ready this weekend for the O'Reilly Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.
Maybe I can turn things around and do some good. If any of you Texas members go come by and say hi. We will start time trials Thursday Oct 17th and Eliminations on Friday the 18th.

[aggie91]

Good luck this weekend. I can't make it because of Football for Owen and other commitments on Saturday with my Daughter.

Congrats on the Best Appearing award!

[regan wilson]

Well I got to the Tx Motorplex Wednesday afternoon got parked and got mt credentials and everything. So far so good. Thursday morning I go for my first time trial. Everything is good till I pull high gear about 580 ft out. The motor zinged and I had no high gear. I coasted to the end of the track and stopped. All it had was park! We get it back to the trailer not sure of what to do and how to do it. I unbolt the converter and it feels fine. Thing is I'm not trying to pull the transmission in the gravel. We ended up pulling it up in my friend Wes Neeley's trailer to pull the tranny.

[IMG][/IMG]

[regan wilson]

Wes and his son Landon helped me and my friend Ken pull the transmission. I already had an offer from JM Harrison who crews for our Friend Roger Massey on his Top Sportsman car to help with the transmission. We got it out and took it to their pit and tore into it. Walla it was just as I had guessed. A broken input. Looked like you cut it with a band saw.

[IMG][/IMG]

[regan wilson]

Ken got on the phone with Summit Racing in Arlington Tx. They had an input shaft. He came back with a complete drum with an ATI 300 m input in it. It was bigger so now we had to repack a drum. I borrowed a clamp from another racer who is a transmission guy and we got it back together. Then it was back to Wes's trailer to put it back together. It was after dark when we got done but I was out driving it around and it seamed all good.

[regan wilson]

Now onto Friday. I missed all the time trials except for my one hit with only good numbers to the 330. I get up there first round and were both green on the tree. My opponent was a slower car and when I start to catch him around 1000 ft he is starting to dump. He could't see me coming and I cruise through on an 11.30 for the win. While we were waiting for second round the National Dragster photographers come by. They ask me if I would like to be the Featured Flyer. I say well hell yea I was one in 2007 but it was in black and white and only a 1/4 page deal. So we took the truck down to a clear area in the back of the pits.

[IMG][/IMG]

[regan wilson]

After that we had second round a little later I was a tad late on the tree. I got down there and screwed it up trying to cut in my opponent and gave him the stripe by .02. I killed .04 and 11 mph and we both were 10.926.

[regan wilson]

I left out the part about the NHRA media guy that kept coming by. We had spoken multiple times and he kept saying I was in the running for some award. Saturday we were in the top end stands watching some racing and on the way back he is chasing me down. He says he has been trying to call me but I left my phone in the trailer. Anyway I'm told to report to the lanes at 12:15 he tells I'd have to fill out a piece of paper for the announcer to read. Another NHRA rep shows up with the paper and a pen. There's a box in the floor of his golf cart. I asked if I could use it to write on he says sure. I'm sitting there trying to scribble something out and I'm apologizing telling him I hope it's legible. One of my buddy's says (That;s a Wally box pull it out) I said no it ain't mine. Anyway I finish writing my spill and I ask if Alan Reinhart will be reading it. He says yes so I till if he cant read it just add lib and go with it. After that they pull me out on the side road behind Q3 of Pro Stock and Pro Stock MC. I pull out with my GF Kristi riding shotgun in the truck nad Ken folling on the golf cart with my friend Tony's daughter Casey on the back. We sit there for awhile while they run the cars and bikes. Then they have some firemen with bagpipes play God Bless America and honor a young soldier that had received two Bronze Stars. Well then it on to me . What do they hand me? The Wally that was in the box! We get out and take pictures wit it and the the announcer reads all the info and we drive down the side of the track with me hanging my Wally out the window. They had me on the Jumbo Screen and everything lol. The award was the 2019 Never Rest Performer. I couldn't win a Wally racing this year but I got one anyway.

[IMG][/IMG]

[regan wilson]

[IMG][/IMG]

[regan wilson]

That's it for now. I'm looking for a track to run the truck wide open but it's not looking good. They are all closing or have other events planned but we'll see.

[71Dragtruck]

Damn, bet that made up for the trans problems, nice weekend!!

[aggie91]

Regan,

There is an event coming up at Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Noble, OK Nov 8-9. Its called Street Car Takeover Fall Showdown.

Also, Blue Bayou Raceway in Gilliam , LA is available for rent during the week, 1/2 hour for $100. They have a TNT event this Friday Night weather permitting.