The week prior to Bug-O weekend went good. The changes we made to the car included putting the fuel regulator back on and jack the fuel pressure up to 230 psi through 67 nozzles. We had been running a “high speed” poppet that would regulate the fuel at 150 psi through 71 nozzles. We knew this was more fuel but on our test in redding it seemed to take it.
We gathered at the shop on Wednesday morning for a start up. It went well (we have videos of the start up on out YouTube channel). No issues at all. Gene made some fine adjustments on Nitro to get the exhaust temps down at idle and that was it. In the box it went. We spent the rest of the week getting all the support stuff ready and in the trailer. Saturday morning we left redding and headed for Sacramento. I have to say I 5 is very boring. We made it to sacramento raceway to find out that our pit spot that we have had for years was already taken, so that sucked. Greg and the BOR staff asked what I would like to do. They were going to ask them to move if I wanted, but that wasn’t right. He was all set up. So we viewed what was left and Greg found me a great spot. My 45 foot rig is not an easy thing to pit. Also, I wanted the Eserini’s to be pitted with us so we could help each other. 
After parking this monster and leaving room for Eserini’s that would be there Sunday, we got the car out and all the stuff we would need to maintain this thing. We did a start up and was told to shut it off as soon as we started it. The damn oil pump was leaking again. I guess the location change affected the seal. The Nitro just seems to eat the seals. This happens so often that we have a spare front cover with a new seal and bearing ready to go. So half an hour later we had it apart and back together. We started up again and had no leaks. We switched it over to Nitro and she came to life. Gene was checking temps and all seemed a go. He then had me put the transmission in gear and roll the tires. This is to insure that there is oil throughout all the moving parts on the trans and rear end. Then in low gear he had me pull hard on the brake to stop the tire. Man did it start to cackle. Nitro loves a load. I let off and gene gave me the signal to shut it down. I did and then the rest of the crew dove in to do the maintenance. They blew it down, checked the oil levels, check tire pressures, etc. 
Time to get my monkey suit on. You really have to like this sport if its 100 degrees outside and you are going to put on a black 20 layer driving suit. I was dressed and ready to roll. The crew had the car down and ready. I jumped in the seat and we towed to the line. We towed up in front of the staging line where we will start. Starter on the motor, cables hooked up, Methanol dripper hooked up, just need the nod from the track to spin it up. I got the sign and started it up. The motor came right to life. Gene let the motor run on Methanol for a few to make sure we had some heat in the motor. He gave the signal for Ron to turn on the Nitro pump and there it was. Gene had a quick look at the exhaust temps and made a minor adjustment. He then looked at me,stood back, and gave me the signal to move up to do the burn out. Ss soon as I put it in gear the nitro started tugging, it was cackling. Through the water box I went and I was given the go ahead to do the burn out. It was effortless, felt good. Backing up is the hard part. The more I pull on the brake the more the motor pulls. I got backed up and now into the beams. Back at the shop, Ron gave me a pointer to hit the trans brake at the first light then just bump the trans brake to get into the second beam. That worked great (Thanks Ron). The lights came down and away I went. Got some tire shake almost all the way through low gear, shifted light on the next gear. Car calmed down and she was pulling. We didn’t put out any pipes, but it seemed to lay over on the top end. Got it stopped at the end of the pass and waited for the crew to come pick me up. I have to say, the safety crew at the other end were great. They helped me get out of the car and rolled up my chute. They did a great job. I’m not sure what our time was on that pass.
Back to the pits for our normal maintenance. Ron and Gene poured over the data from that run and we were perplexed at what it was saying. We started off at the hit with 230lbs of fuel pressure and through out the run it went down. So they came out of the trailer and said get the regulator off and go back to the high speed poppet. Gene took the poppet apart and shimmed it up guessing that we should be around 170 psi. The rest of the crew did their deal and got the oil changed, refueled, motor blown down, etc. The only other change was to put ¼ lbs more air in the rear tires to maybe prevent some tire shake. Car went down and we were ready to roll again. Back to the line. 
We were called out and up we went. The start up was good, no adjustments needed and up to do the burn out. Burn out went well, backed it up and got it staged. Lights came down and off I went. Tire shake was worse was worse this time. It shook all the way to the shift light coming on. In high gear the car calmed down and it flew. It seemed to lay down again on the big end, not completely sure why. Got it stopped and waited for the crew to pick me up. We ran a 7.48 at 159.59, definitely not our best. Back to the pits...
Gene and Ron again poured over the data. Apparently, the fuel pressure took a dive again. The only reason we could come up with is that the fuel shut of was turning itself off as we went down the track. So we took a good look at that and decided to tighten up the lever in the cockpit to make sure it couldn’t come back on its own. That was it for Saturday.
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, it’s now race day. We got one round to qualify then it was going to be eliminations. We went back up to the line with the same tune. The only changes was putting the air pressure back down to where we normally run it and the fuel shut off lever tighter. Start up went well. Burn out was good. Now its time to see what this thing will do. Lights came down and off we went. Tires shook again, but not as bad as the run before. She is pulling, no pipes out, and not laying over. That felt like a good run. Chute out and we came to a stop. Crew came down and we were excited. 7.34 at 180.65mph- Great improvement from Saturday.
We got it back to the pits and started our maintenance. Gene and Ron again poured over the data and I could hear by there voices that they were happy. No pipes out and fuel pressure was steady at 170lbs. I was called into the trailer after I got the chute packed and the three of us had a discussion on what to do. Gene and Ron wanted to start leaning on it. In other words, now that we had a base line, start hopping it up. They wanted to put 100 percent in the tank and up the timing to 65 degrees. That would hop it up. I said I really don’t want to do that yet. This is a dial in class and not a heads up class. We have a base, lets leave it at that. So the decision was made to leave it alone. 
First round I had to race Andrew Eserini (Doug Harvey got the bye run as he had the best reaction time of .006) My reactions times were all red except for one that was .012. So up to the line we went. Andrew dialed in a 7.50 to my 7.35. He was going to leave first. We both staged. He left and soon my light came down. I caught him about half track. Towards the end I did not see him, so I let off hoping not to break out. Then here he came. Not sure who took the strip, I think it was him. We got back to the pits to find out that both of us had red lit, but he red lit first so technically I won.
So into the final against Doug Harvey. He dialed in a 7.75 to my 7.35. I let him stage first. I kept telling myself not to red light, don’t give him the race. He took off and my lights came down on the tree. I waited this time to see green. BIG MISTAKE, I was way late. My reaction time was .462 to his .100. I put it to the floor. I remember feeling the throttle stop and was trying to push through it. I just couldn’t catch him. He took the strip and the win. We ran a 7.357 at 179.94 Doug ran a 7.84 on his 7.75 dial I kinda felt bad that I let my crew down as they gave me a great race car and I slept at the light. It is what it is and all and all a good race. Doug did a great job all weekend and deserved the win. Good job Doug.
We walked away from the race knowing we are on to something with the high fuel pressure. We also walked away leading the points.