-- Have to apologize for not updating Saturday night's events at Perris -- but with it being the first outing for the 2 - 92 cars, needless to say it was a tad overwhelming! going from a car team to the 2 cars is quite an adjustment for Tom & Laurie and the Entire Crew. All went well for this first outing and the teeam is excited for the next race at Ventura. 26 non wing USAC//CRA cars in the pits, with 21 World of Outlaw wing cars also on the evenings program. Unusually hot day with heavy winds for a day in April, gave Donnie, Coach & the gang at Perris fits in the attempt to keep a tacky racing surface. Starting with the qualifying pill draw, everyone knew the night would be interesting. Nikole, the "official" pill drawer spun the bingo type roller to see what order Jake & Mike would take to the track for their race against the clock. A 51 pill for Jake & a 57 pill for Mike... so, out of the 26 cars, the 2 would go out 4th and 2nd from last. On this rapidly drying track, everyone knew it was sure not going to be runs that would set "Quick time." The 2 drivers couldn't of been more consistent if they tried. Jake a 17.41 & Mike a 17.42 --- putting them 10th & 11th. Quick time went to Parker Coltson, the 1st of his young career.
Heat race 1 - starts Jake inside row 2, he gets a great start and when coming out of turn 2 on the first lap - he's already in the lead, and never looks back. Heat race 2, Mike starts inside row 2, takes 1/2 a lap, and he takes the lead. With a couple laps to go, Mike has slowed down some - everyone wondering why? He slides back to take 3rd, but still both the 92 & the 92M have direct transfers to The Main. Mike pulls the car into the pits, and the engine is making a very strange noise -- a noise that honestly, no one could describe. Richard from RC Performance, & Craig are both baffled, the have checked everything they could think of, compression ok, leak down ok, plugs ok, change the mag box --- it's super strange, cuz the noise is only there a idle and low low rpms', but reve it up and it goes away.The decision is made ... Mike will push off and start the Main, and if anything sounds or feels abnormal, he'll pull it in. Both cars completed the 30 lap Main - although come t find out, that from lap 6 on, Jake had no brakes!! YIKES ! So now the quest to locate the ghost noise and see why the brakes did what they did.
All in all, not the outing Team Moose was hoping for, but for the first time for merging 2 teams together, and the weather conditions, the boys crossed the checkered flags in 9th and 10th.
We can not express enough Thanks to the companies & people that support us… Joining the Moose Herd this year is: Frank Boldizer Racing, Clackamas Rigging & Trucking, Wilwood Brakes, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Schoenfield Headers, Returning again this year: Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Phil & Eileen King, Specialized Powdercoating, Circle Track, Lucas Oil, Kistler Engines, RC Performance, Rod End Supply, WEM, King Componants, Eibach Springs, K & K, Freeway Auto, Trackside.
It can't be said enough, that without the support of those listed above, The amazing Moose Herd and many of the fans that came by to give their support, none of this would be possible!!!!
- Laurie Sertich on Apr 18, 2016
- Article Date: 4/18/2016