Debbie's Blog.......
3rd May 2008 - first of all I owe everyone a huge apology for not updating this blog sooner. I'm not sure I have a real excuse; only that I was particularly disappointed at not being able to finish the season and have been extremely busy working fulltime and regrouping the O'Rourke Motorsport team to make some hard decisions about next year's plans.
On a positive note, we think we fixed the shift light problem even though I didn't get an opportunity to use it! Josh finally got his Junior Dragster licence and has competed at several race events. In June he turns 11 years old so he's able to run quicker than 12.90 second handicap imposed by ANDRA.
Our plans for next season will hopefully take us to the next phase of my driving career and to do this it means that I need to have a budget that can sustain as many runs as I can get down the track. Apart from having the parts and consumables we are going to put the Racepak from Grant's Top Doorslammer in the Funny Car so that we can understand and log more data from the runs.
Sadly, we are losing two close friends and team members from our Crew. Perry and Bevin Maxwell have been racing with us for close to 10 years and were with us during the Top Doorslammer journey. They are leaving to pursue other interests (namely golf) in their spare time. I sincerely thank you guys for giving us your dedictation for so many years.
I'll continue to update this blog and website as things unfold in the off season, in the meantime I'd like to thank you for your support and hope that we can move forward next season.
Deb
16th February 2008 - A great weekend of racing. Top Fuel really packed the house and we were busier than usual selling merchandise and signing posters. We hosted 30 corporate guests as well.
We decided to only do two runs for the day (it was 38 degrees) and went out at 6 o'clock for the compulsory qualifier. I probably managed my smokiest burnout and really had fun doing it! The run was good and strong but again I had no shift light. We ran a solid 6.45 at 225 mph and looked forward to the next run.
As you can imagine the shift light saga continues to be an ongoing bug bear of all of us! We all know that if I can shift at the right time it will improve our times without even having to touch the clutch. But.....despite our best endeavours to get it (or I should say them) working it just isn't happening. We have a plan for the Westnationals that 'should' fix it. Damien has kindly offered me his light (all the way from Mackay). We know it works in his car, so fingers crossed :-) I think there may be some tears of frustration (from me) if it doesn't!
We had Robin Judd for the 8 o'clock first elimination round. Unfortunately for him he did some damage on the previous run. We waited for him at the back of the bracket and then he promptly kicked my butt! Mind you I did lose it for us on the lights with a big red one. My first red light for a long while.
Again we had enormous fun, didn't hurt anything - the biggest problem for us is the damn shift light. We're looking forward to the Westernats, it's a great event and gives us an opportunity to catch up with friends from over East.
In the meantime, Josh has been continuing to get his license in Junior Dragster. Despite making some changes to the car it still ran too quick so again he got sent home. With Dad being away at the Summernationals (with Aaron Lynch), Josh and I trotted off to the Autotrader Fast Friday last night where Josh finally got licensed and experienced his first 'race'. He'd been running 13.75's so I dialled him in at 13.75. He ran a 13.07 with a massive breakout. Go figure...!
We went home a very happy boy...and a proud mum!
Deb
20th January 2008 - 6 weeks is a long time between events when you’re trying to get some momentum happening!
For the first round on the 12th January, we we’re all a bit rusty. We spent a long time trying to work out the shift light again. In between events we had the light tested and given new instructions to try. Still it didn’t want to work so I was back to feel! We had a last minute rush because we broke a pushrod during the warm up for the run and the spark plug was bound up in it’s sleeve. Needless to say the run itself wasn’t special and we all were not at our usual best. However there were no such dramas for the next run. My competitor in the other lane was unable to come back from the burnout so we had a solo pass. Unintentionally I left with more revs than we’ve been running and picked up 7 tenths of second to the 60ft. The run was strong, I held on a little bit longer before shifting and my vision was a little ‘shaky’. I remember thinking as I was going round the return road, that it better be a good run coz my teeth and head felt so rattled! The crew came to pick me up with huge grins and cheering so I knew then that it was good. Another PB and another milestone. The official time was 6.406. When I got back to the pits we planned to put some weight on the clutch and this time I was to hold off shifting until I hear the rev limiter. Well actually what happened was that I didn’t get the launch RPM quite right, the clutch was off because the track changed considerably and it took longer for the engine to recover the revs when I hit the rev limiter and changed gear. We still ran a 6.56 though.
I'm looking forward to the next event. We will be running two days at the Top Fuel Championships (1st and 2nd Feb) to make up for the rained out event early in the season for our sponsors.
Deb
12th December 2007 - What a great feeling - we're taking small steps forward, everyone has a grin on their faces and the car's not seeing much above 8000 rpm! We managed to get mph (and then some) back. From last meeting on the last run of 203 mph to the last one on 1st December to 225mph.
The engine continues to pull up good between rounds but despite buying a brand new shift light, it still didn't work. On race day in particular, this topic is proving a continual conversation piece with the boys reckoning that I'm not seeing it! I assure them that it's not coming on and even during the last run with so much clutch dust that I found it hard to see out of the windscreen, I still didn't see a shift light. Needless to say this is our number one priority right now. If I can hang out until the shift light I will probably be able to run in the 6.40 zone without changing anything else.
In addition to racing, the team hosted 46 guests in corporate suites, giving them a good time in the pits and two selected guests getting to sit in the funny car whilst the team warm's up the engine for the next round. It's always good to see the faces of those that are not quite aware of the potential power of these cars!
Our son Josh (10) debuted his racing career in a Junior Dragster on 15th December, going for part of his licencing. As a mum I found the whole lead up to it quite frightening and had visions of him not knowing where the finish line was and continuing to the quarter mile. Needless to say I need not have worried, as always with mechanical things, he did exactly what we told him to and didn't make any errors at all. The only problem was was that on his last run he ran too quick for his age and under ANDRA rules, racing for that day is over. So he couldn't run anymore for that night.
Next meeting for us is 12th January, features are the Jet Dragsters. Funny when I look back - it will be exactly a year ago that I got back in the driving seat...time flys.
We hope that everyone has a great, safe Christmas and New Year that is enjoyable and relaxing and we'll see you on the 12th.
Deb
24th November 2007 - What can I say, the US was huge. The racing was spectacular, the number of people attending, the merchandise choices and traders alley is a great idea. I couldn't help myself, I bought a new race suit whilst I was there (I've been wanting one for a while now) whilst Grant kitted himself out for his, and Josh's lastest hobby - quad bikes.
The Top Alcohol Championships was an enjoyable ride for me, although my shift light wasn't working which meant that I was guessing really. My first pass was okay but from about 300 feet out, fuel leaked from the barrel value and i had to get off the throttle. My mph seems to be down as well, but that's coz I've got smaller tyres on the car. I am never satisfied with my performance though, and really want to drive the car better. Our aim is to start to better the 60ft times and start to tune the fuel system, but we'll do all of this in our own time and when we all feel that I can drive to suit. We did three clean passes and went home with excellent leak downs and 'brand new' bearings. Can't ask for anything more!
The new paint scheme was a big hit with the fans and once I've got myself organised I will get some posters and t-shirts made up. We still have some old stock left and have our ex West Coast Chopper crew shirts for sale now.
I'm looking forward to 1st December, the Doorslammers are in town and it promises to be it's usual great showdown. Our team is playing host to 45 corporate guests as well as our sponsors and friends.
Deb
21st October 2007 - The 'R word' stopped racing yesterday. Well actually we didn't even start! We drove in the competitors entrance at about 10 am with the NEW LOOK FUNNY CAR on board ready for it's debut and we didn't even make it out of the trailer before the Motorplex called it a day. Non-racing weather conditions (rain) dictated that we drive it all back home to wait for the Top Alcohol meeting on 16th and 17th November. The meeting was postponed, but due to us being in the USA for the last two NHRA meetings in Las Vegas and Pomona we won't be here - bugger!
I must say I was excited about debuting the funny car, Jamie at East Coast Signs flew in from Brisbane to spend the whole of last week preparing it and the tow car. It looks awesome and different to anything we have done before. Oh well, can't do anything about the weather, we'll be there on November 17th.
6th October 2007 - Well the Test and Tune yesterday (at the Perth Motorplex) didn't quite go to plan! Good job we went there to 'blow out some cobwebs'!
The first pass was eventful but we managed to run a low 7 second pass with me pulling the chutes early and losing the blower belt at about 1000 foot.
During the burnout for the next pass, we managed to do something that so far has eluded
me (we put some conrods out the side of the block, my first window (not that I want to repeat it again)). It's a funny feeling really - Grant has spoken of it often - I knew exactly when it let go as the car felt like it 'spat the dummy' and let go of something as the whole car was vibrating and shaking horribly.
So we packed up early, got everything home and pulled it all apart before going to bed at 1am this morning. The synopsis isn't that exciting only that a conrod decided to break which took out two more. Luckily I have a spare motor and rods and it looks as the though the crank may survive, so we will still be there for the first race on the 20th October.
1st October 2007 - In the off season I've have been talking with a number of businesses here in Perth and across Australia in an effort to encourage them to sponsor the Funny Car team. I'm busily making changes to the website to get things organised for the upcoming race season andI hope that everything is squared away by the end of this week so that I can focus on driving the race car.
The funny car is in the middle of a new paint scheme that will be sure to be 'different' to say the least. I've changed a few minor things but apart from changing pulleys for the AA/FC overdrive specs not much internally has changed. Our plan for this season is to start where we left off from last season and slowly progress. We'll be at the test n tune this Saturday [6th October], so perhaps we'll see you then......
Damien is now back in the driving seat, partnering with Paul Shackelton from MacKay in Queensland where the racecar is housed and maintained. He recently qualified at the 2007 Nationals at Willowbank raceway running a 5.73 ET, unfortunately motor problems dictated his early demise. However Perth fans can catch him at the Top Alcohol Championships in Perth in November, where no doubt he'll be keen to 'go more rounds'.
In the meantime Grant has his hands full with Aaron Lynch's ever increasing race team, now being part of Aaron's crew for all Top Alcohol and Top Doorslammer events. In between times he will continue to look after the engine work for me and crew for Gary Stevens in his Top Doorslammer campaign.