Gleason Bros. Racing

So it was a rather hectic week. I was working on that car pretty heavily for the day and a half that I had after I got home. I swapped out the axle, put new wheel bearings in the right front, got tires on the car, and fixed up the body. That was about it, I really was strapped for time. So I went out and hit the track without even really checking over the setup. The steering felt completely numb and I thought I was going to wall the thing. I brought it back in and the Chief found a small crack in the right front lower control arm. I found that the toe was knocked out over an inch. After missing a practice session for getting the control arm rewelded and fixing the toe, I went back out there for the final round in the first session. The car felt like it's old self again, but I'm still battling an odd "phantom" vibration that I just cannot find. 


I took the time between the sessions to go to the parts truck and empty my wallet buying wheels. Like I said, my funds are in the toilet and I'm just trying to make the last 4 races. I even took the tires off the damaged wheels and had them put back on the new wheels. That purchase really hit me hard, but I'm in it to win it, so I have to do what I have to do.


I started dead last in the second heat. A little mixup with the handicappers and I, but when I don't sign my own car in, then it's my fault. Oh well, I wanted to see what my car would do in traffic. It didn't do much, as the tight condition that I faced last week didn't get worked out yet, so I have some adjustments to make. After a poor finish in the heat, I went for a decent finish in the feature. I was starting deep, about 2 or 3 rows from the back, somewhere in the 20's. I was definately not as fast as I was last week, but I'm trying to get there and better. I kept my nose pretty clean, but it's still frustrating watching cars that I can beat get by me (and win). 


I saw some more senseless wrecking, some good driving when everyone got around Brad when he spun in turn 2, and managed to kinda get under Romjue's skin. He was in the #7 this week and I was almost fast enough to get around him, but a few times I got into the corner so much better, but he would be running a different line, and we would almost connect. The last time I got under him, he came down as I was sliding up, and I had to back out of it. I picked up the throttle early and decided to rattle his cage a little, just to mess with him. I pushed him down the backstretch, and I don't think he liked it too much. Sorry Steve, if I couldn't get around you, I was going to try and make you faster, because they were catching us from behind. I wouldn't wreck you for 14th... figures that one of the few times I show aggression it has to be on Romjue...


Good run Mike G. on second. Finishing second sucks, I'd rather finish last than second. Checkers or wreckers dude!


I'm just going to try to have a good time with what few races are left. I just want to get the car better for next year, or whenever I decide to race next. Let's see what the future holds.


Brent

So here we are again, what can I say? I've got yet another week of fixing damage to my car. Three races in a row, I've been wrecked and fixing the car, 2 races in a row I've wrecked wheels and suspension. But let's get into that later.


This car was a rocketship. This is by far the fastest this car has ever been. In practice, I was being held up by cars that usually finish in the top 5. I'm not being egotistical, it really was fast, and I was really excited about my chances. The car was so good, and the tires were right where I needed them, so I didn't chance it and skipped the other 2 practices. It was really hot in that car anyway, like, oppressively hot. I started the heat race in 8th, and I was in a pretty tough heat. I had some heavy hitters in my race, and they were mostly ahead of me. When we went, the leader didn't go, and the outside line ran right around them. I was up to fourth, but skipping the last couple practices hurt me because I picked up a pretty bad push. I lost 2 spots to 6th, but I would have been right up there if it was handling. I got the last HQ spot and I was lined up to start the feature in 8th.


I've never been more excited to start a race in my life. I was fast and I was ready to take a good finish. I was finally given a chance to showcase what my car could do. The Sportsman race was before us, and there was a big patch of speedy dry at the top of the track, but it wasn't in the top groove. I made note of that because I was starting up top, and I knew it might be a while until I could get down into the racing line. Green flag drops, and I stand on it. I've noticed that my car isn't as perky on starts as it used to be, so I've got to be a little more dilligent on that. But we head off into turn 1 and we start stacking up. I try my best to stay out of the marbles, but I wanted to be in good position. Someone came off 2 pretty slow and stacked up the field, and I kept my foot in it. I got a run on the outside and got around Brad in the #15 and a couple other guys, so I ended up 5th coming into turn 3. 


I looked like an idiot when I hit the wall. It looked like I just sent the car in too hard and I smacked the fence like a damn rookie. Nothing could be further from the truth. When I came into turn 3, I did not see any danger. I can see stuff on the track pretty well. I did not send the car in any different than I did all day. I was, however, the first car to go into turn 3 on the high groove, because I wasn't clear yet down low. What I didn't see was the trace amount of speedy dry in the top line. When I turned in, I immediately lost front grip. I thought there was some water on the track or something, because I didn't see anything substantial. The car just slid right up the track, right into the giant patch of speedy dry, and I was doing my best to keep the car from spinning out. I kept the back end sliding out, hoping the car would ding the back bumper and keep going, but that didn't happen. I whacked the fence a ton. It knocked my head off the headrest, hit my wrist, and dinged my knee. I'm still a little sore. I kept the car up high, and as soon as I came off the wall, I knew it was over. The car was wobbling pretty bad, and I knew my wheels were bent. I just pulled it in. I didn't even know that 2 other cars wrecked in the same spot. This isn't the first time that speedy dry has wrecked perfectly good race cars.


If you want to drive race cars, I want to issue you a warning. It will be a soul crushing affair. I was so dissappointed when I got out of that car. I sat on the pit wall and didn't even watch the rest of the race. I'm on a tight budget, and to be wrecked almost every week is really stretching my funds to the breaking point. My tire inventory is decreasing, I'm down 4 wheels, and I only have $100 left from my sponsor. Something good had better happen quick, because I don't know if I'm coming back next year. I may not be able to. Obviously, I'm going to try like hell to be back, but I really need some help.


'Til next time,
Brent

So I spent a lot of time in the garage last week, rebuilding the car, reinforcing it for another accident. It didn't take long for me to try it out, but let's save that for later.


I dread having to work on Thursdays, because I hate having someone else tow my car up to the track. I don't like inconvieniencing someone else. But I hauled ass and got out of work early, so I managed to avert that little problem. I got to the track thinking that, "It can't be any worse than last week."


I got through the first practice and was immediately searching for answers. I sized up tires in the garage a few days before to get my stagger right, but the car just handled the same. So I went and spoke to good friend Moose Douton. I got an answer from him that made sense, so I decided to try it. I was happy with the results, because it made the car much more adjustable. I made a wedge adjustment after the second practice and the car seemed to respond well. It took me 4 laps to get the feel of it in the heat race, but once I got it I picked up a couple spots. 


I figured out that every time I forget my camera, I crash. The last time I had my camera, I finished 10th. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy. I started in 17th in the feature and was just looking to keep my nose clean. I guess the other guys had different ideas. They started wrecking in turn 1 and I had to go high to avoid it. Keith in the #19 and I almost got together, and I missed the #51 by a little bit. That wasn't enough I guess, as not soon after they did it again coming off turn 2. I got through the first part... and then the hole opened up. The cars parted like the red sea, and I gunned it to get through. You know, I've heard so many stories of the "hole closing at the last moment", and I probably should have remembered that. But, in the moment, you just go for what looks the best. I was almost through, and the #20 got turned around right into my path. BAM!! I got whacked in the right side again, for the second week in a row. I just drove it straight to Scott Nickel to see if it was still driveable. I should give him a t-shirt, because he's inspected my car more than once. I kept going, but I had a pretty bad vibration in the car. I tore the car apart, but I still don't know what it was. I may have to delve a little deeper into it. Lets hope it's not something deep in the drivetrain. I checked all the suspension components and wheels, lets hope I found it.


See you for the traditional Bud 150,
Brent

Not really going to be a huge post today, but I should keep up with the blog, so here goes. I was really optimistic coming into this race. I was confident enough in my abilities and my car that I told Julie at the handicappers booth that I would be starting regularly for the first time. I had confidence that we had straightened out the chassis bugs, and got the engine running right. When I hit the track in practice, I found out that I was wrong. 


The car would NOT handle. I don't know if my stagger numbers were wrong, or the swaybar wasn't set right, but it wouldn't go in, and it wouldn't come off. The engine felt pretty good, I didn't feel much change because its a 4 cylinder, but I could notice it when I outmotored cars that usually beat me. That was a pretty good feeling, but it was highly overshadowed by the appalling handling. Now, I know what you all are saying: "Oh, so Brad screwed up your handling, huh?" NO. Drivers set their cars up to their driving style. I'm finally figuring out what my style is, and I'm adjusting the car the way I drive it. 


What's really hurting my setup work is the fact that I almost never race every week. I've had a bunch of rainouts and other stuff, so getting into a rhythm has been a struggle. I also have a hard time deciding what setup change to make. Like, I usually have a few options, but it's hard to figure out what will work the best. It will come together, but it's been a very frustrating road so far. Sub par, lackluster finishes are not my cup of tea. 


So anyway, you know you're going to have a bad week when you crash in practice. I was following Tim in the #68, and he got crossed up coming into turn 3. I had nowhere to go, and I slid into him with the right side. I whacked him pretty good, my door got ripped off and he was on the trailer for the rest of the night. The crew did some extensive work to get me back on the track and running again, but since the car was handling so poorly, I guess it didn't matter. Tim came over to me and apologized, but one wasn't really necessary. It's racing, stuff like that happens. If you're not out there driving hard, you're not trying. If you're not trying, what's the point of racing? It's not a big deal.


So I've got a lot more expirimenting to do, it's definately not what I've wanted to do, but I guess that's how it works. Whatever it takes, I just want to go faster. I'm really tired of finishing 15th-20th. I can do so much more than that. Logging hours in the garage ahead, so that's it.


Brent