Gleason Bros. Racing

Ugh. What a long weekend. I haven't camped out at Thompson for World Series weekend in a few years, and this year I figured out why. Being submersed in racing and the stress of scheduling and running on time for 4 days takes its toll. Not to mention all the noise from other campers partying, the diet of burgers and grill food, lots of beer, and little sleep. I'm used to going home with the trailer every night, sleeping in my own warm bed, and then going up refreshed each day. Now I remember why I don't camp out. 


I was trying a new setup in the car this weekend. Not only with the reworked head, but I also went over all the suspension components and unlocked the rear end to try running an open rear. My theory being, with an unlocked rear, the car will turn better in the center. I went out for first practice and I knew that the car was going to be loose right off the bat. And I mean, real loose. I was right. I went into turn 1 on the first lap, and about ran over the Waterford #04. I got out of it hard and lightly squeezed the brakes, but it spun out anyway. I dumped the gas and kept it in the middle of the track, but the whole time I was thinking, "this is it, I'm going to get wrecked and it's going to be last year all over again." But the car snapped back forwards, I threw it in 2nd, and got going without incident. I looked at the backstretch fence pit standing area, and the crews seemed to think I did a good job, so I kept at it. The car was just ugly loose for a majority of practice, so I threw 7 rounds of wedge at the car. That woke it right up, and I was able to pick up a half-second. Picking up 5 tenths from one practice to another is a hell of a lot. But, the car was a little too tight now, but manageable. My carburetor was another story. Both my carbs weren't running too great, so I had to choose the one that was the lesser of two evils. I'm going to have to examine my fuel system, because I've been getting a lot of crap in them. I'll change out my cell foam and filters, rebuild both carbs and be ready to hit it next year.


With practice over, I hung out and froze until the heat race began. I drew the number 6 at sign in, so I knew I'd be starting either 3rd, or close to it. I did start 3rd, so I was eyeing my competition in practice to see who was quick and who wasn't. My game plan in the heat was to get a good start and have a run on the leader by the time we hit the flagstand. That's pretty much what happened, but the guy starting 2nd had a better jump. I got by the starter heading into one and tucked in behind the leader. When we came back around the 3rd and 4th place guys were knocking on my bumper. Literally, the #20 Waterford car hit me so hard down the stretch that I thought my back bumper was broken again. I gave him a little angry wave (non-vulgar) down the back stretch and he toned down the bumping. Like I said before, I don't mind bumping, but when you slam me hard enough to blur my vision, that's excessive. Anyway, we come out of 4 and I expect some more bumping. I got one, then I got one that turned me towards the wall. I expected him to lift a little, but he stayed in it and turned me right towards the fence. I cranked the wheel hard left to stay out of the wall, but I shot sideways across the track, right in front of traffic. I knew I was going to hit someone, but I kept my foot pegged. I did hit someone, but I didn't know who. I spun through the hit . Didn't matter, I was just concerned with getting to a safe stop in the infield. Once I stopped, I was pissed. I may have just finished my rookie year, but I know when someone wronged me. He could have lifted. It was a damn heat race and he put everyone at risk because he was impatient. I understand that with the handicapping it was best to get to the front quick, but come on. Anyway, I didn't realize I lost the nose of my car until after the race. Half the nose was ripped clean off. I also didn't realize that I hit the #20. From what I heard I almost flipped him over, both right side wheels were off the ground when he was spinning. Oh well, he didn't come over to me and explain himself, so that says to me he either didn't care that he dumped me, or did so on purpose. 


I went home Friday night because I had to work, so on my way back up Saturday I brought another nose with me. I had it fixed at the campsite within 15 minutes... fixed enough that is. I started 10th in the feature and it was all downhill from there. Car wouldn't go, oil pressure was slowly dropping, handles weren't there. I just brought it home in one piece, which is good because I was going to build a new car, but I think I will update this one instead. The list I have is pretty extensive already. I just ordered our first tubing bender in the 10 years we've been racing, so in the event something happens I can do something about it. Whatever happens, I will try to be back next year. I just want to do better. I'll need sponsorship help next year, but I will give it my all. 


Until next time,
Brent

So here I am, on the cusp of the anniversary of my lowest point in racing. I'm a low budget racer and when my car was utterly destroyed during last year's World Series, I was crushed. It took me all winter to get the car back together to a point where I wanted it. But I'm a creature of a certain belief: Redemption. I give it my all every week, but when things go wrong, I step up my game. You have to! Otherwise, why do we do what we do? I've spent the last month working on my car, tweaking this, fixing that, running through it with a fine-tooth comb. I'm relatively pleased with my chances now.

It's no surprise to anyone that my car was underpowered. If you looked, you could see it. But I didn't know how underpowered I actually was, until I pulled the valve cover off and to. Now, I do not bash people on the internet, because racing is a business, and I keep my business affairs between the parties involved. And if you think you know who did my work, you aren't involved, so stay out. But we measured the TVL on my cam and it was only .425". The rule is .465", so basically, I was running a high duration Waterford cam. The serial number on it was ground off and the bearings were going to crap as well, but it would explain why the car would run up to 6700 rpm's and then be completely out of ideas after that, no matter what cam timing was in it. Worst part? I was lied to and told when I bought it that it was the same exact engine that a certain top runner had. 


The reason I told you that is to tell you this. My poor finishes all season are vindicated. It wasn't just me doing poor work on my setup, it was my lack of power also. But hey, think of it this way, I was racing against guys with the correct engine parts, and a decent amount of power, and I was keeping up. Give me a good motor and see what I can do! I decided to give Andy from 'Engines by Andy' a call to see what we could do about this engine. We worked out a deal where he rebuilt the head with a new Thompson legal cam and some extra work, for next to nothing. It's not free, obviously, but he gave me a heck of a deal.


I'm excited to try it, I really want to get out there. I also put a header and new exhaust on it, so I'll be relegated to the Outlaw Mini Stock race, but I'll be racing Friday, come hell or high water (let's hope for NO water....)


Brent