On to the racing scene. In late April we spent some more time tuning on old blue and felt we were on track upon arriving at the Spring Nationals in Memphis May 2-3. Friday's test session went well with season best ET numbers but as we were loading up to head to the hotel for the night the rain came and didn't end until early Saturday when AMA Dragbike management cancelled the event. Frustrated that the event wasn't held but encouraged by the fact we didn't have to sit all weekend in the rain waiting the trek home began.

Between the May event and the June Inaugural Summer Nationals at US 131 Motor sports Park in Michigan we pulled the motor in old blue to install a new cylinder head. Upon inspection a blown head gasket was discovered and Justin from Two Wheel Werkz straightened it right up on his new mill in no time.

With the motor all back together and pumpin out another 15hp with the addition of the new cylinder head from Cooper Performance things were looking up for the Summer Nationals. Following in season to date fashion progress made during Friday's test session did not translate over to qualifying on Saturday.

Driver error resulted in another mid pack qualification but still yielded a round 1 win. Unfortunately the win in round one was very costly as the dreaded oil light flicker happened as I headed to the scales after the pass. Upon returning to the trailer the oil was drained for inspection and much to the team's dismay it was littered with copper flakes from a spun bearing. With no spare engine there was no way to run in the second round so we watched as number one qualifier and first into the 7's Keith Thompson streaked to the win.

Back home now after the race the team is debating on what to do now with yet another engine failure for the season, be it a different bike and it's first in several years. One option is to bring the still not sold 2008 model back out but the upgrades to make it on par with the low 8's and high 7's that will be common in the class for the balance of the season are way out of what's left of the season budget. Option two is to repair old blue and keep pluggin away with it for however far what's left in the budget will get us in the season.

Up next will be the Pingle Thunder Nationals in Indianapolis, IN August 1-2 a mere 20 minutes from the house. With no direction on how to finance another very expensive repair we will at least be at the event spectating and enjoying the great race action in AMA Dragbike.