http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/ Milholland Motorsports, home of the #48! en-us http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#07082006 Wow, what a weekend. The car was "ready" to race by 2pm Saturday. JP came over and helped beat out the rear fender damage and reinstall the bumper (see the sparks fly on the video page). I actually cleaned out my garage enough so I can park my race car and work on it! I gave the beat up fenders a fresh coat of Zodiac Metallic Blue and loaded her up. I actually made it to the track BEFORE my pit crew did for the second week in a row! JP was getting the sponsor provided Mr. Goodcents sandwich platter so he had a good excuse for running late. Thank you Mr. Goodcents! Running 2 classes with the same car is a royal pain. While I was on the track alot, I was also waiting in staging alot. I am not going to run 2 classes again unless I get more crew and another car;) Just a quick commentary on the Street Stock class. These guys are quick. I held my own in the heat grabbing 4th place and NOT getting lapped. However, underpowered by about 50-75hp (SS run 4bb carbs, high comp heads, etc.), I can't compete with these guys. So to avoid getting in their way, I am going to focus on getting into the top 5 in points in the Factory Stock class this year. Now to get down to the class at hand. Factory Stock racing has become (maybe always was) a rolling circular demolition derby. Just check out the video titled "Factory Stock Main Event Laps 1-2" and you will understand. While there is no way to fully avoid those kinds of wrecks, being in the front and being fast usually helps. And that is exactly what I plan to do for the remainder of the season. The heat race was uneventful. I grabbed third spot and hung on to it. The 16 and 99 were fighting for 1st and I just caught up to them when the 8 laps were up. This finish positioned me 9th for the main event. The main event was very eventful! On lap 2, the 29 and 1 went for a wild ride (check out the video!). I think they are both headed to the junk yard. All the drivers are fine and walked away from the "big one". This little wreck instantly put me up into 6th place. After the red flag lifted (all cars stop to clean up track), we headed to the back stretch for the restart. I mashed the gas and just about nothing happened... which is how the 94 and 05 got passed me. This was the beginning of the end for my clutch... Surprisingly the clutch held for 12 or so more laps as I was hanging on to 94's bumper trying to get around him. I realize how he has won 3 races this year, once he passes you, he takes up the WHOLE track (uses the low groove in the corner and rolls all the way to the outside wall effectively blocking the outside lane). This happened at least 5 times when I got tired of his games. So I tried diving to the inside in turn 3, got a little into the 94, and the clutch rapidly disassembled after that. I lost all power even though the engine hit the rev limiter at 6000RPM (memory tach!). I thought it just came out of gear so I missed the pit entrance at turn 1, trying every gear with the same result... nothing. I coasted all the way back around to turn 3 pit entrance (waving my right arm to warn the cars coming up that I was out of it) and parked it. After the race is over a push truck gives the #48 a shove to the pits. I tried to coast up onto the trailer using the momentum from the push truck, but got stuck as the car was too low with the lower air pressures. A quick fix is to roll the back wheels of the truck up onto ramps to lower the rear of the trailer (works great under the right circumstances, read on). ATTEMPT 1 -I get in the car (cuz I'm the driver;), the pit crew (Shaun and JP) start pushing, I steer a little too far to the left, up the ramps, boing! The front left tire hits the guard rails, stops, and rolls back down the ramps. ATTEMPT 2 - Thinking we didn't have enough muscle I start outside the car yelling "I'll just JUMP in!" as we start pushing... I jump, but not IN, I fall to the ground, the car is cruising toward the trailer and turning left (going much faster now with the extra muscle too!), the tires miss the ramps and the bumper rams into the guard railing shaking the whole trailer and truck. Those Duke boys make it look so easy! The three of us are practically rolling on the ground from laughing so hard... ATTEMPT 3 - I get in (much better idea), they push, the car gets 75% on the trailer, far enough to winch it the rest of the way on, and away we go to API for a couple of beers. A new clutch is in hand and will be ready for July 15th. We'll see you on the front stretch in the winners circle! -Lenard http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#06102006 Headed up to CAR www.centralazraceway.com for some Saturday night high banked dirt tracking. What a RIDE! Phollip Lopez and hsi girlfreind rode along up to Casa Grande. As we are leaving my house, he says something to the effect of "you are one brave dude to run at CAR". I begin to question my rationale for heading up there. We get there, and I am still thinking, no big deal. You may have noticed the new picture on the front page. Davis Automotive and Graphics hooked me up with some AWESOME graphics. Check them out on the photos page. We installed them when we got to the pits before the drivers meeting. This track has it together! Gates opened at 5pm, drivers meeting at 6:15pm, and we were hot lapping at 7:15pm. All the staff I talked to were great and answered all my n00b questions. So I go out to mud pack which is my first time on the track. After about 5 times around the track the green flag drops and we are hot lapping! I didn't know how hard to drive into the corners and my tire pressures were too low to take the right line. Scariest thing I have done in a while! So I head back to the pits and talk with Kieth and Phillip my fill in pit crew. By the way, they were AWESOME. They recommend going up in air pressure like on the asphalt due to the high banking. That was the right choice! The car hooked up in the heat race and I got comfortable with the track and finished 2nd. Not bad for a new track that is totally different than USA. I started the main event up front, row 2 outside. I will say this now, my starts SUCK! Not sure what I am doing wrong, but 2 cars passed me before turn 1! About 5 laps in I got bounced around in the middle of 3 and 4 and shot to the outside which then spun me around. Luckily I was far enough ahead of the cars behind me that they managed to get around me! No damage, just had to refire and start in the back... Restarted horrible again, made 2 passes and then got too high in 3-4 and went around AGAIN! As I was sitting there smacking my helmet, I tried to refire the engine... Well the fuel went straight through to the exhaust and created a nice light show! So I was done for the night, once you spin twice you are done. As of tonight, I don't plan on heading back to CAR unless there is big money up for grabs. I heard in the winter there is a $500 or $1000 to win. That would make it worth it. For now, USA is where I will cut my teeth (who made up that saying anyway?). See ya'll at the track on June 24th. -Lenard http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#06062006 I have GREAT news! We have a brand new sponsor, Catalina Marts, a local Tucson convenience and gas station company. www.catalinamart.com. They are going to supply the fuel for the #48 for the remainder of the season. If you live in Tucson, stop in and support this local company. There are 17 locations throughout Tucson, so there is surely one close to your home or work! I have been working on the car for the past 2 weeks. It is up on jack stands as I had to replace 2 tires and a rear axle seal. I also installed a new rock guard/windshield (doesn't really shield wind, just flying debris!). There is still a lot of body damage to repair before a fresh coat of paint goes on for this weekend! The #48 is going to be running at CAR, www.centralarizonaraceway.com, this Saturday, June 10th at 7pm. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and check us out. For the local track, USA Race Park, we are still 10th in the series points standings. The June 3rd race was cancelled due to weather! The team all enjoyed a weekend off. I was recording the audio of a good friends wedding, J.P. was trying to fix his failed AC, Shaun was working on the web site, and Scott was... well I don't know what Scott was doing (probably coding something in Second Life). Stay tuned for results from the 10th! -Lenard http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#05202006 Well... it was a fun night. After waiting for hours for the track to get packed, we finally got out to run our heat races. Starting order is determined by a "pill draw", a random drawing that determines what heat and where you start in the heat. I snagged the #1 spot in heat #1. I thought this was a good sign of things to come. It was as I smoked the field by a full straight away by the end of the heat. This placed me 5th in the main event. Normally the top 6 are inverted for randomness I guess? Knowing that we had some time till the main and our friend Susan was in the stands we went over to say hi. Thanks Susan for coming out and rooting for the #48! So we were just sitting there in the grandstands talking when the funniest thing happened, a bunch of kids came by and asked me for my autograph. This was my first autograph! Sure was fun to talk with the kids and see that they were having a great time. We may have a picture once I get to work on Monday (on JP's phone). Back to racing. The main event started clean for me for a change! Until lap 3. I guess I was impatient, inexperienced, or the other guy ran into me... it was one of these reasons, I am sure of it;) This little incident took out my right front tire. Finally a chance for the pit crew to work under pressure in the pits! They did an awesome job! Unfortunately we don't have an impact wrench (yet) so they had to do it with a ratchet and fast fingers. They got it changed in 3 caution laps, unfortunately the race went back to green just as we were finished so I had to tag the field. I was really frustrated at myself for getting in the wreck and the fact that we missed getting our #3 spot back if we had come out 1 pace lap earlier... *sigh* So I began my trek to the front. It wasn't long before I was passing slower cars. By the next caution I was up to 14 out of 21. I kept counting the cars and was trying to figure out how to get to the front. There was only one racing groove, so my favorite "pass on the outside" was impossible. Believe me, I tried several times but it only slowed me down. After trying to pass a few more cars, I realized I wasn't going to get to the front before the checkered came out. *bigger sigh* White flag lap. Going into turn 1, a car 4 cars in front of me got loose and slowed way down, it was too late to do anything... I ended up running straight through 3 cars. There went another right front tire! These cars don't handle well with a right front blown;) I took turn 3 too hot and had to slow it down or hit the wall. Two of the cars I squeezed through in 1 and 2 passed me. I could see the checkered flag... and then the infield... and then a tractor tire... and then the grandstands! A car had tapped my rear bumper, and with no front tire, around I went. The race finished as I sat stuck on the burm in turn 4. *major sigh* Moral of the story: patience my friend, patience. We will get them next time! See ya at the track! -Lenard P.S. Thanks Jerry for an awesome bumper. It earned it's weight in mud last weekend http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#05142006 A lot has gone down since my last entry... The street stock race was a great test. We found out that Goodyear fan belts are BAD and Dayco fan belts are GOOD. We also found out I need serious help when mounting bumpers. Mine fell off after a slight ramming and destroyed my exhaust system. Leon at Leon's Exhaust ( fixed things up the right way for me! I also found out that glowing exhaust manifolds are BAD! So I took the carburetor in to Marco at Carburetors and Fuel Infection Systems 520-917-5050) and they did an awesome rebuild! Getting ready for a Friday night race is HARD, but I did it. Scott came over on Thursday night and we attempted to weld on a new bumper. Attempted is the key word here. It didn't last the whole race... AGAIN! Lets get down to some racing! In the heat race I started on the outside first row. I made a good pass early in the race for the lead and held on until lap 8. I was told by my crew (and the video) that I was taking corner 2 too wide. Finishing 2nd in the heat placed me 4th in the starting grid of 27 cars! Now the main event was interesting to say the least. The track was a mess as the water truck soaked the track at intermission and it was like we hadn't raced on it at all (which is bad as it is very very slick). We did pace laps for what seemed like hours. When we finally started I got into a strange wreck in turn 3 as the leaders got sideways in front of me. Of course this means I need a new bumper! Doh! After that incident my right front tire was pushed in at the top causing it to hit the frame in the corners. Despite that, I maintained a top 3 position for many laps. I made 2 passes for the lead, only to be taken back by cautions. Somewhere around lap 18 something happened in the rear end. A loud grinding noise meant things were done for the night. The next race is this coming Saturday, May 20th at 7pm (I wouldn't show up before then cuz we never start on time). I am going to FINISH this race! The car can win and run up front, I just need to be running at the END of the race. -Lenard P.S. I just got in from tearing apart the rear end to find that the axle had seperated from the stud plate that the wheel bolts to. Lucky for my wallet this should be an inexpensive fix. http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#04232006 Since the 14th, I finished installing the engine and got it to fire up on Thursday night.This is one strong Chevy 350 crate motor! The random start selection put me in the #1 spot in the 3rd heat. For the first 4 laps I was pulling away from the pack, when the little yellow light came on the dash board letting me know I was an IDIOT! Turns out I installed the cooling fan backwards... sigh. So I got a push back to the pits and flipped the fan around for the main event. All is good, right? WRONG. So I have to start at the back of the field, not a problem, just a little more challenging to win. I was driving pretty well staying out of trouble and making some good passes on the inside and the outside. About 10 laps into the race the stinkin little yellow IDIOT light comes on AGAIN! Now I am thinking NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, not another blown engine! The temp was sitting pretty steady at 230, so I continued but babied it as much as I could. Finally the temp climbed to 250 and I pulled off the track and shut her off. As I came to a stop, I noticed a bright orange flickering light under the hood (not what you want to see under the hood!). I jumped out, grabbed the fire extinguisher and put out the fire! Turns out it was just some oil dripping from the breather valve on the valve cover, no harm, just some smoke and flames;) So for my next race I am going to replace the fan and adjust the timing. Turns out I was way off, which was a major reason for the overheating. I haven't decided if I am going to race at CAR in Casa Grande or in the Street Stock at USA this coming weekend. Probably USA, just cuz it's familiar and closer. P.S. I want to send out a special thanks to my MBA buddies (Jason, Dave, Brett, Chance, and significant others) for coming out to the track and cheering me on (even if I can't hear you from the car). - Lenard http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#04142006 It has been a busy week, and expensive one... Last Saturday I picked up my new engine. Tuesday I pulled the blown engine out. Wednesday I setup sound at my church, Vineyard City Church, for Easter. Thursday I talked Jerry into helping me build a new front bumper mount/radiator support. I knew he was good, but he went above and beyond any of my hopes. The new front end is easily 5x stronger than it was before. I plan on creating crush zones so we don't have to do this again! Thanks Jerry, you are the welding KING! If there was an Olympics for welding, you would take home the GOLD! I got my starter rebuilt at Luna Rebuilders on Grant and 1st (awesome work, the thing looks like new!). I also got a new radiator at GAT Racing since the original had a hole the shape of a fan in it and was irrepairable. Saturday I plan on preping the new motor for install on Sunday. I need to put on the 2-barrel intake, water pump, ignition, drain the oil, and then drop it in after church on Sunday. John and Jim are going to stop by and give me a hand. I can't wait to fire it up and see what she can do on the 22nd! - Lenard http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#04022006 I have a new paint scheme for this week! Check out the photos page! I signed up for the Rookie of the Year competition, kind of a points race within a points race for n00bs. The rule is that you have to tag the field in 5 heats and 5 mains. Major bummer and much more difficult to win! I started off a little slow in the heat but picked it up mid way through. I made a pass on the inside of #44 on the last lap but somehow he failed to see me even though I was in front of him by at least half a car length. He rammed my door and pushed me into the inside berm and I caught about 2 feet of air, but I made the pass stick (video will be up shortly). Upon landing I think something broke in the valvetrain because it started ticking and would only rev up to 5000rpm (not good)! I started 9th in the main event, I wasn't too confident as my engine sounded like crap idling in the staging area. My crew and I were ready though, they took in Scott's truck with 2 tires, a jack, and a video camera to capture it all. The start of race was the worst! #11 in front of me thought his brake was the accelerator and about stopped in front of me. I was in the gas, as was the car behind me, needless to say my bumper lost the battle and a little puff of smoke came up from the hood. The smoke went away as did my power steering, but I still had oil pressure and the temp was only 200 so I kept going. At the time all I wanted to do was RACE as the track was awesome with 2 grooves (I like the outside groove!). BAD IDEA! After passing 3 cars, and about 6 laps later, the oil pressure light came on and it was all over as smoke came out of the exhaust pipes. MY FIRST BLOWN MOTOR! Not really the best thing to do in your 3rd race with no sponsors! Turns out my ramming the #11 pushed my radiator into my fan which broke both fan belts effectively taking out the power steering and the water pump! I ended up finishing 23rd out of 26, but I held onto 9th place in the points series! As of Monday the 3rd, I already have a used 350 crate motor lined up for install this coming weekend from my buddy John Machac (drag racing gear head!). Thanks John (sorry bout that fantasy racing mishap!) For all those in Tucson, I have a special sponsor for the April 22nd race! I am not telling what it is, you will just have to show up and see! - Lenard http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#03182006 Well, what a difference one race and 2 weeks off can make! I started 5th in heat 3 of 3. About 2 laps into the 10 lap race my front left hood pin came out and my hood was catching a lot of air, but I could still see. I managed to work my way to 2nd and was going for the lead when the back left hood pin came out and my hood bent up so I couldn't see the track except out of a small section on the left side. Knowing there was only 2 laps left I kept going and finished 3rd. Starting 9th due to the hood mishap, I was determined to get to the front knowing how well the car was running in the heat (hood pins duct taped in place now!). By lap 10 I had worked my way to second. I found the right line that was really fast after getting some tips from my pit crew, Shaun, Scott, and JP, thanks guys! Well, by lap 16 I finally got the run on the first car and made the pass for the lead and never looked back (not that you can look back strapped into a racing seat with a 5 point seat belt and a helmet on!). I took the checker flag on lap 20 and my first WIN in my second Factory Stock race ever. I walked off with a nice trophy and $250. For all those in Tucson, I hope to see you at the track in 2 weeks, April 1st at 6:45pm, at USA Race Park (Los Reales Rd. just east of Alvernon). - Lenard http://www.milhollandmotorsports.com/blog.html#02252006 This was my first race ever in my "new" '79 Camaro. I wasn't even sure where 2nd and 3rd gears were in the "racing" transmission before heading out on the track! The car wouldn't idle and the battery had seen better days which made it hard to start. In the heat race I started at the back to figure things out. This is called "tagging" the field. It was a good idea since I had only had 3 laps at speed in the "hot laps" warm up 10 minutes earlier. I shut the car off for the National Anthem and it wouldn't start back up so I had to get a push start to get it running. I finished the heat race in 4th, which put me in the 7th spot in the 20 lap main. In the main event I was doing well and staying out of trouble when I took turn 2 too wide and slid up into the backstretch wall. At that point I was up to 5th. I lost 4 spots and was a little shaken. Nothing like hitting a cement wall at 50mph and keep going! The race was winding down so I decided to make a move on the inside of car #33. Bad idea. I barely tagged his door and around I went a full 360 degrees. As the car skidded to a stop, the left front tire came off the rim (only running about 15psi). No harm to the car, but without a spare in the pits I had to sit in the infield and watch the end of the race. I am determined to finish the main next time! -Lenard