A lot has happened since I last wrote, so I thought it was time to take a few minutes and let everyone know what was going on at Team INS Racing. One would have to say the racing season is under way with NASCAR racing this past Saturday evening, the Daytona 500 this Sunday, and the NHRA racers getting things going this weekend at the Winternationals in Pomona, CA. Eliminations will be televised from 8:00 to 11:00 PM Sunday the 14th on ESPN 2 for those that are interested.
One certainly couldn’t tell it was racing season by looking outside as another winter storm is bearing down on us again. For Team INS, let’s just say it’s a good thing the season is not starting today, mainly because I have a lot of work to do prior to the start of the 2010 race season. Having a new car is definitely a wonderful thing, but it’s like starting all over again when it comes to making fuel lines, water lines, air lines, and electrical connections. Fortunately, I had this car professionally wired because it is a wiring nightmare. With all the electronics these days, I am surprised they haven’t figured out how to get rid of the one weak link, “the driver”. And of course let’s not forget about the body panels that have to be prepped and painted. This year we are going to try a vinyl wrap to give the car some color which is something new for me.
This year the UPS/FedEx drivers have gotten to know my place very well. Between delivering new parts, getting others recertified, and others shipped away to be freshened has kept the trucks stopping on a regular basis. This year we are changing the gear ratio in the rear end, having the transmission gone and building a new motor. We will be building a 632 cubic inch motor as opposed to the 598 I currently am using with the hopes of going somewhat faster. Seems like these days, to qualify for the Quick 16 events, you had better run 7.50’s or you will not make the program. We have never ran faster than 7.70, and believe me, it takes a lot of horsepower to take off .2 tenths. Several race teams are stepping up their programs in the off season so we will be trying to keep up. As you can see April will come around fairly quickly but definitely not soon enough. Everyone have a safe week and be careful out there.
