With the re-built gearbox back for the VX Commodore and with that we decided that it was yet again time to get back out there drag racing. So the AVO SSV Ute was loaded up with tools and all the necessary gear, and we were off to Heathcote Park Raceway for the Ford Forums Drags. We arrived early and got the car ready and scruitineered, so that as soon as 11 o'clock was upon us then we could be one the first out there tearing up the strip. Rain was looming so we wanted to get some runs in before the strip got wet.
We were racing in the Open Class due to the fact that we were racing a Holden, unfortunately our Ford was not ready and the other Ford of Tony Granic’s was unavailable for the day. The first run of the day brought an ET of 11.18, a 60ft of 1.67 and a MPH of 127.62. There seemed to be a lot of wheelspin so we thought there was still room for improvement.
Jake was pumped and chose to line up straight away for another run. It was a great burnout, unfortunately it was all puff and no go. It produced an ET of 11.95, a 60Ft of 1.67 and a MPH of 121.75. We were disappointed and had to wait for Jake to come back to the pit area, we realized that something wasn't right as we were very confident of a 10 second pass from the VX. Jake told us that the was clutch slipping during the run, we knew that it would not get better so we decided to go for a drive into Bendigo and search for a high performance clutch. There was a shop we were recommended to, unfortunately they were closed so it meant that it was probably the end of the racing day for us. Once back at the track we decided that we would give the car another go now that it had cooled down for awhile.
The next run gave us an ET of 11.44, a 60Ft of 1.62 and a MPH of 127.88. Although Jake said the clutch still felt as if it were slipping we were still able to lay down a reasonable time. We decided to cool it down again and give it another run and then call it a day. It ended up being the first run of the day that turned out to be our best run. So with this in mind we have got a clutch on its way and we'll be back out there again shortly at Calder Park for some more Drag Racing.
