RACE REPORTS: MACKAY $10,000 TO WIN - WILD BUNCH MEETING The Lexus Piranha Hot Rod and for a bit of extra measure - Russell & Melissa Mackay’s All Hours Glass 63 Split Window Sainty powered corvette. Well we both headed off to Mackay for the test and tune on Friday 24th, trying to sort out the problems which have plagued us and Friday night was not really successful for us as it just would not get up and boogie in the burn out on the two occasions that we did try so we headed back to the pits and did not risk running it down the track when it obviously had something wrong with the ignition. We changed some electrical wiring and put a borrowed MSD ignition switch on it and it turned into a different beast. For the first time in a lot of months it got up and boogied in the burn out much to Nathan's surprise, so he kept going with the smoke coming out past his face and then rolled off it. As he said it is just a wonderful feeling to be completely covered in tyre smoke and you just roll off the throttle and you just go through the haze. It is like jumping through a cloud. That run was the first qualifier on the Saturday against Rob McIterick who unfortunately could not hold on the trans brake or had a little bit of a problem, left before the tree was activated and Nathan had rolled through the beams and had to back right up. We have lights right down the side of the tree but neither one of us ended up with a time which is pretty sad for us because that was probably the best run put down and was a certain qualifier accordingly to our illustrious crew chef - Lionel Durrie. On the next run out at 2.30p.m. the car left the hardest that it has left in a long time. It shifted into second about 250 feet out rather than 300 and was headed for its best time of the day when the cam timing slipped and jumped a couple of teeth and we went from the penthouse straight to the shit house. Another hour later back out again. This time after a short burnout we ran through for and 8.58 second ET at a new personal best 165mph. Whilst not quick enough to qualify for the $10,000 Shootout the pleasing aspect of the run was that the car was doing 125mph at half track and gained 40mph in the back half of the track, previously it had only ever increased by a best of 31mph so we were heading in the right direction. After the run we discovered that the timing had retarded after the timing belt had slipped a couple of teeth. Changing the switch certainly go the car to run many thanks to Adrien Lang for doing the wiring and thinking of the switch as well in combination with the various talks we had with other racers up there, we tried to eliminate what the problems could be, including Paul Shackleton (major sponsor of the meeting). On our last qualifier when it was just about into stage, Lionel noticed that the plug leads were arching across and just walked back to me with a depressed look and said it is going to run like shit as it is cross firing across the leads. Subsequently it laboured to a 9.40 at 140mph and we would have to run in the B Main consolation bracket. When we got back we changed the leads, put the old faithful set back on and it burnt the end off the plug on number 8. The reason being we had a brand new plug that did not work and MSD promag 20 on it for the first time and it is like a welding machine. With the extra runs we had and the consolation final, we found out something every run. The first one was a bye as our opponent could not front having had severe tyre shaking being knocked out in the previous run he did the right thing and elected not to race. The next run we got another bye into the final with Daniel Reed and Nathan tried to cut a light and drew the big dreaded cherry. We would not have beaten him anyhow as it spluttered down the track. The good thing is we came home with a little bit of money. $400.00 for runner up and the car in one piece. Whilst we look forward to sourcing some new MSD promag 20 leads and finally getting the fuel system sorted out when the additional funds for a racepak data logger eventuate. Our thanks to everyone especially Lionel Durrie our main engine man, also to Adrien Lang for keeping the boys happy with Pizza and drinks. By the boys I mean Lionel, Dave Ferricks, Noel Smith and Adrien who all had to do the final preparation whilst Nathan, Zac and I were all at the US Nationals. Certainly the friends who are a part of team capricorn are invaluable to all of us. We simply love what we do but we can not do it alone. Special thanks to Paul Porter and all the crew at Palmyra Raceway. It was a good weekend and the improvements that they have done have certainly been outstanding. The track is a great regional outlet and there will be a lot more support next year because the supercharged outlaw competitors who were there for the first time will certainly spread the word. See you at the Nationals. PETER A PEIRANO.