Well we finally got on the road from Rockhampton at 5.00 p.m. with a full crew on board and some extras. A bit later than the 3.00 p.m. that we were trying to leave at. Northern crew chief - Noel Smith, myself, our son Zachary,James "The Painter ) Bendall & our auto electrician Peter Kluver and his mate Nicko. We picked up my favorite brother-in-law, Neil Bruggmann at Maryborough (Heather's sister Kay had cooked , well Neil had some fresh crumbed whiting fillets & brought them out to the roadhouse). We ended up at Willowbank at around about 3.00 a.m. Saturday morning. We than had the traditional few sherbets and had about 3 to 4 hrs sleep in time for the gates to open at 7.00 a.m.

By the time we set up camp and Greg McDonald - Go Mac Engineering (the engine builder from Sydney) turned up with his son Geoff. We missed the first ANDRA licence qualifying session as the reverse gear solenoid was not working. A quick wiring fix by Peter Kluver and we made the second session. Nathan launched hard in the tower lane, went well to half track and then pull the shute at mid track. When he got back to the pits we learnt that it was because oil had came out of the breater on th edry sump tank & onto his visor. No guesses who filled up the dry sump oil tank (answer being myself) that caused the problem. I put about a quarter inch above the top baffle and under acceleration it ended up blowing oil out through the breather, subsequently Nathan received a light spread of oil on his visor and so he did the right thing and turned it off. We now all know that it has to be about a litre less below the top baffle. We will also try to rectify this by turning the oil tank around at 180 degrees and putting the breather at the front.

The best news was that all legs are inside the block and so is the water.

Due to the fact that the coolant is very hard to clean up off the track we were not game to put coolant into it but it certainly will have it for the Winter Nats week end 6th to 8th June.

We did not get another chance to get a run until 4.00 p.m. in the afternoon which only gave us two runs for the day. It is a long way to travel and a lot of money to spend to get two runs.

Smudge staged Nathan in the right lane as the afternoon sun was quite a problem in the left lane. Again he launched hard, short shifted, hit the motorcross bump in the track which unsettled the car, the tail shaft protection came off (which will not happen again as we have put some additional fasteners on), rattles a fair bit on the tail shaft but Nathan kept his boot into it and subsequently ran an 8.30 pass which would have qualified us for super charged outlaws.

The best news was the 60 foot time - 1.125 seconds. ET 8.308. 660 foot time - 5.117, doing 130.13 MPH for the new people 207.43 Kilometers at half track. He only picked up 8 MPH to 139.71 in the last half of the track as we had the rev laminator set conservatively at 7000 to make sure that he could get his license.

By the time we return for the Winter Nat we will have a new set of hoosiers slicks and the rev liminator up to 8500 which should stand the tyres up in the deep end and produce some real MPH. Conservatively I think we can run high sevens at about 170 MPH. Considering it is 4 litres, it is an amazing bit of gear. The cost to build this baby would run a small third world country, but to be the first running a blown quad cam Lexus engine and drag racing in Australia and doing so well with really only two full passes we are all pleased, especially Greg McDonald Go-Mac (the engine builder).

We had a steady stream of people coming over to look at the car and they were particularly impressed when we told them that it has only got 4 litres ie 240 cubic inches capicity, considering a lot of people we are racing with have double that capacity.

In closing, all the team just can not wait for the Winter Nationals. A little bit better air, good traction, new tyres, more Revs, so lets see what this baby can do.

Regards

PETER A PEIRANO.

PS: Just a thank you to some of the many people who have helped us out.

• Phil Love and the team at Love's Auto Electric's
• Shane Sargent and the boys at Sargent Signs
• Glen Barnes for all his welding and aluminum work on the trailer
• Mark Fitzgerald for all the Electrical wiring on the trailer
• Mick Fitzgerald for wiring in the FM Radio
• The Crew members - Dave Ferricks, Noel Smith, Zac Peirano, Geoff McDonald, Greg McDonald (Go Mac), Dave Coles, Ron Dormer,James Bendall
• Peter Kluver for the 12 volt wiring and the electrical work on the car and trailer
• Ian Weigh and Michael Stack of Lexus of Rockhampton for their financial and enthusiastic backing of the projects
• Lionel Druery of Engine Improvements for work on the steering, fuel system and his enthusiastic help.
• Dave Coles of Race Central Oxenford - Hope Island turn off even though it was a paid job, the hours put into the project and his continued help at the track has been invaluable. I could not recommend anyone better than Dave. If you want a new race car built, altered, fixed or mended, you can all Dave on his mobile 0416 337 679.
• Ron Dormer our carbon fibre man. If you want carbon fibre, kevlar or race car work done, I can think of no one better. Ron can be contacted on 5596 0345.
• Michael and Sharon Titmarsh - The Automatic Shop - Rockhampton.
• Russell Mackay - All Hours Glass
• Neil Daniels T.M.C. Sydney, For all his help.

When we return for the Winter Nationals, the car will have be improved with Hans Kreuzen "The Paint Doctor" from Maryborough, applying some art work and flames to the front mud guards and fuel tank cover.

P.S. Special thanks to Andrew & Sonya Hinz for their enthusiam & praise.