The 69 Adventure

Chapter 20 - Aug 27: Managing Expectations

With both Kat and myself letting off before the traps because we didn't like the way the car was handling at higher speeds, we started tossing around ideas for fixing it - this was my #2 priority.  Number 1 was getting the Bastard home from PK's and the weatherman wasn't cooperating.  To make matters worse, I needed a break....not just from the car, from everything.  My next doctor's appt was Monday, Sept 9.  I had booked plane flights to San Diego on the 30th, to return Sunday, Sept 8th.  The Bastard needed to be home before I left for James'.

It ended up that the 27th looked like the first decent night to bring the car home.  It also happened to be a race night at Atco.  Kat and I had decided to try adding the airdam to the front and adjusting the rear shocks to see if it would make a difference in the handling.  I had to work, so I was to catch up with everyone at PK's - where all the adjustments were already complete!

A few NE3G members got wind of this and JT, Lauren, Nevermore, Alex, Frosty, Jeff H, and Rob were going to be added to the normal Kat, PK, Jay, Shell, and Nate contingent.  I was less nervous about the crowd than if I were going to run the vert.  I knew the Bastard was solid 12's and I was pretty certain there was some speculation as to whether I could run a 12.  I know in this car I can.  And Shell lent me her Cadillac taillight shirt for good luck (ok, so I wore it under a baggy T-shirt and only flashed PK & Kat)! 

I was more concerned with the handling, and made it very clear that these runs were to check that out.... if I didn't like the way the car handled, I wasn't going to run it and no one should expect anything.  I suddenly realized the pressure of the expectations surrounding this car....I knew they had always been there, but I now realized they were my own fault.  Project management teaches one of the most important parts of the project is Managing Expectations...this hadn't be done at all.  There had been so much hype and build up, and Jase's reputation only added to it!  When it was only me working on the car, I related every little bump in the road and then there was suddenly nothing for almost six months except pics of powdercoating!  The snippets of the engine starting probably only made it worse since it sounded so mean running open headers. 

Staging lanes with PK behind the 69	Through the waterbox

Ready to go - I can beat a pick 'em up truck!

The first run was a 12.7; my best run yet.  The second was a 12.617, even better!

It the staging lanes, they lined me up next to Frosty for my second run.  I love Frosty and I'll race him, if he wants......someday.  But my first 'race' is going to be against PK....period.  Frosty was a sweetheart and talked to the Atco guy, then pulled in front of me.  We'll save that race for another night, Tony!  Thank you!

Frosty's car	Jeff H's car

Mike (ThirdgenZ28) visited on the morning of the 28th and dropped off some rims for Ed Maher.  Ed showed up later that afternoon.  I took him for a ride in the 69.  The Friday evening before Labor Day was not exactly the most prudent time to cruise Route 37 in the Bastard.  On a whim, I pulled over in Gilford Park and asked Ed if he'd like to drive it.  We were in a 25mph residential zone, a block away from the intersection where the most cops are on any weekend, much less Labor Day.  I warned him.

Back out on the highway, Ed floored it.  He hit the MSD chip and looked at me, shocked.  I had never swapped out the 6000 rpm pill!  He realized what it was and then the grin was all over his face.  That sort of grin was the only reason I still had the damn car.  Back at the house, we talked about the car for a bit. 

I'm not an aggressive driver.  There are too many things I don't know about the car.  Maybe that isn't the right way to put it....too many things I haven't discovered yet - like hitting the 6000 chip.  I will, eventually, but learning these things one at a time is frustrating me.  I know Jase would have thought about that - maybe before the first time we had gone to the track!  I hadn't -  until someone else had crossed it accidentally.  I don't know exactly what the car was designed to do.  It has already exceeded my expectations, but I am slowly, carefully testing it.  Ed drove it hard - I can't (or won't) do that...and maybe that's what it needs.  I invited Ed to come back to race it one weekend in September or October...depending on that doctor's appointment.

Chapter 19  /  Table of Contents   /   Chapter 21