2006 Season
November 2006
First we would like to apologize for the delay in getting the update to you, things have been very crazy in the Fire & Ice Motor-Sports household. The 2006 season in now over and we finished 8th place in points with the Central New York Pullers. Overall we are pleased with how we did this season, it was one of the rougher seasons that we have had. The higher fuel prices made us reconsider how many of the pulls the whole team went too, because when everyone goes it means taking two vehicles. This really upset the Jr. crew members since they have been going to the pulls since they were little and the number that they were able to attend this season was greatly reduced. The weather this summer also had a great impact, we ended up having three pulls cancelled due to the rain, and a couple of them were delayed for a little while until it stopped raining.
We also had some mechanical problems with the truck. For the first time
in three years we had engine problems, and had to get it fixed in time
for the next pull. At Brookville, PA the first pull of the season we
bent the exhaust valve on the #8 cylinder. Luckily we managed to get
it fixed and back together in time for the next pull. We also bent the
exhaust valve on the #3 cylinder at Greenwich the end of August. We
ended up running the truck at the next pull at Fonda, on 7 cylinders
because we would not able to get it fixed in time for the pull. We were
contemplating just finishing the season on 7 cylinders, but we did get
the valve replaced before the pull at Mt. Upton because we didn't want
to damage the engine further. We also broke a couple of front axle u-joints,
and one time even broke the center bolt that holds the springs together.
We did manage to get the axles changed with the new gear ratio, finishing
up the morning of the pull at Greenwich. Unfortunately due to a lack
of communication we were not notified in time that the points pull was
canceled due to rain. We ended up borrowing a pair of D.O.T. tires and
running in the super stock class since we drove all the way to the pull.
The downfall of doing this was we hurt the motor, however it was most
likely going to happen and it just happened at this pull. Due to the
engine troubles and track conditions at the pulls following, we have
not been able to get a real idea on how the new gears will affect the
truck.
Due to financial matters and work we did not attend three of the points
pulls this season. However at the end of the season it did not make
a difference in where we finished. These were not easy decisions to
make because it is the first time in 3 or 4 seasons that we have missed
any pulls. It took careful consideration of what we might gain and what
it would cost us to go, before we decided not to attend those pulls.
We are looking at what needs to be done for next year, but are in a
bit of a holding pattern until the first meeting for CNYP. We are unsure
what is going on with the rules because they are eligible for changes
for the coming season. Once we know if anything is going to change we
will better be able to plan for next year. Until then we are just taking
a little time to recoup from the summer.
See the results page for a recap of how we did this season. Without your support this season would have been much more difficult, so THANK YOU! We hope to see you again next year. Any questions or concerns please contact us.
July 20, 2006
The season got off to an interesting start in February when one of
the four pulling tires we ordered from Missouri got lost in shipment.
We had three tires arrive via FedEx, but the last one wasn't with them.
About three weeks later the last tire arrived after being located in
Salt Lake City, UT. Then came the car shows, we picked The Joker up
from the paint shop at 7:30am the morning we were headed to Syracuse
for the Carquest Motorsports Expo. We made it to both car shows like
we intended the one in Syracuse and the World of Racing Motorsports
Expo in Binghamton the following weekend. However due to the close call
getting it from the paint shop we were unable to have it lettered for
the shows. Luckily TM Paint & Graphics came through for us at the
last minute with a sign that had our sponsors on it that we put next
to the truck at the shows. After the car shows we managed to get the
truck lettered for the season.
We had hoped to get the axles and gears changed before the pulling
season started, but due to work demands and other complications that
came up we have not been able to get that done yet. The first pull of
the year was supposed to be at Wild Wheels Weekend, Mt. Upton, June
3, 2006. Unfortunately Mother Nature did not cooperate and the pull
was canceled due to the rain. We managed to get the physical inspection
done on the truck that day and took it to get the engine puffed the
following weekend so that we were all set for the season. Between Mt.
Upton and the next pull in Brookville, PA we managed to get the hydraulic
steering put on and in working order. This has made the truck a lot
easier to steer! June 24, 2006 we made the 6 hour trip across PA for
the pull. Overall the trip wasn't bad and we finished 8th.
The next weekend was supposed to be the Fun Pull for Wild Wheels Weekend,
but once again Mother Nature had other plans and the Flood of 2006 hit.
This canceled not only the Fun Pull but also the pull we were supposed
to have in Owego, NY July 8, 2006 due to them being flooded. Out of
4 possible pulls we had managed to pull at one so far, hopefully the
weather will not cancel any more this season.
Then came the unexpected discovery on 7/8/06,we had taken the truck
off the trailer to get another vehicle; and when we started the truck
to reload it on the trailer for the following weekend we had a geyser
of water come out the right side header. This is not a good sign! After
checking it over we found that the exhaust valve on #8 cylinder was
bent, along with a damaged push rod and rocker arm. We figure that it
happened during our run at Brookville and in a way having to unload
the truck saved us from doing more damage to the engine. Luckily the
piston was not hurt so it was just trying to get the head fixed in time
for the pulls at the Syracuse Nationals. The damaged head went to Doug's
Speedshop in Binghamton on Monday July 10 and they were going to try
and get it fixed in time for us to get the truck back together. Fred
(Beth's dad and chief mechanic) went to get the head Thursday morning
7/13 and then came back and started working on putting the engine back
together. Through a lot of work the truck was back together and running
by 8pm, it was then loaded and we headed for the Syracuse Nationals.
Friday night 7/14 Bill (Beth's brother and new co-driver) pulled The
Joker for the first time in competition. He did a good job and finished
11th. After the pull they looked over the truck and discovered that
we had a u-joint that needed to be replaced before pulling the truck
the following night. So Saturday dawned and the guys worked on getting
the bad u-joint out and a new one in. Hoping that it would stop raining
so that we would be able to pull the truck that night. Luckily the rain
stopped and the pull went on. The sled was sent heavier and it was harder
to get the sled moving but Bill managed a 10th place finish 7/15. After
the pulls we have had The Joker is currently 10th in points for the
Central New York Pullers.
There are two pulls in Fergus, Ontario, Canada July 22 and 23, however
after much consideration we are not going to be able to attend. After
examining the cost associated with going to this long distance pull
it is not financially possible for us to go. We will not get points
for these two pulls because of not attending, but in the long run we
will be better off by not going. (We were figuring close to $1000.00
to try and go for the weekend, not to mention having to deal with customs.)
We plan on making the rest of the points pulls though and we are figuring
that we should be able to stay in the top 10 in points for the 2006
season, unless something drastic happens. Until next time….
2002 Season
