Bakersfield,
CA - October 10 - 12, 2008: Just a month before the 17th California
Hot Rod Reunion Jack Harris was planning on being part of the
crew for son Brett in the teams Nitro Thunder top fuel
dragster. Not one to thoroughly satisfied by not being in the
thick of the action, when asked Jack jumped at the chance to
drive the new John Rodeck owned Paso Posse car.
Following a top end crash during
the March Meet, Rodeck had to have a new car built. During their
time off the team changed their engine combination and the fuel
system. Added to that was the change in tires (Hoosiers). Through
in the new chassis and the team was dealing with many unknowns.
Since there is so much to learn anew, Randy Beck did the initial
shake down runs on the new car, but agreed that they need for
a driver with lots of experience to aid them in their steep development
curve. Someone who could give them infinite feedback from the
driver's seat. No one fit that role better than Harris. So Randy
graciously stepped aside to make room for Jack in order to help
speed up the testing program and maybe go some rounds at the
CHRR.
Suffering some obvious new car
blues, Jack did qualify and managed a decent 5.912 at 219.24
in his first round loss to Jim Murphy. Like others, the Rodeck
team will work on the tune up over the winter and return in March
with Randy Beck in the seat. In 2009 Harris will be focused once
again on his Firebird Nitro Funny Car.
Photos and
full results below.
There were more
than a few strange looks when the new Paso Posse "business
coupe" rolled out of the trailer on Friday. Obviously these
are not the new Hoosier slicks but the transport tires that serve
a dual purpose - first, they make the car easier to push around
and take up less room. Plus there's the theory that towing with
the race tires breaks them down and is harder on the chassis.
Nonetheless, it does look weird.
Qualifying -
Session One
2:05 p.m. Friday
- the first of only two qualifying sessions got under way. Weather
conditions: air temperature 63 degrees, relative humidity 24
percent, barometer 29.91 inches, track temperature 88 degrees.
Perfect racing conditions.
Harris' mount suffered some internal
damage before the 1000' mark and tossed oil in Jack's face. He
hung on as long as he dared (to get the time) but was forced
to pull the chute early.
Still basically flying blind,
Harris had moved very close to the center line before the chute
deployed.
Harris ran 6.289 at just 178.39
but his chute took out the last timing cone (above left) before
Schwartz got there. Unfortunately for Schwartz the incident caused
him to lose his 6.434.
Before he got his oiled visor
up Harris drifted into Schwartz's lane - fortunately far behind
him.
With his vision
returned, Jack moved back over into his lane and proceeded to
the turn off.
Eliminations
- Round One
5:03 p.m. Weather
conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 14
percent, barometer 29.90 inches, track temperature 84 degrees.
The other difference between the March Meet and CHRR is that
the first round of eliminations is run Saturday evening prior
to the Cacklefest program.
After the call
for Top Fuel, the crew rolled the unpainted fueler out of their
pit and headed for the staging lanes.
