April 24th and 25th Firebird Lake Chandler Arizona
The IHBA season
opener at Firebird Lake in Phoenix was hot!! The temps were closing in
on the 100 degree mark and thank goodness for a very nice set of
grandstands to take cover in! The boat count on the other hand was luke
warm at best. Unfortunately it looks like the MEDIA driven sky is
falling economy issues might be having an impact. I did not see it at
the March Meet as Nostalgia Drag Racing is booming but this was about
two months ago so who knows! The IHBA show has consisted of 2-3 fuel
boats before so this is most likely just a cyclical drag boat deals. So
the Pro boat count was light but there was some great race action that
ensued. I would have bet my __________ that after dropping down a 4.68
second run in qualifying, which by the way was a leg on the ET record,
that John Haas, Famous Amos Saterlee, and Speed Sports team owner Lou
Osman had another big run planned for their final run against Jarrett
Silvey. I missed that one but it was nice to see Silvey get the win and
there was a little flash fire to get us photographers amped up a
little. And keep an eye on the new Eddie Knox piece because I imagine
that as good as the Bullet Outrigger Hydro is working for Denis Gibson
and Silvey you can bet that Eddie and Problem Child team are going to
send new PC driver Kevin Burgess to place ( damn quick ET ) where he
has never been before! Hopefully we get a couple more fuelers that want
to come out and play, especially at the Streets of Fire show n shine,
at Red Bluff. The Alcohol Hydro class was dominated by Ron Deems tuned
machines as teammates Kent Price and Mike Fry fought in out in the
final. An unfortunate red light by Fry, who has the quicker lap, gave
Price and the Black Draggin team another victory. Watching these two
battle it out this year is going to be fun as both machines appear to
be similiarly prepared and both will be 5.40 players and maybe even the
.30's if the conditions are right. Six of the seven TAF teams better be
worried that the 2007 World Finals winner (complete domination) and
2008 Lakefest opener winner (complete domination) does not run away
with things. I know its way too early to be bringing this up but at
least at Firebird the Habit Forming III team has been untouchable.
Enough said! How about that first round of qualifying in PM. I know it
was a long offseason but when guys like Scott Loomis, Vic Esposito, and
the 2007 Div I PM Champ are no where to be found near the top of the
qualifying ladder then something is wrong! At the end of the day on
Sunday I would bet that Shawn Reed and the Top Secret team stole the
win. I mean come on they struggled in qualifying which I would imagine
had a lot to do with a new engine combination they are running. Makes
sense. But in round one Loomis turns on the red light and in round two
Esposito breaks...Yep they stole one! Congrats to the champs and they
will get there great looking Billy B painted machine dialed in and its
going to fun watching the PM points chase unfold. That brings us to the
open boats which their seemed to be a shortage of those race teams as
well. The PCE final was uneventful and the class participation only saw
three boats if I remember correctly. In PE Mike Schiller seems to have
some special thing going on with Firebird Lake as he always seems to do
good in Phoenix. He would get the win over Tim Kelley in the final as
neither machine came close to the 8.0 index. In TE it was the 2007
Champ getting things on Saturday and Sunday as Paul Fontenot qualified
number one on Saturday and then drove to the win on Sunday. I am pretty
sure he won the championship in 07 without getting a win so congrats to
the I'm Back Hot n Bothered team! In ME it was the multi time champ
putting a hurt on th field for another win. Man, Is Prigmore tough or
what and can someone take the championship away from him in 08?
Doubtful if you ask me. In SE it was a pair of teams from New Mexico
that were looking for bragging rights. 1320 feet after activating the
green light it was Jay Johnston getting the win light over Brad Klug.
In RR it was Jason Smith beating Chad Klug. See a pic you like? Let me
know and I will make you a deal on a copy. Thanks and enjoy!
Pics Added 5-8-08
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