2008 Summary

I know that I have been terribly remiss in not keeping up the blogs this season. It started wonderfully and went south after that. A preseason testing session in Las Vegas was cancelled after we got there and after a burglary cleaned out the trailer of all the tools and computer and a ton of parts. Then in March our major sponsor changed management teams. The change effectively killed our deal. So after buying enough parts to go the season there wasn't any money coming back in to cover the costs. We went to three events before the money ran out and we were forced to park the car. Somewhere around there I suffered an on the job back injury that required emergency surgery to repair it but the left over nuerological deficit precluded my return to firefighting. Because of that I was forced to retire. So lots of changes and things happening- most not for the better. But before you are completely overcome with gloom and doom, we did get the car back out for the Fall Funny car Classic. We rolled a sprag on our only run Saturday but managed to fix it for Sundays run. The first run was a 6.13 at 240 and the second run in the heat of the day was a 6.10 at 239. So to finish a very rocky year with a win was great. Now I can't wait for next year- it has to be better. See yah soon at the track- Dave

Las Vegas

It is very rarely that I will ever be found speechless but the trip to Vegas has done that. I am still shaking my head over this one. Kim and I drove 13 hours to Stockton, Ca to meet with engine builder Bob Miner. We had a nice relaxing dinner and spent the night in the Best Western, Stockton Inn. We hit the road at 6 am the next morning. On our first stop of the day Kim checked the load in the trailer and remarked "hey, some of the cabinets are open". So I went into the trailer only to find out that not only were they open but they were empty. In addition so was the tool chest, the computer station and my suitcase was gone too. Missing were the hand tools, the air tools, the power tools, the desktop computer and my clothes. So now the scramble was on to find enough tools to run the car with for the weekend. After several phone calls (thank god for cell phones) I found a Snap-On dealer in the Vegas area and the local guy from my area. Between the two of them they could get us enough tools to work on the car over the weekend. But alas fate stepped in- I called the track at Vegas to inquire about parking only to find the event had been cancelled. And to think I had already decided the weekend vacuumed? So here I was, flying 6 people into Las Vegas, two rental cars, rooms for the weekend and food all for nothing? Thankfully Rocky came up with a brilliant idea- Lets take some pictures of the car at the strip? Good call Rocky. I was so busy wallowing neck deep in self pity that I hadn't even considered that idea. The team left early Saturday morning and Kim and I left Saturday afternoon. We probably should have left in the morning also. The storm that had caused the event cancellation had moved north and we caught it full force in the Siskiyous on Sunday. It took 11 hours to cover the three hundred and eight miles across the state of Oregon. Nothing but snow and ice all the way. Did I tell you I am NOT a professional truck driver. We drove a total of 23 hours that day to get home, running on the edge of a major winter storm. Waaaaahhhhhoooooo.
So now we are at home, regrouping. Working to replace the tools and equipment that are so vital but apparently easily packed off. New locks are in order also. But there is a positive side to this- Las Vegas seems like a very pretty place although I only saw if from a windshield. I did get to eat way too much at a buffet though. I got a chance to practice driving the freightliner in snow and ice and didn't crash it. So despite my whining things could have been worse, we all got home ok, the truck and trailer survived and I can't wait to go again. Dave Germain

2008 is starting in Vegas

The car is out of the shop, after a monumental three week long thrash the new body is mounted. The paint came out fantastic, the sign shop did a beautiful job. The team wants to also announce several new associate sponsors- Victory Performance and Welding. They are the west coast metal fabrication specialists. Don Richardson Custom Auto Body, winners of too many to count awards. Jacknut Apparel, the real, raw apparel people. Lucas Oil, the oil suppliers to the champions and Torch and Regulator repair from Tacoma, WA. And of course our primary sponsor- Quinault Beach Resort and Casino.
We are leaving tomorrow morning at 0-dark thirty for the preseason testing session at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If the car runs as good as it looks we hope to be the talk of the west coast drag racing scene. And if all the news wasn't good enough, Germain Motorsports wants to announce the hiring of crew chief Mike Austin. Mike has run the Miner Bros. motors in his Top Alcohol Dragsters for years. He has been a force to be reckoned with for years in the dragster class. With many event wins to his credit we hope he will the final piece to our performance puzzle. Thanks to all our supporters and there will be more news to report soon.

See yah at the track- Dave Germain