Moose Sprint Car Racing

March 29 2008

Usac/Cra didn't run at The Pas the past couple weeks, instead the acssociation traveled to Manzanita in Phoenix, Az.
Moose Racing opted to stay home and support Luis with his # 09 360 VRA, Tom Ingram Motorsports Sprint Car at
Ventura. Luis's strong finishes in the 2 races was a great shot of adrenline going into last nights run at
Perris.
WIth a field of 29 cars, Luis qualified a very much improved 14th, started the Heat race on the outside of the first row, leading several
laps until highly experianced Mike Spencer, David Cardy and Rickie Gaunt pasted him about 1/2 way thru the
10 lap event. Coming home 4th still placed the # 92 directly in The Main. The line up for the Main Event had the
Tom Ingram sponsored Moose car seeing closer to the front of the pack then previous runs, with a line up of outside the 7th row,
in 14th. After 30 laps - Luis crossed the start finish line in the top 10 --- 8th!! A highly productive and
exciting night for the Moose Herd.
Cody Willliams, son of Rip, in his only 2nd USAC CRA start, took command of the Semi Main Event and
led the 12 lapper in championship form ... the kid sure looks more like a veteran then a rookie.
Congrats to Cody, and a very proud mom and dad!

There can never be enough thanks to the people who support us:
Hal, Spanky, Chad, ( Greg & Mark, who couldn't be there this past week ), RC
Tom Ingram Motorsports, Phil & Eileen, Jan's Health Bar, Maxwell, Jaz

Next race for Moose Racing " Perris Auto Speedway April 12th

The First Race Of 2008 Is In The Books

The Moose Crew and Tom put in the hours this past week putting together another car for The Opening Race
at The Pas this weekend. Being that the # 92 isn't making the trip to Phoenix this coming weekend, some of us
had the thought pass through our minds, why trash to get another car together so soon, just wait until the next
Perris race in March. NOPE... the crew was determined to have a car at Opening Night. The ole saying
" Get back on the horse that threw you !"
The pleasant surprise of the week, was when Tom decided that the car that was together for use on the short tracks -
like Ventura would have the smaller engine taken out of it and when the engine returned from being repaired by RC Performance
and Jeff Heywood it would be put in the Ventura car . You are all wondering, big deal, why? Welp the car that was going to be
assembled the frame was black, but the Ventura car, is Purple!!! Yahoo!! Help came from all over : RC took the engine to Jeff Heywood
to weld the broken section of the block, then RC ran the valves etc and checked the rest of the engine operation and had it back to
Tom on Tuesday. Greg, Chad and Phil were here to pop the engine in and do the finish work during the week. Dave was here early Thursday helping
Tom prep the trailer and rig and at 9:30 pm on Thursday they pulled out headed for Perris.
The awesome crew at HB Glass took over the reigns of the shop allowing Tom and Laurie to be gone for Friday.
Thanks guys - and Tracy !
With 35 410 sprinters and 24 360 filling the pits it was predicted to be a pretty long night. Both the 360's and the 410 had qualifying segments.
With the visions of his hardest ever crash, everyone figured he would be little gun shy especially in qualifying, but he faired well , in 18th.
Running the 2nd heat race - lining up inside 2nd row, he had his hands full, with a lineup of some pretty heavy hitters. 4 transfer direct to the
Main Event, with 5th on back putting in some extra track time by running the Semi. One last shot for the Main Event - a dual lap after lap with
Jordan Hernansader, he pulled it off, running 6th ... the last transfer position. The results for the Main weren't quite what everyone was hoping for.
The car wasn't happy no matter where he put it on the track, he tried high, he tried low, but the car was just loose and sure not
moving forward. After crew conversation and putting many " men " brains together, the decision was that the rear bar was soft, causing
the rear of the car to sit way to low and making the # 92 very loose.
So, Friday night after the race, the work began... Luis, Dave and Tom washed and cleaned, the the maintenance program had begun before the
fans even left the track. Rise and shine bright and early, disassemble the rear of the car and check it all... the bars were replaced
and when the car was taken to the concrete work area, the #92 already had a new disposition.
Night two - qualifying wasn't as successfully as Friday - coming in 25th ...
Running his heart out in the 4th Heat race, the #92 came up 1 short of a transfer. But Luis had found a line in turn 3/4 that
was really working for him. Passing the last car to secure the transfer, the yellow flag was displayed and the line up reverted back to the last
completed lap, which put the Moose Car out of the transfer spot. That's ok, it means getting more laps - the Semi... starting 7th and needing to finish
in the top 6. A multi car crash on the first lap dictated a total restart ( figure, cuz Luis had passed 2 cars during that initial lap.) That line that he
had found in the Heat race was still working for him. Running very low in turns 3/4 he was able to nose under competitors and after dropping back
some was able to move forward, finished 5th.
The clock was counting down towards the Perris curfew, and this forced the officials to state that the normal front straightaway
line up would be canceled, and the cars would just push off from the pits was not a very popular decision to the Moose Crew. All
members of the crew were present on Saturday - Hal, Greg, Dave, Mark & Chad ... the perfect opportunity to get a great crew shot
with the new purple car ... but no, it will have to be another time.
Starting 21st of 22 cars, Luis had a road ahead of him. And don't forget about the secret line that he had found early on. That line continued to
work for him as he worked his way forward, passing them one by one. When the checked flag was thrown - a respectable 11th place.
The happiness and smiley faces of the Moose Crew returned ....
Moose Racing would like to send a special Thank You to Gene and Gracie, 2 avid sprint car fans who came out the stands
and helped with some funds - that go into the repair the totaled practice car. Thank You SOOOOO much.
Hal, Dave, Greg, Mark & Chad worked their butts off this weekend, thanks guys... And super thanks to the Moose Sponsors,
Tom Ingram Motorsports, Phil & Eileen King and Huntington Beach Glass, Inc. ! Mike English from CRC for his help and
support, Glen Sanders, RC Performance and Jeff Heywood.!!
A heartfelt GET BETTER goes out to Rip Williams who during a crash on the front straightaway suffered
3 broken bones in his left foot. Feel Better Rip...

Wow... Just went outside and Dave has washed the trailer and rig -- they are sparkling and the tires
are shiney too! Thanks Spanky....

Next race for Moose Racing....March 8th.
Stay tuned for info on an official Moose Racing night at " The Pas "

READY TO KICK OFF 2008!!!

It is so hard to believe that the 2008 USAC/CRA season is ready to kick off in just a few short weeks. The countdown is on!!
With only about 2 months of an " off season " all teams have their hands full .. and the Moose Team is no exception.
Stripping the car the day after the 2007 season lasts race, parts were sent off to be tested, the engine was taken to Richard at RC Performance
to be freshened and the Moose Crew had their minds set on 2008!! Many hours have gone into the prep for the upcoming season...
With Luis behind the wheel, Hal Engstrom as crew chief, Tom, Greg, Dave & Mark turning the wrenches
the Moose Crew has positive thoughts for the season ahead.

The traditional Moosemobile colors of white, teal and purple remain...but the purple becomes more dominant with the
redo of the frame - a vibrant candy apple purple replaces the black. The addition of the purple gives the car a while new look and
it's beautiful.
Well.. it was beautiful....

Today, February 2nd was the opening of Perris Auto Speedway, with a daytime practice for all divisions:
410 sprints, 360 sprints, modified's, stocks, mini sprints and whatever.
Moose Racing was loaded Friday night, Dave and Chad climbed on board at i9 a.m. and the 2008 season was
officially underway for the # 92 Moose Team.
Pit gate opened at 12:-00 and practice began at 1:00ish. Sprints were the first group to take to the track.,,going out in the 2nd
set of sprints, Luis looked awesome, Smooth, consist ant and flawless. The guys really made no changes, all was going great.
Several others classes ran a few sets and it was time for the sprints again, About 3 or 4 laps into the set... you could see a white car -
white a purple frame twisting in the air about fence high... yeap, you got it.... and it was a nasty hard ride for Luis.
And unfortunately that was the hardest ride Luis has seen since racing.
Luis heading on wobbly knees and seeing stars headed to the ambulance for observation and the car was brought back to the
pits's for it's check up. Thank God, Luis's body faired better then the car. Once again, the Buckley Chassis did it's job,
Luis, who will be a very sore boy tomorrow, is ok .... but the candy apple purple chasis will need a trip to
the plastic surgeon for some major surgery. Asides from the frame, and a couple of hunks of aluminum out of the side of the block
( which according to RC cane be repaired ) a front axle, drag link a couple wheels and a shock, the damage is not near as
bad as it could of been, The only thing that really matters it that Luis is ok.
Chad who was filming every lap had the whole incident on tape .... it appeared the right rear tire seemed soft, or low???
The entire crew in a quandary, scratching their heads ... finally .... when taking parts off the wrecked chassis they heard a small
buzz noise from the right rear wheel area. And when they checked the tire pressure, before Luis went out, it was at 8 1/2 pounds.
When the car came in, it was 6 pounds .. and in the short time it sat there ... was down to 4. Okay, the tire must of
gotten a small hole during the crash ... checked the tire, no hole, but the buzz noise was still there.
The valve stem that is in the wheel was leaking air....and the tire had been going down every lap .... confirming the
shots on the tape showing the tire looked soft. What's the stupid saying that s lousy .99 cent part can cause so much damage.!!!
The car is already back at the Moose Shop, it's 10:00, the engine is out and ready for RC Sunday morning, the car is stripped
and the other chassis is pulled out ( but it's black ) and ready to go together tomorrow.
Unfortunately, if you weren't a Perris today, the only shot of the beautiful purple chassis you will see is
and maybe a few shots some of the photographers got this afternoon and if you check out:

http://www.racewayvideo.com/clips/080202/080202paspractice.wmv

May 5, 2007

Dang phone is ringing again!! Wow did Tom and Laurie get a surprise when Pattie Frost from
Kansas called on Tuesday. Pattie, who is very active in all phases of motorsports across the country
called to ask why she hadn't been told that The #92 Moosemobile was on the cover of the Performance Racing
magazine that is published in affilation with the PRI show. Well, the answer was simple, Tom & Laurie
had NO idea!! By the recommendation of Pattie, Laurie called the Magazine and they were gracious enough to send Moose Racing several copies. Pattie wasn't kinding, there it was - the #92 Mooose Racing Sprint Car
in beautiful teal and purple on the cover!

April 28th 2007 - Perris Auto Speedway

Photo By Tate Berg

From The Past Year Of The Motorhome And Open Trailer ...
Moose Racing Grows Up

Photo Courtesy Of DJ ( Rest In Peace DJ, We Sure Miss You! )

Doug Allen Photo

Photo courtesy of Hosehead's West