Moose Racing takes to the road again - this time to Canyon Speedway for the Arizona Hall of Fame Classic.
With the Moosemobile loaded and ready to hit the track, Jake & Chris arrived to load up the hauler and get on the road. A freeway stop along the way to pick up "Hitchhiker Jim" and it's road trip time. Quick nap in Bylthe, back on the road and pulled into Peoria just in time for a yummy burger at The Wild Horse West.
A surprising low turn out of cars for this event was shocking, only 22, 410 USAC/CRA cars were registered in for the 2 day action.
No one ever wants to take "the rath" for pulling the qualifying pill, but since Nikole wasn't able to make the trip, Jim was elected, and had Jake going out 7th on the prepared clay. Hum...does he pilot the Moosemobile fast enough for quick time? Nope, but 7th ain't to shabby, as if someone doesn't make the top 4 transfers fro the heats, that would out the 92 on the pole for the Main event ( that is, as long as Jake finishes in the top 4 also ) Bingo, one car didn't make the cut and it was on the Pole for the Jake & The Mossemobile!! A hard fought battle for 30 laps with Brody Roa leading the charge for the first 19 laps. Damion Gardner had gotten around the 92 and was on kill for the lead and scooted past Roa on lap 20. Jake and Roa side by side with Brody taking 2nd and Jake 3rd .. for another podium finish!!! An excited Moose Crew, who was missing several of the key players ( Dave, Rich & Nikole ) was fired up and opted to do the servicing on the car after the races instead of in the warm Arizona sun on Saturday.
It sure seems that 2 day shows, day 2 flies by and before you know it it's time to clear the pits to get pit passes. Pill draw and drivers meeting and wow, it's already race time. Another early qualifying pill draw, only this time the track early was slick and the 1st group to qualify, times didn't hold up as well as the previous night. So, now 10th quick....would need 3 cars not to make the cut. Almost.... 2 didn't, oh so close. But Jake held up his part of the deal and came home again, in a direct transfer spot!! So, starting 5th row outside was gonna be a feat. Ran 10th,up to 6th, then 5th... a couple red flags brought the 30 lapper to a few stops - as Pelkey flipped and 1 lap after, Austin flipped. With the restart, up to 4th and battling for 3rd with Brody Roa - Brody pushed hard and Jake had to let off to avoid what probably would of been another red flag. With that, 2 cars got past him and the brought the Moosemobile home in 1 piece, in 6th.... To survive a weekend at Canyon and being able to load the car on the trailer in 1 piece is a great event. Haven't seen an official posting yet, but believe Jakes finishes moved him up to 4th in overall USAC/CRA points.
So, Jake and the Moosemobile survied yet another weekend, but not so much the rig. Crusing down the 10 freeway, even under the speed limit!! all of a sudden the back up lights, the back up camera on the dash come on, the speedometer goes out, the transmission won't let Tom manually shift it and the check engine light comes on. Next exit if a big truck stop, he'll get off there ... at the top of the off ramp, the rig dies and won't restart. There it is monster rig pretty much blocking the offramp!! Tom calls CHP and roadside assistance. After about 1 1/2 hours, the tow rig arrives, the rig with the trailer is towed to their yard and it will be dealt with after a few hours sleep, as it's now after 4 am. Phone call after phone call come to find out that No One in the area, or even close to the area can work on a Freightliner that has an automatic transmission!!
Wonderfull!!
Brandon, the tow rig company's owner comes by and arrangements are made for them to lock the trailer in their secured yard until someone can come back to get it and the rig is rehooked back up to the tow truck for it's journey all the way to Fontana Freightliner. Tom, Jim and Laurie crawl into the sleeper and settle in for the 4 hour ride. Jims' wife Christine makes the drive down the mountain to get Jim and Dave comes from HB to get Tom & Laurie, the rig is unloaded of anything that "could walk away" during it's stay at Freightliner. Deciding that time is no one's friend the next week or so, Tom decides to have the trailer towed back to HB by the tow service today .. and happy to say, that it just arrived. Now, just need word from Freightliner on what's wrong with the rig! But atleast the cars are back safe and sound!!!
There's never a dull moment ..... !!
On another note, hoping that Austin Williams who flipped Saturday night is ok... thinking of him....Congrats to Damion for Friday Night's win and Mike Spencer for Saturdays!!!!
Next up for Jake and The Moose Herd... Oval Nationals, Perris Auto Speedway : November 12,13 & 14. Hope to see ya all there!!!