....Answering the question: was all the blood, sweat and even some tears worth it all????
Total Team concensus was YES!!!
A Saturday in Southern California that was breaking heat wave temps when most of the country was still trodding thru snow the setting for The Sokola Classic couldn't of been more perfect. With it being opening night and amazing weather, there was speculation that the car count and fans in the stands would of been larger. Regardless of just 28 USAC/CRA sprinters on hand, the action met all expectations.
Jakes qualifying time tied that with his good buddy Brody Roa...they can't both be 7th. The deciding factor, who's slower lap was faster? It was Jake.... Placing him in the 1st heat amongest some stiff competition. But Jake bettered his starting position and made the direct transfer to the Main, coming home 3rd.
FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Johnson, 2. Spencer, 3. Swanson, 4. Schuerenberg, 5. Gaunt, 6. L.Williams, 7. Malcolm, 8. Ellertson, 9. Smith. 2:52.99
Main Event Time : Cars rolling to the front straightaway to be introduced to the fans in the stands. Many of them wandering down the fence to check out the 24 couragous drivers up close and personal, many would stay true and loyal to their long time heroes, others would scan the some of the new up and coming crop of drivers and pick their new favorite. Battling from the 5th starting postion and moving forward in a defined way was Richard VanderWeerd! He was on a rail and made his way to the lead in the openning laps and it was there he stayed. Damion Gardner and Matt MItchell gave the fans a thrill as they swapped positions laps after lap. Following right on their rear nerfs was Jake. The manuevered the Moosemobile to the high side, down low, even tried to split the 2 down the middle. But there wasn't a hole that would allow the 92 sprinter to wiggle by the 2. Realizing Matt and Damion were going for the juggler for the 4 & 5 positions, Jake decided to let them contiune their on track battle, they'd either finish the show, or take each other out. Whelp, they did finish ... bringing Jake across the checkers in 6th.
For the 1st time out for a new VIctory Chassis, and new Kistler Engine - the performance of Jake and the Moosemobile was fantastic! A few bits of tweaking here and there and it's definately Hammer Down!!
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Richard Vander Weerd, 2. Austin Williams, 3. Mike Spencer, 4. Damion Gardner, 5. Matt Mitchell, 6. Jake Swanson, 7. Hunter Schuerenberg, 8. Ronnie Gardner, 9. Cody Williams, 10. Brody Roa, 11. Geoff Ensign, 12. Rickie Gaunt, 13. David Bezio, 14. Terry Schank Jr., 15. Mike Martin, 16. Michael Curtis, 17. Parker Colston, 18. Chris Gansen, 19. R.J. Johnson, 20. Jace Vander Weerd, 21. Logan Williams, 22. Johnny Bluntach. NT