Mid - Ohio qualifying results

7th in class 22nd overall, Chris C. told me to run under 2 minutes. 1:53.298, ITB Pole is 1:47.9, second place is 1:50.4 Should be on track for the race around 12:30p

Sunday results and trophies!

I finished 1st in the class race this morning holding off Chris Marsh in a two lap shoot out. I finished 3rd in the 15 lap feature. Chris and Dave C. Finished ahead of me.
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Saturday class race results

Wow what a race! Had a mess at the start, the front row did not go at the wave of the green flag and everyone was on the gas and brakes, it was nuts. After the first lap I was following #3 Tim in a Omni. Passed him going into turn one about three laps later. Then I ran down #15 Jim in his Rabbit. I ran into the back of him with two laps to go going into turn six. I could not get by and had Chris Marsh right at the back bumper. It was a very tough 10 laps. All the problems from yesterday (more in the wrap up later in the week) disappeared and everything went well today.

Be safe and keep it on the road.
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Saturday qualifying

Qualified 5th, 3rd in class in the wet on slicks. A whole lot better then yesterday.
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Team Motto

I need a team motto...feel free to post some options in the comments section.

TF American Racing - I don't just burn the candle at both ends, I use a blow torch

TF American Racing - Zip ties, duct tape, hose clamps, and a sledge hammer is all I need

TF American Racing - Still looking for a trophy chick <--- that is just funny there, I don't car who you are...LOL

TF American Racing - More wins then Billy Bob

Bump and Run Oakland County 4-H Fair Results

So I had fun...not exactly the results I wanted but I had fun. (We can't always get what we want)

I arrived with Bryan and Michelle being my crew for the afternoon. The official mascots of TF American Racing were left at home (Oscar, Max & Minnie). Those are Bryan & Michelle's kids...ok dogs. Bryan is the crew chief and co-car chief. Michelle the Team Nurse.

They were finishing up the derby when we got there because it was cancelled on Thursday due to the weather. Only 12 cars show up at first. Boomer (promoter) talked about how to run the event for the afternoon. There were 7 "small car" - front wheel drive, V6 or 4 cylinder. And 5 "big cars" V8, full frame cars. They decide to split the event into two classes. Run two heats per class and one feature per class. There was a late entry for the small cars and some of the derby cars that were still running decided to join the show. 16 total cars. Jeff the tow truck driver for Tracy's Towing (They tow at Waterford Hills) came out with his "big car", he had over 30 races on it. He finished second in his heat and in the feature.

The course was setup very, very well. Kinda hard to explain, but it used a hill at one end of the track that was a figure-8 and had well built jumps.

I drew starting position number 2 out of 4. I got a great start but unfotunately run a little too fast into the figure 8 and was going the wrong way and had to stop. So by the time I backed up and started moving forward I was last with a flat tire on the driver side front. I just ran as fast as I could with the flat tire. I nose-dived over one of the jumps and knocked the front bumper off and the radiator protection bar. The bumper was underneath the car and I think kept the car high centered with the one good tire I did have. Oh well, stuff happens.

Next race....well I have two weekends of road racing with Old Glory. One at Waterford Hills and one at Mid-Ohio. A track I have never seen before, besides on tv. But I will probably run Genessee County Fair in Mt. Morris on August 18th (a Wednesday) with Rusty. I have to get the front bumper back on and the radiator protection bar. Also I have to get some tires for Rusty.

Remember you are already a winner. Be safe and keep it on the track.

Rusty's Timing

Just a quick update and probably should have done this last night.

Rusty wasn't running correctly due to the timing. My neighbor adjusted the timing and Rusty ran awesome, up and down the road. My neighbor Tim pulled the rear of the car straight....ok kinda straight, enough to pull the fenders from the rear tires with this pickup truck. It was fun. I welded the rear bumper on and pound some other sheet metal.

I will be leaving here in a bit and head out to the fair. Weather is looking iffy but hopefully we wiil get the show in.

Keep it on the road.

Sunday, SUNday, SUNDAY

TF American Racing has decided to run on Sunday at the Oakland County 4-H Fair. Race starts at 4pm. And it is $7 bucks for the show (I believe there is a fee for parking too).
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Eaton Derby Results

Showed up. Pulled card number nine out of nine for heat two. Ran at half power the whole race because the car did not want to run. Stupid carb. Got some damage to the rear from other drivers helping me push my car around the course. Made maybe 7 or 8 laps out of 12 and finished maybe 6th or 7th. Put the car on the trailer. Had dinner with Bryan and Michelle at Big Boys in Charlotte, went home. Not exactly the plan, Momma said there would be days like this, and hopefully will get it fixed and running properly for Sunday's event at the Oakland County 4-H Fair.

Yeah...

Be safe and keep it on the road.

Tow vehicle under repair

Every great race team has a hauling vehicle to get the racecars from home base to the race track. Mine just happens to have 271,000 miles on it!

Thanks to my neighbor Tim for working on the van this evening.
Yes sometimes the old beast has to be worked on too. I helped Tim replace the orginial!!!!!! ball joints today.

Rusty in new paint!

Here are a few pictures of Rusty. The paint even dried before it rained.

Hopefully it looks more American then French...LOL






So its kinda square

Now you just have to hear Rusty the rat singing "Bad to the Bone" to give the overall atmosphere.

TF American Racing Derby Adventure Annoucement

TF American Racing is bringing out Rusty and running at the Eaton County Fair on the USA Demo Derby circuit. http://www.usademoderby.com This race will be held on Wednesday July 14th at 7:30 pm. The Eaton County Fair is located in Charlotte, Michigan

If Rusty survives this adventure the next race will be the weekend of July 17th & 18th at the Oakland County Fair. The team hasn’t decided if it wants to race in the Figure-8 or the Enduro derby.

Last year Rusty was a new build and raced 4 times with mixed results. A big thanks to Dave H. for fixing the carb issues for me.

Rewelded radiator bar and front bumper....front Mustang bumper
Rusty fired right up after a long winter nap
Rusty the Rat...driving and singing "Bad to the Bone" Tom's co-pilot....well more of a passenger
That should fix the issue
See straighter...less wrinkled...driveable.
Fresh paint...to give Rusty the American feel
Fresh blue, no more green...

Announcement - Extended Schedule

TF American Racing is venturing from their home race track to run at Mid-Ohio for the I*T* Fest on July 30-August 1. Hope to see you there!

15 million

I heard this the other day. I was already a winner. Think about it. A long time ago you were one of 15 million sperm at the start line and you won. Talk about being a winner!

Happy Hump Day.

Slow down. Remember you are already a winner.

One Picture I missed

Notice - Kids do not try this at home
Notice - Mom - Yes the car was pointed at the flag stand where the concrete wall is
Notice - All fellow racers - That is "loose" or "understeer" Or maybe too much dirt under the car coming out of eight?
Notice - The skid marks behind the tires means I was still on the gas
Notice - A big thanks to Tom Dahlem for the picture
Notice - This was on the end of the first lap
Notice - Do you really think I was trying really hard not to lose to Kimi?
Notice - A picture is worth a thousand words (or about 100 above)

More Pictures

All pictures by Tom Dahlem

Winning!

Some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Happy 4th of July!

From Tom Forst, Old Glory, Rusty and the whole TF American Racing Team. Happy 4th of July. Thanks to all who gave everything, and those that give today for this freedom. Have a great day of fun, food, and fireworks

Here is a link to more photos of the car and the building process
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31661&id=1611483310&l=1cace9d396

Keep it on the road.

Tom