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photo compliments of SpeedFreak
Photography
From the Desk of John Hipwell,
Madness Racing - Year in Review
November '03
So I can be a slacker when it comes to this web site
sorry about that. This month I will have Roxanne do front page update
and will have video
of the final run from the world finals this year.
Where do I begin? Three years ago I had no choice but to
park my operation even with the help of my good sponsors I just could no
longer afford to run the deal and once again thanks to the guys and gals
that put up with me on the team.
Two years ago I hooked up with Ron Braaksma with the
madness top fuel hydro we made it to a select few races and did real
well, last year he focused on building his prop business and I went
scuba diving!!! This year still stuck with diving (I really like being
under the water then on top!) We worked out a deal (this is a dual prop
top fuel hydro now!) and went to red bluff, unfortunately we broke in
the semi's and it ended our day, next race was to be Waco Texas, while
Dale was driving down the highway he noticed smoke coming out of the
trailer he stopped and got the fire out but it destroyed the boat and
inside of the trailer.
Obviously Waco was off, with less then 4 weeks to
Augusta the crew worked their butts off and got the boat close and we
arrived a day early in Augusta to finish the assemble. Friday during
test and tune didn't look good boat would not leave starting line (3
attempts) Saturday and Sunday was a different story. The new dual prop
deal became a 5.0 bracket boat and we won Augusta.
Onto marble falls: I learned a very important lesson at
this race never ever take any team for granted always treat every round
like the first round and give it your all. Ron and the guys gave me a
boat that was a 5.0 bracket boat in the final we were up against frank
carter in Aquaholic and plain and simple I blew it I never thought he
would run that quick 5.3? And he even admitted he never cut a 0 light I
was late off the starting line and ran a 5.12 (I think it was) and ran
in the e5.3? and holeshoted me for the win . (depression set in big time
to let Ron and the crew down like that was hard real hard and I will
never get over it I am sorry)
We went to Merced if we won this race we had a chance of
possible going for the points but we got taken out in the semi's by a
clutch servo coming off and going into gear. In a high note the
boat ran its first 4 it ran a 4.94 in the first round, even though we
all made a decision not to go to San Diego it was still possible to go
for the points. But Mark Workentine and the beast from Easton team
is one tough team and they would have had to go out first round at the
next two events and we had to win both of them to accomplish that.
With San Diego not being a very good place to run drag boats, and with
the chance of hurting the boat, we pulled out and went onto the world
finals (good choice).
Lets start phoenix off this way my plane was to arrive
in phoenix at 9:45am Friday morning (when have you ever seen first round
fuel in the water and running by 10:30am? well this year they did I get
off the plane and take a taxi to the phoenix airport days inn ad when I
get there while getting my rental car I get a phone call where are you?
I am told the boat is at the ramp and they are waiting and we don't have
much time! the motel is 10 mins or so from the track. I get the car
check in and I should have my head examined but I get on thing in my
head and I go for it. 105 is the fastest the car that I rented would go
I was driving like a lunatic to the race track and I should have my
license revoked for that!!!!
ANYWAY I get to the ramp (I might have slide in sideways
while pulling in?) I get out sign the papers I am getting dressed Johnny
is tying my shoe! I get in the boat and run a 4.98 which holds up for
the #1 spot we went on to run 4.92 4.95 4.93 I think it was?/ the point
being no one has ever run that many 4's and our other runs where a 5.02
and a5.09 we had one bad run due to a belt blowing off and it was still
a 5.9? the final run was between madness and whiskey river we ran a 4.95
(on 7 cylinders!!!) Whiskey ran a 5.33 my reaction time was a .145
and his was a .110 (I backed it up from the first round being a .046
with the way this boat was performing there is no need at this time to
be cutting 0 lights!!)
It was a good race for everyone (except I am very very
sorry to say that Scottie Lumbert in the public nuisance crashed and it
was one of the worst crash's but the capsule did its job and Scottie
will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with next year I am happy to
say!) The race started every morning before 8 am and the finals where
done and over with by 5:30 PM on Sunday night.
The only thing that is bad is the season is over and
this rocket ship of rocket Rons is on the edge of doing big things and I
am counting the moments till next year!!! We ended up # 2 in the points
championship and we still missed 3 races!!!
A big big thanks goes to KCS ELECTRIC ROBERT MILLS -
I.M.P. RANCHO FRAMING PHOENIX AIRPORT DAYS INN TOM PERFORMANCE MARINE
SHELFO ENTERPRISES RB PROPS with out any of you this could not have been
possible.
A BIG THANKS GOES TO Ron and sue Johnny Dale and Daryl
Damon Tom Darin Gary (what the deal next year and what is your wife's
cell phone number anyway?) Marshall (Nuklhead) Dawn and Bernie
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