Dalcorp Racing and AREA 51

Last Thursday Team Dalcorp enjoyed perfect conditions at Irwindale Dragstrip for a day of testing and getting reacquainted with an old friend. It was also a time of making some new friends as students from the Mount Olive High School program came out to watch Erica and the team put three of the Dalcorp cars through their paces. There were also several other Irwindale regulars out to test and tune their rides which added additional excitement to the day for these "gear head" students.

It had been some time since Erica had been down the track in the all glass-bodied 1966 Chevy Nova that had earned her the nickname, "The Fastest Girl at Irwindale." It was track announcer John Partridge that hung the title around her neck years ago and it's been there ever since. The Nova spent a week with Bob Hansen of Hansen Chassis for some suspension adjustments. Then it was "kick the tires and light the fires" for the big block Chevy Nova. After a couple of shake down runs it was time to get after it and get after it she did. With several runs in the low 5.70's at nearly 120 mph, Erica seemed like she had never left the seat. Also in her corner with some driving tips and adjustments was long time top fuel pilot Wyatt Radke. It was a solid outing for both the car and the driver. Thanks also to Buster Baglieri for doin' some wrenching on the car. Buster's son, Philip, took some laps down the 1/8 mile in the BG Oil 64' Chevelle and will soon be driving for Team Dalcorp in the near future. It was all very good!

Another highlight of the day was a visit from some of the high school kids enrolled in a program at Mount Olive High School. The program, run by Sandy Patterson and her family, work with kids that otherwise might not be in school for a variety of reasons. What made their visit special is that they are actually building a car as a school project so they all have a real interest in the mechanics and performance of a car. Sandy and her family use all the areas of building the car as teaching tools. To quote Sandy, "Math is figuring gas usage for the race car. Art is not a book thing, it is creating a car that runs great and looks good. Computers are more than My Space or Facebook; they find answers. How to build a roll cage, where to put the fuel cell; they find enjoyment in learning." We can't wait to see the finished product...maybe we'll see you at one of our test days in the future.

It was an awesome day from start to finish. We want to thank Irwindale Dragstrip for giving us a good, safe track to race on and to all who participated in testing. Not one oil down the entire day! It was all good

It was time to give Marianne (Mernie) a real
job during test day so we made her the starter
for the day. Mernie, great job on the switch!

Erica, suited up and ready; back in an old friend!

Grandson Dane was impressed with Erica's
runs!!

Erica was pleased with the early runs...

Phil Baglieri suiting up and getting ready for
his first hits in the Chevelle. Philip did a great
job adapting to the workings of the SS Chevelle.
Good times ahead, Philip.

It didn't take Philip long to master the art of
the burnout in the BG Oil Chevelle.

Dane was really focused on Erica as she got
ready to make another run.

Faith, the only girl in the class from Mt. Olive,
turned out to be the daughter of one of our
in laws! What a way to meet a new family
member!!

....right down Broadway....5.73 @ 119.55 mph.

What would a test day be without an appearance
from the one and only, "Ernie the Attorney."
Ernie had just put the car back together and was
shakin' her down.

Mernie didn't have any problems handling the
starting line all day. Great job, Mern!!

Paul Althouse had the Camaro out with son
Danny behind the wheel. The first four passes
down the track were 5.77, 5.77, 5.77, and 5.76.
Paul, you better work a little more the consistency.
What's with the 5.76?

AJ had a chance to put the Manx through it's
paces and ran the car's quickest time for the
day with his first pass.

AJ.....nice shot, Mike Morgan Photography!

When we weren't testing we were doing baby

shower stuff. Buster and his family presented

Mike, Kristy, Dane and new baby Ryan with

this beautiful basket full of "Munchkins" baby

products. Unbelievable. Thank you, Baglieri

family.

Six days old and already at the drag strip! This

boy is being brought up right!

Erica with the group from Mt. Olive. Thank

you Sandy for introducing your "crew" to us!

Erica and Faith.

We hardly recognized Ron Walker when he

showed up in his newly painted Falcon. Looking

good, Ron!

Ben Marrone burned some serious rubber in

his beautifully prepared Mach 1.

Wyatt Radke and Erica going over some changes

that they made in the cockpit.

l to r, Jeff Hicky, Frank Marrone and Ron Walker

watching Erica do her thing.

Patrick had his Chevelle SS on the track for the

first time and had a blast...ya' think!

Wyatt was working on tire pressure settings in the

Manx. Radke had several "exciting" runs during

the day, but as he puts it, "That's really fun!"

"Mr. Excitement" himself, Mike Morgan of

Mike Morgan Photography took some great

shots throughout the day. You can check out

his work at http://www.mikemorganphotography.com/ .

And a good time was had by all....

Thursday nights at Irwindale always seem to provide some sort of unexpected excitement and this past outing at our local track was no exception. With a new set of tires on the BG Oil Chevelle Erica needed to put a few runs on the skins before heading into the night's "King of the Hill" bracket race. The car seemed to respond immediately to the new rubber as the e.t.'s began coming down to the car's "happy place." Micah Adams brought out his turbo'd bug and put down several nice passes in spite of a slipping clutch. Our friend Hector Urias driving his turbo charged VW gave the crowd a thrill when he looped his car at about half track. Fortunately he didn't touch the wall and was able to be towed back to his pit in one piece. The Pandeles camp came away from the evening with less than favorable results as the trans in their beautifully prepared 65 Chevelle decided that it was time to quit.

Moving into "King of the Hill" Erica made her way through the first couple of rounds and into the semi finals with the Chevelle picking up a few hundredths each round as the new tires began to break in. Second guessing the dial in for the semi final round put Erica on the trailer as she broke out with a 6.70 on a 6.72 dial in. It was a great race but just a bit too quick. (dad takes the loss this time!) But overall it was a great night with some great racing. See you next week!