Results From Byron Dragway - May 4, 2008
05/10/08 |
Weather was perfect and a good crowd. Animal Jim and Arnie were scheduled to make two exhibition match race runs. AJ and his legendary 700 inch Mammoth Merc Zephyr “Zeke” against Beswick’s famous "Tameless Tiger" Tempest Pontiac.
Run one :
AJ hole shot Arnie off the line with a .022 reaction time to Arnie’s .120 reaction time. At about 400 ft. Beswick was pouring two stages of nitrous to his 700 inch Pontiac engine and caught AJ, but then suddenly Beswick fell back. Arnie Beswick had melted all 8 pistons and AJ cruised for an easy win.
Beswick was done for the day so track owner Ron Leek matched Animal Jim against the “MOPAR MADAM” Jill Hickman driving her Top Sportsman Dodge Stratus. It would be a match of “Beauty and the Beast!!”
Again, AJ was off the line first with a .05 light and huge car and a half advantage. Although AJ’s elapsed time was only thee hundreds quicker than Jill’s due to the huge hole shot by AJ he beat Jill by two cars.
AJ: “It was a fun day. Too bad Arnie hurt his engine so bad and I had to beat up on that cute young woman. Jill is a good racer with a great car. Also a good sport.”
“Even though we had to change a clutch for the second run, the day went smooth for our Animal Jim Racing Team. The fans were great, the weather was great, Drag Illustrated took some pictures, we got paid and on the road by 6 PM.”
“I had a good crew. “Doc” Danny Smith owner of Doc’s Equipment in Lacon, Il., Allen Schmitt from Streator, IL. and my beautiful wife of 43 years, Linda”
“Next it is on to Rt, 66 Raceway for the second annual Match Race Mania on May 17th. Another feature match race with Arnie Beswick and I”
Animal Jim is self-sponsored by Animal Jim Racing and Animal Engines in Lacon, IL. With associate sponsors Patton Ring in E. Peoria, Rick Davis in Chillicothe, IL. , RJS Racing Equipment in Michigan and Kristy Electric in Justice, IL.
Last year's 2007 Match Race Mania is supposed to be on Speed Channel 7 PM CDT May 10th and 3:30 CDT May 12th. If you missed it. It will probably be on again sometime.
|
|
|
|
