Nitro Fever Joliet Test - Wrap Up

"Nitro Fever" A/Fuel Dragster ready to Run

The excitement was high at Ameling's Sound, Speed & Graphics, home of the Nitro Fever A/Fuel Dragster. After a year of locating parts, contacting other racers to learn of the latest info on A/Fuel racing and discussions with marketing partners, the nitro methane powered 5,000 horsepower dragster is ready to race.

The team crew chief Ben Ameling, assisted by Shane Binverssie (who crewed on the race car during the previous outing) kept the new team members, Brian Zoborosky, Ted Allen, Frank Lynch, John Lynch and of course the "Nitro Fever" driver Dave Hill all on the path to success.

A good warm up of the engine and a brief discussion of crew responsibilities, takes us to the starting line.

The race car sounds great as the driver rolls thru the water box. The first attempt at a burn out was unsuccessful as the driver had too much forward momentum that prevented the tires from spinning as they met the sticky surface of the race track. The driver stopped the car but due to fine tuning the clutch required, the driver was unable to get the car in reverse. Dave drove the car down to the big end and shut it down.

Back in the pits the crew made the necessary changes to the clutch for the next test. It was getting late in the day and the team knew this would be their only shot at a good run. They warmed the car, Dave rolled thru the water box and hit the throttle lighting the tires up in smoke. After backing up behind the Christmas tree/staging lights, the crew made their final checks before putting Dave in the pre-stage light.

Dave stated after the run "I could feel that Ben had the car ready to Thunder".

Dave staged the car, the light turned green and the car launched with the front wheels in the air. The sixty foot time was 0.916 seconds. The car made a slight move to the left at half track, which allowed the tires to haze. Dave drove it back into the groove right about the 1000 foot cones. The engine then pushed a head gasket out. The car slowed down a bit. The ending numbers 5.61 ET @ 238mph.

All things considered, the first time back out with slightly different engine components, 2 percent less nitro percentage, new crew members and a new driver (which amazingly had a .091 reaction time) the Nitro Fever Racing Team is off to a good start.



Look for the team at the Thunder Nationals at Martin, MI.
Visit http://www.us131msp.com for more information.

This is a great show with a variety of cars. Check it out!


Contact: Dave Hill @ nitrofever1@yahoo.com