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Finally after a long spring waiting for parts to get the new
configuration of the blown alcohol 55 Chevy on the track, the crew
from Shoebox racing unveiled the flamed '55 at the 3rd annual Rocky
Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, Alberta. The northern national event
would be a great place to shake down the new combination as engine
builder Bob Atchison and two time world champion pro funny car pilot
Rob Atchison would be on hand to answer any last minute tune up
questions. Wednesday's arrival found torrential downpours in Edmonton so the rig had to be staged at a nearby truckstop with dozens of other racers. Thursday's weather was chilly yet much more favourable and all of the rigs were then moved into the pits at Budweiser Motorsports Park. Driver Duane Grosart was faced with many new challenges in the car including a four speed Lenco transmission opposed to the three speed he has used for years and also a hand brake instead of the foot brake of past. The first pass would be a learning experience for Duane and an inaugural run for the revamped "Shoebox". The class that the team would be running is called Thunderbolt and all entries must run no quicker than 7.5 seconds. Although the '55 is capable of much quicker times, it was decided that this would be a good platform on which to test and work the bugs out of the new ride. By Friday the weather was good to go in Edmonton and the car was readied for the first qualifying pass as well as the first pass ever with the new setup. The team was called up at four pm and the wait in the staging lanes was surprisingly short and before we knew it, the car was under the bridge at the starting line of Budweiser Motorsports Park and getting fired up. Duane did a quick conservative burnout and then backed the car and prepared to stage. Everyone looked on in anticipation as Duane launched and ran the car quite softly to a 7.558 at 183.57 mph and straight up the middle of the lane. By the end of first round the Shoebox Racing '55 was atop the qualifiers in the number one position. First passes seldom look that pretty. The next qualifier was to run at 8 pm and after a few minor adjustments the car was once again at the line. Cal Tebb had just bettered the number one spot with a 7.53 so Shoebox currently sat number two. Once again Duane did a quick burnout, staged the car and shot right up the middle to a 7.510 at 183.02 mph. The 3/4 full stands were heard to loudly cheer over the roar of the next pair of cars in the burnout box as the wildly popular flamed '55 recaptured the number one qualifying spot. Saturday once again found Edmonton and Budweiser Motorsports Park under heavy rainfall conditions so not much happened other than some visiting with old friends and lots of admirers hanging around checking out the refurbished car and new trailer. Sunday morning was overcast but dry so the final qualifying pass was nixed and the Thunderbolt class was moved directly into eliminations. The Shoebox team would be paired first round with pit neighbour Shawn Bulechowsky in his Chevy II. Hand brake unfamiliarity caught up with Duane this time though and the '55 red lit handing the win over to the other lane and ending the race day for Team Shoebox. The capacity crowd cheered the crew as the car returned to the pits. The agony of defeat did not last long as the weekend was extremely prosperous as far as data acquisition and just successfully getting the car down the track with all of its changes. A great time was had by all and northern Alberta and all the racers attending from all over North America know who Shoebox Racing is now. Shoebox Racing would like to thank primary sponsors Propell Engineering, Dentara Cabinets and TyCrop Manufacturing as well as all associate sponsors for the support. Associate sponsors include: A-One Machinery, Auto Trim Signs and Designs, Barton Insurance Brokers, Chilliwack Kal Tire, Custom Printers, ID Motorsport Design, Jet Tools, RH Racecars, Remarkable Uniform Mat and Towel Ltd., Ron Morrow Agency, Rose Creative, Tek Truck, Valley Tank and Container Services Ltd. and Vertec Transport Our next outing will be at Mission Raceway Park July 30 and 31 for the Langley Loafers B.C. Old Time Drags. Check out www.shoeboxracing.com for more information and the full 2005 schedule. Stu Wotypka www.idmotorsportdesign.com |
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