For Jim
Murphy and the OSH-WW2 Racing team the 2004 season has been frustrating
at best. The 2003 World Championship magic just isn't there.
At a race Murphy usually shines at, the 13th CHRR showed promise
early but went up in smoke - literally - Sunday afternoon. After
qualifying # 2 with a very stout 5.860 at 257.21, and winning
the first two rounds of eliminations with impressive five second
times, the car misbehaved badly in the semis - smoking the tires
early on. Murphy could only watch eventual event winner, Rick
McGee motor on for the victory. With one event left in the 2004
season, WW2 Racing can only regroup and shoot for the championship
again in 2005. Nobody would bet against that goal.
On the
first of three days featuring chamber of commerce weather and
huge crowds, the 13th annual California Hot Rod Reunion held
its first Top Fuel qualifying session Friday afternoon.
Since most of
the teams showed up Thursday, there wasn't much to do before
session one.
When
it came, the first session paired up Jim Murphy with Denver Schutz.
Murphy left good but
down track he was on and off the throttle trying to control the
wheel spin. In spite of the pedaling, Jim ran a 6.064 at 211.76
which would put him # 6 after the first session.
3:00
p.m. Saturday afternoon brought the second and last qualifying
session. Friday was basically a tune-up run and now it was time
to take a shot at the track at the # 1 spot.
Tim Beebe
makes his final adjustments before Murphy stages. Bill Dunlap
was in the other lane.
After going to school on Friday's run, the WW2
fueler spit out some clutch dust at the hit and started hauling.
Murphy unloaded Top Speed of the meet (to that point) on the
class with a really nice blast taking over the second spot with
a superb 5.819 at 248.34.
The crew
reacts to the clapping fans as they go to the top end to pick
up Murphy (and the car of course).
10-03-04 - BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Final order of qualifying in Nostalgia Top Fuel at the 2004
California Hot Rod Reunion.
1. Bill
Dunlap - 5.819 @ 248.34
2. Jim Murphy - 5.860 @ 257.21
3. Jack Harris - 5.864 @ 257.87
4. Denver Schutz - 5.866 @ 240.19
5. Mendy Fry - 5.874 @ 251.32
6. Rick McGee - 5.899 @ 232.31
7. Scott Mason - 5.989 @ 244.49
8. L Jennings Sr. - 6.046 @ 247.38
9. Jeff Diehl - 6.054 @ 210.62
10. John Shoemaker - 6.064 @ 213.92
11. Brendan Murray - 6.081 @ 230.88
12. Howard Haight - 6.090 @ 246.03
13. Sean Bellemeur - 6.109 @ 231.60
14. Rick White - 6.182 @ 186.21
15. Terry Cox - 6.360 @ 220.15
16. Pete "Fritz" Kaiser - 6.468 @ 184.69
DNQ
17. Rick Rogers - 6.777 @ 205.01
18. Dan Rusk - 6.946 @ 207.13
19. Chuck Tanko - 7.861 @ 117.38
20. Ron Maroney - 7.913 @ 121.52
21. Mark Hyla - 13.358 @ 57.51
22. Adam Sorokin - 14.040 @ 68.48 |
Here
are a few candid pit shots as the crew gets the car ready for
the first round of eliminations that night.
Eliminations
- Round One
The
new (and popular) format for the CHRR is to run the first round
of the 16 car Top Fuel show on Saturday under the lights. The
winners from this round would be in competition for the final
three rounds on Sunday. In his first match up Murphy met # 15
qualifier, Terry Cox. We apologize for a lack of photos of this
session as most of the photographers where on the other side
of the track preparing to shoot the "Cacklefest".
Murphy
left first and his 5.953 at 234.68 was too much for Cox's game
but trailing 6.068 at 227.84. Murphy would come back on Sunday
- Cox would go home.
Eliminations
- Round Two
11:00
a.m. Sunday morning and the sun drenched skies of Bakersfield
fill with the sound of Top Fuel dragsters. In the second stanza
Murphy faced the five second Chevy fueler of Scott Mason.
Even
start and another five for Mason (5.990 at 240.70, but it goes
for naught as Murphy was even quicker with a 5.867 at a very
fast 255.31. Murphy had lane choice over Rick McGee in the semi
finals.
Right at the ET light the WW2 Racing entry nipped
a piston (see flame on right bank) which resulted in a lot of
smoke from the engine (below).
As usual, the team got back to their pit in a hurry
and started getting the car repaired and ready for the semi finals.
In round two of Top Fuel Murphy was paired with the
always tough Rick McGee. The Tedford & McGee entry qualified
who had already carded two 5.8 runs over the weekend ... and
Rick is a consistently good leaver. This meant that Murphy had
to be on his game and at least repeat his previous run.
Both cars left together but as noted on the header
of this page, Murphy's weekend soon went up in smoke when the
clutch locked up at the 300 foot mark and as the tires blazed
Jim could only watch McGee motor on to a 6.001 at 228.19 win.
A picture is worth a thousand words! Weekend over. |
