You've just entered the web site of one of drag racing's most awesome race cars-Raging Eagle Racing's 2004 Pontiac Grand Am.  With 2500 plus Alan Johnson horse power force fed by a Kobelco super charger, the Skinny Kid Race Cars built, Ron's Graphics Inc. sponsored Grand Am covers the 1320 at speeds approaching 220 mph with E.T.'s in the low 6 second zone.

June 7, 2009

The Raging Eagle Racing Team began the 2009 season, at Milan Dragway's second Heads Up event of the year.  We tested on Thursday making one 1/8th mile pass which produced the best numbers we have ever had.  The engine was very strong and the car drove effortlessly.  We spent Thursday night looking everything over and preparing for Friday's race day.  Confidence high.

The first qualifying pass surpassed our expectations and left us setting on top of the field clocking a 6.49 @ 219mph.  The 219 is what surprised me by 4mph.  The charge after the third gear change was like nothing I have ever felt in this car before.  I knew it was going fast, but I figured that not having raced in almost a year was largely contributing to the sensation.  I was thrilled to see it was the almost 220mph and more horsepower than I have ever felt.  We sat out the second round of qualifying hoping no one would catch us.  Luckily we remained on top by a mere .002 second.

We won the first two rounds which landed us in the finals, only to face former IHRA champion Ken Langlois (my mentor) and several time winner of this event.  Although it was almost 1:00 am and way past my bedtime concentration was at the max for this one.  The car again performed perfectly, making a deadly straight pass (Thank you Milan Crew) and took the win with a 6.52 @ 217mph.

The entire crew was excellent; Bro Paul didn't miss a thing working hard turning around the car between rounds; Ronny's diagnostic skills and overall support (he can do anything) kept us in the event; Paul Bairds many, many hours of data analysis and suspension set up provided a safe and straight race car; Dyan once again provided all the data needed for analysis; and Marsha showed me she still cares since the chutes she packed blossomed perfectly every time.  Crew chief Mike was solid as always, insisting I listen and stay calm and focused, while he tuned the race car for the win.  Most importantly to me, Mike lined me up perfectly for every pass resulting in five complete passes in a row -- a record of sorts for this car.  Big John, my long time friend of 40+ years (you would always see us together at the race tracks) was also there to lend a hand keeping the pit area as well as the race car clean.  It was great not having to look through 220mph bug splatter. 

We were all happy to see so many of our supporters and racing friends again after almost a year's hiatus.  We felt very welcomed and missed.  Two couples especially, Henry and his wife Jean, and bro and sis in law, Larry and Carol, deserve honorable mention for sticking out the entire race until after 1:00 am.

Our next event will be at Norwalk, June 20th where we will race 1/8th mile.  I'm confident crew chief Mike will have a very competitive tune-up.  Confidence is high but never cocky. 

Special thanks to Brian Robbins, driver of the Skinny Kid Race Car Hurst Olds, for all the help with the new fuel system, and taking his time away from his resposibilities during the test session to help us fix our race car.

March 24, 2009

 We began the 2008 season as we finished in 2007, fast and going rounds.  Our race car performed flawlessly during the first test session and again at the first race at Milan Dragway.  We qualified in the third position posting a stout 6.52 @ 212 mph within a strong field.  We won the first two rounds and lost in the finals to Skinny Kid's Race Car sponsored (and owned) Hurst Olds piloted by Brian Robbins.  While losing in the finals is always disappointing, we were all very pleased with our overall performance.  

The following event was at Summit Raceway Park where the season ending damage occurred.  The first round of qualifying left us in the number one position; however, our race car was not as fast as we felt it should have been.  During the burnout in the second round of qualifying, our racing engine showed us why, suffering severe damage and sending us home without participating in Summit's first race of the season. 

Marsha and I returned home and immediately removed the engine and began tear down.  After a thorough inspection it became painfully obvious that the damage was quite more severe (and expensive) than we first thought.  After a week of deliberation, Marsha and I decided to call it quits for the 2008 season.  We have been racing for more than 20 years and felt a year off would rejuvenate our enthusiasm.  I don't believe it was even two weeks and I had fixed all those little nagging things around the house which one normally lets go until they become necessary.  Even the lawn mower got an oil change and a tune up and our grass was fertilized on time.  

Attending the second race of the year as a spectator at Milan Dragway was a mistake.  I do not make a good spectator and watching all of our peers racing only emphasized this.  Although it did accomplish lighting the fire again, motivating me to fix the engine.  It seemed like it took forever to acquire all the parts and have all the machine work done.  It did too.  We finished installing the freshly repaired engine just in time for the last race of the year.  With no testing we felt it would be a mistake to attend the race and only look forward to 2009.    

March 23, 2009

The 2009 racing season is finally here following last year's long hiatus. Well it's not quite here but we are ready to go.  We have made a few improvements over the winter and are excited to see the results. 

The entire team is back and looking forward to a successful year. Mike will be back as crew chief, our major sponsor, Ron, owner of Ron's Graphics Inc, will be wrenching, brother Paul will be preping the race car, and Paul's wife, Dyan, will again be in charge of sales and posting data.  The Raging Eagle Racing team is pleased to have Paul Baird return after such a short and dissappointing 2008. Paul brings with him many years of racing experience and an engineer's analytical mind and demeanor, excelling in data analysis, as well as a good wrench.  He will be responsible for "all" data analysis, suspension tuning and advising Mike. Most importantly, Marsha will again return with renewed confidence and exuberance.  Her responsiblities include packing parachutes, radios, driver's equipment preparation, preparing Bill for racing and belting him into the race car, staging lane operations and directing the driver back after the burnout.   

The tentative schedule for the 2009 season includes competing in two Heads Up racing programs at Milan Dragway in Milan Michigan, and at Norwalk's (Summit) Raceway park in Norwalk Ohio. 
We will begin testing in April (probably the first of May) before embarking on our season.

The Raging Eagle Racing team would like to thank our major sponsor's owner, Ron Siedlak, (Ron's Graphics Inc.) for his loyal help and support, as well as our associate sponsors:  Leaf Racewear, L.D. Motorsports, Exotic Coatings and Outlaw Photo.  MORE