Sunday, January 30, 2011

Tales From The Strip !!: Chance Favors The Prepared Mind

Tales From The Strip !!: Chance Favors The Prepared Mind: "Here we are just two weeks till the season's opening race at Firebird raceway in Chandler,Az. Man im tellin ya time flies. It seems like a c..."

Chance Favors The Prepared Mind

Here we are just two weeks till the season's opening race at Firebird raceway in Chandler,Az. Man im tellin ya time flies. It seems like a couple of weeks ago we were just pulling back into the shop from "The season finale" at "The Strip" in Las Vegas,Nv.
  There is so much to do over the winter to get one of these cars prepared.The race sanctioning bodies have very stringent safety rules. This includes re-certification of safety gear.These items include Seat belts,clutch,bell housing,engine oil lines,window net, etc.The S.F.I. foundation sets performance standards for the companies that manufacture these products,these products must meet their minimum standards to qualify to be sold to racers.Every year or two you have to send these products back to that manufacturer to be inspected.They test that product,inspect for alterations and either replace or  certify. Not only that,but we have to check the whole car over.Remove all the brakes and inspect for wear or damage,also inspect the parachutes for tears or broken straps,send them off to be repaired and cleaned.Stopping one of these 200 mph cars becomes much more important than the number we put up on the scoreboard! We remove the rearend gear and replace it.Check the axles for cracking,check all bolts,and the chassis for cracks or breaks.I could go on and on but I bet you've got the picture.And then we have a motorhome and trailer,with generators,furnaces,air conditioners,stove,air compressor,computers etc etc.Just like having a second home to keep up with.And then the support vehicles,(golf cart and my zuma scooter) and everything has batteries. I HATE BATTERIES. We have so many places that "Murphy" can hide,and he shows up every winter.








  So,the last month has been all about preparation.When the time comes for us to stage this hot rod,the last thing Greg needs to be thinking about is loose bolts,broken parts or old tires. He can't be thinking about where "Murphy" is hiding.all he needs to be thinking about is reaction time,the one two shift,and keeping the car in the middle of his lane.Hopefully the team in the other lane has prepared for all of this also.Now Greg,make sure your tongue is not between your teeth and let the clutch out on this 1650 hp bomb.
 We are expecting good things from ourselves on the racetrack this year.But there are teams all over the nation that are thinking the same thing.It all comes down to being prepared mechanically,physically,and mentally.These races are extremely difficult to win when you are prepared,impossible if not.
  So right now we are preparing .This is an exciting time,everyone has ZERO points and ZERO race wins.We are all even on paper.It all comes down to who is prepared.We are doing all we can to make sure it is us.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

So. Now Im A Blogger!

   Hello ,my name is Terry Green. I am the parts manager  here at Greg Lair Buick Gmc. I have been with the dealership since 1987, I think I've found a home here. As you all know it is not easy to find a career doing something you have a passion for. Greg Lair is one of these fortunate people,and he has also made that possible for me.Greg is the kind of guy who would be successful at anything he chose.He has an eye for detail that is second to nobody,and I have learned so much about cars and performance from him even though he has had to drag me to it a few times (most times).I love procrastination,Greg on the other hand knows no such word.I envy him at times because he knows exactly  what he wants and does not settle for (well this is how everybody else does it  ).He can see it in his mind and will map a way to get there,all i have to do is read the map.
 Greg is a car dealer because he loves cars, and has since he was a child .He grew up in a great time for automobile lovers.All through the 60's the car manufactures were obsessed with performance.What a wonderful time to grow up with an automobile obsession.Real full service gas stations on every corner,new car models every year.kept secret from the public(under covers,stashed in barns), so no one would see until the unveiling.You could order a car like your grandmother would drive,so your parents would be proud.What they didn't know, was  that yours had a Big Block,4-speed,twice 4 barrel carb.It was a what I mean ground pounding,trouble making,street rac-ahh ehh ahh nice little daily driver.If you were somewhat into cars before,  ,the sixties was a shot of steroids.Now as a kid growing up in Canyon,Tx.,  Greg not only loved the beauty of these cars,but now had an equal or larger passion for performance. So Greg became a car dealer,not because it was the most lucrative business,but because it is his passion.I have worked in other car dealerships,but when the dealer is in that business because it is his hobby also,well that makes a place like Greg Lair Buick Gmc very, very special.                               
  Well, enough about the dealership.This blog  is to keep anyone that may be interested in Greg's drag racing.up to date with what we are doing,and how we are doing at the racetrack.I wish we could h ave had this social media when we started running this Top Sportsman class in 1989.There are so many stories to tell from the road.We have been to some cool places,places I thought I would only see on television, or in a magazine . We have experienced  , "The Thrill Of Victory and The Agony of Defeat" and we have had a large time doing it.I would like to start sharing these moments with all of our  friends!
 So,please stay in touch,we are making preparations for our 2011 season.This off-season has been heart wrenching as many of you know.So we now are on a mission to dedicate ourselves to the performance I know we are capable of.
 Brian, this one is for you!! I love you man.