Where's The Parts ? And " Where's our rent car"??

It's Sunday,February 13th, we need to leave for Phoenix in three days,and we are still waiting on parts.  Only some "non-essential" stuff, like rear tires,rear axles and our clutch.  I really thought we would have the car on the ground by now.  We should be washing and waxing. We should be putting all of our tools in the trailer,making sure we have all of our supplies.  But no, were waiting on parts.  My being a partsman for the last 29 years, I have heard those words more than I care to remember. But I am still sure we can get this all together. It takes almost as long to write this blog as it will to set the clutch up and get it installed.  Not that much longer to mount the tires and install the brakes.  Well, almost. But anyway, if we get these parts by Tuesday, we should be good. It takes a lot of work to get ready for one of these trips without being held up on parts. The waiting gets you out of sync. We can't install the brakes because we don't have an axle,we can't make sure our new starter is set up right without a flywheel (and it is with the clutch), and if we did have all of that, we can't put the car down and roll it around without tires.  You get the picture. We are suppose to have it all by Tuesday and we can make that work.  Then, all we have to take care of is groceries and a new cooler.  My girlfriend  (Judy), says that our cooler is broken.  Do coolers just quit working ? I have never heard of that. It does not look broken, it has no visible damage, I don't think I believe this. But she says if we don't get a new cooler, well,  she's not going, so we're getting a new cooler! Like I said before, this racing can turn into a lot of work, and she is great help. She can't always go with us, because she has a job too.  I sure miss her when she is not there. She takes care of the motorhome, adds a feminine touch and smell, and puts out some little snacks, and some candles, and really pampers us.  When it is just Greg and I, it's more like a camping trip, so Im glad she is going.  And besides all that she does..  I love her company!
  Now, Im  pretty sure that Judy is not a descendant of Columbus, or Louis and Clark, or any of those other people who could find their way around. Let's just say she is very geographically challenged. One time, she went from Arlington to Dallas via WACO. Really???   So, we are at the racetrack on Thursday. That is the parking and setup day most of the time. At a lot of the tracks there is a "Test and Tune" on Thursday. A good time to test any new parts or setups, and do a little tuning. We don't always run on those days, but after a long winter we like to see "Where were at". This particular day, Greg and I have been going back and forth on whether we should make any runs or not. I went off roaming around somewhere thinking we were not going to make any passes that day. I do my visiting, or whatever, and I head back to our pit. The track announcer has been yacking all day, I don't really pay attention to what he saying most of the time, but I do hear him saying something about a "Halt" in the action because someone is on the racetrack. This is during alcohol funny car runs. These cars run in the 5 second @ 260 mph range. Well, someone is on the track, so they have to shut down- so what? I get back to the motorhome and Greg says "I sent Judy to enter us in this test and tune". I say " YOU DID WHAT ? !!"...YOU MEAN IN THE CAR ??  I have this sinking feeling in my gut. That announcement I heard, what was that? "Someone is on the top end of the racetrack during funny car testing" . Judy is gone in the car?  This can't be good.  Unfortunately, my suspicion's are correct..  JUDY IS ON THE RACETRACK!!! It seems she had a little trouble with her navigation skills again. Some very nice and understanding track personnel, finally got her attention and told her "Lady you're on the racetrack"! He ask her where she was trying to go and then said " Follow Me " and he escorted her to the tech shack to sign us up for test and tune, and then escorted her back to our pit. She said, " They were not happy about it, but were very understanding". But--- Greg and I are in a heap of trouble!!  Wait a minute, what did I do ?  This one should be on Greg, I am innocent!  Not in the eyes of a very mad woman.  I must be just as guilty, cause this woman is MAD !  My buddy Greg goes in the motorhome and holes up in his bedroom for a "Nap". Yeah right!  So I am left on my own, with one angry little girl.  Thanks Greg. He still thinks it's funny, and so do I, when I'm out of arms reach of Judy. Good fun times.
  After all of the excitement settled down, we made a couple runs .. If I remember right ,we went 6.67 and 6.68. Two really good runs for a "green track" that hasn't even been prepped by NHRA.  We should be good for Qualifying. We were good, we Qualified #1 and got to the semi-finals.  I had heard some not so good sounds coming from our starter the round before.  Man, these big ole 820 cubic inch engines are hard on starters. But, we dont have much time to change starters, and don't have a great spare either. It should live two more rounds. Besides, we have a bye in the semi-final, (odd number of cars or a broken competitor will give you a bye run). All we have to do is stage the car, take the tree, and we are in the final. In the staging lanes, Greg and I are concerned about this,but all we need is one more start and then we can address this before the final.  Well, of course, it won't start.  And you have to stage the car under it's own power.  A bunch of our competitor's come to our aid. I here someone say "Lets pushstart it'', well that doesn't work.  So we take off the front end so that I can "Jump the solenoid" - now I have a small fire. I said, maybe I could hit the starter with a hammer, and get it to bust off just one more time.  No one had a hammer, but someone gave me a broom that was at the starting line ( for small starting line cleanups). " Here, use this", he said.  Man, what is this made of ?  Lead ?  This is the heaviest broom I have ever held.  " JUST HIT IT " .  I raise the broom a little and  BAM , I whacked it.  No start. " HIT IT AGAIN " .   KA_BAM!!  Uh oh.  That last ka- bam broke the starter  in half , we are done now.  A bye into the final, GONE !  But, whats done is done. We start thinking ahead to Tuscon, which is in three days.  In Tuscon,with our "new" starter installed, we again qualify #1, still stinging from the heartbreak of losing the race in Phoenix because of a parts failure. Parts failure or crew chief failure, or a combination.  But,Greg always says " We win together and we lose together".   I heard Doug Herbert say one time, "That's why they call it Drag racing.  Cause sometimes it's a DRAG"!!

    Happy Valentines Day Judy.  I love you.

Hey Greg,There's $.99 Gas...No Terry I saw it for $.98.... SOMEWHERE!!!

Well its February 5. Two short weeks until we roll.Phoenix sounds like the place to be after the last weeks weather here.-25 degree wind chill,frozen pipes,ice and snow and did I mention wind chill."Yikes".If we were not ready to start the season last week,well, we are now.
 We are still waiting on a lot of our parts to be returned to us.The ice and snow across the country has thrown a kink in shipping.Some of the vendors we deal with have lost power at there homes and businesses.So things have been slow this week.So next week should be very busy.I imagine most of our stuff will come in at one time.And then the thrash is on!!
  Sitting around the house,not wanting to be outside over 30 or 40 seconds at a time,gave me a lot of time to reflect on past years.Those years before we got a motorhome,when we towed with a 1-ton dually pickup and a 36 ft trailer.Man, we thought that rig was huge.Although we could pull through any motel parking lot and find a place to park,eat at any restaurant we pleased,Heck, we could even pull that rig through the drive-up at McDonalds,to everyone's amazement including me.But,What Greg loved about it was we could get that rig in all of the small "cheap gas" stations.Anyone who knows Greg very well is very familiar with Greg and his "save a penny a gallon" game.It has driven some into drag racing retirement.But Greg loves this game,so Game On!!!
  Name a place that you have been in the lower 48 states and chances are we have been out of gas there.One time at about 4:00 AM somewhere between Memphis and Nashville,I  have been watching the gauge for probably 60 miles{.In our gas game as long as the needle has some "bounce" we are good to go}.Well, we have lost our bounce and the next town is about 40 miles,No way,we are going to run out of gas.If we were on the way home we could fall back on some $6 a gallon racing fuel.But we are on our way to the race and we might need that fuel for the car.So I spy an exit with a sign showing gas and motel .EXIT,turn right 1/4 mile,station on the left.CLOSED.Well the motel has a restaurant,lets have breakfast  and wait for them to open,cause we have a fuel range of approximately twelve feet.(of course the pump is fourteen feet away).We go into the restaurant that has "just" opened and sit down for breakfast.when we came in, it was dark and very foggy.We notice a lot of pictures on the wall of people with fish.So Greg asked the waitress if there was a lake nearby. She looks over at the cook and says did you hear that.They chuckle a little,then inform us that we are blocking the boat ramp.While we ate breakfast,the station opened,we got gas and were off.
One time in Monroe,La. no bounce on the gauge,we spy a station on the other side of the interstate.If we can just make it half way over the overpass we can coast down the other side into the gas station,perfect,no problem.Just a little short,now we have to try to keep this rig from going backwards to where we just came from,blocking traffic and not making any cajun friends.The cool part of this one is we did get a new 2 gallon gas can,that we still use today.And then there was the time, we again had no bounce on the gauge.We are on the turnpike between Tulsa and Oklahoma City and there is not a lot of opportunity for gasoline on this turnpike anyway.I am getting pretty nervous about running out,but I know there is a Phillips about 15 miles up the road.If we can just make it fifteen more miles.Sweating,Sweating,alright there it is ,on our side,its open,were gonna make it. $1.20 a gallon,I saw it for $1.18 I think,says Greg as we pass the station.PASS THE STATION,you have got to be kidding me.I am in total disbelief. No more than two miles further and we are OUT of gas,parked on the side of the turnpike.Oh yeah, at MIDNIGHT, of course.Well,not to fear,we are on the way home.Racing fuel it is @ $6.00 a gallon.We put in enough racing fuel to get us to the next gas station.Cool part of this one is I met the band for David Allen Coe at that gas stop.They were playing in Amarillo the next night and I was invited to be their guest.There are so many of these stories,I cant tell them all today,but I will sneak a few in here and there in these blogs.
 One gasoline related story though.Everyone seems love this one.Greg and I are coming back home,we have been driving all night,as usual.We had just gotten a new dually and did not have our big tank in the truck yet.So we are just running on the factory 34 gallon tank,which would go about 214 miles.(wonder how I know this?).We had decided that one of us would drive through a tank and when we stopped for fuel,the other would drive out that tank,just switching at each gas stop.Brilliant.It worked well all evening and all night.I remember getting to the Arkansas,Oklahoma state line and we need gas finally. I have been fighting to stay awake,each mile seemed like a week.But,now I can get some sleep and let Greg have this thing for a while.Awesome.We get our fuel,Greg coffee's up and were on the road.Its probably about 4:30 or 5:00 AM,the sun has not started up just yet.I immediately am asleep.We roll into Oklahoma and its down to one lane.Good ole road construction.Who cares Im sleeping! Well, It seems that Greg was having a difficult time also.Hanging his head out the window,holding one leg up,slapping himself, all the old standby stay awake tricks we had learned to that point.Not me,Im sleeping like a baby,sucking flies so I understand.About this time Greg has an epiphany.He thinks, how does he know how far we have gone? He has been passed out since we left that station.So,the very next station he see's,he pulls in,gets out,puts the nozzle in the tank and then slaps the passenger side window,waking me saying its your turn.WOW,have I been asleep that long?   WOW,it seems like just a minute ago that I laid down.WOW,how can that be.W O W!!!! Well I better get in there and get some coffee,splash a little water in my face and get woke up for "MY TURN"! We get back on the road and I keep thinking how short my nap felt,how it was still a long way to Oklahoma city.I must have been further from the state line than I thought when I stopped a "FEW HOURS AGO".It takes a few miles and the sun coming up to finally get my wings.But I did and I drove that tank out,because we had a "deal".Funny,I never did put that together.To road numb I guess.A couple of years later,some of us were talking about something and Greg's wife (Marshi Lair) says somthing to the effect of Greg short tanked ya.WHAT!!! I look over at Greg and I can tell by the look on his face that Marshi has let the cat out of the bag.Thanks Marshi,I guess I would have never known.But now,I know who Im dealing with,I have to stay aware of milage and mile markers and TIME.I got SHORT-TANKED.I've got to admit,that was Brilliant.I wish I had thought of that.
 I guess I had better wrap this up.I could go on and on.But there will be time to tell some other stories later.Oh yeah,one last thing.Just the other day at the dealership,Greg calls my office and says ,wanna go to lunch.I say sure.He says I'll pick you up,lets go to" Green Chili Willys."Have any of you been to I-27 & F.M.2219.Well we ran out of gas there.
OH NO,I see that diesel is $3.45 a gallon at Love's.Let the game begin!

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.

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.