JSM
Active member
For me nationals started 3 months ago and hasn't ended yet. In a couple weeks it will end for me when I take Roberts truck back to the port.
Several other guys have highlighted their experiences and mine are very similar. This year was a bit different for me and my 8th event.
No suprise I helped Robert bring his truck. Let me explain the amount of paperwork and detail required to make this happen. It was not an overnight decision. Keep in mind even though I have talked to Robert via phone for several years, I had never met him in person. He shipped me his truck, giving me full authority to do what I needed with it having never met me. That takes some balls or trust.
Once the decision was made to bring the truck several paperwork issues had to be resolved. Here are just a few.
For me the best part of the weekend was meeting someone I call a very close and great friend. I am sure the daily phone calls before the event helped, but it is rare when you met someone you instantly are on the same page with. Even with some language issues if one of us said 2 words the other could finish the thought perfectly. It was actually scary. Veronica I also call a close and dear friend. She is amazing and a wonderful person herself. (she doesn't have any sisters or cousins I already asked). I can't wait to come visit them next year. To me they are my family.
Anders and Sveene are great also. I think we tainted Anders head a bit friday night though. He will never be the same. Svenne I still have the swedish cash in my pocket. Both these guys are great wrench bitches. :lol:
The 4 1/2 swedes made this weekend one I will never forget. Throw the BS aside I had a great time.
For me the final end to the great weekend was saturday after the race. We decided to put the street tires on and drive it 22 miles back to the hotel. How many have ridden in a low 9, high 8 second vehicle period, let alone on the street? Holy @hit the truck is the complete setup front to rear.
I get in at the track and as we are leaving Robert asks if I want music. CD player is turned on. :tup:
We drive out the track and turn left, somehow the right foot of Robert hits the floor, my body slides back against the cab and we are gone. No drama, no slidding into the other lane just gone. The best way i can describe it is the same feeling you get taking off in airplane. Smooth acceleration. Only difference is it is 3x more. I had a smile from ear to ear.
Once on the freeway cruising around 60mph he lays into it again, not sure how fast we got up to but again it was smooth and straight. Only after I returned to the hotel was I told it left 4 big black marks on the freeway and the tires were being hazed. It was crazy. Fanvangot in swedish (spelling it wrong but swedes will understand).
The truck drives smoother and better than my stock sy. I felt like we could have driven for hours. We had a great conversation (read not loud at all) as we drove back reflecting on the experience for us. I also discovered that motor was built 5 years ago. That says something.
I have zero regrets over bringing his truck here. I think those that saw him run have no doubts it can and did run a legit 8 now either.
Someone will go faster, I suspect Ed will be deep into 8's soon. This trip was not about that at all for us or trying to prove it was faster, better, etc. I best desribe the trip like the movie "World's Fastest Indian". If you saw the movie it is more about the adventure and people than the race itself.
I want to personally thank everybody that was a part of making this adventure a reality. From the ~10 people that donated, to those that bought t-shirts at the nats, those that helped find tools when we needed them (not often luckily and Robert didn't like my American tool box), heck you guys know who you are THANKS!!!!!!!
Thanks to Ryan for throwing me keys to his Vette. Now I want one for a daily driver.
Thanks to Dabney for breaking Anders in, Svenne now won't stand close to him for some reason.
Thanks to Dobrick as always. He doesn't own a truck yet still helps out anyway he can. This year I was tied up with Roberts truck, I didn't get to help Jeremy or Hardman like I wanted. Dobrick filled in and helped them out. I heard he throws the best parties also. Call him and ask 502-339-2791.
I do appologize to anybody that wanted to get some information, ask me questions etc this year. Lots of things going on in my mind at nats. Friday I got a call my job will be ending in 6 months so lots of stress. If I blew you off, I apologize.
More than ever this year it is evident that the syty group is a big family. Sometimes shit happens, one is mad at another but as families most of the time do we get over those issues and move on. I look forward to next years event and will challenge anybody to come, truck or no truck (5 extra raffle tickets to those that bring trucks next year, well it should be anyways).
Also not sure if anybody noticed, but Jeremy's 12.27 run at nationals was basically the stock turbo record just 7 months prior. (ok was 12.26 or something). Him and myself were pleased we could go that fast at nats even after the WB broke and we had to run blind on an old tune. Give us 2 months now that things are settled, it is going 11's damnit. He was there answering questions anybody asked. No secrets on his build. I still have Roberts truck here, think he will notice a few missing parts so we can run even faster?
I can't say it enough, if you have not been to nats it is worth it. Come in with open mind, start introducing yourself (it is ok to walk up to group of guys talking even if you don't know them, trust me, and introduce yourself it isn't a cliche it is just guys talking) Once you put a face to names, the syty.net board takes on a whole different meaning and you will began to understand all the jokes that get played on each other. (I proudly wear a I LOVE RENZ"S SHAFT!" sticker and plan to leave it on. My ty still has a Bdubb ownz you sticker on it from several years back)
Several other guys have highlighted their experiences and mine are very similar. This year was a bit different for me and my 8th event.
No suprise I helped Robert bring his truck. Let me explain the amount of paperwork and detail required to make this happen. It was not an overnight decision. Keep in mind even though I have talked to Robert via phone for several years, I had never met him in person. He shipped me his truck, giving me full authority to do what I needed with it having never met me. That takes some balls or trust.
Once the decision was made to bring the truck several paperwork issues had to be resolved. Here are just a few.
- Request/Recieve approval from EPA to bring it into the country and be street legal
- Work out import bond (this assures customs they get duty should it not leave the US)
- Drop truck off in Sweden at port, wait for transit to US.
- Drive 1200 miles to Baltimore to go get it, deal with 4 hours of paperwork, dead batteries (port left hazard lights on)
- Get home, and go over truck making sure any major damage repairs are not needed
- Take truck to photo shoot for a magazine. If you have been to photo shoot is like watching paint dry, boring as hell.
- Days before arrival I make some last minute modifications.
- Robert arrived monday, I finally met him and we did a quick once over on his truck.
- Tuesday we head down for testing and to get his NHRA license.
- Wednesday head to dyno in bad part of town and find out the fans are not enough to cool truck on dyno. Abort dyno runs.
- Thursday drive 10hrs to nats.
- Friday decide to do some testing at KC due to possible rain sat. By chance we get lined up next to Bully syclone for what Robert called one of his best races ever in terms of excitement.
- Saturday is finally the day we looked forward to.
For me the best part of the weekend was meeting someone I call a very close and great friend. I am sure the daily phone calls before the event helped, but it is rare when you met someone you instantly are on the same page with. Even with some language issues if one of us said 2 words the other could finish the thought perfectly. It was actually scary. Veronica I also call a close and dear friend. She is amazing and a wonderful person herself. (she doesn't have any sisters or cousins I already asked). I can't wait to come visit them next year. To me they are my family.
Anders and Sveene are great also. I think we tainted Anders head a bit friday night though. He will never be the same. Svenne I still have the swedish cash in my pocket. Both these guys are great wrench bitches. :lol:
The 4 1/2 swedes made this weekend one I will never forget. Throw the BS aside I had a great time.
For me the final end to the great weekend was saturday after the race. We decided to put the street tires on and drive it 22 miles back to the hotel. How many have ridden in a low 9, high 8 second vehicle period, let alone on the street? Holy @hit the truck is the complete setup front to rear.
I get in at the track and as we are leaving Robert asks if I want music. CD player is turned on. :tup:
We drive out the track and turn left, somehow the right foot of Robert hits the floor, my body slides back against the cab and we are gone. No drama, no slidding into the other lane just gone. The best way i can describe it is the same feeling you get taking off in airplane. Smooth acceleration. Only difference is it is 3x more. I had a smile from ear to ear.
Once on the freeway cruising around 60mph he lays into it again, not sure how fast we got up to but again it was smooth and straight. Only after I returned to the hotel was I told it left 4 big black marks on the freeway and the tires were being hazed. It was crazy. Fanvangot in swedish (spelling it wrong but swedes will understand).
The truck drives smoother and better than my stock sy. I felt like we could have driven for hours. We had a great conversation (read not loud at all) as we drove back reflecting on the experience for us. I also discovered that motor was built 5 years ago. That says something.
I have zero regrets over bringing his truck here. I think those that saw him run have no doubts it can and did run a legit 8 now either.
Someone will go faster, I suspect Ed will be deep into 8's soon. This trip was not about that at all for us or trying to prove it was faster, better, etc. I best desribe the trip like the movie "World's Fastest Indian". If you saw the movie it is more about the adventure and people than the race itself.
I want to personally thank everybody that was a part of making this adventure a reality. From the ~10 people that donated, to those that bought t-shirts at the nats, those that helped find tools when we needed them (not often luckily and Robert didn't like my American tool box), heck you guys know who you are THANKS!!!!!!!
Thanks to Ryan for throwing me keys to his Vette. Now I want one for a daily driver.
Thanks to Dabney for breaking Anders in, Svenne now won't stand close to him for some reason.
Thanks to Dobrick as always. He doesn't own a truck yet still helps out anyway he can. This year I was tied up with Roberts truck, I didn't get to help Jeremy or Hardman like I wanted. Dobrick filled in and helped them out. I heard he throws the best parties also. Call him and ask 502-339-2791.
I do appologize to anybody that wanted to get some information, ask me questions etc this year. Lots of things going on in my mind at nats. Friday I got a call my job will be ending in 6 months so lots of stress. If I blew you off, I apologize.
More than ever this year it is evident that the syty group is a big family. Sometimes shit happens, one is mad at another but as families most of the time do we get over those issues and move on. I look forward to next years event and will challenge anybody to come, truck or no truck (5 extra raffle tickets to those that bring trucks next year, well it should be anyways).
Also not sure if anybody noticed, but Jeremy's 12.27 run at nationals was basically the stock turbo record just 7 months prior. (ok was 12.26 or something). Him and myself were pleased we could go that fast at nats even after the WB broke and we had to run blind on an old tune. Give us 2 months now that things are settled, it is going 11's damnit. He was there answering questions anybody asked. No secrets on his build. I still have Roberts truck here, think he will notice a few missing parts so we can run even faster?
I can't say it enough, if you have not been to nats it is worth it. Come in with open mind, start introducing yourself (it is ok to walk up to group of guys talking even if you don't know them, trust me, and introduce yourself it isn't a cliche it is just guys talking) Once you put a face to names, the syty.net board takes on a whole different meaning and you will began to understand all the jokes that get played on each other. (I proudly wear a I LOVE RENZ"S SHAFT!" sticker and plan to leave it on. My ty still has a Bdubb ownz you sticker on it from several years back)
), however I've been graciously accepted into the community, and look forward to this event every year.
