Reflection and Appreciation!

These are both great things and its important to take time out sometimes to do both and be humble about it in the process. This last weekend (June 7th) was great on many levels. I had the chance to help Joey and get to know some of our fellow racers a little better. I was pleasantly surprised with an opportunity to potentially test on Katie Sullivan's bike for North-South Dragbike Challenge. Big thanks to the Sullivan family for the offer. In addition, I got to know Roxanne Webber (yet another girl who rocks on a dragbike - pictured at the bottom), her set-up is a little different then what Katie or I have been on but rocks it none the less. Eddy asked me to take care of the race for him (Nitro Night of Fire), since he couldn't be there and I was more then happy to do that. It really was the least I could do for the Palmer's considering all the opportunity they have given me. I have to say I was a little nervous that I was gonna forget something or someone was going to be unhappy, but overall it worked out well and the day was fun! Sara even had an opportunity to work at the track and even made a little money!

I LOVE THIS PIC

Nitro Night of Fire typically means a tons of people and a ton of cars. Joey had an opportunity to get in the show and compete for the $1,000 prize money. When we got to the track there were hardly any cars but most of our class (short of 2) were there. The track delayed things as much and as frequently as possible due to the low number of racers. We started time trials around 11:30am (mind you we were there by 8:30am)... We got to know Big Rob's son (Russell) and boy let me tell you this kid is a natural born racer. NO JOKE! He has a great attitude and really enjoys the sport. Big Rob has done a great job raising him!

Joey's first pass of the day was yet another "best". He ran a 9.26 @ 153mph. WooHOO! What's important to remember about that pass is he was running pump gas. Which means that there is a teen in that bike, he just has to find it.

Joey and Russ challenged each other ALL day short of actual eliminations. I think they both had a great time! Russ was really trying for his first 8 second pass and got close enough to ache for it, running a 9.05. As with any pair of racers that know how to have fun with it and be competitive, Joey and Russ pushed each other!

Joey paired against Charlie Sullivan first round and Charlie pulled out the win on that run. The great part about these races is if you go out you can still make time runs (all day). So that's just what the guys did. Mona qualified with two red-lights on the first two runs, then we got another qualifing pass and she ended up qualifing #1 (winning herself $100 for #1 qualifier). I am super excited to see Katie make it to finals (after being off for awhile from a knee injury) against Mark Riessling, she was running low 9's all day and Mark was running 7.30's all day (with two red-lights)! They put on a great show at the end of the day! Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to test but for a real great reason... Katie was in the finals!

CONGRATULATIONS to Mark Riessling

for taking home the win and $1,000 purse!

As slow as the day started at the end of the day, there were tons of spectators enjoying a night of GREAT racing!

We are very excited for this weekend - racing ALL weekend! With Test-N-Tune (Friday night and Saturday day), Grudge Fest (Saturday night) and then... North-South Dragbike Challenge on Sunday.

***

Don't miss it, it will be an event to remember!

Looking back over the past several months and the weekend, I have learned a lot about myself, the person I love and miss, I continue to learn and move forward daily and I appreciate the people in my life! Thank you and I love you!

Test-N-Tune - May 30th, 2008

Test-N-Tune: $7.00
Tech Card: $50.00
Limited # of cars: Priceless!

We ran with pump gas and ran a 9.28 @ 153.1 with a 1.55 60' time! It was a great night! The bike loves the track and having a stock wheel base gives us an advantage when the track doesn't have the best traction. There were very few cars out, which makes for a great night of runs. I think we got 12 runs in all! WooHoo!





















We will be out at the next big event Nitro Night of Fire on June 7th at Sacramento Raceway!
Overall, it was another night of great racing! Lots of bikes out including a couple Nitro Harley's getting ready for Charlie's big race on June 15th.

9.27 @ 153 mph

It's hard to put the excitement into words, so for lack of a better word... AMAZING is what comes to mind! We are very very pleased to have pulled out a beautiful...

9.277 @ 153.308 mph

With minor mods - some nice smelling fuel and a power commander this baby wants to scream. She loves the track and luckily so does her owner. With big thanks to PCP Motorsports for sponsoring us, we can't wait to see more!

Overall it was a fun night, with lots of bikes out for a test-n-tune! Our friends Lloyd & Shelly were up from Fresno, Cuda brought the beast out and there were many other styles of bikes out... playin! It was a great night with FANTASTIC results! ;)

http://w217.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w217.photobucket.com/albums/cc288/bumblebeezx/TNT 5-23-08/68bf7d51.pbw" height="300" width="400">

Until next time... BEE safe and have fun!

NHRA Chassisworks ET Race - 5/3/08

As the seasons change, the weather follows! It was beautiful outside! Lots of sun and a little breeze! The ET race was after the Junior Dragsters double elimination race, which means we waited and waited... but that's just the way it works.

Overall, it was a good day! Not too many cars so the wait between rounds was not crazy. It was a fun day, filled with good friends and racing!

CONGRATS Mona! You brought home the win! We are so proud of you! WooHoo!



The day ended in wondeful ways! Till next time...bee safe and have fun!

The first GRUDGE FEST of the season (4/26/08)!

What an amazing day! The weather was truly Spring like, mid-to-high 80's with a slight breeze! It was gorgeous and that kinda weather brings great track conditions! It was the first Grudge Fest of the year and it was packed, they said there were over 200 cars in attendance and approx. 10 bikes! The down side to that many cars is the bikes sit for long periods between runs. Gotta take the good with the bad!

We had a GREAT night! We pulled some amazing numbers out of the bike! Babe, don't doubt your ability, I DON'T and NEVER have! You did GREAT! It seems like everytime we get her out there she just continues to shine more & more! Its no secret that Busa's were created with the drag strip in mind, but they outdid themselves this time! This bike continues to impress us each time we go out!

Here are the stats:

9.51 @ 150.4 mph (w/ a 1.61 60' time)
9.37 @ 151.3 mph (w/ a 1.59 60' time) Now that's what we are looking for, we knew she had in her!
They say its not a solid run (especially if its a great number until you back it up, well...) our next pass did just that!
9.36 @ 150.6 mph (w/ a 1.57 60' time) WOOHOO! Simply amazing!
9.49 @ 144.7 mph (w/ a 1.60 60' time)
9.53 @ 149.0 mph (w/ a 1.59 60' time)

Simply a PHENOMENAL evening of racing!

I'll keep y'all posted on the next time we're out! Until then...keep both wheels on the ground (at least for awhile) and BEE safe!

BB

Family Reunion - Redding 4/19/08

What a GREAT weekend! We had the opportunity last weekend to go up to Redding and ride/race with family/friends. One of our great friends came down from Colorado, a few others came up from Modesto and we made the trip from Sacramento to go play in Redding! Once upon a time we used to all ride/race almost every weekend. Life takes a funny turn every now and then, people move and start new beginnings. Then without notice those that are so important to you come back front and center! We are so excited to be able to rekindle those friendships!

Redding Drag Strip: It was our first time to their track, and it was great; very well prepared and the people were friendly! We'll definitely be making a trip back up there! A few people that have raced Sacramento Raceway and Redding Drag Strip said we should expect to lose a tenth off our times. Fortuntely, we didn't lose anything! We maintained our mph (150mph) and obtained an ET of 9.49, keeping in mind we ran a 9.47 at Sacramento.

We also managed to beat "THE KING" on his turf and fair-n-square! We're not being arrogant or cocky! Joe is a phenominal rider as is Joey! Joey has always admired Joe's ability and attitude towards racing! One of the best things about racing someone who runs a little better #'s then you is they push you, push you to perform better! This was no exception! Joe and Joey got up there, paired up with the intention of simply having some fun! It was a GREAT race, from launch to finish! Joey got Joe out of the hole then Joe out sixty footed Joey, but Joey pulled around him at the top end! Joey's ET 9.49 to Joe's 9.51, it really was a sight to see!

The following day we all got up, went to breakfast (like old times) and then proceeded into the rest of the day by enjoying great company and great riding! We have huge respect & big love for the England family! Thank you for letting us stay with you and have such a fun/wonderful weekend! We can't wait to do it again!

Funny Car Fever | April 12th 2008

What a wonderful weekend! The weather was beautiful, not too hot and definitely not too windy! It started off early and ended late, but we wouldn't have it any other way! There were many race day participants and tons of fans, which is very cool to see!

We have a full bike field (16 bikes) representing NorCal Dragbike Association. We also had two alternates (Joey and sorry I can't remember his name)! Fortunately and unfortunately, Joey & ? didn't get to compete but they did get to make time-only runs all day!



It was a super fun day! There were lots of people there enjoying the day! Lots of very fast cars, fast bikes and great people!







We are super proud of Mona Christiansen! She took out all but one dragbike, taking her all the way to the finals! You rock, girl! We are so happy to see you do so well, although we are disappointed in the finish (which had nothing to do with you). Keep smiling, you did great all day long!



Overall, it was a great day! Hopefully the final events of the day won't be an issue next event! Til next time...keep both wheels on the ground (at least for awhile) and BEE safe!

BB

Some additional photos!

I'm super proud of you babe!

Back with AMAZING results!

What a wonderful night!

It has been a long time coming… and I am SO happy to have been a part of last night!

A few years ago, a very important person to me lost something, something that at one time he was very passionate about. For those of you who know us, you know he is where my passion started. It devastated me to see him lose it… but I am elated to share with you that he FOUND it again! I’m speaking of the passion of DRAG RACING!

Joey recently purchased a brand new 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa and she’s a BEAUTY! She is a beautiful mix of black and charcoal. The color specs for the bike say its black black/gray, but it’s definitely not gray it’s a gorgeous deep tone of charcoal. When designing the new 08’ they seemed to have left nothing out. Joey took me for a ride not too long ago and it feels so good. It pulls hard and feels smooth through every gear. Equipped with a 1340 cc motor, 12.5:1 compression, 3 factory power settings (similar to the GSXR-1000) and a factory shift light to boot, Suzuki created a BEAST! When compared to the ZX-14, Cycle World Magazine reported “No word in the early press materials as to what kind of electronic hocus-pocus (if any) will be used to keep the new ’Busa from becoming a human fly-swatter at the dragstrip, but certainly the ZX-14’s production-record 9.78-second pass is in danger”. They were nothing less then accurate! This baby is BEAUTY and the BEAST all wrapped together in one killer package!



With nothing more then an aftermarket pipe, Joey’s first pass was a 9.80 @ 147 mph against a stretched ZX-14 who ran a 9.81. Quickly followed up by a 9.72 pass. His worst pass of the night (if you could call it that) was a 9.90 with MPH throughout the evening consistently between 147 - 150. After obtaining a strap from Alicia Karstens of GoMoto (www.gomotoriders.com), his best and final pass of the night was a 9.47 @ 150.9 mph. It was a BEAUTIFUL pass from launch to the ¼ mile mark. We got him in a fairly sticky patch at the line, he launched her good and she went straight as an arrow. Almost as if that was exactly what she had been waiting for. You could see her pulling hard the entire way, which is pretty impressive considering you typically don’t see that type of performance.



Keep in mind he hasn’t raced in a about a year-n-half and every rider questions if they remember “how to do this”. Without any more questions needed, he absolutely proved that this is in his blood to-stay. THANK GOD! We both feel VERY confident with the right day (good traction, good track prep, good air, sunny conditions, etc.) that we will see a .30 pass (low or high – that would kick ass for a bone stock Busa).

We are excited to just have fun with her and see what else she can do. I’ll keep you updated on her progress…

Till next time…watch out 14’s – no cryin’ because you bought an inferior machine! ;)

I LOVE YOU JOEY! Thank you for letting me be a part of your first night back!

Keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and bee safe!

Yet another TROPHY! WooHoo!

CONGRATULATIONS SARA!

You ROCK! You pushed out the following:

• Viper
• Mustang
• Corvette
• and...a truck!

Congrats on a your SECOND WIN!

Wednesday Night Drags - March 5, 2008

I LOVE YOU! Mom!

This makes your second WIN with (2) runners-up! You're the bomb!

So wonderful...

Every now and again, I get to spend a FABULOUS day with my daughter! It is ALWAYS so much fun and I always end up reflecting on how quickly she is growing. She just turned 16 and before I know it, she'll be off to college! She really is the most AMAZING person and I am just lucky enough to be able to call her my daughter! I LOVE YOU PRINCESS!





She is always there for me when I am racing and I'm just glad I can do the same for her!

NHRA Chassisworks ET Race #2 - 1/20/08

North-South Dragbike Challenge - June 2008

Hey Racers and Fans:

There will be a big race in June for ALL motorcycles. Hopefully we can get a huge turnout and a ton of fans to attend. Let's make this the biggest race the west coast has seen!

If you have questions about the race, please contact Charlie @ cp20046@aol.com

Regards-
Annette aka Bumble Bee

http://bumblebeezx.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bumblebeezx

Keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and bee safe!

New Year's Day Drags 2008!

The weather was COLD but the atmosphere was warm! We were cut down to a 1/8 mile all day due to the cold temps, but all-in-all it was a good day! We made it to second round and then I decided (apparently) to take a nap at the tree, I'll load the video soon. Its always a good day when you can race!

We are excited about the new season and ready to do what we do! Next race is scheduled for January 20th @ Sacramento Raceway!

Happy Holidays!

I hope each of you has a wonderful and blessed Christmas as well as a safe and joyous New Year!

This year has brought many changes in my life; some bad and some phenomenal! I lost love and found love (in my daughters passion), discovered a twist on my old passion, and learned that I have a lot to reflect on and be humble about. Overall, it was a very educational year both personally and professionally! Each New Year is a great opportunity to evaluate the past to determine how we can be better, stronger people for ourselves, our families and our friends!

I hope to start the New Year off at the track, looking to bring home the win! But regardless of the outcome…HAVE FUN! We plan on being competitive this season and achieving many of the goals we set! See ya at the track… pick a lane!!!

I wish each of you the best the season has to offer! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bumble Bee

The split second WRECK...

So this weekend we went out for some more testing, despite what the weather people said. It started out slow, we spun off the line fairly hard but outside of that it was a decent run.

9.22 @ 143.9 mph with a -.220 reaction and a 1.66 60’ time (she was creeping hard as soon as I got on the two step and wasn’t waiting for no light… ah well)

Our next run was better, still spun but not nearly as bad as the first run. We talked about testing some new things, so I could know what it feels like (i.e., the bike bogging). We decided to see what she would do the next round and then make adjustments as needed.

8.84 @ 147.86 mph with a .141 reaction and a 1.300 60’ time (Great ET, good 60’ time…not so good reaction)

We discovered our launch was up WAY higher then we normally launch at so we adjusted for that and away we go…

8.82 @ 149.36 mph with a .091 reaction and a 1.307 60’ time (FANTASTIC! This is our best ET to-date)

We decided to adjust the launch to attempt to make the bike bog this next pass… UNFORTUNATELY, it didn’t quite turn out as we had envisioned…

I got out there did my burnout, my normal routine, staged and… HOLY CRAP…

Let’s just say the bike got seriously wicked on me and well the “rookie” in me let us down (literally). I couldn’t get out of it fast enough (or at all in this case) and it got out of control and I wrecked. The video is pretty narly too. L Good news is I AM OK…I did a brief slide, my leathers hooked on something and began a brief but significant tumble. When I came to a stop it was mere mili-seconds before Jason and Eddy were at my side to make sure I was ok. THANK YOU GUYS! There were several others at my side and tending to our now wounded bike…THANK YOU to them as well. I am so sorry Eddy. In the end, I walked away with minor bruising. my spirit is ready to ride (right now)… my body needs a week or so to recover. I want to extend a huge I’M SORRY to my daughter, she was really freaked out. Baby, know that I love you and this is a risk we both take when we decide to race. I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!

So we have some minor repairs to make and we’ll be back out testing in preparation for the new year and new season! Till next time…have fun, be safe and Happy Holidays!

BB

8.87 with a Top speed of 150.35 mph

We went out to Saturdays Test N' Tune to see if we could back up our 8.90 from West Coast Motorcycle Challenge and to have a little fun on a beautiful day!

Here are our stats for Saturday:

• 9.26 @ 145.61 mph with a .406 reaction (CRAP) and a 1.51 60' time (this run was partially rider error & partial breaking the tire loose, we lowered the tire pressure a tad – no good)
• 8.92 @ 150.35 mph with a .182 reaction and a 1.31 60' time (we corrected the tire pressure and I got my head out of my dairy-ere) Our best MPH to date and back down to that 8.90 range!
• 9.29 @ 148.80 mph with a .028 reaction (FABULOUS!) and a 1.37 60' time (so our ET was not there but dam what a great reaction time, we spun a little off the line and got out of the groove a little)
• 8.87 @ 149.55 mph with a .173 reaction and a 1.30 60' time (WOOHOO! This is our best ET todate, but dam this means I'd break out of an 8.90 index…shoot)
  

Overall, it was a GREAT day, we accomplished three things…

1. Quickest ET (to-date)
2. Best reaction time (to-date)
3. Fastest MPH (to-date)

I'm very happy with our progress and look forward to learning more. I firmly believe in learning something from EVERY run and strive to do so every time we go out.

Till next time (probably when we go down to Infineon, November 25th…) keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and bee safe!

BB