This message was edited on
October 11, 2015 at
02:05:53 PM by BMcLain21
Flames, Hearts, and ‘Dega….
Hemby Bridge, NC – Friday night around 7, McLain Motorsports gathered at the shop to load up for a day trip to the Talladega Short Track for United Sprint Car Series battle…
Right before we were to load up my new/slightly used J&J sprinter, dad requested that we crank it up just one more time since he hadn’t heard it run since I picked it up from Moss Racing Engines two weeks prior. We sighed a yeah and I crammed inside the cockpit one more time and it fired right up.
Unfortunately, five minutes later, it literally fired up.
Seth and I were sweeping the shop while the car idled outside so beautifully and then all of a sudden it quit. I ran outside quick to shut off the fuel and ignition. I looked at the water temperature to see if it warmed at all and it was over two hundred degrees. Crackling under the hood became deafening and the orange underneath became blinding. We yanked the melting hood off and Seth tackled the engine with the nearest water hose. Expensive air box lost.
I called Chris Moss crying, screaming this isn’t fair and he told me to grow up and that he’d be there in an hour or so. In an hour or so, Moss shows up and goes over the motor. The next hour or so was spent putting together an airbox combination that would work. Task complete, we cranked her up and all was well. The next four hours or so were spent tailgate racing till three in the morning when Chris mentioned he brought a loaner engine for the rest of the season. He thought if we had problems tomorrow night, we could change it in time for the feature. Only problem is, dad and I aren’t exactly the quickest engine changers in the world and knew that would never happen. We admired Chris’ faith in us though and accepted the engine!
A few hours of sleep turned into a few minutes to load up trying to beat a rain storm baring down on the Queen City. God gave us a break and decided not to shower us till I was slamming the rear door of the trailer. Off to ‘Dega…
The trip South was uneventful thankfully, but there is always something really cool about entering Alabama and seeing the “Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama” sign. Puts me in a grander mode.
Practice went according to plan till it was time to get out of the car. I never had to get out of this particular car with a wing on it, and got stuck on exit! Seth and his unhumanly quick thinking bear-hugged me through the tight space stretching a few vertebras. The situation got worse when I tripped on a nerf bar causing me to fall onto another sprinter almost knocking it off the stands.
Seth and I laughing at my expense in the trailer afterwards quickly turned into panic when a neighboring car owner stumbled in complaining of a hurting heart. We ran toward the nearest official screaming “Ambulance.” Emergency personnel rushed into our trailer with every type of medical device known to man trying to save some man’s life. Ten minutes of confusion later and he was rushed off. As of now, I don’t know how he’s doing or even what his name is. So keep him in your prayers.
Trying to get back to normal, I started outside pole of heat race three and ended third. Pretty good for a slick track with way too much stagger and no brakes.
After another unsuccessful cockpit exit resulting in uniform ripping and fat shaming, I begged dad and Seth to find me some brakes. With the simple turn of a rod end on a master cylinder, my dreams came true.
Feature time found me starting 9th and for five laps I had a bullet making it all the way to 5th or 6th and pulling… Then the track went away and that fifteen inches of stagger showed up. I was officially out to lunch. Halfway through the main, I headed toward turn three easily letting off the throttle only to find the throttle was unresponsive. Full throttle into the turn, I’m praying dad and Seth’s brake job paid off. After twelve 360 spins, give or take eleven, on the front stretch, I was able to get it out of gear without anyone slamming into me.
And just like that our night was over… It was one heck of an eventful weekend that included fires, heart attacks, and stuck throttles. Along the way we learned about fuel lines, airboxes, master cylinders, heart conditions, rodends, great country stations in Northern Georgia, and extremely high caffeinated coffees.
Maxim Magazine stated a trip to Talladega is one of the greatest life experiences every man should partake in before their time is up.
They weren’t kidding…
Well… it’s time to start my diet. No more IPA’s for this racer… Only Corona Lights from here on out. Oh, the sacrifices we racers make to capture that glorious black and white checker.
Brandon McLain
United Sprint Car Series Driver
2014 Season
National Rookie of the Year!
National Points - 8th
Southern Points - 3rd
Asphalt Points - 3rd
18 Races, 3 Top 5's, 14 Top 10's
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