The NHRA is still testing with a spec motor.

Tim Wilkerson, in his third day of testing, has been running various combinations with the spec motor as the NHRA continues their investigative process.

“Yes,” said Wilkerson when asked if a motor sitting off to the side in his pit area was one of the NHRA's spec motor. “It just pushed a gasket out. It had a hole out at the step and I just drove it too far with a hole out. That's not an uncommon problem with a cylinder out early, if you drive it too far.

“It's still an experiment at this time.”

The NHRA is still testing with a spec motor.

Tim Wilkerson, in his third day of testing, has been running various combinations with the spec motor as the NHRA continues their investigative process.

“Yes,” said Wilkerson when asked if a motor sitting off to the side in his pit area was one of the NHRA's spec motor. “It just pushed a gasket out. It had a hole out at the step and I just drove it too far with a hole out. That's not an uncommon problem with a cylinder out early, if you drive it too far.

“It's still an experiment at this time.”

With any experiment there will be both successes and failures. You need both to learn.

“We're just trying different things. There really are no rules with it. The motor is small. The blower is turning slow. The fuel pump is little. Obviously, after looking at it there, when it hiccups it doesn't like it.”

Wilkerson, who has been working with the NHRA on the project for almost a year, sees progress being made. No different from other motors, when the conditions are right the motor runs just fine. Finding consistency with the motor is important.

“Who knows, we might end learning what we don't want to do.”

During the first day of testing, Wilkerson explained they used a four disk clutch but the engine didn't respond well. They have since gone back to a five disk clutch. He always said it was unlikely he would drive the car all the way through, opting instead to make half-track runs.

Once Wilkerson is finished with testing the spec motor, he'll put his own equipment in the car and do some further testing for himself and his team.

“We really feel good about our car. We're bound and determined to keep aggravating them out here. That's our plan.”

When it comes to the prospects for his son, Wilkerson had hoped to put a deal together for Pomona but just couldn't get things done.

“Dan doesn't have anything yet. I really thought we had a little deal set up for him to race in Pomona, but I don't think it's going to happen now. We're going to keep carrying on.”

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