PATRICK TALKING 10.5
Tue, 2008-11-04 12:29
Former IHRA Pro Stock Champion Exploring Options For 2005
Former IHRA Pro Stock racer Robert Patrick wanted to give the ADRL’s Outlaw 10.5 class a try during the final event on the ADRL schedule in Dallas, Texas. He brought his championship-winning Shelby Cobra Mustang to the event and on not one or two runs blew the tires off. Every time he dumped the clutch the car would travel several feet and then tires would literally wad themselves almost into a knot.
The
experience, while frustrating to a competitive racer such as the Purvis
Ford-sponsored Patrick, provided important data acquisition.
“I guess the largest positive is that we found out a lot of things that won’t work,” Patrick said, voice cracking with laughter.
Former IHRA Pro Stock Champion Exploring Options For 2005
Former IHRA Pro Stock racer Robert Patrick wanted to give the ADRL’s Outlaw 10.5 class a try during the final event on the ADRL schedule in Dallas, Texas. He brought his championship-winning Shelby Cobra Mustang to the event and on not one or two runs blew the tires off. Every time he dumped the clutch the car would travel several feet and then tires would literally wad themselves almost into a knot.
The experience, while frustrating to a competitive racer such as the Purvis Ford-sponsored Patrick, provided important data acquisition.
“I guess the largest positive is that we found out a lot of things that won’t work,” Patrick said, voice cracking with laughter.
Only after Patrick made his final qualifying attempt did he discover the culprit of his misfortunes - the inner tubes were wadded up.
“We just got in a hurry putting them together,” Patrick surmised. “I’m sure that didn’t help any. It just comes down to a combination of lack of experience and attention to detail.”
So what would inspire a driver who ranks as the third on the win list in IHRA Pro Stock to step outside of his comfort zone? Without hesitation Patrick will tell you the uncertainty of his racing home for the last five seasons.
Nearly two weeks following the completion of the 2008 IHRA season, the sanctioning body has yet to release their 2009 schedule. Patrick is just one of several professional racers in limbo uncertain of their respective futures.
“With the current situation surrounding the IHRA, I am just trying to find other avenues to race my car,” Patrick said. “There were many who said I was crazy trying to run that tire and everything but hey I like a good challenge. I went into that event knowing that we had a good chance of not getting down the track. It wasn’t like I didn’t know that to start with. But, you can’t learn sitting in the shop talking about what you want to do. You have to get off your butt and go do it, or at least try.
“Maybe I am am crazy for trying this. But I don’t think this is something that we are incapable of making work because we have the resources and drag racing experience to make it happen. We aren’t hurting in the power department.
“We have the power to run 4.0s because we’ve done that before with our engine combination, it’s just being able to make it apply to the narrower tire.”
Patrick is looking heavily towards the ADRL’s Outlaw 10.5 but the deciding factor will be the decisions of both the ADRL and IHRA. If the ADRL follows through on their Extreme Pro Stock division, he said this tour will become his primary series with the IHRA being his minor.
If neither the ADRL or the IHRA fields a full-fledged Pro Stock division, he’s leaning heavily towards the Outlaw 10.5 program probably more so than a 500-inch NHRA Pro Stock division. Returning to the NHRA tour, even on a half-season basis, will require a substantial investment – one Patrick isn’t positive he wants to make. He’s not ready to discuss the likelihood of that now.
“I’ll be testing the 10.5 tire as yet another avenue to race my combination,” Patrick said.
Depending on his test sessions in the next couple of weeks, there’s a strong likelihood that Patrick will make the trek to Las Vegas in two weeks for the Pacific Street Car Association event where he will try his hand again at Outlaw 10.5 racing.
“If everything looks good, we’ll make the haul out there,” Patrick said.
If the IHRA discounts their Pro Stock division, many others including Patrick believes the cost of doing battle in the ADRL’s Outlaw 10.5 will skyrocket with well-financed IHRA Pro Stock teams looking for a replacement avenue.
“There are some really smart and talented racers out here running in the Outlaw 10.5 division who run with good budgets, but there are some really deep pockets in the IHRA Pro Stock division who could get into this class and really knock it up a level,” Patrick said. “If you get someone with a serious program like Dean Goforth, who isn’t afraid to spend a couple of million dollars to bring out purpose-built cars, (that division) is going to run really fast. The faster you go, the more money it costs.”
Former IHRA Pro Stock racer Robert Patrick wanted to give the ADRL’s Outlaw 10.5 class a try during the final event on the ADRL schedule in Dallas, Texas. He brought his championship-winning Shelby Cobra Mustang to the event and on not one or two runs blew the tires off. Every time he dumped the clutch the car would travel several feet and then tires would literally wad themselves almost into a knot.
The
experience, while frustrating to a competitive racer such as the Purvis
Ford-sponsored Patrick, provided important data acquisition.“I guess the largest positive is that we found out a lot of things that won’t work,” Patrick said, voice cracking with laughter.
Former IHRA Pro Stock Champion Exploring Options For 2005
Former IHRA Pro Stock racer Robert Patrick wanted to give the ADRL’s Outlaw 10.5 class a try during the final event on the ADRL schedule in Dallas, Texas. He brought his championship-winning Shelby Cobra Mustang to the event and on not one or two runs blew the tires off. Every time he dumped the clutch the car would travel several feet and then tires would literally wad themselves almost into a knot.
The experience, while frustrating to a competitive racer such as the Purvis Ford-sponsored Patrick, provided important data acquisition.“I guess the largest positive is that we found out a lot of things that won’t work,” Patrick said, voice cracking with laughter.
Only after Patrick made his final qualifying attempt did he discover the culprit of his misfortunes - the inner tubes were wadded up.
“We just got in a hurry putting them together,” Patrick surmised. “I’m sure that didn’t help any. It just comes down to a combination of lack of experience and attention to detail.”
So what would inspire a driver who ranks as the third on the win list in IHRA Pro Stock to step outside of his comfort zone? Without hesitation Patrick will tell you the uncertainty of his racing home for the last five seasons.
Nearly two weeks following the completion of the 2008 IHRA season, the sanctioning body has yet to release their 2009 schedule. Patrick is just one of several professional racers in limbo uncertain of their respective futures.
“With the current situation surrounding the IHRA, I am just trying to find other avenues to race my car,” Patrick said. “There were many who said I was crazy trying to run that tire and everything but hey I like a good challenge. I went into that event knowing that we had a good chance of not getting down the track. It wasn’t like I didn’t know that to start with. But, you can’t learn sitting in the shop talking about what you want to do. You have to get off your butt and go do it, or at least try.
“Maybe I am am crazy for trying this. But I don’t think this is something that we are incapable of making work because we have the resources and drag racing experience to make it happen. We aren’t hurting in the power department.
“We have the power to run 4.0s because we’ve done that before with our engine combination, it’s just being able to make it apply to the narrower tire.”
Patrick is looking heavily towards the ADRL’s Outlaw 10.5 but the deciding factor will be the decisions of both the ADRL and IHRA. If the ADRL follows through on their Extreme Pro Stock division, he said this tour will become his primary series with the IHRA being his minor.
If neither the ADRL or the IHRA fields a full-fledged Pro Stock division, he’s leaning heavily towards the Outlaw 10.5 program probably more so than a 500-inch NHRA Pro Stock division. Returning to the NHRA tour, even on a half-season basis, will require a substantial investment – one Patrick isn’t positive he wants to make. He’s not ready to discuss the likelihood of that now.
“I’ll be testing the 10.5 tire as yet another avenue to race my combination,” Patrick said.
Depending on his test sessions in the next couple of weeks, there’s a strong likelihood that Patrick will make the trek to Las Vegas in two weeks for the Pacific Street Car Association event where he will try his hand again at Outlaw 10.5 racing.
“If everything looks good, we’ll make the haul out there,” Patrick said.
If the IHRA discounts their Pro Stock division, many others including Patrick believes the cost of doing battle in the ADRL’s Outlaw 10.5 will skyrocket with well-financed IHRA Pro Stock teams looking for a replacement avenue.
“There are some really smart and talented racers out here running in the Outlaw 10.5 division who run with good budgets, but there are some really deep pockets in the IHRA Pro Stock division who could get into this class and really knock it up a level,” Patrick said. “If you get someone with a serious program like Dean Goforth, who isn’t afraid to spend a couple of million dollars to bring out purpose-built cars, (that division) is going to run really fast. The faster you go, the more money it costs.”
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