Spence Family Racing

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2007 in Review:

Well, 2007 started off fantastic for us as a family as Jason and Maria were married in February. I finally have a daughter!

In March we went to Bakersfield for the March Meet. This was an all time high for me at least as I managed to qualify #1 in NE 2 out of 37 cars that showed up for our class. Jason, on the other hand, got a hand full of Fuel Altered as the Fiat jumped from the right lane to the left lane on his first qualifying pass and ran too quick on his second qualifying pass. I got bumped down to #2 qualifier on Saturday. On Sunday I managed to make it through all the elimination rounds until the Final round. With each round of eliminations I told the Lord “whatever your will is” and I made it through. In the final round I tried to do it myself and red lit my chances away. But, runner up at the March Meet is the best I've ever done.

In April we went to the ANRA opener at LACR where Scott was set to drive the Fiat and I was in the dragster, but the event got “blown” away. Tim, Kathy, Matthew and Lauren Hulsey (family) had come out to help us too, but it wasn't to be. Tommy was on his way too but we called and told him the race was blow out.

I retired in May after 34 years with Douglas, McDonnell Douglas and Boeing.

In June we went to the ANRA Spring Nationals in Bakersfield. Scott was driving the Fiat and managed to collect $50 from Van Osten Motor Sports for qualifying it @ a certain ladder position, but both cars went out in the 1st round. I went brain dead and left too early again, and Scott lost a valve on his run. The motor in the Fiat was done for the year.

In November Jason, Maria, Tommy and I took the dragster to Bakersfield for the ANRA Finals. We had it set up like we did for the March Meet, but it didn't run the number. Jason drove it and it only ran a 9.08 on the initial run. We leaned it down and it ran a 9.10 on the second run which seemed strange to us. We'd expected it to run quicker, not slower. We leaned it down again and were sitting in the staging lanes when the rain came and the meet was canceled.

2008:

It looks like 2008 is going to be a slow year for us. Due to my retiring, my ability to fund our racing program is severely limited. I thought I was going to make some extra money in the Stock Market, but I've not been able to find any profits with either hand. I've slowly gotten together the block, head, pistons to repair the Fiat motor. I haven't even started on the dragster motor. We've had to miss the March Meet and will probably miss the ANRA opener as well as the NHRA Heritage race in April @ Fontana. We may make the May race in Bakersfield, but that will depend on a number of things going right for a change. On top of the money shortage we also have a personnel shortage as Scott is working a new job and won't have the time available to race. Jason and Maria are expecting to add to the family sometime in September so that may restrict their availability. Mark is back in school after his construction job disappeared and is working part time too so his availability is questionable. Tommy is moving to LA for his new job so his availability is questionable too. We'll just have to see how things work out.

Thanks to everyone that has made this possible

American Roadster Fabrication, Pro Machine Race Engines, Bob Danely, John Ewald, Van Osten Family, Mario, Engle Cams, Westminster Transmission, Continental Converters, Mike's Transmissions, Racers For Christ, ANRA, GoodGuys and to all the people who have helped us get these cars down the track safely, Thank you.

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