Courtesy Of: Rob Kozak
![[image]](/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3426 "IHRA Northern Nationals")
(08-17-05) HIGHLAND, MI - After their first IHRA Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified experience at the Motor City Nationals earlier this year the team of Keith Engling and Brian Robbins felt they had as good a chance as any to qualify for the 24th Annual Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals.
Engling and Robbins shocked many a fan and racer at Milan when they just missed the tough Pro Mod field by a mere 11 thousandths of a second.
Planning to build on their IHRA legal 20 percent over tune up from the Milan event had team owner Engling and driver Robbins, very optimistic about their chances at Martin. "After running as well as we did in Milan we felt we could improve on what we did there and show everyone what his boat can do but, it just didn't work out like we had hoped," said Robbins referring to the team's unique '72 Hurst Olds.
On their first qualifying pass the car suffered a clutch malfunction and the run of
6.704 seconds at 216.55 miles per hour was not only far off from the potential of this team but it caused the data gained on the run to be useless to the team.
With no available data from the first session Engling and Robbins installed their .39 tune up from Milan and were pleased with the results a 6.487 at 216.72. While the elapsed time was nearly a tenth of a second off from their Milan run it gave them enough useful data for their final attempt at cracking the field.
"The car was just too soft on the second run. Yeah it only ran a .48 but after looking at the data we knew the track could handle what ever we threw at it," said Engling.
With the Olds as hopped up as ever Robbins left the line with a 1.01 60-ft time, but just before the eighth-mile Engling and Robbins' weekend suddenly ended when the blower belt broke.
"This boat was on a mission. She left the line like a rocket. I thought 'wow - this thing is moving.' Then she just went dead. The blower belt broke at 3.49-seconds into the run. To give you an idea of how good she was, it ran a 1.01 60-ft and after the belt broke she coasted through the eighth mile timers at 4.21 just over 155mph. I couldn't tell you what it would been elapsed time wise but I think we could have made the show on that pass if the belt hadn't let go," said a dejected Robbins.
Engling and Robbins don't have much time to think about their misfortune at Martin, however, as they have to prepare the Olds for its next outing in - of all places - Alaska. The duo will be taking their unique Olds to Alaska Raceway Park in Palmer Alaska for a series of match races against the Prockish brothers and their Outlaw Pro Modified 63' Corvette. The Olds will be trailered to Seattle where it will then be loaded, transporter and all, and shipped to Anchorage. The crew will then fly in and pick up their transporter and drive to Alaska Raceway Park in Palmer Alaska for the weekend of September 3-5.
Both Engling and Robbins would like to take the time to thank their
sponsors and would appreciate if you would take the time to visit
their sponsor's websites.
Sponsors:
www.skinnykidracecars.com
www.allstarperformance.com
www.aeroquip.com
www.torcoracefuels.com
www.amalie.com
www.ngksparkplugs.com
www.strangeengineering.net
www.ace-mfg.com
www.jepistons.com
www.scegaskets.com
www.jancen.com
www.mickeythompsontires.com
