FebBondo

FEBRUARY 28, 2004

Well it took a full one week in Donnie's garage doing body work and paint to get the right side of the car back into shape. Here's a picture after he had the new stickers made to promote the web site. (The before pictures can be seen on last months page)

Saturday morning we set up our pit. This weekend we were using Firebird's east track. For anyone familiar with the area, that's the track that has the straight that runs parallel with I-10 south for a bit. We're starting to get a few of the Bondostangs pitting together. This helps sharing information, camaraderie, tools and help. This weekend we had Donnie's car along with the cars of Bill Griffin, Evan Korn and Jim Twombly all in the same area.

The Mustangs run in the "Blue Group" for qualifying and the Blue Group Main race. They run their own race on Sundays. The cars hit the tack at about 9 o'clock Saturday morning.

1) 2) 3) 4)

1) Mark Mac Vitte (#36) chases Jim Twombly through the turns

2) (#55) Evan Korn

3) (#35) Donnie Henson

4) Donnie, Pro Auto Sports owner Larry Pond and Evan Korn discuss race results

BLUE GROUP QUALIFYING

*FINISHING POSITION*	*DRIVER*	*BEST LAP TIME (minutes)*
1	Evan Korn	01:09:159
2	Donnie Henson	01:10:024
3	Mark MacVitte	01:12:725
4	Ronald Huston	01:13:514
5	Jim Twombly	01:14:299

After Saturdays Blue Group Qualifying we noticed that the right front caliper bracket on Donnie's car had broke a caliper support bridge. Luckily a new bracket was procured and installed that morning.

Next up was the Blue Group Qualifying Race. Donnie and Evan were battling for first place for the first couple of laps. Heading up the back straight at full throttle, Donnie had to brake and downshift for the upcoming turns. As soon as he let the clutch out, BANG! Something went souoth and the car coasted to a stop off the track. After an initial inspection back in the pits, it appears either the pressure plate or the throwout bearing gave up the ghost. We'll find out later in the week when we pull the transmission.

1) 2) 3) 4)

1) Donnie heads up the back straight.

2) Loren Pond (#9) chases Mark MacVitte (#36)out of a turn.

3) Donnie took his AFLAC duck in the passenger seat for good luck...didn't work!

4) Donnie Henson "socializes" with the track crew waiting for the end of the race so they could tow him back to the pits.

BLUE GROUP QUALIFYING RACE RESULTS

*FINISHING POSITION*	*DRIVER*	*BEST LAP TIME (minutes)*
1	Evan Korn	01:09:760
2	Donnie Henson	01:09:290
3	Loren Pond	01:11:399
4	Mark MacVitte	01:12:494
5	Ronald Huston	01:12:842
6	Jim Twombly	01:13:480

At the end of the day Saturday, there's the Blue Group Main Race. Donnie was able to continue the days racing thanks to Bill Griffin who generously offered up his #26 Mustang to replace his now broke #35 car. All we had to do was switch tires. Bill wasn't running this weekend because he was waiting on some spec slicks that are supposed to make the tire cost of racing easier to handle.

1) 2) 3) 4)

1) Jim Twombly. Jim did well this weekend, given this was their first time out with the car and they weren't running on race tires.

2) Ronald Huston

3 & 4) Eventual race winner, Evan Korn

BLUE GROUP MAIN RACE

*FINISHING POSITION*	*DRIVER*	*BEST LAP TIME (minutes)*
1	Evan Korn	01:08:878
2	Mark MacVitte	01:12:144
3	Jim Twombly	01:13:249
4	Ronald Huston	01:12:281
5	Donnie Henson	01:08:731

Saturday there was a gathering of the Arizona Cobra Club as well as the usual collection of cars that populate the many other classes presented by Pro Auto Sports.

Here's a 1967 Mustang fastback powered by a Boss 302.