Ahten Positive after First Round Exit at Regional Race

Courtesy of Athen Family Racing

Phoenix, AZ – As humans we are sometimes slaves to our machines. Drag Racers depend on machines for their trade. Johnny Ahten’s Island Renovations/801 Racing Dragster had a bit of mechanical trouble this weekend at Firebird Raceway.

The team tested on Friday and netted a planned early shut-off run of 5.922. Saturday’s best qualifying run was a 5.490/237.38, which put them in the number six position. Still, there was something not quite right mechanically. The engine was telling the crew that it was lean, and needed more fuel. The decision was made to fatten it up a bit and give the engine the fuel it wanted.

The car was serviced and filled with fresh 801 Racing Revvoluton 70Wt Oil with CleanBoost Technology. Sunday’s race-day tune-up was in place as the eliminations began.  In the other lane was number three qualifier Megan McKernan. Ahten got the jump at the flash of the lights, but his machine had other ideas. Raw fuel was being pumped out of one of the cylinders, and that is not a good sign. The eventual race winner McKernan, thundered away from Ahten with a 5.393 elapsed time at 262.74 miles per hour. Even with a hole out, Ahten muscled the car to a losing, but noble 5.729@213.57.

The problem with mechanical trouble and Dragsters is sometimes you find out too late. In his case, Ahten found out after the race was over. Post-race inspection revealed trouble in the #6 cylinder. Now the prior mechanical woes made sense. If found earlier, the motor would have came out and a fresh bullet would have been installed. Now that engine is in for repairs, and the whole combination is being re-worked in IHRA trim. Everything will be ready for the IHRA race in Tucson, AZ on March 23-24.^th

“We have to change motors, the clutch, and prepare for 100% nitro,” said Ahten. “It’s a good thing, since it got a little crispy after a few runs at Firebird.”

Crispy is good when it comes to chicken, but not Nitro-Injected Dragsters. Crew chief Al Ahten, along with crew members Howard Katano, Bob Ahten, Kevin Colvell, Chuck Constable, Kelly Fitzgerald, and Todd Rockwell are currently reviewing and performing the changeover. Mechanical troubles aside, Johnny Ahten and the Ahten Racing Team are working hard to be the master of the machine.