Fireball Day Four – Fried Transmission?
Houston to Oklahoma City
Day Four of the Fireball Rally started out with the Heart Stopper Breakfast, a Denver omelet, pancakes, biscuits and gravy. After chowing down, we headed to the morning briefing and checked in for today’s leg of the event.
We were handed our sealed FexEx express envelope that contained the clues for today’s run, instructed that we were not to open it until we were on the road. We knew that we would be heading up to the Dallas Forth Worth area so we contacted a member of the RadarDetector.net forum “Outrun” who lives in that area and made arrangements for his assistance in deciphering the clues.
Last night our overall team ranking moved to sixteenth place from third, after the track results. However other competitors were still impressed with our showing as Bob and I were both rookies, competing against veteran Cannonballers.
Today was my turn to burn-up the highway with Bob acting as navigator and we chose the Whistler Pro 78 and the Bel STi radar detector as the detectors of choice for today’s comparison.
After the morning briefing we lined up our cars and at 8:00 am the green flag was waved. As we were on our way, Bob opened the envelope and today’s first passage control point was the Dallas Lamborghini dealer, with our final destination reading: “Finding a boat house in Oklahoma City is like finding a needle in a haystack nonetheless, your mission is to lose the regatta and find the boat house, Once located find a boat to tow. You’ll then be provided an envelope containing the exact location of the finish line.”
We called “Outrun” and he was able to look up the address of the Lambo dealer and we programmed it into our GPS. Jason then said that he would try to figure out the clue for OK City stop.
Twenty minutes later “Outrun”called, saying that he was sure that it was the Chesapeake boathouse adding that after finding their address and telephone number, he called and they were being very evasive.
Having what I would consider the best in speed countermeasure equipment at our disposal, we had an edge over the other Fireballers. Therefore Bob and I decided to try our best to take back our ranking on the highway, prior to the next track event in Las Vegas.
Alert One – Ka
Just as I started burning up the I-45 Interstate, we received our first alert on the Beltronics STi on 38.8 Ka, with a second Ka alert on the Pro-78 ten seconds later. I slowed down and about one mile later we observed a Texas DPS unit on the southbound lane performing a traffic stop.
After traveling a safe distance away, I opened up the throttle “North Bound and Down!”
Several other Fireballers learned of our countermeasure equipment and related to us that they would try their best to position themselves a safe distance behind us, while we acted as their “Rabbit.”
False Alert Ka band?
The Whistler Pro-78 did remarkably well in filtering out false alerts when compared to the STi, as the only alert that I would even consider happened at mp 157. The Pro-78 lit up Ka full bar while the STi was silent. The alert lasted for approximately ten seconds.
There were no towers or buildings in the area that were visible, that I felt would cause such an alert. But to be sure I slowed down waiting for some response on the Bel STi but never received one.
Looking in the mirror at this point, I saw ten other Fireballer vehicles in my mirror, all staying behind and chatting on their CB radios.
When I felt that it was again safe from the previous alert and there was a break in traffic, I opened the 540i full throttle to distance myself from the pack.
Ka Alert Two
At mp 184 the Beltronics STi chirped a few 33.8 alerts which is normally an indication of instant on. A minute later the Ti and the Whistler then began chirping short bursts in unison. Three miles later, we spotted a trooper on off the parked in the tree line on the south side of the highway.
I had dropped down to a respectable speed at this point and checked my mirrors, no Fireballers were in site.
Ten minutes later, we began receiving text messages on our cell phone from other contestants, warning of the trooper we had just past and of a few others a few miles ahead.
Bob and I discussed if this was a ruse to try to slow us down, or a real warning of impending danger. Taking no chances we stayed with the flow of traffic.
We quickly learned that we fell for their trap as five Fireballers passed us in the slow lane.
As we were now entering a congested area, we allowed them to go while we increased our speed to the 80s level.
The congestion seemed to work in our favor as the other Fireballers got caught up and we were able close the gap.
Just as we were hair of taking back our front position, a vibration started in the engine area and we began hearing a loud grinding noise when I accelerated. I backed down to forty five entering Houston, hoping that we could limp into the Lambo dealer.
Fifteen minutes later we arrived at the Lambo shop while the other four cars that beat us were taking their lunch break. We contacted “Mike” the manager of the dealership and he related that he would call the BMW dealer around the corner and he would explain our situation and see if they could get us in right away.
As we pulled into the BMW Dallas service center, service writer Sue came out to great us with a small army of mechanics. Bob worked out the service details while the shops master mechanic pulled the 540i onto a lift and began plugging in computers. Another tech began checking fluid levels, and another began inspecting hoses! Bob and I looked at each other in amazement, as their entire shop became our very own pit crew.
The service manager Peter then came into the shop, offering us water or snacks!
The lead mechanic Phillip instructed his crew to check and replace several sensors and check various hoses and fittings. In forty five minutes, Peter had the BMW off the lift saying that the car was road ready and repaired. Sue had our address and credit card information and said that she would send us a bill after they figured out what to charge.
Peter commented, “We want our cars to lead the pack, so get out, drive safe and have fun.” We were back on the road.
We checked in with the Blinder Xtreme team for updates and he related that we were only twenty cars behind the lead car that were thirty five miles ahead.
We knew that these drivers would still need to get today’s Oklahoma newspaper for the state welcome sign photograph and to also find a Oklahoma State Trooper to photograph to gain bonus points for today’s leg. If we could figure out a way to accomplish these tasks in a timely manner, we would catch up and take the lead.
Alert Three – Ka
Just after leaving the Houston area, we received our next Ka alert on 34.7 on the Bel STi and a few seconds later the Whistler alerted Ka band. Approximately a mile later, we observed a Sheriff’s Office patrol car driving south.
Leon from the Blinder Xtreme team called us saying that they got today’s Oklahoma newspaper. They also related that the Oklahoma welcome sign was just past the state line, after a bridge and was difficult to see because an exit sign was posted right in front. Leon also related that there was a brick wall with “Oklahoma” text just past the sign and that other Fireballers were stopping at that for their photograph. Leon related that he would hide his paper in the area for our use.
We arrived at the state line to first recover the newspaper. As we did a Fireballer pulled up, snapped their photo at the wall and began running back to their car. I commented “That’s not a sign, that is a wall, the sign is back down the road.” The driver replied “You’re just trying to trick us and drove off.”
Fireballer rules state that the state signs must include a photo of the car, today’s state newpaper, and the driver. So we positioned ourselves in the proper position and snapped our photo. Just as we were walking back to our car another Fireballer pulled up asking to use our newspaper. Feeling charitable, I gave the co-driver the paper and the driver photographed his navigator without their car in frame. Knowing that their photo would not qualify, I asked for the paper back and we quickly drove off.
At mp 45 we were closing in behind a semi in the left lane. During the rally, we used the cover of other vehicles ahead to our advantage. As I was preparing to merge into the passing lane, the semi turned on […]
Fireball Day Three– Tearing Up the Track (and maybe our car)
Last night our team “Smoky and the Bandit” finished up number three in standing for total points.
Today Fireballers headed out to the MSR Houston race track located in Angelton, Texas. During the nine day Trasncontential Fireball Rally, we have two track events, with the next being in Las Vegas Nevada.
MSR Houston is a private motorcycle and automotive race track offering advanced drivers training, track usage, race car development, and other necessities for to the racing enthusiast.
To compete in the Fireball track events, drivers must have prior track experience with certification and their cars must pass a pre track inspection.
Co Driver “The Veil Guy” received his training and certification from the NHRA while he was a drag strip enthusiast. I received my training at Bob Bondurant’s racing school at Firebird Lake in Phoenix, certified in executive protection and high performance driving.
We started the morning off with a driver safety meeting with the rules and layout of the racetrack explained.
We were then broke down into three groups; drivers with professional racing experience, drivers with prior Cannonball or Fireball racing experience, and the novice class consisting of drivers without race track experience.
Bob was scheduled for the morning group, while I was scheduled for the afternoon group.
There were a number of classes of such as; high performance, luxury, pickup truck, mid size and mussel car. Each class was then broken into groups not exceeding five cars.
Each group then had two practice runs with a track official leading the way driving the track’s line through the tight turns and corners. After the practice run we then briefed with track officials to discuss our final run.
The point run consisted of one warm lap, three race laps and then one cool down lap. Track times would not be released till later that night on the Fireballer website.
During the morning run, I stood in the pit crew area measuring speeds of the contestants in the short straight away with my Kustom Pro Laser. Speeds passing this area ran from a low of 55 to the high of 91 with the average speed around 74 mph.
I figured that if both Bob and I could feel comfortable getting the car up to at least 78 in this area, we would have a good chance of finishing the day with a higher point average.
During Bob’s run I clocked his speed at 76 in this area twice, putting us a little higher then average. However when Bob came off the track he seemed concerned about the car’s performance saying that he felt a strange vibration coming from the transmission and heard some grinding. The car was parked, allowing the engine to cool down for my afternoon run.
During my run during the warm-up and the first lap the car seemed to handle nicely and I passed the pit stop area while reading a speed of 77 on the speedometer. However as I turned into the next bank of turns the “check engine” lit up. Figuring that I didn’t want burn the car up, making our team ineligible for the remainder of the rally, I backed down while paying attention for engine noise or vibration.
After completing my run, we allowed the car to cool down and then a team member assisted us in resetting the car’s computer, while we checked all fluid levels.
Tomorrow we are off to Oklahoma City with our arsenal of radar detectors with a lunch stop somewhere around Dallas. As long as you’re not a Trooper, we invite you to watch for us along the Interstate.
Fireball Day One – Keeping it Real
Day one of the Fireball Transcontinental Rally.
Last night we received our driver packet with instructions that our first leg was to start at the Amway Center in Orlando. It also stressed that this rally was not for speed or best time, but to obtain points during our coast to coast journey while arriving at the various legs during a predetermined timed window. If we arrived too early it would indicate that you were speeding and you were disqualified. Arrive too late; you’re disqualified for that day’s leg of the race. For leg one, organizers estimated that it would take eight to nine hours to drive from Orlando to the Mississippi/Louisiana state line, a distance of just over 600 miles.
I was then notified that my sponsored car, the TransCon Ambulance had blown its driveshaft while driving down from Indiana and that they were in the process of trying to locate another. It was doubtful that they would make it to the first leg of the race.
Assignments for the day:
Assignment one was photographing at least three State troopers with patrol car while it was parked next to your car with driver.
Assignment two was to photograph each states welcome sign while holding a newspaper dated 9/29/2007 with the car in the background.
Assignment three was a riddle to solve that we were given upon departure of the Amway Center. The riddle, “chill out with the Queen of Bagdad”.
Prior to arriving at the starting point, I fired up my Garmin Zumo GPS and located a FHP barracks that was on our way. As we were pulling in, a Lieutenant FHP officer was checking into work. I identified myself as a retired deputy and began telling him about the rally. He stopped me mid sentence while chuckling and related that all the troopers in Florida were aware of the race and he would allow us to photograph him and his car because he understood that our race was a charity event aimed at raising money for the “Missing Children’s Network.” However he requested that we drive smart and safe.
The Veil Guy posed for the photograph, thanked the Lieutenant and we were off for the staging of the event.
At 8:00 am we arrived at the Amway Center, checked in and made final adjustments to our car. At 9:00 am the Orlando Police Department provided a motorcycle escort for the seventy plus cars entered into the rally, onto Interstate 75.
Once on the Highway I did a Google on my laptop and found that there was a Dairy Queen just off of I-10 in Bagdad Florida, riddle solved.
As we were aware that the Florida Highway Patrol use mostly Ka radar, we decided that we would pair up the Beltronics Sti radar detector along side the Valentine One and do a side by side comparison of the two.
Alert One – 35.5
It didn’t take long for our first alert as just ten miles north, the V1 radar detector gave a short alert for Ka and a second later the Bel STi went into full tilt alerting at 35.5 (Ka Band). As we crested an overpass a half mile away we saw a FHP vehicle parked in the median running instant on radar.
Alert Two – 34.7
About fifteen miles later the STi alerted first to a 34.7 (Ka band) and a few seconds later the Valentine One lit up indicating Ka band. We crested another overpass that was over a mile away from our first alert and saw that a “Fireballer” pulled over with a trooper standing next to the driver’s side door.
Alert Three – 34.7
The coast was clear the next fifty miles till our STi detector lit up again at 34.7. The Valentine radar detector lagged behind a good three seconds before it first alerted Ka. Ahead we saw a trooper parked in a row of trees in the median approximately a mile from our first warning.
At 10:45 am we arrived at the I-10 turn off and headed west. It was here that I began explaining to my co-driver the reason for the painted horizontal lines that crossed the pavement in sections. These I related were used to measure distance at predetermined locations so police could measure speed using VASCAR or another timing device from patrol cars or aircraft. I cautioned him to slow down after crossing the first set of lines and count out at least another set prior to speeding up, to avoid these types of speeding violations. Just as I finished, the “Blinder Dude” from Blinder Xtreme Team called on my cell phone relating that he was forty five miles behind me and that he had just received a citation for doing 91 in a 70 and that he was clocked by aircraft.
Alert Four – 34.7
West through the panhandle of Florida seemed pretty uneventful the first 150 miles. During this leg we had the Astron Martin, another BMW, and the Ferrari Spider all taking turns at the rabbit position (lead car in pack). Just 20 miles east of our Bagdad stop, co-driver The Veil Guy took lead with the Aston Martin a quarter mile behind. As we crossed a clearing of trees in the median, we saw an approaching FHP vehicle east bound approaching us, as the Veil Guy started to decelerate, both detectors lit up simultaneously, giving us a good indication that we were just nailed with deadly instant on.
In the mirror we both noticed the FHP vehicle turn into the median and as he pulled onto the pavement the Aston Martin pulled into the right lane allowing the officer to cross and to give chase.
Pretty much knowing that our goose was cooked; we pulled into the shoulder and awaited our punishment. As the trooper’s car pulled up behind, horns of the Aston, BMW and Ferrari gave short beeps as they passed.
The trooper walked up to the driver’s side and asked the same question that I uttered thousands of times before in my law enforcement career, “Do you have any idea how fast you were going?” Bob, being an old pro with several tickets under his belt from prior encounters just sat there with a dumbfounded look and uttered, “No, was I speeding officer?” He replied, yes, ninety in a seventy mile an hour zone. After Bob offered up his driver’s license, I asked the officer if he needed to see my identification too as I removed my license from my retired sheriff’s badge case. He asked where I was an officer and I replied that I was from Arizona and that I was on business (didn’t say police business) and had met with a Lt. (dropping a name) from his agency earlier that day.
He walked back to his car and a few moments later came back telling us that we needed to slow down…..
Realizing we had lucked out at this encounter, we maintained a respectable speed until pulling into the Dairy Queen. Here several of our teammates were waiting to see if we were going to make it into the check in. The clerk of the Dairy Queen then also came out saying that she had heard over the FHP scanner that troopers were lined up waiting for a group of Fireballers twenty miles out, that someone had called in that we were driving over 140 MPH.
The Veil Guy and I both chuckled saying that we were not part of that group, however we had been pulled over for doing ninety.
We picked up a Florida newspaper for the photo shoot at the state line and completed our assignment at the “Queen of Bagdad” and heading back onto the Interstate. At this time the “Blinder Dude” called on his cell phone saying that the white Corvette had been stopped doing 140 mph and that the driver was arrested and taken to jail.
Alert Five – 34.7
A few miles west of Bagdad after going underneath an overpass, we received a 34.7 alert on both detectors simultaneously. Looking over into the entrance ramp, I observed a FHP vehicle clocking west bound traffic from behind.
Alert Six – 34.7
A few miles west of the state line we got another 34.7 alert simultaneously on both detectors as we passed a thick grove of trees in the center median. We never saw an officer, but assumed from the nature of the alert, that one was on the other side of the median shooting east bound traffic.
After crossing into Alabama, we pulled into the rest area and scrounged through some trash bins to find a newspaper for the Alabama welcome sign. Finding several, we took them all (as not to leave any for other contestants) and rode over the State welcome signs and got our first set of photographs.
Driving on the bay bridge on I-10 approaching Mobile, the STi went full tilt 34.7 for at lease one mile while the V1 remained silent till it started finally it began chirping. Over on the east bound lane we saw what appeared to be a police light bar pass behind a cement bunker.
Here we fired up the GPS […]
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