It took all the kings horses and all the kings men, but I got ‘ol Waylands Zombie, up and running again 8^) 

I had wanted to put more time on it but it wasn’t to be, so only a few things were addressed this time around.  John wanted to add another 5 degrees of brush advancement which in theory would allow the motor to pull harder on the back half of the run, but loose a little on the launch.  It should also help to keep the evil flashover monster at bay.  Talk is talk and reality is well… a bitch sometimes 8^)  Both John and I were optimistic with the decision (actually excited about it) but like anything un-tested there is that sick, bitter worm that lies in the pit of your stomache until the outcome of said decision (which is why I probably look like I’m going to vomit when my motors race 8^o

I also swapped out the cable type brush leads I had built two years ago and replaced them with solid copper leads, triple wrapped in insulation.  Besides turning the commutators and replacing the bearings (well that and a little elbow grease to shine it up some) those two things were the only new upgrades.  On the plus side it’s nice to baby step and see what works and what doesn’t.

Just like it was the first time, I had no sooner started screaming “IT’S ALIVE… MawHahaha…. that Wayland showed up at the shop and tore my purring baby from my arms!  I had built it up with the best I had to give and it was now all up to fate as the Siamese 8 starts it’s third year in the yoke of the White Zombie.  I knew John had an upcoming article with the Wall Street Journal so I was a little nervous (if I can be honest).  There was a delay due to rain, which I thought was going to happened again, but didn’t last Friday night.  Unknown to me both Wall Street and OPB with Zombie charged for action were at PIR racing 8^o 

I didn’t get wind of it until Rod Wilde started posting about it on the EVDL!  I happened to have had a cold and now with this news I felt like I had the flu also, as the worry bugs ate at my innerds when Rod reported a 12.037 run.    Knowing they were celibrating their 2nd year birthday I made a birthday wish (trying to hide the image of what Tim “whip them puppies” Brehm was doing to my motor) and went to my happy place and awaited the next report 8^)

The Siamese8 did their job and shadow walked the Zombie into two sub-twelve second runs locking in a new record.  It not only blasted Wayland into “his” 11 second runs, but did it when it counted, while the world was watching! (or at least hopefully will be soon 8^)  I was super pumped for John and Tim in the success of their works and efforts, and was proud to be a member of Plasmaboy Racing, but even more so, proudest to be an EV’er that day!  On top of that, Weez just a couple of Orrregone hicks making this stuff happen, but then again, I guess it makes it all the sweeter 8^)  Chip did a great write up over at the NEDRA site so have a look here.

Had fun, hope you enjoyed 8^)