Getting Ready for the 2008 - 2009 Season

Well, its only 8 days until the 2008 - 2009 Grand Bayou Race Series will kick off again. 8 days to make sure the #32 Eagle Talon TSi is once again ready to do battle in the Sports Touring class. Last season was a very successful season for me in my rookie year. We took 5 podium finishes including four 2nd places, one third place and a win in the last race of the year. I finished 2nd overall in the points and higher than any other rookie. I also grabbed 2 poles and a heat race win along the way. I could not have asked for a better year in my first year of the series. But....This is a new year and a totally new engine setup that I am excited to see how it will perform in the series. Here is an overview of what all has changed on the car since last year. New TD50H "Big" 16G Turbo, Dejon Powerhouse Big Sidemount Intercooler, Megan Racing SS Racing O2 Housing, Forced Performance Cast Turbo Exhaust Manifold, Eagle Rods, ITM Forged Pistons, All ARP all the way through, ACL Bearings all the way through, Block Rehoned, 550 FIC Injectors, NGK Powerdex AFX Wideband, new AutoPower Full Roll Cage, and lots of weight loss in the off-season.

We took the car to Road Atlanta in August to tune it in a bit after the engine was broke in and ready to go and were very pleased with the results. I am really looking forward to getting out on the track in some real racing with the new setup and see how it stacks up against the other Touring Cars in the GBRS. 8 days away and I can hardly wait

I want to aknowledge some people before the series gets underway. Everyone I mention here has been behind me since the begining and I could NOT do what I do or be where I am in my racing career without their support. First up, Marti Ruiz and all the guys at VIP Garage. They hook me up with all the brake parts I need to get this thing stopped on the track. Allot of poeple are caught in how fast your DSMs can go, but forget, you also have to stop them as well. Marti and everyone at VIP have been behind me 100% since day 1 and I just want to say thank you to them for everything they have done for me. Angela, Kelly and all the great people at Red Line Oil. They are a new sponsor since the last race of last years series and give me all the great oil and lubricants that Red Line makes in order to keep my DSM running the way it should run. This is not even a shamless plug for a sponsor...well maybe a little one...But I was using Red Line Oil even before they sponsroed me. I happen to believe it is the best out there. So thank you to Red Line for coming on board and helping this venture out. My beautifal and far to understanding fiance' Kati. Without her none of this would be possible. She understands the long hours in the garage to get the car ready the night before. All the days and nights away from home in hotels and hauling the car in the wee hours of the morning. Eating fast food for breakfast, lunch and dinner and never once complaining. She is my best friend and one of the nicest people I have ever had the privilage to be around. And she has always stood by me in my racing career. And more things that shall remain private that even she may never fully know. And last but certianly not least...EVERYONE here on DSMtuners. All your E-Mails, PMs, posts with encouraging words and congratulations on wins and sympathy when things didnt always go the way I wanted them to go. THANK YOU. They ment more to me than you know. I hope last season and seasons to come I can help motivate DSMers out there that yes, these cars can do something other than go fast in a straight line

Well now that the thank yous have been given out....There is only 8 days to the season begins. 7 rounds of racing to see how we stack up this season with the new setup. Maybe we can even bring home a championship this year. I guess we will just have to wait and see how the season pans out and wait till April to know for sure. Once again thank you to everyone on here for all the support and kind words. Now LETS GO GET 'EM !!!!