What’s been going on with Sandy Wilkins lately? Well, there has not been a lot of racing going on. Since taking on his new job, Sandy has only been to a hand full of races, which was the ADRL race in Richmond and a couple of Big Dogs. The last Big Dog at the first of August went pretty good. The first pass was a 4.42 and it was not a good pass. We came back for second pass and shook the tires to end up on the outside of the field. Sandy made a few adjustments and we went back out for a test run. The car ran a 4.30 @ 167 which was our best pass to date with the 5-speed, but watching the car and looking at the computer, it still was not a good pass. It’s funny how you are never satisfied. Now remember, all this is own 10.5 tires. This whole set up, which consists of a small block with nitrous, liberty 5-speed and 10.5 tires has been challenging, but Flea want quit until he has made it work. Small rewards with a lot of work.
As the photo shows, this is some of Sandy’s equipment from his old shop, loaded up and headed for Mooresville. His old shop has finally been closed up and there is no turning back now. Sandy has been in his new house now for about a month and some of the equipment will end up there. His shop beside his house is one we would all like to have. A 50 x 50 shop dedicated to nothing but your race car. Way cool. Finally being able to have a place of his own too work on the car will be a tremendous help. Even though working on the car at Roush/Yates is pretty cool, it is nothing like your own place.
Sandy has also been working with Justin Humphreys and his new Ford Pro Stock car. They tested at Budds Creek, Maryland several weeks back and it looks like they are going to do some testing locally this week in hopes of a U.S. Nationals debut. The engine is making competitive horsepower, so everyone is excited about the future. I hope everything goes good for these guys during testing so the Fleabag can relax a little. Relaxing may be short lived, as Sandy may be traveling out to Indy to help with the pro stocker that week as well as in Charlotte next month.
As far as Wilkins Motorsports, Sandy is looking at doing a little testing of his own in the next few weeks to get ready for the ADRL race in Rockingham, NC on September 10 and 11. He will be doing a lot of racing as I mentioned before, but it will be split between working and his own program. First, going to Indy for a long week with Humphreys, then running his own car at Rockingham, then to the NHRA race at Charlotte with the pro stocker and then he wants to go to the ADRL race in Norwalk, Ohio the next week. Sounds to me as if he is burning the candle on both ends. It is hard to keep the grass mowed when you are never home. But hey, he is doing what he loves.
Anyhow, I hope everyone is doing well and good luck at the track.
Don
