Irwindale – Series Five of the Summit NHRA and Dakota is points leader right now!

 

 

 

 

 

Well, the morning when we got up I could tell that the temperature would be getting high, and sure enough, by 11am the ambient temperature was jumping high and I was sweating like a Duckling walking through a Ferrel cat housing project.

Dakota is leading the points right now and needs to do well once again and that’s no easy task as everybody that he races is fast and on the ball, so when we pulled up, Dakota had done a first run to check the bike and the times and was running well with a 5.72 1/8th mile on his ZRX 2014 Bronze star Racing group Kawasaki.

 

Flying his colors of all his sponsors, Kawasaki, Lucas Racing oil, Penske racing Shocks, MTC, Shinko tires, Mavtv- Kota was fairly upbeat with his times, just that the track temp was jumping up and the tire was lighting up in different places.

His Dad was racing too  Aaron ” Twist of the Wrist” Pine and both on the same Factory machines, which is great to see.

 

The same for everyone else but this can be so frustrating to a rider as they constantly have to change tire pressure, clutch weights and of course suspension etc, so no 2 runs are usually the same as the day goes by.

 

 

 

 

 

 Tony Pellatera gets all set with the flying froggy Le Top, Tony has been racing for many moons and he can light you so easy.

 

 

 

 The Flying Froggy la top sits on his Classic Green Machine and is a fun guy who loves racing.

 Tony was unlucky this weekend but racing can be cruel like that. Awesome machine that screams like a scolded cat!

 

Dakota and Le Top sit in the Sun and await the call as they are on the staging lanes and boy was it warming up, it was a dry heat today so if you can sit without your gear on for as long as possible was key here this weekend. Although Dillan should of worn pants looking by the amount of skin he was showing that day!  Ha Ha.

 

The field was going through the traps quite fast so not too long of a wait in the Sun.

 

 Aaron and pops await the call as the temps slowly start to creep up, like cheap Boxers!

 Dave Miller was interested in a Yellow pink specked butterfly as he is quite the expert.

 Dakota and Le Top sit and get ready for the race ahead, Kota dialing a 5.68.

 The french Connection contemplates his chances against The Lucas oil machine.

Dylan forgot he had pockets .

 Troy Gonzalez has a go, but had trouble on the line as he had a dry tire and lost a wee bit of concentration but a super nice guy and he loves to compete.

 Tony Pellettera sits and awaits his fate against Dave Miller.

 Aaron lighting it up.

 The bike was almost the same as Dakota’s but had a little bit of tire slipping, and this is always frustrating, kota had that issue here a few meets ago but some ya win and some ya lose.

 Tony and Dave get into the box and get everything set at the water box and now Game on!

Both these bikes are louder than pink sweaters and always great to watch compete.

All set as they stage and get ready for the fast Green light.

 Dakota lights the tire up good and proper as he prepares to get the big W!

 Kota in the right Lane and the flying froggy in the left, two Kawasaki’s get ready to do battle.

 All set, all Focus and all Dakota this time!!!!!!

 Number 6 the Flying froggy, Le top did well but had gear change issues quarter of the way up the track.

 

 

 

Below, Aaron comes back from his run and had no luck with the tire slipping.

 

 Mr. Dave Miller on the one eyed Octo, gets another win!

 

 Temps were picking up as the day got along.

Kota’s Dial in time for the next round.

 Below, Dakota keeps a record of all times win or lose as this is always a great way of seeing how the set ups were on previous races etc.

Troy didn’t have a good meet this time but he will be sure to be back for the next one.

 Dave Millers machine is consistent with a capital C.

 All set to let the hammer down as he runs fast times once again.

 Le Top takes a run to see how the bike is running as he went out against Dakota.

Kota runs well and gets the light and is on his way to the Final.

 

Is this weather gonna cool down?

Dakota compares timing slips to see if any adjustments need to be made.

 

 OK its on like Donkey Kong, Dakota Kai and Dave Miller Battle it out in the Final, kota needs the win and wants to keep ahead in the points.

 

Trying not to get too hot as the time is coming close now for the Final Round.

 

 Dylan check and sets the rear tire pressure as they now get ready to get this done!

 

 

 Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner, Dakota Kai gets the much deserved win, a bloody good and close Race and so much fun to watch.

 

 So it was actually a Lucky 13 today for Young Mr Sun, great job Lad!

 

 

Kota seems to be collecting more cups than a NFL laundry cleaner.

 

 Dakota’s little Brother Gavin sits on his Dad’s bike, he is already racing and winning at 8 years old in mini dragsters, great racing family.

 Someday Gavin, you can race ya dad and ya brother!

 Dad and Gavin take a little ride.

Kota heads up to the track for the photos at the end of the day!

I took a shot of Gavin Staging himself on the Christmas tree light.

 End of the day but a great result, next stop Fontana.

 

 Taking a few shots before we all head home, it got bloody hot and was nice to be able to feel the breeze that started to come in.

 

 

 Dakota and Dave, the finalists kick back and its all friends, this is a great series and the camaraderie is second to none, or in Dave’s case, Second to Dakota!!!

 Group shot and a big thanks to Lucas Racing Oil, Kawasaki, MTC, Penski Racing shocks, Shinko Tires, Bronze Star Racing group, Muzzy exhausts for helping him get to another final.

 

On the Strip and enjoying the win is a great feeling.

 

A good ending to some tight racing.

 

A  Fun team that gets results.

 

 

Hey Dad?  You need a cap like me a Kota!

This was a great meet, try and come and watch, you are all welcome and this is a great sport to be into.

 

 

 All smiles for a super result for the Bronze Star Racing group and all their sponsors.

 Adam LaVelle takes many cool photos and poses with the lads.

 

 

 

Its all smiles as they soak up the win, the Sun and the sticky track.

 

 Winner Winner, what’s for Dinner?

Kota running a 5.72 and getting the bike where he wants it.

 

 

 

 

Kota and Dave Miller in the Final

Now some great shots below from Adam Lavelle of Loose Nut Photography, he is always at the track and if you need a Portfolio to just some cool shots to send to Gran, this guy is a really cool fella and will hook you up with what ever you need. Don’t be afraid to speak to him, unless he is eating a Donut!

 

 

Great shot Below of Dakota and His old man  Aaron ” Twist of the wrist” Pine.

 

 

 

Aaron lights them up to get a wee bit of traction, but alas, the tire slipped like a baseball outfielder on a rainy day. And Below Dakota does the same thing but he is lucky that his set up worked out for him at this meet.

 

 

 

 

 

Pops Pin and Aaron doing the High 5 as Dakota brings home the Bacon.

 

 

 

Back on the track, looks lonely out there but not for long as 5.71 Seconds flies by.

 

 

 

 

 

Here we all stood to be part of the day and a great result, boy do I love the drags!!!!

 

 

 

Was it a Hot day?

Shit Yeah!

 

Great Job Dakota! Now next week is Fontana, lets get this out of the way as its like a sauna there.

 

Watched a few cool rides race today too.

 

 

 

 

Yes please, I love the 55, even with the scratch down the right side.

An entertaining day for sure as for us, we got some cool sights and sounds of the City work guys that were rebuilding New Power cables and watched them dangling from helicopters in between race rounds.