Harley – 3  Import – 0

 

Reporting, Ed Roosevelt

 

Photos by HooliganUnderground.com 

 

2008 is shaping up to be the year of the twin in the Top Alcohol Motorcycle racing series.

 

Race 1    Chicago Joe, Top Fuel Harley

            R/U Steve Rice, Kawasaki F/B

 

Race 2     Steve Ruggiero Sr., Top Fuel Harley

            R/U Tony Ruggiero, TFH 

 

As temperatures rise to 110+ in the San Joaquin Valley in central California, drag racing moves to late night where the action gets as hot as the day time temperatures. 

 

Beautiful weather, cool temps and race track conditions that are only dreamt of exist just north of Bakersfield at the legendary Auto Club Famoso Raceway.  Four of the six TAMX events on this years schedule are being held in conjunction with the WCHRA, (West Coast Hot Rod Association)  where you will find Six second 220 mph+  turbocharged,  nitrous injected and  blown alcohol  door slammers.

 

Race 3    July 18th and 19th at “Mikes Transmission Summer Nationals” seven TAMX racers showed up to compete for the trophy. 

 

Left to right: “Turbo” Joe Borjorquez, Terry Stewart, Mark Rissling, Tony and Steve Ruggiero, Steve Rice. Eric Bailey (not pictured)

           

            Round 1

 

 By virtue of his low qualifying effort of 7.357 Mark Rissling’s Watson Racing backed Nitrous Suzuki earned the first round single.    

Second qualified and series first timer Terry Stewart on his CP piston sponsored Nitro Harley had lane choice over Steve Ruggiero Sr., but was unable to hold off the hard charging injected bike, Ruggiero takes the win light.

 

Qualifying third was of no assistance to the Dyna Ignition backed Suzuki of “Turbo” Joe Borjorquez as Tony Ruggiero on his So. Cal. Custom sponsored nitro twin was first to the stripe.

 

Forth was Steve Rice, his low ET of the round 7.33 at 193 was enough to advance past Eric Bailey’s turbo/nitrous Kawasaki.   

 

 

Semi-finals

 

Mark Rissling’s 7.45 easily defeated Rice’s clutch ripping 10.50 

 

Steve Ruggiero Sr. 

 

    In a repeat of the finals from race #2 it was Steve and Tony Ruggiero, this time old age and treachery was not enough to overcome youth and enthusiasm – Tony took the win over his “Old Man”.  

 

Finals 

 

    Ruggiero’s 7.40 and Rissling’s 7.45 promised an exciting final round. Conditions were perfect; no wind and   track temperature was at eighty five degrees. On the GO Rissling left first but Tony was able to overcome the hole shot advantage and took the win light, showing low ET of the event at 7.13 and 191 mph over Mark’s slowing 7.54.

 

        

 Mark Rissling                                                                                       Tony Ruggiero

 

Tony’s win solidifies the Harley’s stranglehold on the class, for the third event in a row; the Nitro Twins have been dominating, giving the spectators a show of flames and noise and leaving the imports in the other lane nothing to look at except rear tire.  Tony would like to thank FearLess Gear, Capps Powder Coatings, So Cal Customs, Thrive Energy Drink,  West Coast Auto,  my wife Kim and my brother Mike crew Billy with the rest of my family, and friends. like to thank West Coast Hot Rod for having us there.

 

We asked series founder Steve Rice:  Can we expect to see the twins’ lord over the imports for the rest of the season as we have up to this point? Rice’s answer was direct and to the point.  “No, the pendulum swings in both directions, there is no major disparity in performance between the twins and the imports, last year Darryl Meadows on his Pro-mod Suzuki was winning, I have had my share of success and Phil Schmidt won last year also – every  racer attending has the goal to win. What is great about this series is the diversity, you don’t know who might win but, we do know that as a group our priority is to have a good time.”  

 

Tony and his newest trophy 

For more event photos visit www.HooliganUnderground.com

what is happening?

Tony Ruggiero: new dyna ignition, new artwork, faster, lighter.

after a great season opener at Gainesville with e.t.s in the 6 second range and mph over 200 Tony is coming with a load of nitro (Did I mention that he is pissed).

new artwork

      

 

Joe Colletti:  happy with new gear box, new head, new crank new computer.

Joe ran 7.0 and over 200 mph at  "Rice bowl 3" with a stock crankshaft, early style cylinder head and a single stage waste-gate. over the winter he has been making the changes to make his engine strong using only the best parts. He has lots of talent and drive, to quote joe  "loosing sucks".

        

 

Steve Kyllingstad:  New Koenig Low-Boy with 13" tire and Gatormade cases.

Steve has proven that he is a racer that is hard to beat, you can be sure that he will be in the front of the pack.

          

 

Chisom Racing Fabrication: Mark Chisom - New Chassis.

This lightweight, highly talented and  motivated racer plans on being a force to recon with.

Sears Racing:   Roy is taking delivery of a new WEISMANN 3 speed transmission for the upcoming season. (enough of that blown up stuff!)