Houston Racing - 2002

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November 28, 2002 - Houston & Marva Hawkins were asked by Baton Rouge Constable, Major Reginald Brown  and Mrs. Jerri Harris, BMRT Board Member who is a Charter Member of Holiday Helpers, to show one of the Bracket Masters Racing Team cars at the Holiday Helpers annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner.  The dinner is given each year by the Holiday Helpers organization at the Baton Rouge Centroplex where thousands of people and families are given a good old fashion Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  This was the 15th year of providing the dinners to people all over the city.  People that could not come to the Centroplex were taken dinners to their homes.   

November 10, 2002 - Plans for Houston Hawkins for the 2003 racing season. The Heads have been removed and we are getting them ready to ship out to Bryon Durham, of Durham Performance in Hyattsville, MD, to fabricate a sheet metal 2-4 barrel intake.  Hopefully, the motor next year will be a 598 or 632.  Most likely it will be a 598 because we are building two cars this winter.  

November 1, 2002 - Houston made two time trials at Friday Test & Tune at State Capitol Dragway, just to check out everything after the valve train and drive train problems were corrected from the Louisiana Drag Classic.  "The Taz" will be retired for the Winter after the most successful racing season ever for the car and Houston.  It will be a well deserved rest.  We expect to see Houston and "The Taz" back in January, ready to start winning all over again!

October 19, 2002 - Houston was elected, by unanimous vote, to become President of Bracket Masters Racing Team, Congratulations Houston!  

October 11-13, 2002 - Nothing but trouble!  After working hard all week to get ready for the match race, Houston experienced valve train and drive train problems.  Constant work and changes of parts did not help the situation.  Finally the car was put to rest for the weekend on Sunday morning.  The race between Houston and "Big Nuck" will have to wait.  I believe The Taz would have been up to the task after all the work that was done during the week.  
During the Hospitality Welcome on Friday night, Houston was given a birthday cake and everyone present sang Happy Birthday!  Marva arranged for the surprise.  
Houston & Marva devoted a lot of time to helping with the Jr. Dragster.  Towing it to the line and helping the kids get staged for runs.  A good time was had by all. 

September 22, 2002 - Houston, Marva and many of the team attended the Super Chevy Show a Houston Raceway Park.   It was the first time Houston had participated in a Super Chevy Show since 1997.  We enjoyed the displays, vendors, the show cars and all the things that go with Super Chevy.  Houston won in the first round of racing but lit a .496 red light in the 2nd round on Sunday.   A grand time was had by all members attending.

August 28, 2002 - The photo shoot went great!  We have seen proofs of the Media Book cover and the car looks absolutely excellent.  The final design is being finished now.  A new BMRT logo has been designed by Houston, and will appear on the cover of the book.  We posted it on the web site today.  See New Logo

August 20, 2002 - Cox Communications Project Manager, Tina Barnardez, is going to arrange a "photo shoot" for the Media Book cover.  The cover will feature Houston's car, and will be designed by Cox.  The photo shoot will be at Houston's home, 10:00 AM, Friday, Aug. 23, 2002.  This Media Book promises to be the best yet.  Ad space is available, $100/page, $50 1/2-page, $25 1/4-page.  Photos added cost an extra $12. 

Houston removed the rear end and fixed some seal leaks over the past few days.  Other minor work was done to keep everything in top condition.  Now he is cleaning, cleaning, cleaning for the photo shoot. 

8/11/02 - Houston Wins!  Houston ran flawless all day, cutting the pro tree down with a series of .4 sec. lights on the 400 pro tree.  He took 1st place $$$$ in the 1/8 mile, Heads-Up, 5.30 sec bracket at Edmund Hall's Baby Pro-Mod race at No Problem Raceway Park.  Houston was clearly the best driver in the bunch and his car was not the fastest!  In the final round he met the fastest car and when he cut a better .4 light, all the other car could do was break out, as Houston ran another in a series of 5.34 sec. runs that he consistently recorded all day.  
 

8/3/02 - Houston and Marva raced at NPRP.  What a miracle recovery from the last outing where fire engulfed the car!  "The Taz" suffered a few minor burn spots on the hood and the doors, but you have to be right up on the car to see them.  The car ran very well (Mid 8's) in the extreme heat of the day.  Racing was very hard to concentrate on due to the heat.  Houston lost in the first round and did not even think about buying back in or staying for the Sunday race.  It was too hot!

7/27/02 - Houston was not hurt in the flames that engulfed his car during the 3rd round of eliminations at State Capitol Dragway.  Houston inadvertently left the gas cap off the front mounted gas tank and when he left the line, the fuel must have hit the hot headers and started a blaze.  Houston stopped the car when he saw the flames inside the car and got out safely.  
The fire looked much worse from the outside than it seemed to Houston.  He got out and had the hood off trying to extinguish the flames before the fire crew arrived.  The car has some flame damage to the hood, which can be saved.  The electric fans in front of the radiator and the gas tank cap melted and had to be replaced. 
Houston is in the process of designing a containment around the gas tank that will be sealed off at the hood.  This should prevent gas from spraying onto the headers in case this occurs again.  The car was started and run for a short time to check out the motor.  The Taz should be ready again for the races this weekend. 

7/20/02 - HOUSTON SAYS, "THE TAZ IS WELL AND READY TO GO.  THE NEW REAR END CENTER SECTION HAS BEEN INSTALLED, WITH NEW 456 PRO GEARS, AND NOW I THINK I AM READY TO GO RACING".   "OH I FORGOT,  YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONEY, SO I'M ALMOST READY!!!!!!!!"  

7/12/02 - While the car is down and the rear end needs repairs, Houston has decided to upgrade the complete rear end to be able to run the best Pro Gears available.  The parts are on order and should be in shortly. 

7/4/02 - Houston broke the rear end in the 1st Round of competition at No Problem Raceway Park's 4th of July race.  Bracket Masters Racing Team had a small cookout during the race.  While the car is down, Houston plans to make some minor modifications to the transmission.  A new set of Pro Gears will be installed in the rear end.  

6/23/02 - Houston and Marva attended the Annual BMRT Picnic and race at State Capitol Dragway.  This was the debut of the new camshaft, new spring setup and new valves and valve job.  The motor sounded different, not quite as hard hitting, but it ran quicker!  The best run was a 8.50 sec. pass in the heat of the day.  Everything worked very well and Houston was satisfied with the results. 

6/15/02 - After returning from Maryland and not being satisfied with the performance of his motor (remember he won up there), Houston removed the motor to do a complete overhaul, including a valve job.  While disassembling the heads, the machinist found a broken exhaust valve.  The head of the valve just fell on the floor after the spring was removed!  ONE MORE RUN and that valve would have come apart and ruined Houston's engine.  How is that for being Blessed.  The curfew prevented that last run for the money in Maryland and Houston saved his engine!  
Houston will have the motor overhauled and back in for this weekends picnic at State Capitol Dragway.  We expect at least 10 Bracketmasters cars there for the combo picnic and race outing for our families.  

6/1/02 - "The Taz" traveled 1200 miles to Budds Creek, Maryland for the Quartermasters Supercharger Shootout.  Houston qualified #3, with a 8.78 sec. @ 151.17 MPH off the trailer, in the Doorslammer Quick-16 bracket.  When the lights were turned out at 1:00 AM, Houston was in the finals!  The winner and runner-up purses were split with the other running car and they got a piece of the Super Pro purse as well (the winner would have gone into Round 5 of Super Pro if they had continued).  Houston is on a roll.  That's two consecutive races that he has collected $$$ money.  

5/27/02 - Houston did not run in the divisional event.  He spent most of his time helping team mates to work on their cars to prepare for the Maryland trip.  He helped Skip remove his engine, disassemble it and line up all the parts that were needed.  Several decisions had to be made that eventually led to a complete overhaul of Skip's engine.  Houston also helped install the "New" engine and was there helping with the start up.

On the same day Skip started his engine, team mate Marcus Bowie had to overhaul his transmission and replace his converter.  Houston left Skip's house and went to help Marcus install his newly overhauled transmission.  Houston had one busy day!  As a result of his hard work, all three cars that are scheduled to go to Maryland for the June 1, 2002 QuarterMasters race are ready to roll!

5/10/02 - Houston made it to the semi-finals again at State Capitol Dragway before losing on trophy night.  "The TAZ" is running very well going into the Divisional Points Meet.  Houston plans to run this coming week in the State Capitol Dragway Divisional Event. 

4/28/02 - The team traveled to Memphis, TN for the 1st Annual Bracket Race Shoot Out, sponsored by the Memphis Tri-State Racers.  Houston won 3 rounds and lost out in the 1/4 finals.  This was good for $100.00!  Excellent racing Houston!  This is just a tune-up for the Maryland trip in June. 

4/6/02 - Houston participated in the Scout-O-Rama in New Iberia, LA.  The Taz looked very good and Houston, Marva, Ebony and Al had a great time! 
  

3/29/02 - Houston made a pass at No Problem Raceway Park to tune up for the Memphis Tri-State Racers race on April 28, 2002 at Memphis Motorsports Park.  He spent most of the night helping Skip with the fuel problems in Masterpiece.  Houston's car had no problems and should be ready for the bracket wars.  
  Michael Jackson and Son, Michael Jr. - Painters of "The Taz"

3/27/02 - The car was taken to State Capitol Dragway where Houston made one run, 8.37 @ 163 MPH.  Again he was very satisfied with the run and put the car back in the trailer.  

3/24/02 Late Update - The valve body was replaced with a loaner Pro-Brake from teammate Marcus Bowie.  Everything works perfect!  Houston took the car to Eunice and made a single pass.  The fresh motor, converter and transmission took the car to a tire spinning 8.47 sec. @ 160 MPH.  Houston was very pleased with the run and put the car back into the trailer.  Now, time will be spent cleaning up everything and getting ready for the racing season, the Boy Scout Car Show and Advance Auto Parts Car Show. 
Houston and Marva will accompany Skip to the National Event in Houston, TX, April 11-14, 2002. 

3/24/02 - Houston is having similar problems to those of Skip.  His transmission will get all gears but it will not engage the Trans. Break.  His transmission has been in an out a number of times as different parts are checked, rechecked and replaced.  The valve body is now the suspect part.  Houston will test the trans. with another valve body today. 
The motor is running very well.  We expect some very low numbers (8 sec.) from this motor. 

3/17/02 - The motor is back in "The TAZ".  We should be seeing some time trials in the near future.  

3/9/02 - Houston has all the necessary parts and all the machine shop work has been completed to reassemble the motor.  The converter has been freshened and the transmission has been freshened up.  The car should be ready for this coming weekend.  

2/18/02 - After running at the Hattiesburg, MS Mardi Gras Race, Houston heard some strange noises coming from his transmission/converter.  Houston removed the units and took the converter to Custom Torque Converter for inspection.  The flat needle bearing set inside was completely destroyed.  This converter only had a few runs on it.  Houston does his own transmission work and he will inspect and clean up the transmission.  Houston also did a leak down test on the motor.  He had one cylinder that was at 11% (89% good) and all the rest were around 4-6% (96-94%).  He is going to put new rings in the motor and Meyers Racing Heads is installing new valve springs.  Houston wants to be completely ready for the trip to Maryland on June 1, 2002.  

2/9/02 - Houston participated in the Krewe of Maringouin Mardi Gras Parade and won 2nd place in the Race Car Division.  Congratulations Houston. 

2/8/02 - "The Taz" is running again.  Houston & Marva took it to the track Friday night and made a couple of easy passes to make sure everything was working.  

1/31/02 - While the new rockers were being mailed, Houston decided to pull the motor and check everything out.  The oil pump was replaced and the motor has been reinstalled.  It should be running by 2/2/02.  

1/20/02 - Sunday Test and Tune at State Capitol Dragway saw "The Taz" make a few more passes before another broken rocker arm ended the day of testing.  Before the day was over, Houston dialed in the T/S and had runs of 9.96 and 9.94 sec., which is headed in the right direction.  This is the third rocker arm to break in this set, and they are all at the end of useful life.  A complete set of new rockers have been ordered.  The rocker arms should be here in time for the first $$$ Bracket Race of the season, February 9th at State Capitol Dragway.  

1/18/02 - The spring, and rocker arm was replaced and the Throttle Stop was installed for the Friday Test and Tune.  During the testing session, all runs were made off the .400 Pro-Tree.  Although some very respectable R/T's were recorded, and the car really ran well, the coordination of the T/S timer and the under-the-carb type Dedenbear T/S unit was not reached.  A red light in the first round of eliminations ended the night of testing.

1/10/02 - Houston checked the motor and suspension after returning home and found the following problems:  Looking under the valve covers, there is a broken rocker arm on the right side and a broken valve spring on the left side.  The right rear adjustable shock was set incorrect, all the way loose.  This may have been the cause of the tire shake during the first pass and the weaving around on the second pass.  Do you believe he made a 8.34 pass on 6 cylinders!

                              No Problem Raceway 1/9/02

1/9/2002 - The first racing date in 2002 and Houston could not wait to get there.  He made two passes and everything worked the way it should have.  The first pass was completed in 8.84 seconds and he had to get out of it when tire shake occurred.   The second pass was really wild.  After an excellent burnout, he staged and left really good.  Just after the car shifted, it got loose.  Houston said, "I leaned over to get away from the wall, and then a vision appeared and I saw myself touching the wall".  At that time he was still fully into the throttle.  He decide to lift a bit to allow the car to come back.  He immediately got back into it and weaved down the track and finished with a 8.34 @ over 160 MPH!  After that run he put the car in the trailer.  We decided the track was getting a little damp from the night air and low temp.  The track personnel made special preparations for Houston's last run by cleaning the starting line and applying heat to the starting area.  If not for the damp conditions, I think we would have seen a number in the 8.teens.  

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