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Viking Feast
crossed the centerline and hit the eighth-mile cones (foam blocks that contain the timing reflectors used to measure elapsed time and mph). The first one I hit square with the front tire and it exploded. The second one I clipped with my right foot. The bike had slowed to 126 mph, but the impact still turned my foot black and blue. It also broke off an oilpressure sending unit and sprayed oil everywhere.” The team had one hour to get the bike repaired, ser-
viced and ready for the next qualifying round. “Our next three passes were much better,” said Wilson. The best clocking was 176 mph but the fuel problem hadn’t been resolved. Still, the team qualified seventh among 11 entries from the United States and Canada. In the first round of elimination, Meeks lined up against Damian Cownden, a three-time Canadian top fuel national champion. Cownden took the early lead,
but Meeks quickly caught up and was pulling away. “Then, at about 190 mph, I dropped the front cylinder,” Meeks said. “The power fell off instantly. In the last second Damien passed me and won the round with an ET of 6.658 seconds at 210.28 mph.” Despite that disappointment, the weekend was a success, Wilson said. “We learned a lot about the bike, worked well together as a team and didn’t blow up any parts in the process,”
he said. Keeping a high-performance bike on the track takes a great deal of effort, Meeks said, and a lot of money. He ran the abbreviated 2013 season due to sponsors Alpine Mortgage Planning, RK Graphics and Performance Coating, with a special thanks to Greg Lovell and John Harderson. Meeks and Wilson also counted on additional team members Carol Meeks, John Wilson, Brion Michael and Jim Fikse.
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in precise sequence – not unlike a rocket during launch. In August, Meeks and the rest of the team went to two races. The first was at Pacific Raceways near Auburn, the second in Woodburn, Ore., about 30 miles south of Portland. “It was intense, getting back on after a four-year layoff,” Meeks said. “Nitro motors make some radical power. The throttle is designed to run in two positions, off and wide-open— nothing in between. “The learning curve is steep, like straight up.” At Pacific Raceways the local team had mixed success. “On the first two passes the bike pulled to the left and I had to abort early,” Meeks said. “Our third pass was unbelievably hot. The eighth-mile numbers were zero to 176.80 mph in 4.267 seconds, which was my quickest ever. And the power just kept coming.” Meeks roared to 1,000
feet in 5.525 seconds but the bike twisted and shook for a moment, not uncommon as the front tire sets down. “I should have driven through it, but after such a long layoff I chopped the throttle,” he said. “My ET for the quartermile was 6.75 seconds, which was the second best of my career. But the mph was slow, 170.82, because I had rolled out of the throttle early.” “For the remainder of the event we ran well through the eight-mile,” Wilson added. “Our clutch setup worked perfectly. We posted some of the best short numbers of all the bikes.” However, the bike encountered a fuel problem that was flooding the front cylinder. “We didn’t get in a full pass, but for our first event as a new team we were pleased,” Wilson said. The following weekend, in Oregon, things started on a sour note. “On our first qualifying pass the bike pulled hard to the left,” Meeks said. “At 330 feet it was evident that I wasn’t going to get it corrected. I chopped the throttle at about 150 mph, but
135 Jefferson Ave & Hwy 410 - BUCKLEY (360)761-7267 (253)770-3661 SOUTH HILL PUYALLUP 9am-6pm
9th Annual
Pasta Purpose!
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MEEKS FROM 2
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 • The Enumclaw Courier-Herald • Page 5
Come join us for a homemade Viking dinner! There will be entertainment, a raffle and trivia games! Viking costumes are optional, but encouraged to enhance the fun!
with a
When: Saturday, Sep. 28, 2013 Where: Enumclaw Danish Hall 1708 Porter St., Enum. Cost: $35/person Menu: Includes Appetizer, Entree, Dessert & Drink
Plateau Outreach Ministries Benefit Dinner & Auction Saturday, September 28, 2013 6:00 to 9:00 pm • EHS Commons
Whole Smoked Pig from Olson’s Meats!
For our complete food menu visit: www.friendsofthedanishhall.com Contact: Pepe - 360.802.4326
All tables pre-sale only! For more information go to: events@plateauoutreach.org
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$
Per Plate for All Ages!
Dinner & Auction to Benefit Plateau Outreach Ministries
www.villageconcepts.com
878163
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1777 High Point Street, Enumclaw, WA
(360) 825-7780
For tickets or information call Kim at 253.951-2379