Dirt track racing

Race Report June 19

2010-06-20T13:42:00Z

Team Weaver won't field a car on this Father's Day race night. The Bookmobile is under repair. Look for Nichole next Sunday night June 27.

Race Report June 13

2010-06-14T02:18:00Z

Sorry to report that we wrecked again. Worse than the last time....

After a promising start in our newly fixed No. 16 Bookmobile, Nichole picked up a couple of places in her heat. We started her in back to make sure the car was handling right.

In the feature she started around 10th, and was doing well on a rough track--up to a strong 6th place. But a pile-up in front of her was unavoidable, and she crashed head-on into a group of cars. We have major front end damage that will take some time to fix. Crew Chief Bill Smith and the Davis family worked miracles after the last crash, but this time will take even more work.

Nichole was shaken up just a bit, though not as bad as last time when she hit the wall. I'm sure she feels bad about the car. I will say again that it was not in any way her fault, and I like her as a driver. However, Team Weaver needs to have some luck, too, and that has been in short supply.

Not sure when we'll be back on the track. Check in here in a week or so for more news.

Race Report June 6

2010-06-08T17:22:00Z

Rained out. Which was a shame, because the Team Weaver crew along with driver Nichole Davis's family worked really hard to get the No. 16 Bookmobile back in shape after our crash. And we were ready to go! Nichole is eager to get back in the cockpit after kissing the wall (really hard) last time out. We had to do serious cutting and welding on the front "clip" (the frame), and had a lot of help from other racers, too. After our crash, many volunteered "whatever we needed" to get back on the track.

Weather permitting, that will be Sunday June 13. We'll start Nichole in back of the pack just to make sure the car is working right. After a crash, many things change in the set-up, and small things make a big difference in how the car handles. It's likely that Bill Smith will have to make several more adjustments to get the set-up right. All part of racing!

Hope to see you Sunday night at Bemidji Speedway. BE THERE!

Race Report May 31

2010-06-01T01:54:26Z

Must be a bad moon rising, as Team Weaver had a bad night at Bemidji Speedway. After a high draw, Nichole started well back in her heat, but picked up a couple of places quickly. However the track was very slick and dusty what from lack of watering and a special appearance of Late Models, who really laid down some rubber on the dry dirt.

In the feature, Nichole started about 12th, and was quickly gaining ground. She made it to 9th place, then got too high in turn two, and hit the wall--hard. On the rebound, she was vulnerable to the other cars, and got tagged, and spun backward into the wall. Dust and parts flew, and the race was quickly stopped.

The No. 16 Bookmobile was towed off "on the hook", while Nichole sat in the pits and tried to shake off the hard impact. We feel very very lucky she is all right. Much of that is due to her wearing a head and neck safety brace (HANS). We are one of the few WISSOTA Midwest Modified teams to employ the HANS system, and we're quite sure it prevented serious injury tonight. (If you're a driver or crew member reading this, get in touch; I know a local HANS dealer and can hook you up. They're spendy, but hospitals and chiropractors are way worse.....)

Nichole was checked over by EMT's, and her vital signs were good. She seemed fine but for a stiff neck, though probably will have some shoulder strap "rash" tomorrow. I'll be dropping by her house to check on her.

The "Bookmobile" needs serious work, and we will be off at least a week for repairs and regrouping, though crew chief Bill Smith has worked miracles before.

In the video below check out Nichole in action at Bemidji Speedway, Bemidji, MN. May 30, 2010. Watch her loosen up one of the cars in turn two with a tap on the rear, then slip past him on the inside. Classic dirt track maneuver. The No. 16 Bookmobile is part of the Motornovels series, including the just-released CHECKERED FLAG CHEATER. The books are fiction but Nichole, as you can see, is the real deal.

Race Report May 30

2010-05-31T03:46:00Z

Nichole Davis and Team Weaver had another solid Sunday night at Bemidji Speedway. Nichole finished 4th in her heat, and 9th in the 18 car feature....

She started second row inside in the heat, and had serious handling problems. It was all she could do to control the car, and finishing 4th was a considerable achievement on the dry slick track..

Crew Chief Bill Smith made several adjustments to the suspension before the feature race--where she again started second row inside. We held our breath that the car was set-up right. In the first couple of laps the car still seem to "push" upward into the turns, and Nichole lost several places. She took a hard knock in the rear bumper, then appeared to stall. That set her back several places. She explained later that the impact knocked her car out of gear (into first gear); she noticed the rpm and oil pressure shoot up, and knew what had happened. Quickly shifting back to second, she did a burn out forward around turn two--just in time for a yellow flag. However, this put her in last place.

But after that, Nichole drove to make up time--and then some. She found her line and her confidence, and started to hammer out the laps, picking off cars one by one. As a friend of the team remarked, "So who's the 16 year old girl out there?" It was a sly joke (from the aggressive way she was driving, certainly no one could tell). She got faster and faster as the race went on, and was challenging for higher placement before she ran out of laps and the checkered flag fell.

A good night of racing. No damage but for a bent rim. Had to buy two tires, but that's part of doing business. Nichole had a smile on her face after the race, as did everybody with Team Weaver. Dirt track racing is not the Indy 500 (which ran today)--it's far more real.

Next race: tomorrow night, Monday, May 31, Memorial Day. Heats begin an hour early at 4:00 p.m BE THERE, BE THERE!

Race Report May 23

2010-05-24T01:48:00Z

On a perfect summer evening at Bemidji Speedway, with the rumble of big motors and dust hanging in the late sunlight, a smallish pack of Midwest Mods powered around the high banked turn for green. Nichole had handling problems in her heat, and finished last, so in the 11 car feature she started fifth row outside. A spin-out and crash up front on lap one caused a restart--too bad, as Nichole had quickly picked up a couple of places. But it was back to the original line-up for the restart.

In the feature the No. 16 Bookmobile still looked a bit loose in the turns, and it took Nichole 4-5 laps to find her groove. Then she drove smoothly and well, gradually gaining ground on last year's driver, Skyler Smith--as well her brother, Jason Davis. She pressing hard and coming up on the two boys, but ran out of laps. She finished 8th. We'll take it, especially since we had no damage. The middle part of the race gave her good steady seat time, and she used it well....

Going into the race, she was 5th in points among 20 drivers. Tonight's finish will drop her back a place or two, but we're still very pleased to be in the top ten Midwest Mods at our local speedway.

Back in action next Sunday night, May 30, Bemidji Speedway.

p.s. Big crowd tonight, all good the for the speedway.

Race Report May 9 and 15

2010-05-17T03:29:00Z

It's great to be back on the dirt track. Team Weaver kicked off its fourth season of short track racing on May 9 with the debut of Nichole Davis, 16, behind the wheel of "The Bookmobile." While Nichole has had a couple of summers of dirt track racing (last summer she drove Pure Stocks), this was her first race in the Team Weaver Midwest Modified. Crew Chief Bill Smith started her in the rear and told her to "stay out of trouble" (with a smile on his face). Nichole did just that, but gradually picked off several cars to finish a very respectable 10th place in a 19 car field.

Tonight's race (May 15) found Nichole starting 4th in her heat, and picking up some ground on a yellow flag for a hard-charging 2nd place finish. This put her near the front in the 20 car feature.

On a warm summer evening, the twenty cars rumbled in tight formation toward the flagstand. Nichole was 2nd row inside. As the green flag fell, some very aggressive veteran drivers passed her--but then came a spin out in front, which she avoided. On the restart, she was back in 2nd place, and with some nifty driving soon was in the lead. Talk about a thrill for Team Weaver to see our rookie driver out front.

A rough track and some more spin-outs gradually took their toll on the car count, with several leaving for the pits with one problem or another. Nichole struggled mid-race to find her line, and faded to about 7th. And on the last lap, back in 4th place, a hiccup in a new fuel pump cost her a place or two. However, she finished a very fine 6th place. That, combined with her 2nd place heat finish, brought some serious WISSOTA points her way.

We couldn't be happier with her performance. Several veteran male drivers came by afterward to congratulate her. And one out-of-town driver came by to "talk to the driver" to complain about aggressive driving.

"Are you the driver?" he asked Bill.

"Not me," Bill said, "I'm the crew chief."

"Are you the driver?" he said, turning to me.

"Nope, I'm the owner."

The out of town guy looked confused.

"She's the driver," Bill said, pointing to Nichole.

"She's not the driver," the guy said.

"She sure as hell is," Bill said.

The guy got all flustered. "Gees, I didn't know you had a rookie."

"That's right," Bill said. "And you're not talking to her because she's doin' just great and we wouldn't change a thing."

I managed to smooth things over a bit and get Bill and the fellow to shake hands and agree to race another day....

And one more snapshot of the race: afterward, when the drivers and the insider types were hanging around the Chicken Shack and beverage stand, a couple of middle aged women came up to hug Nichole. "Every woman in the stands was cheering for you when you were leading!"

Nichole got a funny look on her face. "That's what that noise was! I thought it was something with the car....." We all had a good laugh at that.

Next race: Sunday night, May 23, Bemidji Speedway. Be there!

New Driver Announcement!

2010-04-26T17:09:00Z

Team Weaver Racing is pleased to announce its new driver for the 2010 season: Nichole Davis. Nichole, 16, is a junior in high school from Bemidji, Minnesota. She has a full year of dirt track racing in the Pure Stock class, and is excited to move up the WISSOTA Midwest Modified No. 16 "Bookmobile."

She comes from a racing family. Her father, Jerry, races Super Stocks, and her brother, Jason, races Midwest Modifieds. In fact, brother and sister will be racing against each other this year at Bemidji Speedway.

Nichole also works on cars, and is a big fan of riding her ATV. A straight-A student, she enjoys her literature classes especially. Please check out photos of Nichole at the Motor Novels album.

While Skyler Smith has outgrown Team Weaver and moved on to other racing opportunities, his father, Bill Smith, will remain as Team Weaver Crew Chief. At practice day, Skyler came by to wish Nichole well and give her a few tips on driving the "Bookmobile." Thanks, Skyler, and welcome, Nichole!

WWE Wrestlemania 2010

2010-04-23T20:15:00Z

Check out the photos of me at Wrestlemania for the WWE "Reading Challenge" event. Two of my Motor Novels were chosen, and kids across the U.S., Canada, and event the UK (England) read them, the participated in fun tests. The finalists--along with me--got to go to Phoenix in March for Wrestlemania. I met and hung out with Mark Henry, Kofi Kingston, John Morrison, and divas Kelly Kelly plus the fabulous Bella sisters. What a great weekend. Reading and writing will take you amazing places....

Checkered Flag Cheater--the 3rd Motor Novel

2010-04-23T20:11:00Z

Here's an early review of my new Motor Novel:

Will Weaver continues the story of Trace Bonham, a teenager who was chosen to be the driver for a Super Stock racing team. Team Blu is sponsored by an energy-drink company, and Trace is feeling pressure from his corporate handlers to conform to the image they want to project. In addition, Trace continues to be troubled by the breakup of his parents’ marriage; his on-again-off-again relationship with Mel, a girl also involved in the stock-car scene; and, most importantly, by his ongoing suspicion that his team is illegally tinkering with his engine to give him an edge on the competition. Trace is a flawed but appealing character who clearly enjoys the perks of being a celebrity even as he wrestles with the moral dilemmas inherent in his situation. (Weaver includes a quote from legendary NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip suggesting that cheating is endemic in stock-car racing.) This is a good choice for car-mad reluctant readers, although a couple of non-graphic sex scenes may limit it to a slightly older audience than that for previous books in the series.–Richard Luzer, Fair Haven Union High School, VT

Library Journal: review of Checkered Flag Cheater. Bk. 3. 176p. (The Motor Novels Series). Farrar. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-33062-8.

Eastview, Rosemount HS & Robert Trail Library--April 16

2010-04-05T18:39:00Z

I'm excited to meet and greet on April 16 at Eastview, Rosemount High and Robert Trail Library--but will not have the race car along. My crew chief Bill Smith can't make the trip, and I'm in the middle of bringing a driver on board to Team Weaver. But I will have DVD of our No. 16 Bookmobile in action at various speedways in Minnesota. So be sure to stop by and say Hello....

Will Weaver

Sweet News!

2010-03-05T17:40:00Z

First, Team Weaver will be at Eastview and Rosemount High Schools in Minneapolis on Friday April 16 (not the14th). We'll have our Midwest Modified No. 16 "Bookmobile" race car on display. Stop by and take a look!

Second, Team Weaver will be announcing a new driver for summer 2010. Skyler Smith has proven himself on the track, and is moving on to other opportunities. We're happy that he will be assisting with the transition to a "new kid" in the cockpit. She (that's right, SHE) is a 17 year old high school student with two summers of dirt track racing experience. We like how she drives, and think she'll be a great fit for Team Weaver Racing

We're not quite ready to make her name public or show you her picture, but stay tuned here in April for a major press release....

Newest racing novel

2010-02-26T01:20:00Z

Sneak peak at an early review of my third dirt track racing novel. It should hit book stores in April, 2010!

CHECKERED FLAG CHEATER: A Motor Novel

"Weaver extends his Motor Series with this full-throttle, stand-alone sequel. The summer points chase has begun in the Midwest circuit, and Super Stock rookie Trace Bonham, backed by Team Blu, is on a winning streak. While his sports-energy-drink sponsor is promoting him as the next wonder boy and he’s passed every inspection, Trace begins to suspect that his whatever-it-takes crew has rigged his car to win. He can feel it. Faced with an ethical dilemma, the teen must decide if he is “only the driver” or if he can still be a winner apart from his team’s efforts and corporate sponsorship. In the midst of his high-speed adventures, Trace reveals racing terminology, rituals and the “mental game” needed to overtake an opponent; his grueling life on the road; and his continued pursuit of Melody, the love of his life, all while keeping track of his “fence bunnies.” There’s no drag here. (Fiction. YA)"

Kirkus Review Magazine

Getting ready for Racing!

2010-02-18T13:52:00Z

Still high snowbanks up here in Minnesota, but Team Weaver is feeling spring. Crew Chief Bill Smith is ordering news parts (suspension) to get ready for the summer racing season. We have some new graphics to put on, and some sponsors to talk with, but generally we're ready to go. "Change oil and YEEHAW!", as Bill says.

We'll have our race car on display in the Minneapolis area at EastView High School and Rosemount High on April 16. Will be talking with motorheads young and old there all day. Eastview High in the morning, Rosemount in the afternoon--and Robert Trail Library right after school. Be sure to stop by and Hello.

Also: stayed tuned here for breaking news on my new book, "Checkered Flag Cheater." It's the third in the Motor Novels series, and will be released this spring of 2010.

Post-season clean up

2009-10-31T15:26:00Z

The 2009 race season is officially in the books for Team Weaver. In the Midwest Mod class, Skyler finished 143rd of about 700 cars. Considering our season that was full of rain-outs and freaky mechanical failures, we are happy with that. This fall, Bill Smith and I have been on the road with the "Bookmobile" visiting schools, including Detroit Lakes Middle and Forestview Middle in Brainerd MN. There Bill got in trouble (again!) for "revving the engine". Some crabby teacher in another wing of the school called the police, and two squad cars came to investigate. Clearly, a bit of miscommunication within the school, as the library staff and English Department were the ones who organized our visit. But no real trouble from the incident, and worth a good laugh.... We really enjoyed our days working with middle schoolers, showing off our race car, as well as talking about novels for young adults--including MEMORY BOY, DEFECT, SATURDAY NIGHT DIRT and the new one, SUPER STOCK ROOKIE. (Another Motor Novel, CHECKERED FLAG CHEATER, will be out in early 2010).

An eighth grade girl, Hannah, from one of the schools got in touch me after my visit. I liked her email so much that I'm pasting it below:

> Mr. Weaver,

> Today you visited my school and i was literally amazed with the

> stock car racing. I've always been a little on the daredevilish side and a huge

> racing fan and i was wondering if you could give me and information on how to

> get in to stock car racing. Thank you so much.

> Sincerely

> Hannah P

Hi Hannah,

Thanks the for note, and it was fun being at your school.

Getting into racing involves getting to know car-types and motorheads. They

always welcome girls, so don't be shy. Just tell them that you "want to

learn."

Gradually you can get comfortable knowing more about cars and racing. Find a

local dirt track speedway--the nearest one is probably Princeton, MN. When

you go, get a pit pass, which allows you to wander anywhere and watch the

race teams and look at the cars. There, too, introduce yourself and make

friends. Maybe you can get on a pit crew (it's very informal), and

eventually work your way up to being a driver. I know you'd have fun.

Good luck,

Will Weaver

Willweaverbooks.

Motornovels.com

Also, check out www.wissota.org and the "fan page" for types of dirt track

race cars.

Final Race Report, 2009 Season

2009-10-05T01:57:00Z

The Bemidji Stampede was more of a trot. And a cold, wet one. With temps at 45 degrees and a light mist falling, Team Weaver started in the pole position in the 4th heat on Saturday night. With a big car count, and everyone trying do well for the Sunday feature, the weather didn't cooperate. The moisture made the track greasy and downright dangerous.

The races were halted during the 3rd heat of Midwest Mods, which eventually brought the next heat of cars (Skyler's) onto the track to help pack in the moisture. After twenty minutes of low speed laps, the flagman threw the green for some hot laps. The cars seemed to stick all right, but the packing took its toll on the No. 16 Bookmobile.

In his heat, Skyler quickly lost two positions, and developed a serious "push" in the turns, especially turn two. He had a hard time trying not to drift upward in the corners, and had to slow considerably. We discovered later that a couple hundred pounds of sticky clay had lodged in the suspension, hence creating the "push." Because the circumstances, we weren't able to pit, where we might have taken care of issue. But the other cars had their own problems, and Skyler hung on for a respectable 4th place finish in his heat--which guranteed him a good spot in the feature.

However, Sunday's feature was not to be. Bemidji Speedway cancelled the races, a move that was puzzling to everyone. The conditions--light mist--Saturday night were worse than on Sunday. But the track officials apparently had their reasons, and they might well have been about driver safety.

In a nutshell, our season has ended. It was mixed summer in many ways, with rainouts, and then intermittent mechanical issues. The big blow was crashing in Grand Forks--when we took a hard, broadside hit after Skyler spun out. That crash reverberated for several races afterward. Bill kept finding more things amiss with our car. And that hard hit in GF was probably why we threw our drive shaft at the same speedway a week later. That proved costly, with the driveshaft taking out three tires, a rim, the driveshaft yoke--and cracking the transmission case, which we didn't discover until a week after that, and which caused us to scratch one more time.

All in all, it was learning, building year. Skyler got used the Midwest Modified, and we hope for a better year on the track next season. There were still many "victories", however, including some great promotional events for Team Weaver, including the MN State Fair.

Crew Chief Bill Smith and I will on the road soon with the "Bookmobile," visiting schools and talking about racing and dirt track novels for teens. Check our schedule under "Appearances" on my website: www.willweaverbooks.com

Race Report September 25 & 26

2009-09-28T19:17:00Z

Grand Rapids MN Speedway "Thunder in the Pines"--

Team Weaver, without Weaver (who was in New York) went to Grand Rapids Friday night for qualifying and Saturday night for the big feature. On Friday night, after another bad draw (187 of 300 total numbers), Skyler started well back in his heat but finished fourth. Because of "passing points", he qualified for the Pole Dash, a ten lap sprint, where he finished fourth again. This qualified him for the feature, where he started second row outside.

In the 24 car big event, he ran well, fading slightly at the end to finish a strong 8th place. Good driving, no damage, we'll take it.

Next and final race will be the Bemidji Speedway "Stampede", a two day event on October 3 and 4.

Will Weaver was in New York meeting with his editor of the Motor Novels series. After SATURDAY NIGHT DIRT and SUPER STOCK ROOKIE, the third novel about dirt track racing is called CHECKERED FLAG CHEATER. It will be released nationwide in early 2010.

Race Report September 13

2009-09-13T21:46:00Z

Bad luck and trouble, as the old Blues song goes, hangs around Team Weaver. While loading the Midwest Modified to head to Glyndon, MN, and the Corncob Nationals, Skyler exclaimed, "Where's all this transmission fluid coming from?!" It was spraying into the cockpit, he said.

After jacking up the car and looking underneath, chief Bill Smith found a hairline crack in the transmission casing. The damage was doubtless caused by our fly-away driveshaft at our last race in Grand Forks. That incident has proved more and more costly. As the shaft came lose, it took out tires, rims, some of the suspension, and now we'll need some serious transmission work--removal and re-housing. At least (we hope!!!) it didn't damage the actual transmission. No real evidence of that.

We were discouraged and crabby, but the sun was shining so we all took a step back and sat down on the grass and got out minds off racing tonight, and on track in terms of when/where we can race again. The opportunities are getting limited unless we do a long haul somewhere.

But first things first: Skyler and Bill will be working on the car this week, and we'll see happens after that.

Race Report September

2009-09-12T15:36:00Z

The Minnesota racing season is winding down, but there still are some opportunities for dirt track action and of course the Team Weaver "Bookmobile." After getting rained out three times at Rivers City Speedway in Grand Forks, we chose not to make the haul last night. Instead, we'll be Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon, MN, this coming Sunday night, September 13.

We had a great promo week recently, appearing at the Minnesota state fair on behalf of the Minnesota Public Libraries. Chief Bill Smith and I handed out my novels on dirt track racing. We focused on Saturday Night Dirt and Super Stock Rookie. They're great books for young adults on racing, and we had a lot of happy people taking away a Will Weaver book.

Writing books for teen boys is a tricky business, but my publisher and I think these Motornovels will be good reading for guys. But all of my books are written for everyone to read--girls too.

Minnesota racing news: we have sold our "little car", the Mod-Four. I would have liked to continue to have two drivers, but the sponsorship money has been tight this year, so Team Weaver is focusing on Skyler in the Midwest Mod.

Hope to see you at the Corncob Nationals at BRRP Sunday night!

End of Season Schedule

2009-09-05T19:43:00Z

Team Weaver, recovering from damage (driveshaft, panhard, rears tires and rims, etc.) will not be at Bemidji Speedway on Sept 6.

Next race: Friday night, Sept 11 at Grand Forks.

After that: Sunday night, Sept 13, Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon (pending)

Friday night, Sept 18, Grand Forks (pending)