Will Weaver's "Motor Novels" are all about dirt track racing. SATURDAY NIGHT DIRT kicks off the series.
SUPER STOCK ROOKIE is book #2. CHECKERED FLAG CHEATER is # book 3. And follow the real [. . . . .] Team Weaver Racing here.
Dirt track racing
Eastview, Rosemount HS & Robert Trail Library--April 16
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!
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
Sneak peak at an early review of my third dirt track racing novel. It should hit book stores in April, 2010!
"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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
