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08 September, 2007 After a full day of testing with direction and advise from famed national crew chief/team manager Larry Trigueiro and addition help from national midget, sprint and Silver Crown driver Mike Murgoitio, Laura and her team reinforced their decision to purchase a new chassis to finish out the year. After multiple runs on the track with what some would consider drastic, even bizarre, chassis changes, nothing proved successful in altering the car's corner exit oversteer, or "loose" character. At one point, Mike Murgoitio took the car out on the track and experienced what Laura has been working with, essentially all year. His description of what the car was doing was identical to Laura's, good entry, back end snaps loose at mid-corner and is accentuated when the throttle is applied. Mike's driving the car vindicated Laura as being any part of the problem, and in a way bolstered her during what has been a less than desired season - Laura was able to hustle car two tenths a lap quicker than Mike and only about five tenths of the fastest time of the day.
With no improvements made to the car's handling through the many changes suggested and made during the day, the decision to park the car until the new chassis arrives came relatively easy.
The chassis is still a few weeks from arriving at Hayes's shop. During this downtime, the Scott Losorwith engine will be freshened and all components will be gone through in preparation for finishing the year strong. It is estimated that it will take about a month and a half to get the car back on the track. Two "TBA" races remain on the Western USAC schedule that hopefully will come to be and allow shake down of the car in competition. If not, the next race will be the famed Turkey Night at Irwindale Speedway in southern California on Thanksgiving. Pre-race testing is planned for this race at both Altamont and Irwindale.
Laura and her team would like to thank Larry Trigueiro, Tony Hunt, Kerry Fasig, Alan Kaiser, Mike and Gary Murgoitio, Mike Swanson, Tim Clauson, Bob East and most importantly crew member Jay Almstrom, for their suggestions and efforts in attempting to remedy the car issues faced by the team this year.
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