Kalivoda Earns Runner-up Honors
at 21st annual NitrOlympics
August 28, 2006 – Brady Kalivoda once
again had the opportunity to represent the United States
oversees at this year’s NitrOlympics in Hockenheim,
Germany.
Although the 21st running
of Germany’s largest drag race was plagued by persistent
rains, the wet weather and gray skies were not enough to
keep away the throngs of fans that flocked to the “Home of
Speed” from all over Europe.
After qualifying number one with a
4.911 elapsed time, Kalivoda met Norway’s Thomas Nataas in
the final round of Sunday’s rain-shortened eliminations.
Kalivoda went up in smoke at the hit of the throttle and
watched Nataas cruise to an easy 4.941 victory at 457.97
km/h.
“We had an oil leak as we were pulling
forward to stage the car,” said Kalivoda. “Oil got under the
right rear tire and that was all she wrote. The car didn’t
move two inches before it broke traction.”
“That was unfortunate, because we
certainly felt that the Dakota Industries Top Fuel Dragster
was the car to beat all weekend. We know what happened now;
we were missing some valve cover nuts on the right hand side
of the engine. That caused oil to squeeze out between the
cylinder head, the valve cover, and the gasket.”
“I’m certainly disappointed we weren’t
able to at least have ourselves a drag race in the final;
but as disappointed as I am, I think the Dakota Racing Team
is taking it even harder,” said Kalivoda. “I see it as a
privilege to be able to come over to Hockenheim and drive
for Rico Anthes and this team every year. Having said that,
it is serious business, and the team doesn’t take it lightly
that this was their first, last, and only opportunity to
compete at an event of this magnitude until next year’s
NitrOlympics. In the States, we have NHRA National Events at
least every other weekend during the season. For this team,
they’ll have to wait until next August to get another
chance. That makes it a little harder.”
“Again, it’s too bad we couldn’t bring
home the ‘Gold’ like we did last year, but you won’t catch
me with anything but a smile on my face,” said Kalivoda.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity, not only to drive a Top
Fueler at a venue as incredible as the Hockenheim
quarter-mile, but to have the chance to incorporate somewhat
of a vacation into the trip.”
“My fiancée has family here in
Germany, so we are going to spend some time with them and
then head to Rome for some sightseeing. While we’re there,
we might even have some Italian food … if we can only find a
decent restaurant!”
NitrOlympics race results and
information can be found at www.dragster.de.
Kalivoda to
Help New Top Fuel Team to Debut at Route 66
by Rob Geiger Sr., NHRA.com Senior Editor
June 4, 2006 – Tim and Renee Coghlan will debut their Old River
Volvo/Volvo Trucks Top Fuel dragster at the upcoming ninth
annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in
Chicago.
The new team will feature Brady Kalivoda as its driver for
this event, before switching to Top Alcohol Dragster Allstar
Troy Buff as soon as Buff completes his competition license
upgrade.
Kalivoda
was brought in to shake out the group's 2006 Brad Hadman race
car, which has yet to make a trip down a racetrack.
Originally, Buff was scheduled to complete his licensing
passes after the
Topeka
event and break in the new Top Fuel car at Route 66 Raceway,
but rain forced cancellation of the Kansas test session and
altered the team's immediate plans. Due to sponsorship
commitments with Old River Volvo, Volvo Trucks, Patriot Ford,
and United American Health Insurance, crew chief Keith Adams
decided to call in Kalivoda.
"We really
wanted to get the car on the track for our wonderful
sponsors," Renee Coghlan said from the team's shop in
Carthage,
Miss.
"They're as excited as we are, and we didn't want to delay
them any longer. This is the culmination of a lifelong dream
for my husband, and we're just thrilled.
"It was
Keith's idea to call Brady, and he sounds like a wonderful
guy. We ran it by Troy before we made the call, and he was in
total agreement that Brady would be the perfect person to fill
in for him. They're about the same size and weight, so it
should be an easy transition. Thankfully, Brady was available.
"Everybody's number-one concern is keeping the sponsors
excited and happy."
The team
tentatively plans to race in
Chicago,
Englishtown, Memphis, Dallas, and Richmond. The schedule may
be amended as additional funding develops.
"We
completely understand that potential sponsors want to see what
you're capable of," said Coghlan, whose husband has owned
various Sportsman-level entries. "Plus
Troy will need to prove himself at this level. Hopefully,
we can answer these questions right away.
"We have
complete confidence in Keith Adams, Jeff Garvin, and Ron
Freedman, plus the other guys they're bringing in to fill out
the team. We've already dubbed them 'the dream team' because
they're all very experienced, and we're so proud of the hard
work they're putting in to get us ready."
Kalivoda
is happy to get a chance to help. His last NHRA event ended in
a freak accident in the Bill Miller Engineering dragster
during the opening round of the 2005 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. He last drove
a Top Fuel car in August at the NitrOlympics in Hockenheim,
Germany.
"I'm ready to do whatever the Coghlans need me to do,"
Kalivoda said. "We'll hope for good weather so we can get four
good passes in during qualifying, and if everything goes
right, maybe we can race on Sunday.
"It was easy to say yes when I got the call asking me to
fill in for Troy. I'll be happy to help him out in any way
possible. This seems like a real nice group, and we all know
Keith is a very capable tuner. Hopefully this will be a great
weekend for all of us."
This story is copyright 2006 National Hot Rod
Association. It may not be reprinted or retransmitted in any
form without the express written permission of NHRA.com.
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