Reggie Jackson

Racers are a different kind of people when its comes to their competitors. Rarely does the other team try to help you when its comes to something that may effect the outcome of the game or event. However, when Drag Racers are involved it can be a totally different thing.

We purchased a used Jr. Dragster rolling chassis and did not expect to have the car running until sometimes next season. We went to the track for an event that we did not compete in and during general conservations was asked by a fellow racer why we didn’t bring our usual Bracket Master Racing Team Car? I informed them that we had a previous engagement but wanted to come out any way to see the other cars run. We also talked about the new car and what we needed to complete it. During the talks a fellow racer stated that he had an engine that he no longer used and would be willing to sell it. Based on what I had seen looking at new engine prices it was a very good deal. Dad and Justin took the engine home and started working on the car early the next morning. We ordered some parts after initial assembly and would have to wait to race this car.

We went racing with the team’s car but had the Jackson Family Jr. Dragster in the trailer. One of our fellow Jr. Dragster racers asked why we were not running the car. I told him that we had ordered a few of the parts needed to complete the car and the shipment had not come in yet. That same race he and some fellow racers provided their spare parts until our came in.

We worked every evening after work and school (Justin) to complete the car and started the car on the Friday evening prior to the BMRT Holiday Helpers Race on Nov. 10-11, 2007. We ran a couple of test and tune seasons on Sat. I was still trying to get use to a different clutch setup. A number of additional Jr. Dragster racers showed up on Sat. night and asked about our progress with the car. We talked about how the car had run and they indicated that they might be able to improve the tune-up. Both of our fellow racers (competitors) took time out before eliminators to disassemble the clutch and adjust other items on the car prior to racing on Sunday. The E.T. of the car improved and ran very well through eliminations. Our fellows racers supplied parts and help with the tune-up on a car that they would later have to compete against. All we can say to this is, Thanks!

Nov. 11-12, 2007 - The Jackson family competed in the Jr. Dragster Class at the Holiday Helpers Race at State Capitol Raceway. Justin was driving his new Spitzer Jr. Dragster for the first time. Father & Son had worked hard for the past two weeks to get the car ready to pass inspection and make passes at this race. Justin won 1st place on his first trip to the track in his new Jr. Dragster.

October 24, 2007
Jackson and Jackson Racing Update

We attended the NHRA O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals on September 15, 2007 @ Memphis motor-sports park. We drove up on Friday night in order to see a complete day of qualifying on Saturday. With hotels at every exit, I waited until Ronnie Sr. had completed his work day and Justin and Ronnie Jr. were out of school. We drove until we were about an hour away from the track and spent the night.
The forecast for Saturday was perfect for racing. We got to the track early so we could walk around in the pits and take in all the things that a national event has to offer. There were too many cars to count and the racing operations of the Pro teams get bigger with every event. The hospitability tent a DSR Racing was larger that most houses and it seemed like each one of his teams had a semi and support rigs. With this in mind you know what the John Force and Lucas Oil Racing operations looked like.
On Saturday eliminations were running for the sportsman classes and all of the pro teams are trying to make a sixteen car field. In the past if I did not go on Saturday I did not get to see some of my favorite racers. There were a number of Baton Rouge area based cars racing in the sportsman ranks and local racer Michael Phillips was qualifying for Pro Stock motorcycle. Photos

Jr. Dragster News

Jackson & Jackson Racing purchased a Jr. Dragster rolling chassis from one of the local racers. The car should have enough room for a growing Justin until he moves out of the Jr. Dragster ranks. I am going over the car making the necessary changes based on a difference in driver size and am hoping to secure a motor some time soon. As things stand right now the car will not be racing until some time next year.

Reggie Sr. Update

We took the Duster out for Friday Night racing at State Capital Racing on October 12, 2007. I had not driven the car since the last BMRT event at SCRW. The last time I ran the Duster it fouled a plug and had a nagging oil leak that I was determined to find. Due to family and work obligations there had not been a lot of time to work on the car and it has been sitting on jack stands. Prior to bringing the car out we ran a leak down test on the cylinder that had fouled the plug, checked the carb, and valve setting. Everything was okay. As for the oil leak that was minor, but required a lot of time to fix. Skip H. suggested that I try the “Right Stuff” sealant to fix it. I tried it and it worked, so the car was ready to race after I cleaned it up. The temperature had dropped on this night and the car ran well with no problems. I had been to races at both local tracks but had not taken the car. One fellow racer even made the comment of “Look What The Cold Weather Brought Out”. Everything worked out find except for the loss in the first round.

Sept. 27, 2007 - Reggie, Willie, Tate, Johnell and Skip met with Gary Carter, Manager of State Capitol Raceway last week to discuss all the details of the Holiday Helpers Race on Nov. 10-11, 2007. Reggie gave his input and concerns about the two-day race. He also had input on the Jr. Dragster portion of the race and the flyer. Gary will take the comments from this meeting and pull the flyer together.

Justin Jackson wins 1st place in Jr. Dragster at No Problem Raceway Park! He also gets his name in National Dragster.
See page 44 in the Sept. 7, 2007 issue.

August 11, 2007 - Justin and Reggie participated in the Bayou Boyz School Supply give-away and car show. They had the Jr. Dragster on display and they helped James with the bike give-away. Photos by Reggie

July 28, 2007 - Time to go Jr. Dragster racing at No Problem Raceway. Justin moved up from coaches’ pitch to baseball this season and it was a new challenge. We had games two times a week most of the time and practice on Saturdays. The season is over which leaves more time to race.

We, Justin and dad had not been racing since the Fathers Day race a State Capital raceway in which Justin was the runner up in the middle Jr. Dragster age group. The middle age group includes 10 years olds. A race in which we even had a leaky rear tire.

We worked on the car for the first time, except to get the flat repaired on Friday evening before the race. Justin stayed out to help with the required maintenance which includes changing the oil and rebuilding the carb. However, we did this knowing that the forecast called for a 70% chance of rain on race day, with a 60% chance of rain over night.

We arrived at the track later than I would like to due to watching the weather channel starting at about 4:30 am and having to turn around and go back home to get the Jr. Dragster starter.

We made two time trials and were ready to race in the younger age group. Our opponent had lane choice and we were the slower car. Justin cut a good light and ran 0.01 off of his dial in. His first round win gave him the bye in round two. We made the bye run in round two and the car and driver performed well. In round three Justin was the slower of the two cars and was down track when his opponent started the chase. However, his opponent had mechanical problems at mid track and Justin ran 0.01 off of his dial in again. Justin was in the finals for the second time in his last two races out. Justin left the line first because he was the slower dialed in car and his opponent red lighted. This was Justin’s first win! Photos

July 15, 2007 - The Baton Rouge SMART Program and the Bracket Masters Racing Team were invited to participate in "NHRA Day" at the Community School for Apprentice Learning on 07/05/07. The CSAL Charter School is a Middle Grade School located in East Baton Rouge Parish at 1555 Madison Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA. Our host for NHRA Day was Mr. Khiresell Lee, the son of BMRT member, Robert Garner. Mr. Warren Birkett, of BR SMART, was the featured speaker. Mr. Reggie Jackson, of the BMRT Youth Program, provided additional information to the students.

The students were introduced too the fundaments of racing which included discussions of the different NHRA classes, staging during eliminations and other race day activities. This presentation was aided by the use of the NHRA and BMRT web pages in addition to a power point presentation provided by our host. The students were also introduced to the different careers associated with the automotive industry including mechanics, computer specialist, graphic designers, writers, publishers and engineers to name a few.

After the classroom session’s students went outside and toured the cars provided by members of the BMRT, including the teams Junior Dragster. At each car students were provided details on the construction of the car, the required safety equipment and the NHRA class that the car competes in. This was followed by a question and answer session at each car. Team Members present included, Taurus Jones with his Nova, Reggie Jackson with the BMRT Junior Dragster, Robert Garner & son, Khiresell Lee with their Monte Carlo and their Z28 Camaro that is under construction. Mr. Birkett is President of the Baton Rouge SMART Program and a honorary member of BMRT.

After the class room and outside activities the students and members from the BMRT and BR SMART were treated to a pizza lunch by our host. Photos of NHRA Day.

June 17, 2007 - The Jackson Family was out in force for the Father's Day Race. Toshia and Viola accompanied Ronnie, Reggie and Justin as the latter two raced their cars. Justin won two rounds before red-lighting in the third round. He was really on for today's race. Reggie had the Duster running good, but an unknown mechanical problem slowed the car down and Reggie loaded it up. Trouble shooting will take place later this month as Reggie and Viola will be taking a trip for company business to San Diego, CA. Have Fun!

May 22, 2007 - Reggie and Viola are proud to announce that their daughter, Toshia Jackson, is graduating from Central High School in Central, LA. Congratulations Toshia!
Toshia Jackson

May 18, 2007 - Jackson & Jackson Racing Team went to State Capitol Raceway for Friday Test & Tune. Reggie ran the Duster and went two rounds before going out with a red light. The car looked and sounded very good. Long time friend, Hank Robinson, was at the track and giving (good) advice as usual. (More photos and write-up to come)

April 28, 2007 - Reggie and Justin attended the Racer Appreciation Race at State Capitol Raceway. Photos

April 22, 2007 - Reggie was elected team Secretary for the remainder of 2007. The team voted to provide the new secretary with a computer to keep up with team business.

April 21, 2007 - Cajun Sports nationals

Reggie Sr., Justin and Willie D. attended a day of racing at No Problem Racing during the Cajun Sport nationals. The cars were fast, the weather was perfect and the food was good. Justin became fast friends with a past co-worker and last years Top Sportsman winner. It must be the thing about drivers who have to have a license to race. Both the Top Sportsman Drivers and Jr. Dragster drivers are required to have an NHRA license. Maybe next year Reggie Sr. will race Super Street at this race, but still will not be required to have an NHRA license. It sure would be nice (Hint, Hint) if they would have a Jr. Dragster class at this race next year. Other team members at the race included Skip H. and Willie B. Maybe Skip will run Super Gas next year also.

April 20, 2007 - Friday Night at SC Raceway

We went out for some test and tune passes with the Jr. Dragster on Friday night at SC Raceway. The weather was perfect and the track changes almost every week. The new staging lanes were being used which now open toward Highway 190. The track announced that the previous staging lane configuration had been is use for the past thirty years. These new lanes and their location really cut down on the congestion in the pits.

Justin had not driven since the end of 2006 so we made two passes with the Jr. Dragster. Earlier in the day we had installed a new pair of rear racing slicks. The old rear tires had plenty of tread left, but the side walls did not look good due to the age of the tires. We were the only Jr. Dragster testing so the track let us run right after the four wheelers which also use an eight mile track. The car ran okay so we loaded and watched the big cars race prior to heading home. In addition to dad, Bracket Masters Willie D. and Tarrus J. help with racing preparations,

April 8, 2007 -

We went Friday Night racing at State Capital Raceway. Justin & I arrived around 5:00 pm and had to wait in line to get in. There were a lot of cars on hand including a number of Pro Mods that were doing shake down passes. We ran the Duster during time trails to get a baseline for 2007. The car ran okay and we watched a lot of good competition between passes. When I was in line or making passes down the track friends including fellow members of the BMRT made sure that Justin was safe from harm. A lot of people take the dangers of a race track for granted.

The track owner continues to make improvements, including additional asphalt and a covered dining area. The Friday night crowd also seems to grow every time there is racing going on.

April 2, 2007

The start of another year of racing for Jackson & Jackson Racing.

Reggie Sr:

I sustained a broken wrist in December 2006 so we are starting a little late this year. I don’t know what most people want for Christmas, but all I wanted was a pair of headers and some valve covers. My old headers had been patched one too many times and there was nothing left to repair. I got my new headers for the big block Duster and finally got them installed this weekend. Installing them turned out to be a good test for my wrist, because one of them took a lot longer to install than it should have. I ordered the exact part number as the headers that I was replacing, but they were not an exact match. In the end I was pleased with the installation. In addition, I tuned the Duster up, checked for oil leaks, and changed the oil. Now all I have to do is get to a track and do some racing.

Justin:

Justin will be racing the teams Jr. Dragster again the year. He will be 10 years old this year and will not be in his rookie season anymore. Justin made it to the third round in his last race of 2006. We will take time any go over every inch of the car, change the oil, tune it up and go racing soon.