Page 18 - MIN.VOS AUG 13

Team Aruba Shakes Off
Disappointing Weekend
MARTIN, Mich.: The IHRA Nitro Jam Northern
Nationals started off well for Team Aruba. After a
satisfying day of testing on Thursday, the Aruba.
com Mustang came out ready for action in the Friday
qualifying rounds and was ranked at number two
with a 6.314 pass at the end of the day. The Qualify-
ing rounds continued on Saturday. As clouds covered
the sky and with a cool temperature, the competition
picked up pace, and Team Aruba was bumped back
to fourth in the qualifying rounds. However, this still an unsatisfying weekend of racing, it was
put them in the top half of the ladder, earning them
lane choice for eliminations.
Trevor Eman and Team Aruba were paired with
reigning champion Cary Goforth for round one of
eliminations. “During the course of the day the sun
started to come back out,” Eman explained, “and
I must say I think we underestimated how quickly
the track will heat up with the sun shining on it. We
made what we felt were the necessary adjustments to
tune down the car for the hotter weather and heated
track. Unfortunately our adjustments weren’t what
the track required to get down. We experienced severe
tire shake. However, Cary did as well.” It became a
gas peddling match down the track. One where Cary
would pass the finish line first.
“It certainly isn’t the outing
we expected. We traveled
thousands of miles from
Aruba, further than any
other participant, to get
to the races in the US.
Traveling so far to only
have our weekend end
prematurely is definitely
unpleasant.”
Although Eman was clearly disappointed with their
results from the Northern Nationals, the team did
run and qualify well, which gives them momentum to
build upon for the next event, the IHRA Nitro Jam San
Antonio Nationals, taking place on September 25-26.
“That unpleasantness only sticks around for a short
time,” Eman added. “As soon as the race car is put
10 LOCAL
away and the emotions settle, you realize that you are both the Budds Creek event and this event.
surrounded by a team of guys who also are ready to
get back to it shortly after everything settles to normal. “All our guys, John, Bruce and Doug and my father
and myself will be home for a couple of weeks where
“Aside from an unsuccessful race for Team Aruba, our we will look back at what went wrong and make sure
promotional efforts were very successful. We had our w e are well prepared for the next
information display stand filled with all sorts of great
giveaways from both the Aruba Tourism Authority race. We will continue
and the Aruba Airport Authority. The fans were to work hard and
visiting on a constant basis. Although we had be looking for
more win lights
certainly a very satisfying weekend of being in San Anto-
in touch with fans. nio.”
Our Autism Speaks donation box was also
generously taken care of by racing fans and
Autism Awareness supporters. Hopefully we
see more great fans come out to the races the
rest of this year and less rain, because we have
sure seen our fair share of rain so far.”
The Eman family and Team Aruba crew are al-
ways welcoming of fans and love the opportunity
to talk about the island paradise they call home.
“We’re happy to have been hosted by US 131
Motorsports Park, a top notch facility
where we are always treated
like family. Too bad we don’t
get to visit such venues more
times per year. The IHRA
did a great job completing
this event, which was also
plagued by rain showers.
They were able to complete
Thursday, August 13 2015 - ARUBA TRAVELLER