The National Lightning Owners Club Inc - View Single Post - October 2007 Gen 2 TOTM - Congrats to Jeff "yaeger" Jaeger ! (NLOC #1660)

Skritch · 10-01-2007, 01:58 PM

October 2007 Gen 2 Truck Of The Month – Congratulations Jeff (yaeger) Jaeger ! (NLOC #1660)

This months Gen 2 truck runs out of Illinois. This low mileage ’99 model has been turned into a race truck. Jeff has taken his 1999 Lightning deep into the 10’s and is looking to see the 9’s with it. Jeff was looking to find the 9 second run at Lightning Fest 5 this year. Unfortunately Jeff was involved in a crash on the drag strip at L Fest 5 negating his chance for improving his best time. Both Jeff and the other driver were uninjured. The article and pictures presented here are prior to Lightning Fest 5. This is one very nice race truck !

1. What sparked your interest in the Ford Lightning?

I have always had Mustangs growing up. Then when I graduated High School, trucks were the “IN” thing. So I went and bought myself a Brand New 1993 Black Lightning. Then in 1996, I married Candie, we traded in the Lightning and bought a 1997 Ford Explorer. As we were signing the paper work for the Explorer I looked at Candie and told her that if there were ever another Lightning made, I was going to get it no matter what! About a year or so later we sold the Explorer, put money down on my 1999 Lightning.

2. Do you have any interesting stories about previously owned vehicles, before becoming a Lightning owner?

Everyone laughs when I tell them that I Love Volkswagen Bugs and that I had owned a few when I was younger. I sold my last Volkswagen about 5 years ago when we had our new house built. Once again, I am a proud owner of a 1974 Super Beetle. I plan on, in the near future, putting a turbo on it and try to get into the 10’s!

3. What modifications have you made to your truck since you have owned it...both show and go?

I am not a real big BLING kind of guy. Pretty much everything I have done to my truck is to help in the ¼ mile. My mods are pretty much what everyone does.
• 1999 Lightning
• 9,588 miles
• JLP long block with JLP race heads
• Level 10 trans with P.I. Converter
• Ported lower intake
• JLP R 3” exhaust no cats
• KB with JLP sheet metal plenum 10lb. lower 3.0 upper
• KB Boost-a-Spark
• Total Magnafuel fuel system
• JLP 110 Mass Air
• EGR Deleted
• AJE front end with tubular lowers and manual rack
• Fiber leafs
• QA1’s all the way around
• Race Tested N20 with the Maximizer
• Race weight 4,300 +/- with driver
• Battery relocated to bed

4. Do you have any interesting stories about your Lightning?

I let my wife Candie take the Lightning down the track a few years ago, when it was still in the 12’s, to see if she could better my times. I told her when she is racing, no matter what, Do Not take your foot off the gas, Just Keep Going, Your Racing the clock not the other person. Well, that was a bad idea. She spun out at the light. I was standing behind the truck and all I saw was the sides of the truck going towards the inner wall and then swerved back towards the outside wall, still going down the track, she just kept going. I asked her when she got back to the pits, “What the heck were you thinking”. She said, “But, you told me no matter what, do not let off the gas, and I didn’t, I kept going.”
I was able to take my daughter, Amanda, 2 years ago down our local track. She knew we were racing a Camaro and that was about all she was able to see because she was only 7 years old and she was too small to see over the dashboard, plus she had her helmet on. But when we got to the end, she looked at me with a HUGE smile and asked me “Did we win?” I said, “Yep, and we smoked that Camaro and we ran a 10.98”! All she said the rest of the day was we smoked that Camaro.

5. Tell us about yourself, your hobbies, business or work, sports, family, etc.

I am 32 years old. I am a truck driver for the largest garbage hauling company in the United States. (Sports) I hold a record for the most Chicken Wings in 1 sitting at a local bar. I am happily married 11 years to Candie and we have 1 child Amanda. The Lightning and racing is a Family hobby for us. Candie pretty much helps keep the truck clean and things organized in the trailer when Amanda and I make a mess. Then Amanda is “Daddy’s little Helper” and loves to get tools for me and sometimes works with me on the truck. Every once in a while, Amanda and I, take the Lightning out for a ride around town. She loves riding in the truck because she gets to get in the 5 point harness and it makes her feel like she is in a “Real” race car, like Erica Enders (NHRA racer that she met at Rt. 66 one year ago). Erica started racing in a junior dragster at 8 years old. So Amanda’s eyes lit up when she heard about that. Now she wants a junior dragster to race.

6. How long have you been a user of the NLOC.net, when did you become an NLOC member, and why did you choose to become a member of NLOC?

I have been on the NLOC boards since 2003, and then I became a member in 2004. I joined because everyone I talked to on the boards all seemed to be real cool, friendly and we all have the same interest, Lightning’s!

7. What suggestions do you have to make the NLOC.net website easier to use and navigate?

It is really easy to use, if you just take the time to look around the site. Most of the time you will find what you are looking for, though I prefer the old classified section.

8. Why did you pick your board user name (screen name)?

I chose my Username, YAEGER; because that is the way you actually pronounce my last name.

9. What are your plans for future changes to your truck?

To turn up the wick at L-Fest and really give it all it has. I want to see if I can get it in the 9’s. I ran my best last month on a break in tune with 6 passes on the new motor, 10.30 @ 127.11. I can not give all my secrets, but it may have to do something with a big block and a boat load of N2O.

10. Whom would you like to thank for help\donations\support for putting the truck together?

I would like to thank Auto Specialists for all the time, effort and sponsorship in the 2007 season. And letting me tie up one of your bays for 7 months while redoing pretty much the whole truck. Also, I would like to thank JLP for all the phone support, tech help and the sponsorship for 2007.

Congratulations to Jeff Jaeger and his 1999 red Ford Lightning for Gen 2 Truck of the Month, October 2007 !

10-01-2007, 01:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Skritch Moderator Paid Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The socialist kingdom of Washington State Posts: 4,727 NLOC member #: 1461 View this user's gallery iTrader: 6 / 100%	October 2007 Gen 2 TOTM - Congrats to Jeff "yaeger" Jaeger ! (NLOC #1660) October 2007 Gen 2 Truck Of The Month – Congratulations Jeff (yaeger) Jaeger ! (NLOC #1660) This months Gen 2 truck runs out of Illinois. This low mileage ’99 model has been turned into a race truck. Jeff has taken his 1999 Lightning deep into the 10’s and is looking to see the 9’s with it. Jeff was looking to find the 9 second run at Lightning Fest 5 this year. Unfortunately Jeff was involved in a crash on the drag strip at L Fest 5 negating his chance for improving his best time. Both Jeff and the other driver were uninjured. The article and pictures presented here are prior to Lightning Fest 5. This is one very nice race truck ! *1. What sparked your interest in the Ford Lightning?* I have always had Mustangs growing up. Then when I graduated High School, trucks were the “IN” thing. So I went and bought myself a Brand New 1993 Black Lightning. Then in 1996, I married Candie, we traded in the Lightning and bought a 1997 Ford Explorer. As we were signing the paper work for the Explorer I looked at Candie and told her that if there were ever another Lightning made, I was going to get it no matter what! About a year or so later we sold the Explorer, put money down on my 1999 Lightning. *2. Do you have any interesting stories about previously owned vehicles, before becoming a Lightning owner?* Everyone laughs when I tell them that I Love Volkswagen Bugs and that I had owned a few when I was younger. I sold my last Volkswagen about 5 years ago when we had our new house built. Once again, I am a proud owner of a 1974 Super Beetle. I plan on, in the near future, putting a turbo on it and try to get into the 10’s! *3. What modifications have you made to your truck since you have owned it...both show and go?* I am not a real big BLING kind of guy. Pretty much everything I have done to my truck is to help in the ¼ mile. My mods are pretty much what everyone does. • 1999 Lightning • 9,588 miles • JLP long block with JLP race heads • Level 10 trans with P.I. Converter • Ported lower intake • JLP R 3” exhaust no cats • KB with JLP sheet metal plenum 10lb. lower 3.0 upper • KB Boost-a-Spark • Total Magnafuel fuel system • JLP 110 Mass Air • EGR Deleted • AJE front end with tubular lowers and manual rack • Fiber leafs • QA1’s all the way around • Race Tested N20 with the Maximizer • Race weight 4,300 +/- with driver • Battery relocated to bed *4. Do you have any interesting stories about your Lightning?* I let my wife Candie take the Lightning down the track a few years ago, when it was still in the 12’s, to see if she could better my times. I told her when she is racing, no matter what, Do Not take your foot off the gas, Just Keep Going, Your Racing the clock not the other person. Well, that was a bad idea. She spun out at the light. I was standing behind the truck and all I saw was the sides of the truck going towards the inner wall and then swerved back towards the outside wall, still going down the track, she just kept going. I asked her when she got back to the pits, “What the heck were you thinking”. She said, “But, you told me no matter what, do not let off the gas, and I didn’t, I kept going.” I was able to take my daughter, Amanda, 2 years ago down our local track. She knew we were racing a Camaro and that was about all she was able to see because she was only 7 years old and she was too small to see over the dashboard, plus she had her helmet on. But when we got to the end, she looked at me with a HUGE smile and asked me “Did we win?” I said, “Yep, and we smoked that Camaro and we ran a 10.98”! All she said the rest of the day was we smoked that Camaro. *5. Tell us about yourself, your hobbies, business or work, sports, family, etc.* I am 32 years old. I am a truck driver for the largest garbage hauling company in the United States. (Sports) I hold a record for the most Chicken Wings in 1 sitting at a local bar. I am happily married 11 years to Candie and we have 1 child Amanda. The Lightning and racing is a Family hobby for us. Candie pretty much helps keep the truck clean and things organized in the trailer when Amanda and I make a mess. Then Amanda is “Daddy’s little Helper” and loves to get tools for me and sometimes works with me on the truck. Every once in a while, Amanda and I, take the Lightning out for a ride around town. She loves riding in the truck because she gets to get in the 5 point harness and it makes her feel like she is in a “Real” race car, like Erica Enders (NHRA racer that she met at Rt. 66 one year ago). Erica started racing in a junior dragster at 8 years old. So Amanda’s eyes lit up when she heard about that. Now she wants a junior dragster to race. 6. How long have you been a user of the NLOC.net, when did you become an NLOC member, and why did you choose to become a member of NLOC? I have been on the NLOC boards since 2003, and then I became a member in 2004. I joined because everyone I talked to on the boards all seemed to be real cool, friendly and we all have the same interest, Lightning’s! *7. What suggestions do you have to make the NLOC.net website easier to use and navigate?* It is really easy to use, if you just take the time to look around the site. Most of the time you will find what you are looking for, though I prefer the old classified section. *8. Why did you pick your board user name (screen name)?* I chose my Username, YAEGER; because that is the way you actually pronounce my last name. *9. What are your plans for future changes to your truck?* To turn up the wick at L-Fest and really give it all it has. I want to see if I can get it in the 9’s. I ran my best last month on a break in tune with 6 passes on the new motor, 10.30 @ 127.11. I can not give all my secrets, but it may have to do something with a big block and a boat load of N2O. *10. Whom would you like to thank for help\donations\support for putting the truck together?* I would like to thank Auto Specialists for all the time, effort and sponsorship in the 2007 season. And letting me tie up one of your bays for 7 months while redoing pretty much the whole truck. Also, I would like to thank JLP for all the phone support, tech help and the sponsorship for 2007. Congratulations to Jeff Jaeger and his 1999 red Ford Lightning for Gen 2 Truck of the Month, October 2007 !