I just returned home (last night) from Beaver Run and the AV8SS race. I drug Pimpmaro off to crew (once he was there, he was stuck....forced labor ) for the AV8SS team for which I usually handle crew chief duties. We arrived about 10:30 pm or so to a nice evening (great weather) and relaxed with Brion and his son Julian. Hung out, watched a movie on his laptop in the trailer and made plans for a great weekend of racing.

I learned that trying to sleep in the trailer at Beaver Run (with the door open) is just asking to become mosquito bait. So, after a few hours of not sleeping, I went and slept in my car from 4:30 to 6:30 am. So, we started the day with little sleep and none of it good..... Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes. We won't let that slow us down.

We sent the driver/car owner out to learn the track on the first practice session (brand new motor, slightly over 500 RWHP). Things were looking good, running easy laps. However, during that first practice session, the water neck cracked while out on course (a traingle shaped piece broke out of it), this allowed the top radiator hose to blow off. By the time it came into the pits, it wasn't dripping any water (it was all gone) and the temp gauge was reading "steam" and showing about 180 or so. Therefore, we sent the driver back out (unaware of the water problem) and ran 3 more laps with no water. So, when it came in, it was hot, damn hot. We fixed (replaced with a borrowed one) the water neck and it wouldn't hold pressure with a radiator pressure tester and was leaking water down the back of the block (from the intake...this is a small block ford). I tightened the intake bolts and it would hold pressure but wouldn't crank. We were also trying to replace a rear oil galley plug (screw in) that was originally an oil pressure tap for a gauge that was leaking. This took 3 of us and several tries with many plugs. I finally got the original one (which leaked slightly) back in the hole just in time for the next session. This wasn't helped by the fact that the valve covers (after sitting for an hour and a half, most of that with a fan blowing on them that was laying across from the cowl to the air cleaner) were still too hot to touch.

We tried to crank it, no luck. But, the starter was giving us problems in the pits as well during the last session. Maybe the starters bad. So, we tried to push start it....no luck. We pulled the plugs and I turned it by hand and 4 cylinders were full of water from a pair of blown head gaskets (and 3/4 of the way through that rotation, it started to bind up and get hard to turn). I then remembered that the driver said it had no oil pressure at idle when he got to the pits. I was hoping that he meant that the oil was hot and it was just lot, but now I'm afraid it was truly 0 and we may have big problems (probably an understatement I know). So, back to the engine builder it goes. I should know something in a few weeks (once they tear it down).

Racing can be so frustrating some days.....(it still beats a good day at work).

:drive:

As a side note, I think Pimpmaros conversion from drag racer to autocrosser/road racing fan is complete. Now he wants a track car......(I've created a monster..... )

Good summary. Bad luck. There's always next time!

Thats the break's buddy, $3 water neck $40 ARP rod bolt's they both put you on the trailer if you have one

At another event, we had a $3.00 distributor hold down come loose (it was bent and not clamping properly) and allow the timing to move, this hammered the bearings out of the motor and eventually the crank broke over that weekend (we had replaced the rod bearings and reset the timing, but the crank snapped on the pace lap for the endurance race). We've lost several motors to a collection of $3 (or less) parts. We've had a run of rather bad luck and since the car is based in Georgia, I can't get to it to go over everything before the events. I have to do it on the fly at the track.

We need to find you a crew Kevin

Apparently one man is not enough. I guess I can't do it alone on this old car (it's a 1971). The good news is that there is a new car going together as we speak and we should be running a 1995 chassis soon. I'm hoping that our luck improves (didn't Lou say that the harder he worked, the luckier he got? I'm already working pretty hard at some of these events and we are still not terribly lucky). Ah the joys of a complete crew....one of these days.

Actually, there is a race in September in Nashville. If I can move my appointment for getting my wisdom teeth removed, maybe I'll make it. I have a feeling that I can locate a crew in Nashville.....but why would I think that?

oops... sorry if I contributed on that conspiracy.

what's your impression of the track at Beaverun? they just got a 100K grant from the state for additions-it should be an even better track in the future.

I didn't manage to get out on it, so Steve-D might be a better person to ask when he returns from there (he was there with his Stock Car and seemed to be having a ball). It seems open and reasonably fast for an under 2 mile course. But that's just my impressions without getting an actual lap there.

Hah. Conversion is an understatement. I'm thoroughly hooked. There's nothing like the sound of an uncorked race motor warming up in the pits at 8 am.

It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on

My first time out definitely changed my definition of "Disneyland!" :drive:

It's just so much fun, I'm very tempted to make the run to Nashville in September... and I'd be makin that drive to work on a FORD!

Disneyland??? Oh I've got a totally new definition of Disneyland now.


(I keep tellin myself I'm going to actually write up a lil blow by blow of my weekend perspective, but I've got a job interview at 11 in Indianapolis so I've got a bit of a drive ahead of me. )

Hi Guys--great talking to you at the track. Sorry for the engine damage to your driver. It takes all the fun out of the w'end. I'm just happy I didn't need any serious help. Always a good situation.

I had a great day. It was a 55 minute race. Something like 42 laps and I took fourth place. Very satisfied.

Our guys can turn a FAST lap time. Two top guys did 58.xx sec laps and two others did it in 59.xx. Great times. My best was 1.01.9 something. Very happy with the car and it's handling. It's amazing how a car weighing about 3000 lbs, having a 400 HP limit and a live rear axle can produce the numbers, but these do the job.

I'm totally hooked. On the cool down lap, I was pulling off my stuff (gloves, belts, unstrapping Hans and Helmet--it was HOT), and BION, I was thinkiing of the next race at VIR on Labor Day w'end!!!

There's nothing like racing!

Steve

Yup, it was great to see you at the track again Steve. I'm glad you had a better weekend than we did (heck, I think everyone had a better weekend than we did).

When are you going to get an updated pic in your avatar? That's a great looking beast with the new paint and bodywork (it's not just blue any longer).

My friend drove the 3rd gen (with my motor in it) down to my place yesterday and I got back to thinking about buying that one from him. I'd still like to have it, but I just can't decide if I want to ditch the current car for a truck and sell off the extra "bits" and buy another car to play with. It would make a great AV8SS car with a little work.

Those are some smokin' lap times. Very nice. I wish I had been able to make it.

I did watch some portions of the weekend on www.msbn.tv It was kinda cool to watch.

Brion was taking it easy and turned a 1:11 (still learning the course). He still turned a 1:16 with no coolant in the car.....

Man I hope this thing isn't hurt as bad as I'm afraid it might be.

No worries.....fortunately for you Fords ALWAYS need work....more "fun" for you!

....from you description....I'ld be VERY afraid....good luck!

Lessions learned....first session with a new motor you'ld BETTER NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT LAPPING the track at all.....you better be working to bring temps up GRADUALLY, and watch the guages CONSTANTLY! Proper break in is key....not to mention finding any loose bolts, hoses, or other gremlins....

You gotta be REAL focused on driving, if you don't notice a huge trail of water/coolant spewing out from the car for a half a lap or so....

Oddly, he pulled in the pits and asked me if it was dripping anything. I looked and it was not. I didn't find out until later (or I misunderstood what I was being told) that he thought he saw a "splash" behind the car (and by the time I looked, it was empty). If I'd known this, we'd have yanked the hood right then. We were having radio troubles on top of that. So, we had communication troubles that seemed to do nothing to help the entire situation. And, we sent him back out.....

I'm afraid it's hurt pretty bad myself, but I'll stay optimistic until I hear the final word.

And, Randy, as you stated, he was short shifting, getting some time (other than the dyno time it had already seen) on the motor and trying to learn the course. He was getting passed by everyone since he was "taking a walk". The plan really was to go easy, break it in, learn the track. And, all was well until we didn't both understand what each other was seeing (him a splash, me nothing dripping, etc). Also, my driver is a pilot, ex military and currently flying Lear Jets. He watches gauges. He said the temp gauge was showing about 180 (even empty), it either wasn't transferring the real temp due to being in an air pocket, or we have a bad gauge. And that oil pressure started dropping (part of why he headed in) and was 0 at idle.

I wasn't trying to break your balls or anything...just making a funny...

...it's not like I can talk too much....with my gas/fire situation was ALMOST identical to what you describe.....down to the radios not working right....


...sometimes....racing "luck" will bite ya!....

Good luck fixing her up!

ps....miltary expertise or not....can't vouch for his judgement TOO much....he is racing a F.O.R.D....

I know. I just figure that someone can/will learn from this and maybe it won't be completely wasted.

Question for anyone who ran Beaver Run this weekend -

Are you lifting on the entrance to turn 9? Turn 9 is the right-hand kink before the braking zone into 10 (the tight, uphill right-hander) on the back straight. This turn is a constant controversy locally and I personally believe that very few high-hp cars can take it flat-out. I personally think that my car could go through there flat-out but then I wouldn't have the car straight enough for hard braking into 10 and I would go straight off the track. I have seen enough people taken out of there in an ambulance that I don't have the balls to try.

Keith I wasnt there this weekend but my instructor would do it in 5th . When I was there a yr ago now. I wasnt carrying enough speed to match his speed but it was plenty fast for me (130ish..) But I know what you mean about braking and being able to be stopped!!!!! Later John

I was never able to hold flat to the kink...but I could. I always had to back off because of the cars in front did and there is no good way to set them up for out braking there is only one line through the kink.

I would lift just to avoid contact go back to the gas and then jam the brakes on at the one hundred marker using some early turn-in and the up hill to help stop the car. I know it sounds funny but at the begining of the race I was able to outbrake the wilson/tone car from 4 car lengths back into the turn.

You can certainly go flat out through the kink if no other cars are around to worry about running into the back of.

Not sure about my speed (too busy trying to stop) but I am full throttle from before the downhill apex at 7 all the way to turn in at 9 (right kink).

Were you there this weekend in the SOM Camaro? I was meaning to come by and say hello to those guys (or you guys if that was the case).

My car was able to handle it flat out on more than one occassion. The race lasted around 42 laps and 55 minutes. It does get real busy when approaching the brake zone. Later in the race I'd have to worry about the change in weight balance after burning off so much fuel. I think I was able to gain a mph or two at that point. Really gets your attention when braking 100%.

Steve

Same for me. I was wondering who that was...

It was me / us. We exchanged some small pleasentries while you were working on the mustang and I was talking to Mr Gluck. No formal introductions. I hate interupting during those times of frustration.

I did check out Steve's car and love the paint job.

We'll be at Nashville...everyone should come and bring there cars. Can't beat the track time for the money.

ERV

Nashville is starting to look more and more iffy for me. G/F coming in town from West Point... the new job... HOWEVER, if I can convince her that she wants to go racing for the weekend and I still have weekends off on my job, I might scramble down there.

Ahh, you should have at least said hello (I'm on FRRAX ). Well, I guess we sorta met. It was a bit of a thrash to find out that it really was broken, at least for that day.

Were you the group of about 3 guys that were looking at my brakes (I was talking to you/them over the banner on the "tent")? (or was that another bunch)

Nope, just me looking around the mustang.

Pimpmaro: Tell her that you are going to take her to Nashville, which is a nice town to party / club / hang in. Then tell her that your going down to Lynchburgh to tour the Jack Daniels distillery.

We'll that's what we are doing....

Lol... unfortunately she's still just shy of the drinking age... hell I'm just barely over it myself. OH crap... that reminds me... I left my Jim Beam at Trackbird's house... damnit!

Well, I'm from down in Huntsville, AL... just under 2 hrs from Nashville so it's familiar territory to me. That and she's understanding of my octane addiction so hopefully I can be convincing and sweet... or something like that.

You better hurry.....

Duh!!! It's a dry county...and the distillery serves lemonaide at the end of the tour.

OH YEAH!!!!! I forgot all about that! Hrmmm... time for some schmoozing...