Hey Jon, April 28th. Advanced lapping day at Pacific Raceways. You interested in going? I am not an advanced lapper but the exausht prevents me from lapping with my normal group of noob's and rookies. So looks like I am going to be letting ALOT of people pass me . It would be nice to see you out there.

Sorry Boyce, I doubt I'll make it. It's just a bit too early for me. I should just have the car buttoned back up from the cam swap then and I want to allow myself time to get any issues related to the install sorted out, tune the thing, etc.

I'm hoping to make my debut for the year May 11th for afternoon lapping. May 26th for the all day lapping for sure.

How's the cam swap coming Jon? My budget went through the roof with mine. Just finished installing a BeCool radiator when that stupid plastic petcock wouldn't seal up. Today I checked my stock radiator cap and found it blows off at 15 psi instead of the rated 18 psi. Tomorrow I'll be in search of a higher psi cap.

The mods will never end.

BTW Boyce, it's always better to lap with faster folks. You'll learn much better that way anyway. At least that's what I find.

Well, I started taking stuff apart after work last night. I'm all the way to the timing chain cover now. Things have gone faster than I expected so far, but I'm dreading putting everything back together.

Have fun Getting the timing chain cover on and off (without leaks) is by far the hardest part IMO. Well that and dealing with the AC condensor.

I pulled my oil pan and replaced the gasket. It's not that hard at all really if you go ahead and pull the oil pan like you're supposed to. The previous guy who had replaced my Opti and timing chain about 2 years ago cut my oil pan gasket when removing the timing chain cover and he didn't get the water pump seal on right because it would only leak when the engine got hot. Hopefully all that is fixed now.

The bitch runs!

I just hope it doesn't blow up on the way to work tomorrow!

Congrats Jon.....

I know the feeling....having built the motor myself.....I don't sleep nights dreaming of LOUD noises from the motor when I take it up the front straight the first time.....

Well, I'll be there Wednesday. Last I heard, there are still a few open slots if you can make it, Boyce. Or anybody in the area for that matter.

FINALLY!

I can get some input on those suspension mods I want to copy!

Have fun!

FINALLY! is right! I've put a lot of blood, sweat & tears (and money) into this car over the winter. Finally, it's time to enjoy it.

I'll let you all know how it does, for better or worse....

Sorry man, cant make it. To close to race day to get out and brake something.

See what you missed, Boyce?





Randy is very spoiled.

Since you live in Seattle you need to take a look at these:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...odel=Radial+Wet

They had some at Putnam in 315/35/17 size. That's all you Jon.

....what is that stuff?????

Did you hit a fire hydrant?????

Those do look very interesting, Mike. I'd definately like to know more about them, I haven't heard much yet. But right now, there's no budget left for another set of tires anyway. I snapped that pic right as I left to go home...to swap my old SZ50's back on. I wouldn't hesitate to run the Hoosiers on a wet track, but one that's flooded--and I mean deeply flooded--simply isn't a good idea. On days like that I'll just use street tires. In the wet, I'm not out to set record laptimes. And just being a lapping day, I don't need to worry about losing the race so it's OK if I'm slow.

Luckily the rain did let up some and I ended up having a lot of fun. By my last session of the day, the track was about 1/2 dry. That last session made everything else worth it. I flogged the car hard for 45 minutes straight. I basically had the track to myself the whole time. I hadn't been on track since last September--it felt really good to be back.

I didn't get to feel the big Hoosier Grip, set any really fast laps or see if I could top 150 MPH on the front straight--things I had been most looking forward to all offseason--but I had fun driving. I did beat the piss out of the engine for 45 minutes straight without it blowing and I was going fast enough really notice the suspension changes I've made (which I'm 100% happy with so far) so I do have some initial indication that those projects were successes.

All that said, it wouldn't hurt my feelings much if all the rest of my events this year were dry!

LOVELY FRICKEN SEATTLE!!!!

I am inside of a month till race day and I cant even get my car out of the fooking garage because of the fricken rain!

Looks like it would have been fun out there, but I just don't do the rain. My car likes to slide ALL over the place when its even damp out.