[trackbird]

I left Friday night at 6:45 to head to VIR to handle crew chief duties for my friends V8 American Supercar effort. The computer said 421 miles, my GPS said 414, my odometer said 486 when we arrived an Danville, VA (at 3am). Got to bed about 3:30 and up at 6 to head to the track.

We ran practice. The driver was still learing the track. Ran 2:25's give or take. Brake failure on lap 8 in turn one during practice allowed us to clean a "bail" of hay out of the car.
Ran down the paddock and met Steve-D from the board here. He had his stock car down for the stock car race. The car looks like great fun and Steve was busting his rear to keep it running, clean the grass out of it (off track as well, common theme for the weekend) and generally seemed to be having a good time.

Qualifying race. Ran 2:17 and wound up "mid pack" (can't remember where). Installed PFC 01 brake pads and called it done until morning practice. Sent the driver off with his family to the arcade (gotta keep the kids and wife happy).

Went back down to help Steve prep his car. Got Steve ready for the morning and headed to the hotel bar after a shower to see the worlds worst bar band. It was bad. Had 3 rounds (one of which was sent by Steve who snuck in to get some food "to go" and spotted us at a table in the bar (thanks again Steve!). Called it a night at 10:30 and "died" until morning.

Bedded the new pads during morning practice. Brake problems seem to be solved. Car is running well, lap times are still 2:15-2:17 (still learning the track). Leading edge of the hood blows off during the last lap (it's a glass hood with a steel strip at the leading edge that is riveted in place and holds a small shield that covers the hood gap in the front to prevent lifting). We got the strip, but not the deflector from the tech shed. I install that to the hood and with 12 minutes to grid, get the defelctor back. 10 minutes with a cordless drill and a pop rivet gun and it's good as new (but stronger). Off to grid.

The car smoked on startup as it was headed out to the formation lap. I was expecting the worst. On the formation lap, it was smoking considerably more (no worse than a few others though and I didn't have the radio to talk to the driver, his 14 year old son took off with it and the lap timing equipment). The green flag dropped. And he never came around again. The oil pressure was wavering and it croaked. It wasn't locked up and nothing seemed to be hanging out of the block, but we stopped there, loaded the trailer and sent it home. So, I don't know what broke yet.

Grabbed a shower at the track and headed for home (now 5pm). Arrived in Columbus, OH at 1 am after driving 1058 miles (per the trip odometer) on Monday morning.

I would really like to finish a race. We used to win our class (on smaller events) often in years past with an old, tired 302 that made about 400 hp. But it ran for 3 years before it blew (in spectacular fashion). We are not getting more than a weekend or so from the current 331 cu in motors (500+ hp at the rear wheels). We broke a crank in a 347 at Road Atlanta, a pinion seal took us out at Nashville (40th anniversary of the mustang event). And, another motor lost at Charlotte when I was there with the team. We are having reliability issues, for whatever reason. I wish I was closer to the car, I'd think we could fix this together (he's in LaGrange, GA).

Anyway, a fun, but dissapointing weekend and it was great to meet up with Steve-D and say hello to another FRRAX'er. I guess it was a "standard race weekend".

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[PF Flyer]

... like it is said, 'That's Racing'.

Our team went thru that kinda stuff when we were campaining three cars for part of a season. T1, T2 & A/S. Plus a couple customers cars.

[trackbird]

Yup, that is the way of things, expecially when our teams involved.

Mike, are you going to be at Summit Point on Oct 1st? I'm going to be there for FATT and am looking for an instructor (I figured that you or Steve-D might be available).

[PF Flyer]

I'll be at Summit this Sept 18th & 19th, then Oct 23rd & 24th.

I primarily instruct with NASA or the SCDA. I haven't ventured into the BSR world, even though I did my first open track event with them back in '99.

Did you guys run the Full, North or South course?

[trackbird]

It was the full course. My friend asked me to take his wife and son out for the parade laps, and it is a long way around that track (and the oak tree turn looks like a real tricky one).

[steve-d]

I just wanted to chime in and again thank Kevin for his assitance at the track. A little excursion onto the green unimproved section of the track made some repairs necessary and Kevin helped a great deal.

Great to have met him and his friends.

regards
Steve

[trackbird]

Thanks Steve. It's always great to meet friends from the boards. We were happy to help and glad to share the things we've already learned the hard way (and I like "banging panels" back into shape, it requires the use of a hammer, widely recognized as being my favorite tool). Besides, the car went home looking just like when it arrived. That is one measure of a good weekend. If you are ever headed to Summit Point, let me know, Rob mentioned that he'd try to come up and help out (and I may be home that weekend to see my family, so I tend to show up on occasion as well). And, if you run Mid-Ohio, make sure to give me a yell (that one's close).

Kevin

[steve-d]

I'll be at Summit this Sept 18th & 19th, then Oct 23rd & 24th.

I primarily instruct with NASA or the SCDA. I haven't ventured into the BSR world, even though I did my first open track event with them back in '99.

Did you guys run the Full, North or South course?

We ran the full course. Awesome for a four day w'end: Thurs -Sunday!!

Why don't you consider coming out and instructing w/BSR? There's usually room if you're interested in a FATT. I expect to be there Fri, 9/17 for FATT and Friday 10/22 for Seat Time.

Steve

[PF Flyer]

Steve - That Full Course at VIR is awesome. The back straight from the Oak Tree turn to the top of the 'Roller Coaster' just seems to go on forever.

I may have to give it some thought to BSR. I'll have all repairs done by then and would like to be able to run the car prior to the NASA event on that week-end. I know several BSR instructors, so I'll check around and see. I'll at least be there late Friday afternoon to setup for the week-end.