[trackbird]

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

[CMC #37]

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