Hey AndyJ.... Options

[AndyJ]

I was taking another look at my "fan shroud" yesterday. It has some openings at the top that I'm thinking might be sucking in hot engine air. Maybe I should block them off after all. And I'm starting to worry about you guys & all this talk about those cold packs. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

Mark,

I sealed the entire airway with duct tape. Every molecule needs to go through the radiator.

[Blainefab]

I was taking another look at my "fan shroud" yesterday. It has some openings at the top that I'm thinking might be sucking in hot engine air. Maybe I should block them off after all. And I'm starting to worry about you guys & all this talk about those cold packs. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

The rectangular openings on the back of the shroud are there to allow air to be forced thru, presumably at high speed, after the fans have shut off. The early 4th gens had a rubber flap on them that would close at low speeds when the fans were pulling air off the back of the radiator. I don't think I've seen a flap for years, tho so either they fall off or GM quit putting them on. I mount the PS cooler in the lower opening.

[WAHUSKER]

I reworked the top of the shroud so now it sits tight on the radiator. It made about a 15* dif driving around town in the 85* heat we're having. That should help....

[AndyJ]

I reworked the top of the shroud so now it sits tight on the radiator. It made about a 15* dif driving around town in the 85* heat we're having. That should help....

Mark,

If it made that much difference around town, you will see a huge difference at speed. Are you going to be able to amke it to the practice sessions before the race?

[WAHUSKER]

Being a rookie, I have to go to the practice session. Not sure if they will let me & Ellis make a run after that, but I'd like all the seat time I can get. I'm also doing the shootout. Tho with the open dif I installed to keep it cooler, I don't figure I'll do that well (it smokes the right tire if I drop the hammer at 60 mph). But at least I can find out before the race how the tune I have loaded works at that altitude.

[AndyJ]

Being a rookie, I have to go to the practice session. Not sure if they will let me & Ellis make a run after that, but I'd like all the seat time I can get. I'm also doing the shootout. Tho with the open dif I installed to keep it cooler, I don't figure I'll do that well (it smokes the right tire if I drop the hammer at 60 mph). But at least I can find out before the race how the tune I have loaded works at that altitude.

Mark,

I don't know how they work it with rookies out there but I would expect once you get the checkride over with, you can run the practice course to your hearts content. The lugs on my FRONT wheels always loosen just a bit the first day of practice. After that, they seem to hold just fine. Take advantage of practice to get comfortable in the car, make sure everything falls easily to hand and that you and Ellis can see everything like gauges and GPS' like you are supposed to. I found an intercom to be invaluable and those battery powered NADY motorcycle intercoms are cheap and work real well.

FWIW, I was worried about the heat and altitude as well and it was groundless. That is one reason I will never run a car that doesn't have EFI again. Just make sure your tune is not running lean at the higher speeds and you will be fine.

My A4 car ran 157 in the standing mile; Roy Mendles' M6 Lingenfelter SS ran 170 as a benchmark.

[WAHUSKER]

Thanks for the pointers Andy! I plan to check lug nuts & tire temps after my practice session. When I talked to Mike B, he said I would probably only get to run the 1/2 mile shootout since I'm a rookie. Since my car will tech for the 168 class, and going straight is my fortee, I'm hoping I can talk them into letting us run the mile. I'd like to see how close to 170 I could get. And we looked at the Nady but bought the Chatterbox intercom for about the same price.

[AndyJ]

Thanks for the pointers Andy! I plan to check lug nuts & tire temps after my practice session. When I talked to Mike B, he said I would probably only get to run the 1/2 mile shootout since I'm a rookie. Since my car will tech for the 168 class, and going straight is my fortee, I'm hoping I can talk them into letting us run the mile. I'd like to see how close to 170 I could get. And we looked at the Nady but bought the Chatterbox intercom for about the same price.

Good! Communication is essential for safety and a good finish. Good luck with Mike Borders, I have found him to be a generally reasonable person. There is a certain phenomena they tell the rookies about at the TX events that involves tunnel vision and difficulty comprehending speech when the speeds go over 120mph for lengthy periods. They relate it mostly to drivers and warn the navi's to be on the lookout for it. I don't know where they got the info or if it is based on 10 years of running the event. I have never experienced it until THIS year and it wasn't me, it was my rookie navi and it was really weird. It lasted for the first 25 miles of the first leg.

Enjoy the event- you are doing what tons of people talk about but few actually realize. The ORR segment of the racing population is very,very small so enjoy being part of a unique group -- and BE SAFE! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

[WAHUSKER]

Again, thanks for your help Andy. I hope to see you at a future event. I'd like to check out your car & from your video you seem like quite a character.

I have spent a lot of time & money on the safety side of things. Like I said, my car should pass tech for 168 even tho I'm only running the 120 class. As will our safety gear. Some things are better not to skimp on. And my nav & I took some rides recently to make sure he can see the gauges, we could both reach the fire bottle handle, how his seat felt etc. I won't be able to go fast & have fun if I'm worried about not making it back in 1 piece. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[AndyJ]

Again, thanks for your help Andy. I hope to see you at a future event. I'd like to check out your car & from your video you seem like quite a character.

I have spent a lot of time & money on the safety side of things. Like I said, my car should pass tech for 168 even tho I'm only running the 120 class. As will our safety gear. Some things are better not to skimp on. And my nav & I took some rides recently to make sure he can see the gauges, we could both reach the fire bottle handle, how his seat felt etc. I won't be able to go fast & have fun if I'm worried about not making it back in 1 piece. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Go for it Mark and keep an eye on Boyce (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[trackbird]

[edit] Kevin, the board changes [you all] to "you all" . That is Yankee talk dude. Wait, you are a Yankee! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) [/edit]

Frick! It changes it regardless of how I bracket it. Here is a bit of trivia. Vicksburg,MS does not celebrate July 4th. That is the day they surrendered to the Union forces that had laid siege to the city for months.

Ok, ok, ok, I'll fix it..... Geez. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

[AndyJ]

[edit] Kevin, the board changes [you all] to "you all" . That is Yankee talk dude. Wait, you are a Yankee! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) [/edit]

Frick! It changes it regardless of how I bracket it. Here is a bit of trivia. Vicksburg,MS does not celebrate July 4th. That is the day they surrendered to the Union forces that had laid siege to the city for months.

Ok, ok, ok, I'll fix it..... Geez. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

Good thing! I am glad I wasn't like on fire or something waiting on you. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

[trackbird]

[edit] Kevin, the board changes [you all] to "you all" . That is Yankee talk dude. Wait, you are a Yankee! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) [/edit]

Frick! It changes it regardless of how I bracket it. Here is a bit of trivia. Vicksburg,MS does not celebrate July 4th. That is the day they surrendered to the Union forces that had laid siege to the city for months.

Ok, ok, ok, I'll fix it..... Geez. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

Good thing! I am glad I wasn't like on fire or something waiting on you. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

You'd have called. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

[AndyJ]

[edit] Kevin, the board changes [you all] to "you all" . That is Yankee talk dude. Wait, you are a Yankee! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) [/edit]

Frick! It changes it regardless of how I bracket it. Here is a bit of trivia. Vicksburg,MS does not celebrate July 4th. That is the day they surrendered to the Union forces that had laid siege to the city for months.

Ok, ok, ok, I'll fix it..... Geez. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

Good thing! I am glad I wasn't like on fire or something waiting on you. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

You'd have called. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

...in the wee hours of the morning.

[WAHUSKER]

Go for it Mark and keep an eye on Boyce (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Oh don't worry, he'll be looking me up as soon as he gets into town (since we are towing Jeff's Vette in from Ely for them)