Four Spinning Cars

Even though I am tried, wore out, muddy, sore and not-ready for the work week, can I ask this question? -> When can I start racing again? Having the time of my life.
God is so good.

On Saturday it was great to have Chris Childs helping out. The car was fast even on old tires for STU qualifying. I changed the tires for ITB qualifying and promptly forgot to torque down the left rear. The race was fast on the track but loose. I stopped between turn 4 & 5 after qualifying to discover the issue. I tore up the wheel pretty bad, is it is now junk. Luck would have it the wheel studs held up well being steel and the aluminum wheel…not so much. We also found out the suspension bar in back was loose as well. And some bushings need to be replaced in the rear suspension.
For race the STU race, it was a fun challenge racing the #18 SN leader David Houser. I got passed him on the last lap in turn six, but still finished 3rd in class (out of three) and 12th overall.
The ITB race was an absolute blast. I start 9th, which I have never started that close to the front before. That is where I finished. I followed very closely to the ITC cars of Steve Steeb and Kris Smith. I finished 3rd in class. I beat Kimi (sorry) and I beat Bob in the #88 for the first time ever. The adjustments Chris made were exactly what the driver needed. I record my fastest lap ever 1:22.159

On Sunday, things got a lot more interesting.
First the STU class race was run in the rain and the rain tires did not help a whole lot. I finished way down in the order and seemed to get passed by everyone.

In the ITB class race the track was drying up. I started fifth, because all the ITS drivers decided to start in the back. (I think they all went crazy). I got an ok start and was side-by-side with #90 Steve going into turn 5 where he just plain smoked me going into the corner, I think he forgot to brake. Really, you should watch the video….

Quick side note, I have video, but no idea how to edit it. I have to figure it out because see it is so cool. I guess I could try to upload the 40 plus minute video, but I like the blog.

Now going into turn eight on the first lap Steve made a move inside #39 Kris (both ITC cars by the way) and passed him, I followed into turn one. Then Steve spun out in turn three, just brushing Dave. Then I started over driving the car seeing Dave. Two wheels off out of five, hit the curb in six and then put the car off the track in turn eight. Kris and #73 Kimi got by. Kimi getting by only lasted two and a half laps where she spun (scarying the heck out of me…so much I almost blew the next corner) coming onto the back stretch and spinning to the inside.
I only lost two positions the rest of the race to two ITS cars. 3rd in ITB, fifth overall…I have never finished in the Top 5 before.

The STU race was uneventful. I finished only 2 seconds behind the STU leader, I had a tough start, but had a great consistent race.

The ITB feature race was again eventful. First the rains came (As seen in the picture below) and I chose to stay on slicks hoping the rain would stop and it did for about 5 laps. First I spun the tires at the start and a few cars got by. Kimi spun going into turn eight in front of me. Later in the race, after #24 Mr. Mudd in the Fiero following Liz in the #2 ITS Miata by me down the back stretch, he spun out coming out of turn two. I finished first….on slick tires…in class (4th) and 8th overall.

Work is busy

I will have an update on the rest of the weekend soon. Work is super busy this week. I did not wreck anything, even with the rain and I finished very well I Sunday. More pictures to come too.

Podium!

The ITB race was AWESOME! I finished 3rd in class! 9th overall. I ran the fastest time ever 1:22.159. I beat Kimi and Bob, I have never have beaten Bob before.

Chris Childs ran the co-driver race and finished second. He ran .3 seconds fastest then I did. Excited for tomorrow, maybe even a little more speed.
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Afternoon Update

Qualifying for STU went well. I ran a 1:23.8 to qualify 3 of 3 and 13th overall.

Qualifying for ITB I ran a 1:23.06 but almost lost a wheel. I forgot to tighten the rear left wheel. I stop in turn five after the checkered flag.

For the STU race I followed the #18 Spec Neon leader for most of the race until the caution came out. The #1 spec miata Joe got by me before the caution #2 Liz put it in the sand trap at the end of the back straight. On the restart I had the #75 Neon make slight contact as we raced on the restart. Joe got by #18 on the restart as well. But with two to go I passed the #75 and quickly closed in on the #18.
On the last lap of the race I tucked inside the #18 on the back stretch and passed him before the esses.

I finished still 3rd in STU but 13th overall.
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One more picture

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A quick preview

So the driver of the TF American Racing thought it would be a great idea to run two classes this weekend. ITB - like every weekend & STU, where his butt is kicked but does have a win in the group. And have a co-driver to help get the car setup right. Old Glory is going to be working pretty hard this weekend.

The car is ready and the driver is excited. As seen below my Dad came over and finished the decals on the car. I think Old Glory is going to run faster now.

Tomorrow I have some tools to load in the van and I need to repair the ramps on the trailer before loading the car. Then off to the track for setup and registration.

The plan this weekend is to go faster and beat Kimi. :-) Oh and bring it home in one piece. I hope to see you at the track!

Oh and I almost forgot...I get to be the MC for the trophy awards on Sunday in place of Billy Bob. This should be fun.
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Introducing Old Glory

Introducing Old Glory! Decals are done, now its ready for the track. Stars and Stripes make her faster.
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Somebody is watching over me

I know it may sound silly but frankly that is how I felt lately.
I am very blessed and my continued prayers must be getting answered.

When I pulled the car off the trailer last Wednesday there was fluid on the trailer. Saturday morning I decide (well I finally had some time) to look over the radiator. You could see there was a little bit of dampness next at the top of the fan and the driver side of the radiator….so I took a little test drive (waking neighbors not included). Pulling back into the driveway the racecar was steaming like a kettle.

If that had happened two laps into qualifying I could have had a blown motor or had fluid spraying onto the slick tires or worst. Somebody is looking after me.

One radiator replacement coming right up, turns out the backup was leaking too. Call three auto parts stores (which will remain nameless…unless they want to sponsor me!!!). Prices for replacement radiators $234, $139, $91…guess which one I bought. It pays to shop around.

Saturday night I hung out at Kelly & Jason's, Sunday I watched the Indy 500 and then went fishing with my Uncle Bob in Algonac.

On Monday morning I pushed the car out of the garage because I was going to give it a small bath because my Dad was coming over to finishing applying the decals. Also wanted to make sure there were no leaks after the radiator replacement and adding the new oil pressure gauge. The car would not turn over and the volt gauge was reading around nine volts. I did not leave the kill switch on. I charged the battery and jump started the car. Again quietly not waking my neighbors I did my little test drive, with my neighbor Tim (finally someone in the neighborhood with more cars in the backyard then me) noticing I was leaking oil. I guess I should tighten the oil pressure line a little better.

After a quick suggestion from neighbor Tim I went to the parts store to check the voltage regulator to determine why the battery was low….all on the up and up. So off came the alternator….almost in pieces. Seems one of the casting bolts broke, along with a bunch of parts in the inside making the alternator sound like the marbles rolling around in the empty skull of a redneck (I am one). I guess I was getting all the muscle out of the racecar last weekend.

If the alternator during the first laps of qualifying broke the pulley, or threw a belt, who knows what would have happened. Didn’t buy a new alternator, my neighbor and I did some redneck alternator testing and found two of the six I had were still good (and I actually found another two after we were done testing as I was cleaning up the mess I created finding spare parts). Anyone know what alternators are going for at the scrap yard right now?

Again the good Lord is looking after me.

Only 3 more days until the racecar is back on the track. I CAN NOT WAIT!

Pictures of the racecar with full decals coming soon.

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

I am blessed to be in this country and know that some gave everything to let us have this freedom.

Planning for the holiday weekend

The racecar (still working on a name for it) is sitting peacefully in the garage.....and leaking water...I think it is the rad hose. So, that is the plan for the weekend. Fix that. And add the oil pressure gauge line and gauge, a little vacuuming, and finishing up the decals. And get some tires mounted for my co-driver for next weekend....my secret weapon.
I also need to work on the tow vehicle, the serpintine belt is getting way too loud. I will enjoy the weekend and relax and work on all those other things I should have done while working on the racecar. There is a bonfire and a fishing trip planned (probably will skip out on the drag racing trip though, sorry Scott)

I did watch the videos last night (thanks Al). I have much room for improvement. Oh and a big sorry for getting into Dave C. at the start of the Sunday class race. I thought I was more square then I was and he made a good save, all three times....oops. I saw the green flag and hit the gas pedal but I the inside line is limiting on the start sometimes.

That is all for now. Here are some pictures from the Waterford Hills website that have popped up after last weekend.