Previa build thread (Transcontinental Drifters) (Page 2 of 2)

PNW 2017 RACE WRAP-UP.

How is it that the car that I do the least prep on ends up winning it all? I know this thread did not have a lot of posts because we just did not do that much to it. The Previa was purchased more than 18 months ago in Rochester, WA for $300. I towed it home where it sat for six months before the head gasket was replaced at Judge Phil's request (challenge) with the motor still in the chassis. Don't do it, it's a trap! After cussing two weeks away the Previa was running and no longer used fracking techniques to fill the oil pan with water. The Previa again sat for months until the team decided that the Jagvair was not going to be ready and the Previa was our only hope. With mild excitement the Previa was placed on the lift and prep began. After the first assessment, it was clear that even though the interior was destroyed in some biological attack, the rest of the vehicle was reasonably well maintained. Brakes was replaced (did not need it), fluids were replaced (did not need them), and minor upgrades were made (RX7 engine cooler, dual trans coolers, removal of roof). The cage needed special consideration due to the short nose of the vehicle, a rally style cage was fabricated with additional horizontal bracing to protect the driver's feet. BFG Rivals from the Jagvair were mounted on Camry steelies and a Mighty Car Mods Subarute theme was added.
Tech was a breeze as I had discussed the cage with Lemons HQ prior, though the hood mounted turbo was forgotten in the truck. Saturday started out with no issues, other than forgetting the tech sticker on the windshield. We all went out for 30 min stints and the temp gauge was our only guide. As the day progressed our confidence solidified in the mid-engine slant 75 and lap times shrunk and driving lengths grew. At the end of the first day we were in the mix for a podium finish. Saturday night was spent getting outsmarted by a rear axle seal and oil-soaked parts were replaced. Sunday was a repeat of Saturday with one small change, my wife partied too hard and was unable to drive again on Sunday. With her slot open, we extended our stints to over two hours and came home in third in Class C and 25th overall out of 60.
There were multiple potential winners of IOE, but you never know what the Judges are into. So you walk to awards with quelled excitement and watch others bask in the light of glory, you clap and as Judge's and Organizer's Choice are given out, you don't know if that is a good or bad sign. Finally all of the other awards are distributed and the Judge starts his announcement, your head, now heavy, is staring at the ground just waiting for this agony to be over. Your ears perk when the word "Corvair" is spoken and your head springs up at the sound of "Jaguar". IOE is ours, the team makes their way through the crowd and the man running from the overturned race car is ours. I lift the trophy above my head and look at my friends who have made this possible. The best friends an idiot could have.