The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Newcomers → Oh well
So it looks like Team Zero Liability Coverage is out... engine started up a very loud knocking during some laps around the parking lot at lunch, and a friendly mechanic gave us the not-so-friendly "She's gonna blow, and soon" announcement.
What's the best way to let Jay and the organizers know that we won't be racing this weekend?
Thanks. 
It's only Thursday.... sounds like a candidate for a Pre-race Historic fixin'
Drive it until it explodes. Who knows, might just be a dead rat.
psh, if the motor isn't seized she'll run another 24hours. as an added bonus tell the judges you implemented a "misfiring system" and try to get dangerous banned/homemade technology award.
Yeah, if any of us actually knew what we were doing, a fixin' might be in order. Sadly none of us do. 
And if we'd made it to CMP before the sound-of-doom became apparent, that's exactly what we would have done.
Go anyways.. beg for stints in other cars... negotiate your first born for a spare engine from another team...
you MUST not give up! Hell, Travis put a Kia engine in an escort... what could possibly go wrong?
There are folks at the track who may help you too. Not to make anyone tear up, but people in the paddock are pretty giving. If the big ass Lincoln convertible could trundle around CMP at 25 MPH for two days you guys should be able to nurse your car around.
Sounds like all that car needs is some Marvel MysteryOil and a good talkin' to. Git down to the race!
So it looks like Team Zero Liability Coverage is out... engine started up a very loud knocking during some laps around the parking lot at lunch, and a friendly mechanic gave us the not-so-friendly "She's gonna blow, and soon" announcement.
What's the best way to let Jay and the organizers know that we won't be racing this weekend?
Thanks.
What's the vehicle?
Just go and see how long it will last. Just hanging out at the race in the pits is half the fun....
How many cylinders do you have? If it's a V-8, consider pulling the rockers and pushrods.....let the bad cylinder float and keep your RPM's low i.e. short shift and take it easy....it might last longer than you think....it's also possible to pull the pan and throw in rod bearings in a lot of applications very quickly..if the crossmember is tight at the pan, pull the motor mount bolts, jack under the pan (use a block of wood) and use 2x4's or 4x4's to block up the engine then get the pan off...wish I was there.....you can salvage this!
we demand updates! Are you still going??
Sounds like all that car needs is some Marvel MysteryOil and a good talkin' to. Git down to the race!
Or Neil Bonett's Engine Restore.
What kind of engine is it in what car? We've got our engine swaps down a a couple hours. We're bringing a spare to the race too.
Answers to your questions:
* 1989 Chevy Cavalier, most definitely not a V8.
* The rest of the team made a rather quick decision (within an hour of the bad news) to abandon the race; rental trailer was cancelled, hotel reservations dropped, etc. I bowed to the inevitable as I couldn't get the car there, and a 1-driver team won't fly. Even my wife hinted that she'd rather stay home.*shrug* I still think we would have had a good time no matter what happened (went to the April race as spectator and had a blast) but that's how it went down.
* None of us are mechanically savvy (although we might get a late-interest mechanic for next time 'round) so any potential fixes would be high on the amusement scale and low on the got-it-working scale.
I appreciate your comments and encouragements, hope to see ya'll next year.
Damn...
I have to say, you should have stuck in there, but I can understand the low morale and desire to back out at the last moment (due to expenses on the line).
Through the kindness of other teams, we found not one but TWO guibo joints for our car at the Buttonwillow race and we also borrowed a welder...
Next time, even if the car is dying (the all are anyway), head out and see what can happen in the pits.
We made it into Tech at 4:30pm on Friday and had a blast all weekend even though the car spend more time in our pit than on the track... (we would have made it through tech sooner if I hadn't f'd things up).
Good luck and don't give up
The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Newcomers → Oh well