INTENSE WEEKEND
We get there late Thursday and get a room, wake up early to get the track when the gates open at 7:00. We have a lot of things to finish up on the car, and we get them all ready by around noon and take the car out for the first drive ever. After a lap or two the power steering hose fitting cracked and car needed a tow.
TOW 1
We head to a speed shop and buy all the fittings and attempt to get it all back together. Power steering pump was making noise, so I swapped it with a spare I brought and button it back up at the last minute to get it to tech at right around 5. I put fluid in the pump and it starts pouring fluid out of the pump from a pinhole in the nipple of the tank that was basically impossible to see. I say screw it and pull the belt and drive it to tech.
There was a huge crowd, and it sounded like mostly everybody loved the car. I brought a ton of car high end car emblems and a bottle of Booze for bribes. They really liked the car emblems!
Got Class C 0 laps. That was a huge relief after having worried about it for quite some time. I'm happy that they saw the amount of hard work that went into everything and were merciful. Hopefully they let us run Class C next race!
Saturday morning we get there at gate open and get the car prepped and ready as best as we can to head out. We get out on time and are doing laps. They wave the checker and a lap later this happened.
TOW 2
The lower control arm bracket I bought had a crappy weld and ripped right off the mount.
We borrowed a welder and welded the bracket back together, I re-welded the other bracket, and we added some bracing. The heim on the watts link was really really bent, but luckily the neighbors had a vice and I didn't rip their cabinet out of the wall getting it straight!
We get the axle buttoned up and complete two more laps.
https://youtu.be/9DGkrTSkSEE
Then this happens.
TOW 3
I called my Brother and he grabbed another viper engine from work and started driving our way. He was 3 hours out. We got the engine out by the time he got there, had to swap all the custom parts over (wiring harness, power steering pump, oil pan, throttle body, exhaust manifolds, etc)
There were many challenges, but I do not wish to re-hash those bad memories.
Got the engine in Saturday morning and last thing was bleeding the clutch. It started pouring fluid out of the bell housing.
That is not how that is supposed to work.
I pulled the trans [for the 4th time(multiple issues), with no trans jack]
I find the throw out bearing case has a crack in it. I was going to bring one as a spare...but didn't! HA
Go to the local store and the camaro throwout bearing is too different to make work, There is no welder anywhere, and I'm not giving up.
I put it all back together with no throwout bearing and asked the Organizers if I can get push started to drive in without having to stop since I'm not racing with no clutch.
Back on the track!
I lose power steering and pull off
TOW 4
Get back and see the belt shredded since the Viper Car pullies are not the same as the Viper Truck pullies. I brought a spare belt, cut 2 ribs off, and eyed the spacing. Score!
I literally beat the piss out of the car for the next 2.5 hours. We have a huge problem with the brakes, someone told me its pedal knock back. We bled the brakes probably 10 times, and have a firm pedal, but when you're driving you basically have to keep tapping the brake pedal so it doesn't go soft and spongey. It's kinda sketchy. I have no fuel gauge and I felt a stumble so I came for more fuel with 30 minutes left.
Head back out there and there was a bunch of cars that braked suddenly so I went off on the grass to be safe....I could have just driven out, but NOOOOO says the lack of throwout bearing.
TOW 5
I get towed to the pits, I have the driver drop me, get push started by random cool drunk dudes and head back on the track
FINISHED
There was a long line of cars on the way back, but since I had no clutch I had to stall the car 3 times to not hit the car in front and have the people standing on the rail help push start.
Organizers Choice Trophy
81 Total laps
1:53 best lap WITH ONE GEAR (best that weekend was 1:44)
I need a vacation.
2018 Where the Elite Meet to Cheat - Organizer's Choice Award
2019 Rust Belt GP - Spirit of Entropy Award
2019 The Tony Swan Never-Say-Die Memorial - Index of Effluency Award
2020 The Tony Swan Never-Say-Die Memorial - Class C Lap Winner