Topic: PittRace after thoughts
This was not our finest race. We spent Friday chasing electrical gremlins after the car went into limp mode the first time I gave it an boost on the opening test lap. It threw every single code in the book. Turns out we popped an intercooler hose. Saturday the car ran great. We popped one more intercooler hose and had to be pushed in, but otherwise the car was solid. It's a rocket on the straights, we just need to get it to go around a corner a little better for a 3400lb big car.
End of saturday it was making some bad noises as I brought it in. I think we destroyed a lifter finally based on the sound and location. We also lost an exhaust stud and blew out a bunch of the manifold gasket creating a huge leak. Since no one carries that gasket we called it quits not wanting to run with that leak in the engine bay, and not wanting to destroy the motor.
I was a little apprehensive about the track going in, they seemed to not fully grasp what was descending on them. There was a lot of rules about where the trailers could and couldn't go, and where you could keep RVs, and everything else. But my fears were unwarranted i think, the weekend went nice and smooth. the track people were friendly and seemed to be in good moods.
My only complaint was the flaggers. They were decent enough with getting the yellows out, even if I did once or twice happen upon a stopped car in the grass before any kind of flag was out. But they seemed to be ignoring anyone passing under yellow. I had a couple go by me on my stint, my sister said a group of 5 passed her on hers, I watched a miata blatantly pass under yellow coming onto the front straight. I'm not convinced many got called on it. We also never got any official flags for our offs. My brother went 4 off on turn 3, I put two off on the back section, and while we both self reported, no official flags ever came into the judges.
The track itself was a lot of fun. Scary as hell in a couple places, but fun. Turn 16 is a hero corner. We were able to top out 4th gear a decent distance before that turn, so we'd either have to go to 5th, or coast to it and slow enough that you could go back on the power through that corner. The first lap I got to do it at speed was nuts, and then trying to get the car straight in time to brake for that last turn was interesting. I know I was leaving a lot of time on the table, so I'm excited to go back and try again. I know our car has a sub 2:20 in it. I just need to be braver everywhere. I was over braking in a lot of places.
Overall good weekend even if we didn't run on sunday.
Abandoned E36 Build
2008 Saab 9-5Aero Wagon
Retired - 1989 Dodge Daytona Shelby 2011-2015 "Lifetime Award for Lack of Achievement" IOE, 3X I got screwed, Organizer's Choice