I got smoked on unfresh tires.
Felt blah.
Forgot video camera.
Flesher Racing Development
Solo Autocross Team
I attended both with high expectations.
I got smoked on unfresh tires. Felt blah. Forgot video camera.
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7 weeks since last event - Dixie Tour. Anticipating a better test of the recent suspension changes on a warmer day and higher grip surface.
Pre–event updates Been working through high coolant temperatures for a while. At Dixie, I had the front about 4 feet off the ground to try to bleed air out. [ Thanks to Dave W’s stacker trailer ramps. ] 18 minutes of idling in garage with no moving air makes water temp go to 190F ~~ about 14 minutes to 160F. Sound normal? Found the oil pan bolts were not tight. I don’t think I’ve ever checked those before . And the oil pump has some slight seepage. Tightened the one socket head bolt that was not blocked by the frame. I need to figure that out – maybe cut an allen wrench and use mini vise grips. Painted my exhaust with black engine enamel before Dixie. It’s says up to 500F. It burnt off quickly at Dixie. I found a $3 can of silver gas grill paint at Walmart - up to 1200F. We shall see how it lasts. Related, the DEI header wrap from Jegs in not lasting like the last wrap I had. Made a little footrest for my left foot. Then, realized I want to practice my left-foot braking. Trailer paint touchups and replacement rivots. I’m losing 3-4 rivots each trip lately. I guess they have cycled out.
20170506 – Buccaneer Region
North versus South Shootout at Roebling Road Raceway My region has 2 Solo programs – one based at Savannah, GA & the other based at Jacksonville, FL. Since we only use this site twice a year, it’s a neutral place to hold our annual intra-region challenge. It’s a grand time, with much ribbing and heckling, to see who wins the Shootout trophy for the year. A light turnout this year at only 78 entries. That means 6 runs! Oh yeah! That makes it worth the 2.5 hour tow. If there was a Doofus of the Day award, I get it. I had planned for 5 runs so there was a threat of going empty even with adding a ‘safety’ ½ gallon while loading up. My 5th run was red-flagged for a slow car in front of me. For my rerun, as I drive to staging… cough… cough… out. Graciously, the Event Chair gave me a past-chairman break and allowed me to buy fuel onsite, at $9 /gal, and take my 2 remaining runs in the third heat. The video calls that out. I bettered my time. Back into grid, the water temp = 172F Looks like 175 on course from the camera view. Good thing I rotated the gauge to video capture such data. At finish line, 4th gear @ 6100 ~~79 MPH I must be getting used to this ‘cuz no hand trembling today. No cones for me. Region-mate Ben won the award for the most – 17 total! Raw time = 4th / PAX time = 26 of 78 - - - I guess I need to push it harder. TeamFRD-20170506-RRR-NvS from TeamFRD on Vimeo.
For the first event of the year, I did the 2:15 drive over the Dixie Region event at South Georgia Motorsports Park, the same site as the National Tour in 7 weeks. I arrived to 39 degree, windy conditions. The site was being used a staging area for cleanup volunteers of the recent tornado that severely impacted the town of Adel. The course area was littered with tidbits of debris, nails, screws, and drywall from damage to the suites at SGMP. I’ll discuss this event and save the car maintenance news for another blog.
Dixie uses a 2 group and 4 heat system that allows for 3 morning and 3 afternoon runs on the course. My class was placed in group 2 where I worked the course, drove, worked again, & drove again. By the lunch break, the temp was 59 and still windy. I mean like 15-25 MPH wind from the west. This kept the car cool, and tires too!! The course was fairly typical for the site – down and back – with nice mix of challenging offsets and slaloms. I used my tires from Nationals. Fronts: new in August; Rears: new last January. TeamFRD-20170129-Dixie1-SGMP from TeamFRD on Vimeo. Isn't wild how for runs 4&5, the tire pressure equalize. The temps were 109-120.
The last runs, I removed the Supertrapp. Could not hear or tell any difference. Launches went better than expected. Freak'n rocket! 2nd gear had wheel spin out of hairpin. Run 4, I looped it into the inside grass. For the hill, I used get 2 blips of rev limiter. Here, I shifted to third on the uphill. It pulls nicely and I left it in third for the turn. I'm pleased I changed the radiator cap to a 16 pound release. I found my overflow bottle almost full. Go back to the 18 pound cap? As I ponder suspension improvements, I noticed/realized that when I get in the front lowers by 1/4 inch. When my 240 lb friend got in, in dropped by 1 inch. Did I set the ride height and alignment with my weight in the car? IDK
TeamFRD-20161112-FIRM-run3-best from TeamFRD on Vimeo.
Cooling - Since I was getting very hot at Sebring. I used a pressure tester. Resolved 5 leaks at worm clamps. During warm-ups at home is still got hot. I drained and flushed out the rusty, 3 year old, water. Added at 160 thermostat, instead of the 180. Then, lifted the nose of the car 4 feet off the ground to get out the common air bubble. Seemed to help. 20161105 - Buccaneer Region v South Carolina Region present War at the Shore at Roebling Road Raceway. |
Plans are under way to attend the 16 Solo Nationals in CMod class. * Co driver test drive is planned. * Supertrapp 3 inch discs were received today. * Working on numbering. |
David R. Flesher
September 2016
August 2016
April 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015