September 25/26, 2009

Changes since September 19th race: 

Nothing Really - we did our normal weekly maintenance and preparation. Coming off of last weeks win - we really didn't want to change much. I don't usually race Friday night races, but I took the afternoon off of work and headed to the track.

Race Night (Sept 25th):

Not much good happened on this Friday night race - I would have been better off staying at work. We ended up getting crashed within the first 3 laps of the feature. A car spun in front of me and I got hammered when I attempted to avoid the spinning car. We destroyed the right side nerf bar and bent the lower radius rod on the right front suspension. Race night over.

Race Night (Sept 26th):

Hot Laps: 

The track is slimy and the car runs OK - you can't really tell much when the track is narrow and slimy.

Changes before the Heat:

Track is getting slick, but it really isn't widening out as much as normal.

Tightened the car:
Dropped RR air pressure (6psi)
Moved top wing back.
Started with the shock compressions at: LR and RR set to #3 position I also added four clicks of rebound to both rear shocks to hold the rear end down coming off the corner.   

Heat Race:  

Engine runs OK, but I still hear that dang raspy sound and occasionally hear pops (misfires?) that kill the power. Something just isn't right with the ignition! We stunk in the heat and I honestly have no idea where I finished, but it wasn't good.

Changes before Feature: 

Starting 8th:

I found a problem with one of the intake boot clamps and we have to remove the entire intake system to correct it. Maybe this is the cause of our popping, but I doubt it.

Track is sealed over (slick) and wide with a cushion pushed all the way to the turn one wall and about 3/4 of the way up the track in 3 and 4.

Tightened the car:
Changed right rear tire to a lesser grooved RD12 compound with a lot of siping and a 5psi bleeder.
Set RR and LR shocks to #2 compression position to start the race and put four more clicks into the rebound on both rear shocks (10 total clicks).
Changed to big sideboard wing. Took 1/2 turn out of the right rear torsion bar.

  

Feature: (started 8th, finished 7th) 

Started on the outside fourth row. The car takes off well and we pass a few cars, but then the popping starts! The engine is running poorly, but I move up to 6th place. We just kind of stagnate in 6th, but then with about 10 laps to go the track takes rubber. We're dead!!! When a dirt track takes rubber it gains tons of grip and destroys soft tires -- Yep, we have soft tires on the car! The engine is really popping and occasionally sounds like a diesel engine. I just cannot figure out what is going on with this engine! To counteract the increasing grip of the track, I move the top wing forward and dial more compression into the right rear shock. We just don't have the power to run well on this type of track and we fall back and barely hang on to a 7th place.

Wrap-up: 

Those two nights were eye openers. We never really ran good on either night. The engine situation has me scratching my head. We destroyed three tires on Saturday night when the track took rubber and cruched up some parts Friday night in our crash.

This week at the shop will be all about diagnosing our engine problems. If we don't find the smoking gun - this may have been our final night of 2009. There is no sense coming back with a sick running engine!

Once again; Becky Hand video taped the feature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzUK_hjW6WE