Wonderful Wednesdays - Nelson Ledges

[Basement Paul]

This coming Wednesday, June 15th, the TrackBird will be at Nelson for an open track day. I don't see the schedule posted anywhere but I'm assuming the driver's meeting is at 8am.

Hope to see you there!

-BP

[MostMint]

Forecast is calling for high of 97 degrees on Wednesday. Does this change anything?

[Fred32v]

I'm packing a lunch and wearing short sleeves.

[Basement Paul]

97 is too hot. That makes it not fun and abusive to the car. We can keep an eye on the weather, but I'm good to about 90 degrees, after that, notsomuch. Nelson has lots of open track days, we can pick another one that's not so torturous.

-BP

[MostMint]

I'm with you. I've been there in mid 90s its not fun.

July 6 would be the next, and July 20 is the next "wonderful Wednesday"

[Fred32v]

Mid 90's would be asking a lot from the cars. I'm standing by.

[Basement Paul]

It's not a Wonderful Wednesday event, but next Wed, July 6th, there's a Streetcar Track Day with Reed Kryder that MostMint and I are planning to attend. If on Monday the weather looks sketchy, they also have a TnT event on Friday the 8th. We haven't booked anything in yet, but participation so far seems relatively minimal, so we should be good.

http://www.kryderacing.com/krhome.pdf

-BP

[Fred32v]

The TnT event on Friday the 8th found the weather to be obliging so
the Mostmint #50 Saturn was there and so was the TrackBird for a day of folioing
on the Nelson Ledges Road course.

TireSmoke encampment

I was able to ride along for one stint in each car.
BP drove the TrackBird there and then drove it home.
A little routine prep and she'll be ready to go again.

Seriously great fun!

[MostMint]

Shakedown time for the Saturn. After several test drives showing no problems the car immediately had problems with hesitating. I think this was related to the swapping of the DIS or possibly all the cleaning attempts. Anyway after the engine cooled a bit I pulled the DIS and cleaned the connection. This helped but did not resolve the problem. It was the first time Fred32v rode in the car, unfortunately it did not represent 100% but he definitely understands how FWD and RWD are different on the road course.

In the second stint I ended up out there with a Mercedes 190E ChampCar. This gave me a target to chase. With some hesitating in the back of the carousel and turn 13 I was running 1:22 and the gap started closing. As I got closer he started making more mistakes. I figured I was one lap from getting to his bumper and he let me by on the back straight. Well then I had the problem of having the car behind me and I could not break free. After he made what I would characterize as an interesting inside move at oak tree - which surprised me - I let him by on the back straight. Anyway it was good fun chasing him, and having that singular purpose and in the Saturn was a great reminder of what I like about going to the track.

The car also was having issues running right at low throttle conditions, so I decided to wrap it up there. When I went to put it on the trailer, it had a nasty knock from the engine compartment. Oddly when I unloaded it at home it had no such rattle. I'm guessing it has a broken or cracked piston skirt.