We Finished, So What

Aaarrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhh!

Another LeMons in the books. I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick that stupid football. When will we ever learn. If you don't get that reference you're too young, deal with it.

Well at some point during the second driver shift we lost all compression in one cylinder. At that point we were second in class and top 10 overall. We were on a roll to victory, were. Since we couldn't be competitive with 3 cylinders, we decided to just change to the back up engine and minimize damage to our current power plant.


Roger and Ricky swap out the engine. I, helpfully, take pictures

Unfortunately, we wouldn't be back on track that day, and not due to our sluggish wrenching. There was an incident. Specifically, a fatality. Not to minimize the incident or the very real dangers of racing, this was not a wreck-related fatality. According to the Kershaw County coroner, Sidney Brayton, of Norcross, Ga. died of a heart attack on track. His car then went off at turn 14, through the sand trap and into the tire wall. All in-car and on-track equipment worked as designed. RIP Sidney, the details;

http://www.thestate.com/2013/09/22/2995761/driver-dies-in-kershaw-countys.html

So, we we get on track Sunday, after a delayed start to repair damage to the barriers from the impact at turn 14. We turn some laps, the car felt good, we finish mid pack, and head home. Another promising start shut down by mechanical issues. Still as the saying goes, "A bad day racing is better than a good day working." On the positive side, the beers were great (we actually had a bacon, maple porter courtesy of Roger's brewing skills), the Friday parade was fun, and the 35' Winnebago was pure awesome. Some random pics below, next time.


Our new track home, a 35' Winnebago, formerly used by the state of NC as a mobile DMV

Someone 'Slashed' our tire. Get it?!?!

Speedy Cop's near famous upside down Camero

Look, an E30, surprised? Me either.

PBR is crap, but nice try on the theme

Go Clemson!

These guys were fast AND reliable this time out. One day we might be too.

Late engine failure disappoints at Southern Discomfort.

Sure the rings were a little loose, but the engine had run an AutoX, an HPDE, and did great at Friday's test session - what could go wrong? So...

It was too good. We should have known. The weather was mild, 50s at night and 70s during the day with a strong wind and overcast skies. Pleasant enough to hang out all weekend at the track. The car was running fine and well sorted, and the trailer and tow bus were better than ever. Our only hint of trouble was Judge Phil's 3 penalty laps he assessed during B.S. inspections. One glimpse of "VTEC" on our valve cover and he figured we were fast. I can assure you the D16 SOHC will never be fast, no matter what is stamped on the valve cover. BUT, we were class B and we had a very solid shot at overcoming those laps.

Then the race started. Gradually the penalties and mechanical failures sorted out the competition. By mid-day we were top 20 and second in class. However, 8 laps in front of us was a clean and fast #140 Escort, being driven annoying well by Team Questie. By the end of the day Team Questie was turning laps faster than most of the top Class A teams and still six laps ahead. We were 2nd in Class B and 6th overall. No penalties and no mechanical problems. It was the best we've done.

After changing the brake pads, shuffling some tires, and filling the tank, we were set for Sunday. That night we drank beer, ate grilled animals, and generally had a great LeMons time. The next morning it was more of the same. Clean laps no problems and Team Questie kept their lead. Resigned to a 2nd place finish, barring the Escort's untimely demise we started to be OK with second in class and our highest overall finish. It would be a team best.

Then Ricky pulls in with issues. No power. Were had lost compression in one cylinder and had three left. Roger pulled the injector power, and I figured I could keep us top 20 if I could just turn some laps for the last 2 hours. I went out on track and was able to keep pace with the Class C cars, for a bit. 5 or 6 laps in, the rest of the cylinders went. I made it to the pits and we packed up and left. 33 out of 86, another typical LeMons for the Duff Beer Civic.

Here's the pics: