The next day, we registered and met up with the guys from Magnuson Superchargers. Visited a few friends and vendors and made our way to the autoX before the hurricane like rains set in again. We had a blast regardless! the first run was horrible learning the track, second time out was a huge improvement. Dropping over a second off my previous time. Then came the rain, so we headed to grab lunch and get ready to head to Baytown the next morning.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps5if8p3wb.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psgzhhi83j.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psrhgmh16v.jpg

Cool stuff in the parking lot at lunch
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psungjefyu.jpg

My better half and I.
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...pssnk6grit.jpg

Here's a direct link to a video of the second autoX run in Gonzales,LA.

http://s101.photobucket.com/user/low...jenl5.mp4.html

Here's where things get interesting... On the way to Baytown, I "thought" I heard some thing "different" about the car. But it was driving fine with no obvious signs of distress. Now I'm lined up, do a burn out, hammer the throttle to the end of the 1/4 mile, let off the gas and OH NOOOOO the car is grinding from the rear!! My initial thoughts are 'posi let go' worst case.. I get slowed down the grinding becomes a squeal.. ok I'm thinking brake problem now. So I park the car, grab a beer and walk away, because that fixes everything, right?? By the time I finish my beer the wind was picking up and starts to get crazy.. In comes mother nature, the wind picks up the Pilot Transport display and firmly plants it into my driver quarter panel. DANG IT!!

Hard to see the damage in the rain
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psqaoxlgvc.jpg

no pdr for this.. Paints cracked

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4yxxbdtx.jpg



I make my way out of royal purple raceway to the hotel, that attempt was futile. I end up pulling into the closest gas station to investigate all the ungood noise coming from the rear axle. Turns out the bearing had let go and was eating the axle shaft!!

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psax8yqek8.jpg


http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps5qrcga0i.jpg

I had to buy a slide hammer to get the axle shaft out.. Knarly stuff!!


http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psiizier2o.jpg

These are quality aftermarket axles, hard to find late at night..


http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psjkegfklm.jpg

We drove every where in the wagon, meeting people from Facebook that thought they had a stock axle I could make work, but no luck. We had to give up and wait till morning, luckily a fellow powertour participant lived close and had a trailer and gave us a ride to our hotel!!

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psllry047w.jpg


Cool bridge near the coast, looking for an axle.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psdpqbt0ja.jpg

The next morning I was back at it. Took everything apart again and headed for a shop recommended by locals. Pyle Bros. had exactly what I needed. All the fluids and an aftermarket axle that worked with my 1/2 in ARP studs. Huge thanks to Mike and Brandon for all the help the night before, I told them to go ahead and I had it all handled. The next stop was Circuit of the America's and I didn't want anyone to miss out on my account!

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...pscfdt1get.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse6wmxxe2.jpg

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Victory whiskey shots!!

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse4patfuv.jpg

Filling up with fossil fuel to blast across Houston to Austin

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...psigfoeknv.jpg

Now what does any red blooded American do, after a parking lot repair victory on Powertour ???? Test for stress factors of course!!!


Victory burnout in Baytown Powertour 2016 - YouTube

"We came, we saw, we conquered"

Lots of great folks on PT. One of the best ways to meet them is break down.

Great write up, thanks for sharing your experience with us! Looks like that despite the issues, you guys had a great time. Spending it with the family makes everything better! Epic burnout, by the way...

I agree. Great writeup. Damn that flask is huge!!! Whats' that saying.....? "Everything is BIG in Texas" I guess its true. LOL

The car looks great out there on the course! We're glad we could be part of such an awesome build. :cheers:

Looking good man, glad you got the car fixed while you were on the road for the power tour.