FUeL's first track day.
 

I guess I'll get the bad news done first. Unknown engine issue at this time.:(
Have yet to get into it. Suspect some thing broken in the top end. Heard nothing in the way of breakage, pulled out of a corner hard on the gas and noticed a different sound, the exhaust had a deeper tone. Did a cool down lap pulled into the pit and stopped. At idling speed a random 'bad noise' was heard. A single random slap/crack and turned the car off. Did complete cool down then a start up. Idled for a couple minutes sounded totally normal then slap/crack. Turned it off called for a trailer. Had it hauled to my mechanic as opposed to home, wish I did not do that now as he was leaving for the weekend, and I didn't have access to it to get into it. auuugh

So that was the bad, hoping for the best and I don't have to get deep into the motor!!!

The good, a two mile road course that was super fun and FueL drove hard. Once I started to learn the line (first time at this track) I really started flying, it is a beast! Fast and hard into, through and out of corners, WOT on the straights was :woot: !!!
The brakes, damn impressive, worked them hard and zero brake fade.
My first WOT in the fasted part of the track followed by very hard braking into a corner the instructor (passenger seat) just said, 'wow I had no idea.'
He is used to Euro cars and Vettes, it was his first PT ride.
I few laps later I was unfortunately done. Hitched a ride with a really experienced driver with thousands of laps at this track in a Porsche GT3, that was impressive I learned a lot.

So I'll keep you posted. I'm really trying not to get to depressed about it or feel guilty about driving hard. I've broken a lot of toys over the years... just not my favorite one!

well, congrats, and I'm sorry.......... ;) Sounds like it was fun for a while, and hopefully it's something simple and inexpensive.

Jody

''blackjack''
 

:mad: THAT SUCK'S....HOPE ITS SOMETHING SMALL...GOOD LUCK:captain:

Although it does suck, sometimes you have to push 'em to find out what they're made of. Anything can be fixed, we just hope it's not a lot of time and cash! Glad you got it out on the track and had some fun! Good luck and keep us posted!

Sorry to hear about the issues, but I'm glad to see you're putting the car to good use!

Sorry to hear it man....I hope it's as simple a lifter or valve spring. Must of been nice to open her up on the track though! I can't wait to do it with mine.

Sorry to hear about the problem. Hope you had a good time otherwise.

Sorry for the sad news.

But the important thing is that you were using it like you should...that car was built to be driven hard!! ;) :thumbsup:

I've had a similar questionable sound / problem last year. Total lack of power and bad crack / tap sound under hard acceleration. Same thing... let the engine cool down and started fine, then after a few minutes it was back and worse. Seemed to be worse when driving hard.
My issue was exactly (kinda) what Vegas69 said.
The lifters were starving for oil due to a low oil level.
When the oil was cold and thick there was no problems. Once the oil temp increased and the oil was thinner (plus the low level to begin with) the lifters were starving under acceleration because the oil pump couldnt suck any oil and what it did suck was as thin as water.
We did a fresh oil change and ran a heavier weight oil to help save the lifters and it worked. The problem hasnt come back and luckily the lifters werent badly damaged from being hammered. The fact that they were hydraulic helped too. Had they been solid lifters, they'd be toast.
I hope for you that its that simple.
Good Luck and let us know.

Dave , sounds like fun !
How fast did you get up to ?

Keep your chin up! I know how frustrating and depressing that can be...it's not fun at all. Stay positive and keep us informed. :cheers:

Hey thanks for all the positive~ "it's Ok to beat on my car"!! I'll toss my guilt out the window now.


On the longest straight away, I few seconds into hard breaking I tried to sneak a look, I 'think' I saw somewhere between 140 -150. So I guess maybe 160? but that sounds like a lot so I don't know? It is really hard to take your eyes off that corner at those speeds! The GT3 was hitting 160 (250km) I would guess he would be faster so 160 is on the high side.
In a couple of more laps it was Fuels turn to get a Gtech type unit dialed into the track. To bad it would have shown the complete course, all speeds, G's all mapped out on the track, it was pretty cool software. Oh well next time...
(Trivia: Did you know the Gtech /Snitch is a Calgary based company?)

Glad to hear you had fun. Do you think it will be ready for the next track day? I should be in town and would love to go for a lap or 6.
Rich (surfing in San Juan Del Sur)

Don't know Rich that's this Sunday, I'm trying! I'd rather also have more seat time before I take on a guy with so many laps at the track....

Oh ya and welcome with that lame first post!

What track were you at?

Race City Calgary their web site is real lame or I'd paste a link, they don't even have I diagram of the track?

If your a google mapper type in Race City Calgary and you can zoom in on the road course.


Looks like a neat place all in one location.

ya, not bad. some guys even chuck on their slicks at home and drive to their bad ass rides to the track. too bad it is closing down in 2 years...

I'll try and not continue the derail of my own thread... but did you hear about the new private track? Heard from a reliable source it's going to happen!

Guilty of that one myself. I used to take the old Camaro down (before the Friday night street deals). Nothing like driving the street car to the track then racing in Super Pro for the afternoon. I think I went to one of the Friday night deals (besides the Fastest Shootout the first year they had it) but even back then the track pretty marginal for cars running in the 9's.

I've heard rumors. If it's going to happen I have to get more info. As they say - I'm in!

To get your thread back on track:

What's the verdict Dave?

I hate to hear about your problems
 

But I am dying to know what happened. What you described sounds so strange. Have you figured it out yet?

By the way, I loved how you played your cards close to the vest on the track day. Speak softly and carry a big stick, er...69 Camaro. I bet they did not have any idea, that had to be a hoot!

Still do not know, life is complicated... my wife as I was going to my buddies shop (hour and a half away) went into labor (first kid) it was a false alarm but I'm on a hold pattern as 'things' are happening.... any time now.
Leaving town to go play cars not a option right now!

Things seem strange for sure, mechanics guess... some sort of electrical arcing? Hopefully he can have a look today and I'll post up the details as I hear. (His shop is very busy and normally a three week waiting list) I have my fingers crossed it is something simple...

sorry about your engine trouble monza :(
Have a question for you,How different did the Porsche feel from Feul...my set up is the same (DSE) I know its not the same as driving but any insight is
appreciated:cheers:

mike a

Real different, very different just going from driving to passenger as well.
Fuel felt bigger solid lots of torque, the GT3 was more rally like... intense nimble and tossing though corners. Realize my first time on that track, the GT3 was set up for track and had a driver with 4000+ laps on that track. After the first lap in the GT3 my smile was so large I had issues talking. In Fuel I was learning the line trying for smoothness.

the torqu-ie feel of fuel is what I am looking forward to feeling on the track. with my little miata (though supercharged), it is still very much about carrying speed through the corners. I must say, I am excited to get my R888's on next week. Dave, will you be getting the R888's?

Re: new track....John Herbst of the SABMW club claims that it will most likely be a "country club" type of place with membership fees, storage for cars and garages for pit crews. However, he says it will be located somewhere east of Carstairs, something like 1 hr from Calgary. I think most enthusiasts will now have to get now trailers rather than driving thier rides 15 minutes to the track (like now), or for sure get AMA memberships for the tows.

Keep us posted on fuel... Damn, this track stuff is expensive...

We have it figured out and I guess I got off easy, a damn nut broke to be specific:

Part number 4654-16 Comp cams Some would call the poly locks-rocker Arm adjusting nuts.

One nut on the drivers side, which is so weird because I would have bet money of the left side. I was never one to believe the electrical arc, but I do have to admit it was really odd reverberating sound.

So replaced all the nuts just to be on the safe side. So now the bet is... do I hammer on it again next track date or thank my lucky stars and take it a little easier???

HAMMER :thumbsup: :lol:

X2 , You can always fix it.

Hammer it Dave - but only if you give me a shout before hand so I can be there...

Get a camera mount installed with a good video camera - then HAMMER it !

(and then post it so the rest of us junkies can ride along !!!)

:yes:

Jim

Actually broken parts... (lame focus hopefully you can see) Pencil is just for scale.

anyone have these break before??