Well..... racing is fun isn't it??
Last time I ran Sonoma Raceway --- the "lash cap" on one of the titanium exhaust valves let go (it's integral to the valve unlike regular lash caps)... couldn't find the piece -- and the end of the valve got beat up in the process... so left the car at McGee Motorsports... and he pulled the engine and got it over to Oddo Performance for a "freshening".
I haven't used the car since that was all done - along with a fresh rebuild on the Jerico and a new clutch and pressure plate etc... along with corner weighting and a different alignment.
Went down to Sonoma to run the Nor Cal Shelby event ---- and promptly got "meat balled" (a flag for a mechanical issue).... poor little mustang was smoking BADLY.... on lift.... everything running fine! Plenty of power! Smooth tranny... and the alignment felt REALLY GREAT! ..... so I come in a look all over the car... under and over.... no oil leaks .... no oily anything. The motor was dyno'd --- so that should all be good. Go back out for second session --- MEAT BALL #88.... after about 5 laps.... come back in and go over the car again this time jacking it up front and back. Dry as a bone. BUT -- that always big azz BUTT -- the exhaust should be grey ash... and it's BLACK and wet... so we now know the oil is internal and not a track hazard. I torque the intake manifold --- it was loose as a goose! That could be the issue! Sucking oil from the valley maybe.... okay -- back out for third session and it's smoking WAY less.... BUT --- damn big azz BUTT --- one of club members has been running behind me and he comes over to the garage to tell me -- very nicely -- that he was certain he was going into the wall on turn 2 -- because he couldn't see a thing --- and there was so much smoke he figured I'd blown the motor and he was just going to slide straight into the wall... Now we're laughing about this -- but it's not funny -- because a less experienced driver might have! Luckily Tom is a very experienced guy and he just drove through the plume... (to his surprise I might add!).
Okay --- I'm done.... I'm not going to be "that guy".... and 'cause a mishap.
Turns out that McGee is open on Sunday because they're prepping a bunch of vintage stuff for Monterey.... so I take old yeller over and drop it off.... and ask that "if they could" --- they'd maybe get with Oddo and see if this is a simple fix so I don't have to get all the way home to Seattle only to find out they replaced a $10 intake manifold gasket and she's all fine...
Sunday afternoon I take off and go to Bakersfield and camp in front of Ironworks.... might as well goof off for a couple days until I hear about whether or not the motor needs to come out -- or is fixed.
Tuesday I get a call -- she's all done... turns out it was a pencil sized "hole" that developed in the intake runner in the head -- due to them being ported and heat cycled a bunch of times... and Tony has fixed her all good as new. The aluminum heads were ported by Mike Chapman and they have been run a few times... LOL
FORGOT!!! Here's a link to GOT BLUE MILK (the track photo guys) that shows a small amount of "blue" emanating from said "race car".
http://gotbluemilk.com/web130803/88/...s/image12.html
Anyway --- I didn't get much seat time -- but that's the way things go sometimes.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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