Day Eight The day after
It is all behind us now and we are headed home. We drove the 500 miles from Zacadecas to Laredo, then about another hour north and called it a day. Only 1400 miles left.
Here is a quick recap of the week and what we accomplished and what we did not. The car came off the trailer and performed as we expected. We qualified 42nd out of about 120 cars.
Day One, we did fine; middle of the pack.
Day Two, we were placed 49th. About as expected on the slower, tight uphill stages. The car is
running well.
Day Three, the big crash day. On our second run the gas pedal broke. We sort of fixed it and
completed the stage with a time that was about 10 minutes longer than it would have been if we
had not broken. The third run our temporary, field fix failed. Again we put it together and drove
slowly to the end of the stage. At service we fixed it properly. We finished poorly.
Day Four, we started at the back because of the gas pedal problems. So be it. We were quick and our
times had us finish the day in about 30th overall.
Day Five, a great day with speed stages ideal for our big heavy Chrysler. We finished the day in
42nd.
Day Six, another great day. The car was great. We finished 30th for the day.
Day Seven, our last chance. The car was great, we made some adjustments and finished 27th overall.
Best yet.
We finished 62nd overall for the seven day event. Not as good as we had hoped.
We made one fundamental mistake that took us from finishing in the mid 30's to 62nd. Last year, we had mechanical problems that kept us from finishing several speed stages. This year, my main objective was to finish every stage, no matter what. That's why we fixed the gas pedal on the side of the speed stage, twice, and limped to the finish. I achieved my goal. We completed every stage. Success.
One mistake with my strategy. The rules state that if a car does not finish a stage, that car gets the slowest time in that stage plus three minutes. In our class, that would be about one minute longer than our time plus the three minute penalty. So, about four minutes longer than what we would have posted had we not broken. In my "finish at all cost" mentality, that was all I thought about. Our fix and completion of the stage was more than 35 minutes longer than it should have been. Simple math, 35 - 4 equals 31 minutes. So, had we skipped the rest of the stage, our total time for the day would have been 31 minutes less. Rolled into the seven day results, that 31 minutes took us from finishing 35th or so to finishing 62nd. Oh well. I did what I wanted to. Next year, it will all be about where we place.
In the next year, the car will go on a diet and loose about 300 pounds, get a new, more powerful engine, a new rear end, closer ratios in the transmission and improved ventilation, and a number of small modifications.
Many thanks to Jackie and Mac, the gang at Savannah Race Engineering and especially to our support crew, Mike and Alan. They were on top of everything with the car as well as making our day easier.
We will get more photos up in the next few days.
Thanks, Philip and Kevin
Friday, October 26, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Day Seven San Louis de Potesi to Zacatecas
Yesterday, day six was great. When it counted, the car was perfect. When the results were in for yesterday, we placed 30th for the day. We are pleased as we did only ok as far as Philip and I were concerned. There is a lot of room to go faster. I can do better in the right and left 0's and 1's. There were a few crashes, cars totaled but no serious injuries.
Today, day seven, we decided to take it up a click and not lift for 0's and just barely on 1's. Let me tell you we could really tell the difference. And out times showed it. We finished 27th overall today. The morning sessions were ok. We should have changed tires before we went out today. They went away after the first speed section. Fortunately, there was an early service and on went four new tires. What a difference. In the two speeds sections afterward, we finished 26th and 27th. Considering the fact that we weigh about 1,200 pounds more than any car that is even close to our times we are really happy. It's that Savannah Race Engineering Hemi power baby!
I have had so many people come and ask about the car and us in the last four days. It is funny. When we line up in order to start, we are surrounded by Porsche's, Mustangs, Steudebakers, all with big power and lightweight and we were faster than a lot of them. The best yet was when another competitor went up and ask another driver "who are those guys?", "that car should not be going that fast". It was one of the guys in the top ten who ask.
We finished the last day and made it to the finishing arch in Zacatecas. It is a big deal just to finish the seven days and 2,000 miles. There was a big celebration that I can still hear outside. There is the "Burro Walk" from the city center to the bull fighting ring. Everyone gets a shot glass from the burro and hundreds of people walk through town, drinking shots, bands playing singing and dancing till the wee hours. Philip, Mike and Alan can tell me about it tomorrow. I'm goin to sleep now.
Please check back. We will be posting more and will add many more photos. Thanks for following us. Kev
Yesterday, day six was great. When it counted, the car was perfect. When the results were in for yesterday, we placed 30th for the day. We are pleased as we did only ok as far as Philip and I were concerned. There is a lot of room to go faster. I can do better in the right and left 0's and 1's. There were a few crashes, cars totaled but no serious injuries.
Today, day seven, we decided to take it up a click and not lift for 0's and just barely on 1's. Let me tell you we could really tell the difference. And out times showed it. We finished 27th overall today. The morning sessions were ok. We should have changed tires before we went out today. They went away after the first speed section. Fortunately, there was an early service and on went four new tires. What a difference. In the two speeds sections afterward, we finished 26th and 27th. Considering the fact that we weigh about 1,200 pounds more than any car that is even close to our times we are really happy. It's that Savannah Race Engineering Hemi power baby!
I have had so many people come and ask about the car and us in the last four days. It is funny. When we line up in order to start, we are surrounded by Porsche's, Mustangs, Steudebakers, all with big power and lightweight and we were faster than a lot of them. The best yet was when another competitor went up and ask another driver "who are those guys?", "that car should not be going that fast". It was one of the guys in the top ten who ask.
We finished the last day and made it to the finishing arch in Zacatecas. It is a big deal just to finish the seven days and 2,000 miles. There was a big celebration that I can still hear outside. There is the "Burro Walk" from the city center to the bull fighting ring. Everyone gets a shot glass from the burro and hundreds of people walk through town, drinking shots, bands playing singing and dancing till the wee hours. Philip, Mike and Alan can tell me about it tomorrow. I'm goin to sleep now.
Please check back. We will be posting more and will add many more photos. Thanks for following us. Kev
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Day Six Guanajuato to San Louis Potesi
Up early again. Today there were three speed stages before service. After day five, we started 42nd. By far the fastest of the big cars. All three stages went very well. We were into service with great times, finishing well ahead of many cars that started ahead of us.
Following service, there were two long speed stages. Everything went great. At the final checkpoint, we noticed a coolant leak. We waited for the service truck, ived the problem and made it to the finishing arch late. What penalties apply I don't know. We will see tomorrow. After day three and four gas pedal problems we were well back in overall results. Ho hum.
Tomorrow is the last day. We will finish mid afternoon in Zacatecas if all goes well.
More tomorrow.
Kevin
Up early again. Today there were three speed stages before service. After day five, we started 42nd. By far the fastest of the big cars. All three stages went very well. We were into service with great times, finishing well ahead of many cars that started ahead of us.
Following service, there were two long speed stages. Everything went great. At the final checkpoint, we noticed a coolant leak. We waited for the service truck, ived the problem and made it to the finishing arch late. What penalties apply I don't know. We will see tomorrow. After day three and four gas pedal problems we were well back in overall results. Ho hum.
Tomorrow is the last day. We will finish mid afternoon in Zacatecas if all goes well.
More tomorrow.
Kevin
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Day Five Morelia to Guanajuato
Great day! The car was perfect, the speed stages were great for the big old Chrysler. In the morning, there were four long, fast speed stages. Unlike earlier stages, these were made up of many very long straightaways mixed with short right and left 3's. Based on our gas pedal problems yesterday we started at the rear. In the first stage we passed four cars, two in the second, and one each in the third and fourth. We would really rather not be forced to pass other cars as we never really know what they will do. Today no problems. Everyone waived us by. We lost some time with each pass, but they were all safe.
The morning sessions were followed by a 230 kilometer transit to service. Just a quick once over of the car and we were on our way. The afternoon speed stages were much like the morning. We moved up considerably in starting position and did not make any other passes. We were close to passing a Porsche right at the end of the last two speed stages but just missed him. Probably a good thing. this evening we arrived in the center of old town Guanajuato. A spectacular old mining town full of tunnels and people for the biggest arrival celebration yet.
Now is a funny time. We are at the point where anything we hear or feel in the car makes me worry. We have a rattle in the rear that we can't find. We have checked every suspension bolt, mounting point, everything. We can't find a thing. But still.......it keeps me wondering.
There has been a lot of attrition so far. We started with 117 cars and 76 finished today. Our main goal is to finish the 2,000 miles. Two days remain.
Kevin
Great day! The car was perfect, the speed stages were great for the big old Chrysler. In the morning, there were four long, fast speed stages. Unlike earlier stages, these were made up of many very long straightaways mixed with short right and left 3's. Based on our gas pedal problems yesterday we started at the rear. In the first stage we passed four cars, two in the second, and one each in the third and fourth. We would really rather not be forced to pass other cars as we never really know what they will do. Today no problems. Everyone waived us by. We lost some time with each pass, but they were all safe.
The morning sessions were followed by a 230 kilometer transit to service. Just a quick once over of the car and we were on our way. The afternoon speed stages were much like the morning. We moved up considerably in starting position and did not make any other passes. We were close to passing a Porsche right at the end of the last two speed stages but just missed him. Probably a good thing. this evening we arrived in the center of old town Guanajuato. A spectacular old mining town full of tunnels and people for the biggest arrival celebration yet.
Now is a funny time. We are at the point where anything we hear or feel in the car makes me worry. We have a rattle in the rear that we can't find. We have checked every suspension bolt, mounting point, everything. We can't find a thing. But still.......it keeps me wondering.
There has been a lot of attrition so far. We started with 117 cars and 76 finished today. Our main goal is to finish the 2,000 miles. Two days remain.
Kevin
Monday, October 22, 2012
Day four, Quetereo to Morelia
Day four, Quertero to Morelia
Today we started a bit later than usual. We left the town square and had a relatively short transit to the first speed stage. The first stage was a short 8 kilometers. Perfect following a day like yesterday. It helped settle everyone's nerves.
When we started this morning, we were shown in the low eighties for starting position. As it turns out , there was a timing and scoring mistake and we were actually in the 35 starting position. The morning speed stages went well. We were pretty quick and the car performed well. Following the service break, we left for three steed stages. The first was very fast and we ran very well. The second was a bit longer, about 20 kilometers. It was the speed stage that over the years has resulted in the most crashes. It is a stage made for our Chrysler. Slightly downhill overall with very high speed straightaways going into sweeping turns. It was probably the best run of the week. About half way through, the gas pedal failed again. So we lost the results of a great run. The last run of the day was plagued by the gas pedal issue and our times were bad. No doubt we will correctly have a very bad starting position tomorrow. The big problem is that we will be starting among slower cars and we will find ourselves need ing to pass other cars. It will slow us down, and you never know about how other drivers will behave. Some people are funny ya know.
We redesigned the way the gas pedal is attached and we believe it should no longer be a problem. We thought it was just a loose set screw, so we reinstalled it and secured it well. For whatever reason, it loosened again. It is fixed now. It is great to see how other competitors offer parts, tools, just about anything to help other racers. There are a lot of great folks here.
Mike, Alan, Philip and I are all well and having fun. More tomorrow,
Kevin
Photos from yesterday are up at the photobucket site
Day four, Quertero to Morelia
Today we started a bit later than usual. We left the town square and had a relatively short transit to the first speed stage. The first stage was a short 8 kilometers. Perfect following a day like yesterday. It helped settle everyone's nerves.
When we started this morning, we were shown in the low eighties for starting position. As it turns out , there was a timing and scoring mistake and we were actually in the 35 starting position. The morning speed stages went well. We were pretty quick and the car performed well. Following the service break, we left for three steed stages. The first was very fast and we ran very well. The second was a bit longer, about 20 kilometers. It was the speed stage that over the years has resulted in the most crashes. It is a stage made for our Chrysler. Slightly downhill overall with very high speed straightaways going into sweeping turns. It was probably the best run of the week. About half way through, the gas pedal failed again. So we lost the results of a great run. The last run of the day was plagued by the gas pedal issue and our times were bad. No doubt we will correctly have a very bad starting position tomorrow. The big problem is that we will be starting among slower cars and we will find ourselves need ing to pass other cars. It will slow us down, and you never know about how other drivers will behave. Some people are funny ya know.
We redesigned the way the gas pedal is attached and we believe it should no longer be a problem. We thought it was just a loose set screw, so we reinstalled it and secured it well. For whatever reason, it loosened again. It is fixed now. It is great to see how other competitors offer parts, tools, just about anything to help other racers. There are a lot of great folks here.
Mike, Alan, Philip and I are all well and having fun. More tomorrow,
Kevin
Photos from yesterday are up at the photobucket site
Day three, Puebla to Queretaro,
Carnage. It is the only way to describe yesterday. Following a three and a half hour transit, we started what was a well known and well publicized verydangerousspeed stage. It was high speed, downhill, always a cliff on one side, rough pavement, gravel covered 27 kilometer speed stage. We were all warned; the route book the navigator uses to call the speed stage for the driver had adequate warnings of the dangerous parts. All very clear.
Let me set the stage. The faster cars go first. The stage started of with about 250 yards downhill into a left 1 (downhill left 1 you might have to slow a bit after 250 yards). From there it was down hill to a quick short left then 250 yards down hill to a "left 3! Danger mortal" too fast and went off the cliff, one on top of another. They ended up about 120 feet down, stacked up. The only injury was a broken hip. Several other cars spun out and hit the guardrail until they stopped the speed stage. Then, about half way through the stage another car got out of shape at a very high speed and plunged off a 1000 ft cliff but stopped about 300 feet down and caught on fire. The people surf.ived with only bumps and scratches. Finally, a Porsche lost it and went off a huge cliff and was stopped a few hundred feet down by trees. After seeing the first five cars, I dialed it back a bit. We. We're doing well, cautious where we should be when the gas pedal fell off. It mounts on a splined share and is retained by a set screw and the set screw backed out. No probe, we pulled off and secured it well enough to complete the stage and get to service. Our time suffered greatly, as once we stopped we took all the safety measures before I looked at the problem. Made it to service, Fixed the gas pedal and we were off to the afternoon speed stages. They were fast, with no problems.
Today we are off to Morelia; my personal favorite. The car has been great, no release bearing issues like last year. (Jackie, it is still as smooth as silk).
Looks like the problem in the speed stage cost us big.
Thats all for now.
Kev
Carnage. It is the only way to describe yesterday. Following a three and a half hour transit, we started what was a well known and well publicized verydangerousspeed stage. It was high speed, downhill, always a cliff on one side, rough pavement, gravel covered 27 kilometer speed stage. We were all warned; the route book the navigator uses to call the speed stage for the driver had adequate warnings of the dangerous parts. All very clear.
Let me set the stage. The faster cars go first. The stage started of with about 250 yards downhill into a left 1 (downhill left 1 you might have to slow a bit after 250 yards). From there it was down hill to a quick short left then 250 yards down hill to a "left 3! Danger mortal" too fast and went off the cliff, one on top of another. They ended up about 120 feet down, stacked up. The only injury was a broken hip. Several other cars spun out and hit the guardrail until they stopped the speed stage. Then, about half way through the stage another car got out of shape at a very high speed and plunged off a 1000 ft cliff but stopped about 300 feet down and caught on fire. The people surf.ived with only bumps and scratches. Finally, a Porsche lost it and went off a huge cliff and was stopped a few hundred feet down by trees. After seeing the first five cars, I dialed it back a bit. We. We're doing well, cautious where we should be when the gas pedal fell off. It mounts on a splined share and is retained by a set screw and the set screw backed out. No probe, we pulled off and secured it well enough to complete the stage and get to service. Our time suffered greatly, as once we stopped we took all the safety measures before I looked at the problem. Made it to service, Fixed the gas pedal and we were off to the afternoon speed stages. They were fast, with no problems.
Today we are off to Morelia; my personal favorite. The car has been great, no release bearing issues like last year. (Jackie, it is still as smooth as silk).
Looks like the problem in the speed stage cost us big.
Thats all for now.
Kev
Saturday, October 20, 2012
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