Pictures from https://www.chrisdaveyphoto.com/
Special thanks to Andy Nash for being my pit crew for the weekend.
Friday, December 11, 2020
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Dallas Karting Complex 11/22/20
I got to visit the Dallas Karting Complex I was there once before back in 2015. It was cold out so the tires didn't have the same bite but still a ton of fun. I did two sessions in the normal rental karts, then opted to try their "GT Karts" for two sessions. In order to rent a GT one must do a lap in 75 seconds or less in a rental cart (I got a 75.9 on my first session out!), pay 2X the amount, they don't keep times, and if you smack anything, stall it, spin it, go four wheels off you MIGHT get a warning or just end your session! The GT karts where amazingly different, kinda like going from a Miata to a Corvette different! I literally giggled when power sliding onto the main straight for the first time. The brakes are hydraulic, and are more on-off. Coming off of the corners or a breaking zone, one had to roll into the throttle else an instant full throttle would bog it down. Because of the extra power (speed), touchy breaks, very similar braking an lateral grip, and the penalties for screwing up I took a much different line. I had to brake much more often where as in the normal rentals one could usually just keep it WOT. In the rentals I would nail the curbing, well the GT's get more chassis upset and have a higher potential to spin. Blowing past newbies in rental carts like they were moving chicanes was fun, well when they were somewhat predictable.
Vintage post found in the back shop
Google Maps photo
Saturday, October 24, 2020
The Frozen Rotors Winter Classic Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin USA October 24-25, 2020
BlackFlag MotorSports "Bella"
79 cars took the field. We ran out of brakes and then some....still finished 3rd place in class, 30th overall. We were place 2 in class and 14th overall before the brake failure.
This is what is left of the front brake pad after one hour of during practice and roughly 5 hours of racing. the brake piston is practically welded to the brake pad backing plate.
One of the MKIII VR6's here
LS Swapped Camaro
Short video of the pace lap.
Ecotec swapped Miata
Monday, October 19, 2020
Hallett Raceway October 2020 with World Racing League
Damage from the Honda S2000 running into the back of us.
40 cars took the field Saturday morning.
Stellar Racing (Rodney, Aaron, Cameraon, Christian, Mike (in the car).
The car had some ECU problems, and began running very rich, fouled the plugs, as the day progressed it became harder to drive and would bog out of corners. A second set of plugs didn't last very long. So with a lack of diagnostic tool availability, the car didn't run on Sunday
MORE TO COME...
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Old Race car still turning laps....
Very odd, seeing your old race car changing hands again...I sold it in 2014....apparently the motor I had built held together. It still wears much of the same sponsor stickers (The Alignment Guy, Frozen Rotors, SCCA, ect,) It even still has the same "roller wheels tires from a VW Jetta I had.
https://junglemotorsports.blogspot.com/2014/05/ready-to-run-racecar-for-sale.html
https://junglemotorsports.blogspot.com/2014/07/race-neon-goes-back-to-detroit.html
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Tow Pig upgrades (Dodge Ram diesel)(round #2)
My 2002 Dodge 2500 Cummins got a few upgrades and repairs. On the way back from BIR I got a CEL (Check Engine Light) with a code of P0216 "fuel injection time", it came back despite clearing the code, and unhooking the batteries...doing some research this all points to the ticking time bomb of the failure of the Bosch VP44 High Pressure Fuel Pump! DOH! The truck got us home from the track just fine, but the next day the truck wouldn't start!
I will abbreviate my trouble shooting down to the pertinent information. I started diagnosing by testing the fuel pressure after the low pressure pump with my mechanical gauge. Problem was logistics, the only place to put a gauge is on the pump didn't allow for something that big. So I ordered an 18" 1/8 NPT extension line and and electronic AutoMeter fuel electric pressure gauge. Both gauges confirmed I was only getting roughly 3PSI! DOH! Also something called a "snubber" which is really nothing more than a reducer is needed for the electric gauge, it reduces the opening to roughly 1/8" so it can smooth out the pulses of the fluid to the sensor...with out the pressure gauge would swing with 5psi rapidly.
Yes I know I should have had a warning light or gauge on the low pressure pump all along. My thoughts were, this FAAS low pressure pump has as of now only has 8k miles on it, the truck doesn't work hard at all, and is still stock...it will be fine. Besides I want to do my "tune" and gauges all at once with a CTS Edge, that way I only have a single tablet device to do all of my monitoring vs.5 gauges.
I ordered a pair of replacement fuel filters, turns out that despite ordering a compatible kit for my FASS fuel pump, the WIX 33405 had the incorrect thread pitch. A trip to the local NAPA to acquire a different one. I also learned that the rubber gasket for the FASS pump is slightly thicker than the one that comes with the other brand names. Still couldn't get the truck to start. To summarize: air trapped in the filters; the Dodge energizes the low pressure fuel pump for 30 seconds if the motor turns over (one must bump the starter, not just key on). For me this was insufficient so I hot wired the pump on, while having both filters just barely loose, the pump will dribble fuel, then the sound changes, then tighten. My fuel gauge now read 15psi! Turns out that even though my FAAS filters are good for 30k miles, they should also be replaced every year, I had mine on for three! Doh! Now the truck started after some grumbling! YAY!
The truck ran for a bit, even passed a test drive. The CEL went away and no stored code! YAY!! Being paranoid about having this VP44 suffering yet another fuel starvation event. I believe this truck had at least two fuel pump failures with the previous owner. I pulled the trigger and ordered a replacement pump from bluechipdiesel.com I did the checkbook mechanic on this one...too much risk of the job going sideways.
A bit of background, I back dated my in-tank pickup. I am using the OEM pick-up which does not have an integrated lift pump.. In other words, this is early OEM style. Dodge originally had a normal pickup in the tank, and had a lift pump on the side of the motor. These failed horrible and usually took out the high pressure VP44 pump. Later one they switch to an in-tank pump Ironically these also had high failure rates. My truck started out life with the lift pump on the side of the motor, then was switched to the in-tank pump. Some have the opinion that the OEM pickup say it cannot provide enough volume to the FAAS and to do a "draw straw"...others say the the draw straw isn't necessary until we start talking big turbos and crazy high power outputs.
While it was there I had the mechanic install my FluidAmper crank pulley. I was surprised that it weighs almost 10lbs more than OEM! YIKES! FYI the Dodge manual says to inspect the OEM pulley every 50k! I am not sure if that is because they get vibrated all to heck and fail, or if the grease from the motor gets on the rubber and erodes it. I have a theory: all of these Cummins engines end up being greasy, nasty, & mess over the years partly due to gasket failure. These things vibrate like a coin operated massaging bed at a cheap hotel, I believe this contributes to gasket failure. So by putting this fancy crank pulley on, it will smooth out some of that vibrations and maybe it won't be such a messy pig later on in life. Plus it is easier on motor bearing; some street cars will see an increase in HP due to timing being more accurate, but I don't think that applies here. The truck might be a bit smoother, hard to tell, without doing a back to back comparison.
I also put on a turbo blanket for a T3. Theory is that under hood temps are lower, and turbo spools faster.
Turbo Blanket installed
Old VP44 and filters
FluidAmpr
OEM Crank pulley
My quick, dirty, and temporary gauge install. I already had the transmission temp, boost gauge, and the holder in inventory. I had to buy the fuel pressure gauge ($250 from Amazon). This will be replaced by the CTS Edge when I order it.
Snubber
Saturday, August 15, 2020
SPEC MIATA RACE RECAP WITH IMSA @ Road America 08/01/2020
51 Miatas went out to race. It rained for the entire one hour endurance race. I was embarrassingly slow during qualifying (I have my excuses! :) I climbed up 14 positions during the rain actual race! I will post video. I am five rows in from the left and back four from the front in this picture. $3200 was raised for "Save the Children" charity this weekend!
Brief write up on Mazda Racing website https://www.mazdamotorsports.com/2020/08/05/spec-miata-race-recap-with-imsa
Photo credit: Dale Hammons
Photo credit: Dale Hammons
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
IMSA and Spec Miata Charity Race at Road America 8/1 & 8/2
Looking forward to racing at Road America; it is a fund-racing event? Fund-raising-racing event? :D Over 50 Miatas to race with.... the race will be a 1 hour mini-endurance race! This should be fun! Not only that IMSA is racing there as well! I have room for a crew person or two if someone wants to go along!
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