Track Day at PIR

[itsofishel]

I had a great day yesterday, just got back from my High performance training at PIR. My car, by far, was the oldest thing on the track, Yesssss!

I learned how to let faster cars behind me pass;-) That Lotus on my ass in turn 12 is actually a 19 year old girl that kick my butt around the track. Her dad trailered in three matching lotuses with track slicks and other goodies, They were fast fast fast. And they seemed to stay together but passing me so fast, it seemed like only two went by;-)

Don, I have a new respect for you. I think my car was the only one on the track without power steering and man I'm sore today. You doing Auto-cross, I feel is even more muscle driven to get around those sharpies and unwinding the steering.

I got the checkered flag ;-) then on the cool down lap, I sprung a leak and pulled off after turn two (see picture to where I ended up at).

A fuel line ruptured or came loose on the 3-4 carb and was running like sh** on the front straightaway so in turn two, I said to the instructor that I needed to stop the engine. He said pull off the track and up over the 6-8 foot grassy burm on the inside track at turn three. I shut the engine back on the track and coasted into the grass, that was fun. I have extra hose in the car and could have fix the problem but decided since it was my last run for the day and was close to 95 degrees out, I'd simply have the car towed home and fix the problem later. I flogged the car in the heat and did beautifully until the fuel problem. The instructor said "man, thank god the car didn't ketch fire. I said it has a fire extinguisher between your feet on a sweet rail that custom made for me;-) I had my eye on the extinguisher while I was parked on the dry grass;-). That was the best part of the day being out in the outer part of the track while other drivers some very good, drove through and I could see all the different thing in braking, apex and control throw the turn and the instructor talked and showed me these finer points while we were waiting for the PIR crew to move my car back to the paddock.

I even got to ride my car the wrong way on the track while being pushed by a few track crew, up to the nearest gate to get me off the track. They black flagged the group not because of me but a BMW had a problem in turn 12 on the other side of the track, and dumped it's fluids like a sick 21 year old on his birthday. So the track was safe to do this car move.

Very nice group of teachers out there and a good group in my class except a few big egos out there, damn if I had money, I'd play at the track all day too;-)

I started a conversation with this lady that was shooting with a canon Mark II digital camera. She was there shooting for her boyfriend and is a professional photographer by trade. I asked if she could take some pictures of me using my camera while I drive the course (since her boyfriend was in group B and I was in group A). I have some sweet pictures. That was worth it right there.

Great day.

Gregg

[itsofishel]

Ends up being a stuck open float. I guess it's time to clean the gas tank;-) There was a fire but was contained within the K&N air filter.

Also notice that me and the instructor have our head tilted towards each other. this is because our intercom system failed and we were using shouts and hand signals to guide me around the track in a good line. At least I think that's what he said;-)

Gregg

[itsofishel]

Have this fix up in no time, everything I need just down the street, cool. whoops, forgot carb cleaner, damn!

Gregg

[C. Clark]

Gregg,
Nice photos, lucky for you the fire was localized .......
Chas.
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[itsofishel]

Yeah, I thank my lucky stars that this isn't the final outcome for me ;-)

Doesn't rust burn like magnesium?

Gregg