2009 One Lap of America
The Rare Pause
There was an odd pause in One Lap today as we waited to here our fate for Highland Rim. Trying not to relate this to Cannonball Run the movie too much, but it felt like that weird pause when they all got stuck waiting for the construction or train to pass . Then Jackie Chan got into a fight with a few bikers and the entire Cannonball family came together to help.
We made excellent time getting to Highland Rim. So much so that the schedule forgot the time dufference and we had a pause with all of the one lap members. Typically we pass on the way in or out of the event, as the top runners have a earlier schedule.
We invaded a Shell station down the road from the track, knowing it was highly likely that things would be cancelled If the rain stuck around. It was a great time to come together with the group, breath and enjoy some track stories. For those of us needing some work to be done, it was a gift to give us some time to recover.
A family of VR4 owners
The rules for one lap are pretty specific in saying you can’t have a support crew with you, carrying parts and tools. Reaching out for help across America has always been encouraged and sometimes necessary to keep teams moving.
We pulled into the Autobahn to find one of the mustang guys had broken a lower control arm on the way in. I am not sure how these tracks survive with such terrible roads leading up to them. While they disapeared for a while, we were happy to see them Sunday morning for the Autocross. They were able to get somebody to weld a cast A arm that same day, which is awesome.
We had a similar disaster Saturday night on the way from Autobahn to Florence Kentucky.
In a plea for help we posted some notices up to our friends online somewhere around midnight. At 2:15 we got the call that said if we can make it to Tenessee for the oval track, our parts would meet us there.
Not only did replacement parts come for us, but we had some reinforced parts that would definately help us last the trip.
Curtis from the GalantVR4.org board brought us some stock rear control arms and a reinforced rear differential wishbone of his own fabrication. This is the same savior who made us the custom gauge plates and has come through for us once again.
We were in a gas station exit with the rest of the One Lappers waiting to hear the fate of the Highland Rim track conditions. We were able to swap out all of the parts, with Tim doing most of the work. The rear camber on the car is not as agressive as it was with the Ingalls control arms, but we are solid. If we can find an alignment shop at some point we would be better, but for now the eyeball alignment will have to do.
AutoCross Report
As everyone has probably already heard we broke a upper rear control arm on our way to the hotel after the event at Autobahn. We were able to patch it up on the side of the expressway and make it back to the Hotel by midnight. The fear of the unknown can really pump some adreline and we weren’t asleep until closer to 2:30pm.
The alarm at 6:30 this morning almost went out the window but knowing it was up to me to represent in the only autocross event on the schedual I was eager to get out there. Our Hotel was only 5 minutes from the Turfway park and as we were pulling in my first impression was…”this is a small course”. Not a good sign for a heavy big turbo car.
Although designed by a National Champion it was a total H-Stock course, tight and slow. I walked it as many times as I could and set my visual markers to help me find my way…launch…head to the corner…up along the side..curve in…head to the two trees…smooth arc to the Turfway sign then down hill…brake hard..look across the circle..back up the hill look across the circle …three pin turn …give up the finish..foot to the floor. A 40 second PIA course.
My first run was a 47 something which was 4 seconds off the pace but good enough for second in class. I struggle through the whole course with two spots where I just held my foot to the floor and waited…then waited..then waited..then ran out of room to wait because the next turn was here. This turbo is big and I love it but it is NOT an autocross turbo.
My second run was closer to 44 seconds but still 4 seconds off the pace and I was falling fast in the overall standings.
My third run I went all out and did the best I could with what I had. 43.7. That was 4th in class and 14th overall. Not the top ten finish I was hoping for but close enough considering what I had to work with.
8th Overall going in to Day 2
If you haven’t checked the overall standings, the Rochester DSM team with the 17 year old car is currently in 8th place overall in this One Lap of America event. We are a little overwhelmed to see the car in a top 10 position, even if it is for only after one day.
We are confident on the track time this morning and are hoping to keep the points ranking pretty high. We need our damaged rear upper control arm to survive this mornings event and the trip to Highland Rim, as we have a GalantVR4.org member there ready a stock replacement for us.
Without thinking about the rear suspension, we just like to enjoy the moment near the top seeded position.
0Need Parts in Kentucky
We had an incident just shy of skipping across the Ohio border when the car bottomed out on the ridge of the bridge transition.
We broke the passenger side ingals rear upper control arm bolt when we hit. We need either a replacement Ingalls control arm (or just the bolt) or a stock rear upper control arm. We can get the alignment close enough to press on but we are not going far with only .5″ of bolt holding things together.
We will be in Florence Kentucky tomorrow before heading out to the Highland Rim. If anybody can help us we need you.
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