<VV> Corvair autocross report--long

[Levair at aol.com]

Or:
 
Finding the weakest link.
 
Michael and I went to the Indy Region Austrialian pursuit today. The  weather 
was terrific for Indiana--low 80s, sunny, beautiful.
  The Pursuit was hourglass/snowman shaped with big sweepers on the  ends 
where a car could spin between the inner and outer borders and not hit an  
cone---many did spin just that way.
  Cars started on opposite sides of the course and had two laps to  gain on 
the other one. A hit cone was instant death.
   There were four groups ranging from the pure stock cars and  ending with 
the modified ones. 
   I worked during the 2nd group which was mostly pony cars and  AWD Rally 
cars.
  I had a sit- down job due to using the pitiful borrowing car look  plus 
adding the feeble senior citizen visual plea--thanks guys.
   Judging by the performance of the Rally cars I wouldn't have  been 
surprised to have seen them take it all, right to the end. I did learn how  to tell 
an Mitzi EVO from a Subaru. Subaru have hood scoops and EVOs had hood  intake 
holes. Good to know, I though they were all 300 hp 4 door sedans with a  trophy 
shelf(wing)  on the back.
   Sometimes a two driver car will be bracketed to run against  itself. The 
answer is to borrow another similar car for the run off. It was  suggested that 
if you couldn't look pitiful enough to borrow then the car owner  and 
borrower could just have as foot race. THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED.  The  Miata's car 
owner won the one lap foot race. 
   The gird was like the brackets in ball games. The losers went  into 
another bracket and could work their way back to the top. Plus 1st run  losers could 
take 3rd runs and all could buy $1 fun runs at the end. This was  because 
some don't come to Pursuits due to losing right away and not getting  many runs. 
   I had a pocket full of $1 bills just for that reason.
Everyone's logical pick  for overall win was Clemens Burger --an  excellent 
driver in any car--in his 800 #  55" wide 1100cc Suzuki powered  BM Sports 
racer. I rather thought a mistake on Clemens part could have put a  Rally car or 
Scott Dale's SM Mini in the lead.
      Michael ran his CP Corvair and lost right  away and then worked his way 
back to the top 3rd or better. I loved listening to  his 13/1, 6 into one 
engine. I never heard my own. Adrenaline seems to plug your  ears. 
   I had previous trouble with my Roots blown mid engine Corvair  Roadster 
consisting of blowing off the intake tubes. NO pop off valves, you  don't want 
to pop off a combustable mixture. I fixed the tubes recently.
   Last week I changed the blower pulley for more boost. This  morning, I 
adjusted the rear anti roll bar for Maximum stiffness. The theory was  to get 
some oversteer in order to stay on the inside line. Conversely,The large  Stinger 
has to use an exaggerated late apex and can't stay on the inside line. 
      The roll bar adjustment worked great. I was  able to approach the 
sweepers at full acceleration, brake to toss the back out  just a little an then 
apply just enough power oversteer to drive the sweeper  without any more 
steering (from the steering wheel) ----rear wheel drive power  oversteer is the 
greatest fun ever!!!
    I lost track of how many runs I had (8+?). I lost to the  Sports Racer, 
went to the loser's bracket and worked my way back to the winning  Sports Racer 
again. I made many back to back runs toward the end--hard on this  old 
fellow. I didn't need the pocket full of ones after all. 
   I was in a dead heat with the Sports Racer on the final  deciding run( or 
so I thought), One more lap to go, if I could hang on. Then I  heard this 
awful big boom from behind me, coasted off to the side --Oh well, 2nd  overall 
isn't too bad.
   The big Boom was caused by the next weakest link. The bottom  of the 
pressurized intake manifold simply blew apart. My blower pulley change  was likely 
the culprit.
   It was a wonderful  day in all ways. I simply loved the  course and the 
close competition. Kudos to Indy Region.
    I skipped the trophy presentation and made it home in  time to shower off 
the sun block and make it to Church.  I am truly  blessed.
 
 
Warren
   



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