<VV> Bad day at Blackrock...or VIR

[ricknorris at suddenlink.net]

Well,
It was another beautiful fall day here at Vir. It was cold and foggy early this morn but the sun came up and warmed things up some. Never got hot though.
Me and Bob Coffin went out in the second group for one time practice and qualifying. Bob ran fine but, I didn't do so well. I was trying to learn the track and it was cold as I said. My tires were cold and I had a brain fart on the second lap and went off in the Oak Tree turn hitting some rough whoopty doos. I got back on track then the gas pedal went to the floor and the engine went to idle. I was at a pull off by the flag station so I was off the track and no yellow flag but I was dead in the water.
I had to wait until the session was over to be flat towed back to the pits. Further inspection confirmed what I had suspected. I had broken the throttle linkage pivot shaft off at the trans mount. This is a vulnerable spot even when installing it for breaking off.
After trying to get the stub of the threaded part out our intrepid pit monkey Barry Ellison, who was awaiting us in the pit area as he had arrived in the middle of the night and slept in his truck used a drill to get a hole big enough for an Easy Out which worked. I did not have another shaft with me but, we were going to make one from a bolt so I could race Sunday.
In the mean time David Clemens and Michael Leveled went out on track for the practice and qualifying session. David came back from the grid as he had forgotten his transponder. We got him back to the grid in time.
After several laps both of them were no where to be seen. Both had to be towed back to the pits.
Michael had a flooding problem with his center mount carb plus while trying to restart  the gear came off the starter shaft and punched a small hole in his bell housing.
In the mean time David was lloking for the problem in his car when he saw a huge crack in the bell housing. After further investigation and finally removing the engine his worst suspisions were confirmed. The crank was broken
This caused the diff snout to break off. It was a stock cast piece The decision was made to run back to the shop and fix it, returning in the morning to reload .Barry, Warren and Michael went with them.
Tomorrow will tell the tale. As for me, David has a pivot shaft which he will bring back with him so, we will both be flogging early in the morn to get on track for the race. Hope its not as cold and foggy......
 
 
--
Rick Norris
#36 Sunoco Corvair
www.corvairalley.com