Posted 28 October 2015 - 08:33 PM
Ok, so time for a brief recap
Day 1.
Started at Calder on Friday. It was bit of a slow start but that changed quite quickly. Once the racing started you could do as many passes as you wanted, time was not an issue. My times were not very good, but a time slip was handed in. 12.71 was my time slip.
The pink Torana ( may not be pink, but you know which car I mean) was on gearbox number three when they left Calder at 9:00pm
Terry's VC needed a new set of lifters before they left Calder at 11:00pm
Not so lucky for the tall "T" hot rod. He Brock a crank and damaged the block. That was him out.
The tough Chevelle lost a bonnet at the end of the track and damaged the hinges. It also was not running very smoothly so they retired it there also.
When it came time for us to leave, it was the first time I had the car loaded with three and a trailer, so the diff yoke was hitting the floor. So we didn't even make the gate when we had to unload the trailer, get the jack out and the toolbox, then raise the car. Lucky for me I have an adjustable coil over rear and it only took 20 minutes.
Then it was off to the first check point, then the first destination. Hamilton
As far as I know, all that left Calder made the destination.
Day 2.
Drive to Portland. It's about 80km of what we thought was the worst road in Victoria. We found out later that it was just one of the worst! More to come on that.
We all made the track and got ready to race. My first pass was strong and the car bit hard picking up the left front wheel. The track was well prepared.
My second pass saw my seat recliner hinge break and my back rest hit the back seat. As funny as it was, it little for my times.
My third attempt wasn't much better. The light turned green, I let the clutch go at about 5600 rpm, then my left wheel drove itself into my wheel arch. The diff on the left side had broken the welds and torn out of the lower trailing arm mount. Not ideal! So, because I can't be towed, I reversed the car back out to the staging lane, put a lower diameter tyre on and was able to drive it without damaging the body to a shed on the property, where I was lucky enough to be given access to a hoist and a welder. We used a large ratchet strap and got it back into position. Took a heap of measurements, and welded it back in. Checked the other side and it had some signs of doing the same, so re welded that one also.
That saw the car back on its wheels and driving once again. So, another third gear burnout, left wheel up, and off we went for another pass. I couldn't believe we had fixed it.
I didn't get to watch many of the others, I was a bit busy, so I really can't update you on the times others very much.
From there it was a 280km drive to Horsham. The first 180km was on some seriously bad roads. How we all made it through I don't know. We stayed the night there and left bright and early the next morning to head to Mildura.
It was at the Portland track that the Black LC broke a rod and damaged his block. This meant it was the end of his Challenge also, but he decided to buy another long motor, change some things around, and continue anyway just cause he could. They got the motor in, got it running to find that first gear had burnt out in the auto not so good when you only have two gears!
None the less he and his mate that hung back with him in a Blue VK were on their way once again. They made it as far as Hamilton when they were both pulled over by the police, and both given Canary's. Apparently they were stopped by the police for nearly two hours while they went over the cars.
Again this didn't stop them, and with about 40 minutes left before cut off, they made the next track, Mildura, and did a 14 second eighth mile. Not a good time, but for them very satisfying
Anyway that's enough reading for one session. Time for some random photos.
I will post in the next few minutes