Gearbox back together

The gearbox is back on the car. This will be the first time I have the correct gears for the track (I hope). At least on paper they look good.

Two weeks and counting

We'll be leaving for Road America in just over two weeks. I had a big long list of things to do, but with this being the last race of the year for me, I'll save some of the list for the off season.
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Exhaust pipe issues.
Photo taken by Jim Knerr
If you look at the white arrow back by the rear tire, it's pointing at my exhaust. The pipe was contacting the track going up the esses (turn 2) at Watkins Glen. This is known because I saw a photo of the car at the esses and you could see no space between the ground and the exhaust pipe (plus some scratching on the pipe). This photo, like many others of the F5000 cars, was on the Bobby Rahal site the following Monday, but now they're all gone, a mystery.


Two possible reasons for contact. One, the springs are to soft, or two, the rear wing has to much down force. But there is a possible third reason: the designers of the Lola T192 never intended for the exhaust to exit under the car. I'm not anticipating the pipe to hit at Road America, but I'll keep a eye on it.

YouTube time at Road America

It's time to learn Road America. I've never raced there, only visited as a spectator. I found this YouTube of Bruno Junqueira in an Indy car. He's going to be a lot faster then me, but it gives me an idea what I'm going to see around the next corner.

The YouTube lap is about 1:47. I anticipate my lap to be around 2:20. The track is 4 miles long. The average speed is just a little faster than Watkins Glen.

At both Road Atlanta and Watkins Glen I was using a 28-28 gear as my 5th gear. This was giving me 6500 rpm at the end of the straights. But at 6500 rpm the engine is only producing 420 HP. I need to get the rpm's up to 7200-7500, that's were my max 450hp range is(dyno). So I'm going to try one of my used gears, a 27-29. If it doesn't work, I'll change back to a 28-28.

Back to the gearbox

The gear sets and dog rings arrived Thursday. Only one dog ring is usable, the other one has a coating on it and won't fit. Only one needed replacement, the other was just a backup.


I took a close look to see if 3rd gear was completely engaging, not sure. If the problem arises again at Road America, I'll send the box out this winter for inspection.

Missing Gear set found

Apparently my gear set has been vacationing in Florida. Chuck sent me the FedEx tracking number, anyway it might arrive today. But who knows.

Jun 14, 2010 4:39 PM
In FedEx possession
SAINT LOUIS, MO

Jun 14, 2010 6:08 PM
Picked up
SAINT LOUIS, MO

Jun 14, 2010 9:17 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
SAINT LOUIS, MO

Jun 15, 2010 12:36 AM
Left FedEx origin facility
SAINT LOUIS, MO

Jun 15, 2010 4:21 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
CHAMPAIGN, IL

Jun 15, 2010 8:50 AM
Departed FedEx location
CHAMPAIGN, IL

Jun 16, 2010 12:34 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
LEWISBERRY, PA

Jun 16, 2010 3:53 AM
Departed FedEx location
LEWISBERRY, PA

Jun 17, 2010 1:23 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
ORLANDO, FL

Jun 17, 2010 8:35 AM
Departed FedEx location
ORLANDO, FL

Jun 22, 2010 8:33 AM
Departed FedEx location
ORLANDO, FL

Jun 23, 2010 5:32 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
LEWISBERRY, PA

New dogs here...Gears?????

The new dog rings arrived today via FedEx. The gears are MIA. When I talked to Chuck last Friday I was lead to believe the gears had been shipped. I sent a email out to Chuck today, and I'll give him a call tomorrow to see what's up.


The new dog ring is in the middle, the one to the left is my newer broken one and the one to the right is from the 1970's. Not sure what generation the dogs I got from Chuck are, he found them in a coffee can.
It looks like I should be back working on the car this Friday.

Gears and dogs in the mail

Talked to Chuck Haines last Friday, the gears have been shipped and 2 dog rings will go out today. When I get the gearbox out of the car I'm going to make sure 3rd has the correct adjustment. I have a long list of lots of little items that need attention before Road America. Sometime this week I'll get back to working on car.

Sam Posey at Watkins Glen

Sam Posey at Watkins Glen June 2010

Road America

Road America is a month away. This will be my last race of the season. Chuck Haines has shipped the gear set I needed. It was for Watkins Glen but I think I can use it for Road America. He also might have located some new dog rings.
The oil tank overfull into the catch can is still continuing, despite a few alterations. For RA(Road America) I'm going to try switching the inlet and outlet lines on the oil tank. Talked to Brian and he said give it a try.

Front Cover

When we were up at the Glen, I had a couple of people mention my car was on the front cover of Victory Lane magazine. I do subscribe, but had not received it yet. This is great promotion for the F5000 cars.

Watkins Glen review

I do have to say, the Bobby Rahal event was top shelf. Well organized, great food and a lot of track time. I do hope we do it again next year.

The one thing I will take away from this race is I can't bring mechanical problems to the track. This gearbox problem has to be repaired before Road America in July.
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Part of the story on the Watkins Glen event. Ron Levanduski was the reporter from the "Star-Gazette" I was talking to Friday.

A long day with a short story

Watkins Glen is know for rain and fog. Sunday morning when we arrived at the track it was pouring rain. This lasted for an hour, and as soon as the rain stopped the fog rolled in. The fog was so thick they deemed it too dangerous to race and would put everything on hold.

Waited all morning, no one went on the track. In the early afternoon the Can-am cars went on track in the fog. We were next. They lined us up in the hot pits and then the fog got heavier, so we waited for a half-hour. Finally they canceled our race and we did just a couple of parade laps around the track.

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Having fun in the garage, waiting for the fog to lift.

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Grid girls again, I'm getting spoiled.

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With no race, they used yesterday's qualifying race for finishing position. That gave me 2nd in class.

Saturday at the glen

Saturday morning qualifying session I started losing 3rd gear. I was not able to better my time from Friday. One car did run quicker on Saturday which made me second fastest overall. I knew 3rd gear might become a problem so I did bring my old dog rings. Changing the dogs took much longer than I thought and just made the race. In fact by the time I got to the false grid the cars were all ready leaving, so ended up starting 8th instead of 2nd. Within 2 laps the problem was back, this was going to be a long 30 minutes race. In the end I was able to salvage a 4th overall and 2nd in class. So today I start 4th without 3rd. This is going to be another 30 minute race that's going to feel like a hour.

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Saturday Q race

http://legendsofmotorsports.com/PDFs/watkins/group2/F5000%20Feature%20Grid.pdf

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Feature race grid

http://legendsofmotorsports.com/PDFs/watkins/group2/F5000%20Feature%20Grid.pdf

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Tony A to Z signing an autograph.

Sam Posey receiving an award from the F5000 drivers Association.

Friday at the glen

The car was again running good on Friday. I dropped my lap times about 5 seconds from Thursday's times. In the Friday morning practice session I was second fastest and in the afternoon qualifying I was the fastest. Really wasn't expecting that. Still a another qualifying session this morning, so I could still lose my front row spot for this afternoon's race.

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Being interviewed by the local paper. I've hit the big time now.

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Qualifying results----http://legendsofmotorsports.com/PDFs/watkins/group2/F5000%20Monoposto%20Qualifying%201.pdf

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More photos http://legendsofmotorsports.com/gallery_watkins.cfm

Thursday at the glen

Thursday was the track orientation program. It was instructed by the same person I had down at Savannah in April. I missed the morning track session because of a rear wheel problem. The problem was repaired and I joined the afternoon session. By the 7 lap I was feeling comfortable, the car has a lot more power than my old Lola SV, but handles about the same. Friday is practice in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon.

Staying at the Seneca Lodge, a favorite among racers and very close to the track.

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Nothing but the best for my wife Deb. Not really, this one hasn't been used in a long time. I did get a better room for us.

Watkins Glen...Wednesday

Got up to the Glen late Wednesday afternoon. Starting to setup in the garage, not many people here right now. Have already gone through tech and looking forward to getting on the track today.

Ready to go

All loaded and ready to go, should be at WG later today. Nice racing at a track that's less than 4 hours away. Thursday is a test and tune day and the weather looks spotty for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. But it's Watkins Glen and the weather changes so fast, you just never know. My first race at this track was in 1980 in a Formula Ford and it was one week after the U.S. Grand Prix F1), the place was a mess and it smelled real bad. This was the only race my wife (girlfriend at the time) didn't attend, just as well I guess. The track has come a long way since then.

Almost ready

I'll finish the car this morning and load up everything this afternoon. They have allowed the F5000 guys the use of the garages at the glen. That's general a $500. rental cost. Think I will bring the stands for the car, just in case I have to do any extensive work on the gear box. A lot easier to work on the car when it's elevated.

Only a few days before Watkins Glen

We'll be leaving Wednesday for Watkins Glen. Thirteen F5000 cars are on the entry list. That's more than I thought, but only 67 cars total are entered, that's really a low count.

I've reassembled the gearbox with the used gear set. I just don't know when the new set will arrive. The car should be back together today and I'll start loading everything up tomorrow.

Here's a few photo from the airshow on Saturday. It was hot again, but the rain held off.

Pushing the Spitfire, we also had to push the C-47 in the background. The tow bar would not fit.

These guys go all out.

Big crowd on Saturday.

Friday at Reading

A few photos from Friday

Reading Airshow

Today and tomorrow are non race prep days. I belong to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pa. This weekend is their air show/World War II event. I volunteer on the flight line. Most of the aircraft that are part of the weekend are parked among the spectators. So you're always moving the crowd so the planes can take part in the show and then return to the spectator area.
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Last year it rained the whole day on Friday. This year the forecast looks much more promising for Friday and not as good for Saturday and Sunday.

http://www.maam.org/

Tires mounted

The new Goodyear tires are now mounted and ready for Watkins Glen next week and Road America next month. Talked to Chuck yesterday and still no gears. I might end up using one of the old sets that came with the car.