Happy Thanksgiving

There's always next year.

Yep, no racing this year.  Not even close. 

I spent a life time of doing things myself, but I'm getting older and the ability to juggle cars, houses, rentals and maintenance is becoming more difficult. There really is no time for racing, that needs to be changed.  Hope to come up with a solution this winter.

I still like racing the f5000 car, but with the exception of the Monterey(45 cars), the're lucky to even get 10 cars at other events this year.  Maybe it's time to change cars?  One more thing to think about.

Summer update

We'll as you can see, I've done no racing.  Some years you have time and some you don't.   I do hope to get to Watkins Glen in September.  The only thing the car needs is to drop the oil sump pan and replace the gasket to stop the small leak.

Axle clearance update

This was a problem for the last couple of years.  The fix was to lengthen the left wheelbase by 1/2 inch.  There was no contact in any of the races in 2018.  I would say it's fixed.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there.

2019 race season????

Yes, it's been awhile.  I have made no progress on the car.  Just been to busy with the rental in Geneva, at home and with the antique business.  Had registered for the free event at Road America in May for all Lola cars, but won't be ready.  Still hoping to get to Quebec in July.

Right rear upright inspection

Right side done.

Need to replace the rivets on the carb stacks. Starting to get loose.

Left rear upright inspection

Needed to inspect the brake rotor and caliper and the upright.

Some of this studs had come loose.  They lock the tire rim.

Uprights look good as does the axle bearings.

The studs needed a good cleaning.  The brake dust grids into them.

Ready to go, now to the right side.

Left axle completed

Removed and replaced the rubber donut.  Left side is now completed.

Right axle completed

These are the bolts in the axle that always gives me problems.  I was
installing them when one of them broke when tightening.  That is an
older one.  Decided to make all new ones.

Right side is now done.  Onto the left side.

New fuel pump

New fuel pump installed.  Next job, the rear axle donut.

New fuel filter installed

Next is to replace fuel pump.

New fuel filter

I dissected the fuel filter.  When I had the fuel pump problem at WG I noticed some small blue foam inside the fuel pump filter(internal filter).  The fuel cells have foam inside them to prevent fuel from sloshing around.  Was worried the foam was disintegrating.

Cut off the top of the filter and unwound the paper and inspected it.  There was some foam, but not much.  

New filter on left.  I see no problem with the little bit foam found,it's a big filter.

2019 F5000 Drivers Association race schedule

We'll ,looks like just Watkins Glen for me(maybe).  That's interesting the F5000 association has 3 SVRA races.  

May 3-5   : Laguna Seca SVRA Trans-Am Speedfest 
July 18-21: Road America- The WeatherTech International Challenge  with Brian Redman presented by Hawk

August 1-4: IMS-SVRA Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational

September 5-8: Watkins Glen International-SVRA US Vintage Grand Prix

Rubber donuts

Next is rubber donuts.  The one on the right side failed with a big crack.

And like the last time this happen, it sheered a bolt.

Time to get back to work

Starting with the problems I had last year, first is the fuel pump.  This problem was repaired at the race track, but it's time to replace with a new one.  I'll keep the old one as a backup.

Next is to replace the fuel filter.  I use the fuel filter housing that came with the car.  The fuel filter is ordered from a antique tractor company in Minnesota.  There used on old diesel tractors.

2019

The new year is here.  But, still waiting on the the race schedule from the F5000 drivers association.  In the past it's been available in December.  This year SVRA is offering free entry to all Lola made race cars at there race at Road America in May.  Hard to say no to that one.  The other event is Mount Tremblant in July.  This one I wanted to do last year.  I know the drivers association always goes to Road America in July, but I have no idea where else they will go this year.

Happy New Year!