Fremont, Indiana

Arrived in Fremont, Indiana yesterday evening. A uneventful trip, that's good. Still have another 300 miles to Road America, planning to arrive late afternoon. Eric called yesterday, he left Seattle Monday afternoon and was in Montana when he called. He plans to arrive this evening. He's a driving machine.

Been following the weather forecast, mostly mid 80's for race weekend.

Ready for Road America

The car is all packed along with tools and supplies. The truck has worked well carrying the car. The only negative is I don't have room for my lower tool box. Eric, who has the Lola T190, has a very large trailer and lots of tools. If needed, I can borrow from him. Leaving tomorrow and will overnight in Indiana. I'm limited to how many hours I can drive a day by the USDOT. Because the truck is registered commercial, I come under the same requirements as an 18 wheeler. It's a real pain in the neck, driving log books etc.

Planning to arrive at Road America Wednesday afternoon.

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It should work, if I hear a loud crash, I'll know what it is.

No Ron Dykes

Unfortunately I won't be able to reunite Ron with his old Lola T192 at Road America this year. His travel plans won't be bringing him close to Elkhart Lake next weekend. Thought it would be great to have him drive the car at the Concours d’Elegance on Friday. Maybe next year?

Packing

Starting to pack the truck, used it the other week to transport antiques (it's primary job) and had to unload all the racing gear. Should have it all loaded by day's end.

Car's back together, just need to check suspension settings and then it can be loaded in the truck.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

It's been a scorcher these past couple of days. I'm lucky that most of the work left to do on the car can be completed in the shop, with the A/C on high.

103 in the shade.

However, the wheels had to be polished outside; the material I use has strong fumes.

Road & Track Concours d’Elegance for Race Cars

During the Road America event you can join the "Road & Track Concours d’Elegance for Race Cars" that happens Friday evening. It's a parade of race cars that leave the track and continue on the streets to Elkhart Lake, escorted by the police. Once up there, the cars are judged, you hangout for awhile, then drive back. Sounds like fun, I've signed up already.

Last year's event.

Making room

Not having a trailer for the car does require using the space you have, to the fullest. Up to now I've placed the nose of the car on the top shelf of the truck. It really took up a lot of space.

So made up a couple of brackets and rope, and now will place the nose under the shelf, hanging over the car.

That will free up a bunch of room.

18 F5000 cars at RA

18 F5000 cars are on the entry list for Road America. That 's a good turnout, and the years will span from 1969 to 1976. In fact, 6 cars are from 1969.
As for what's left to do on my car: change the oil and filter, add gear oil, make sure all the nuts and bolts are tight and bleed the brakes. At Watkins Glen, I found that I was pumping on the brakes a couple of times to get a firm pedal. I'm using the old DS-11 brake pads that came with the car and they take a lot of pressure to work well. See if I can get a firmer pedal at Road America.

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.