Road America Saturday report

This morning qualifying went well.  I kept lowering my lap times and the car is feeling more comfortable.  The afternoon race was canceled because of rain.  So today we race at 1pm.  Looks like good weather.

Friday report

It did rain a little during our practice session so that was cut short.  The afternoon went better, again getting use to the track and more comfortable in the car. See what today brings.  There is more to post plus more photos but got in late last night and really didn't have the  time.

Looks like rain

Rain is in the forecast today and it has rained a little.  But I do see some clearing skies.

These photos are from yesterday.

Road America

We made it.  Going through Chicago is never fun.  But you do get a few good photos.

Fremont, IN

Uneventful trip so far.  Fremont, IN is our first stop.  Today another 6 hours and that should put us at Road America.

Behind our hotel.

Our new ride

Our rental for Wisconsin.

One more day

Today I should have the car finished. 

Always a good idea to remove the body work and have a good look.

At last I've add the small head rest.  During tech it's been noted I should have some type of padding behind my helmet.  The car came with this but I didn't have the fasteners.  Now it's done.

Time for plan "B"

So, the truck is still at the dealers and won't be back until mid next week.  A couple of years ago I took the box van to them and they did a great job in repairs.  This time, it was just a waste of time.
So if we still wanted to go to Road America, I would need to rent a truck.  Enterprises commercial division rents F250's for towing, so that's what we got.  Not the plan, but it works.

                                                     

I could not help myself, they needed paint(all 4).

Getting closer

Oil and filter changed and a small adjustment on front suspension completed. Jeff at Can-Am cars has the gear ratio I need but their in England at Goodwood speed festival and won’t be back until next week.  So the gears would have to be sent to the racetrack.   I might not need 2nd gear for RA.
The truck is still at the dealership waiting for the transmission. They said it would be done Friday. Fingers crossed.

Pre-race work

Trailer work is done, all new brakes, drums, and bearings.  That should be it for the trailer.  The truck is still at the dealership.  Waiting on transmission parts and gas tank parts.  The gas tank was leaking on the top when it was filled with fuel.  Everything should be done by Friday the 13th.  Contacted Can-Am Cars to see if they have any 2nd gears.  These are different sizes from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears.  Should find out next week.  Still need to change the oil, filter and gear ratio for Road America, but that's about it. 

Getting ready for Road America

Road America is just a little over 2 weeks away.  Boy, where does the time go.  Started to work on the trailer brakes. Dropped off the truck at the Ford dealer to investigate a transmission fluid leak.  Need to look at the 2nd gear problem with race car. 

Installing these as a complete unit is much faster. Old one is on the bottom left of the photo.  

Photographs by the Pro's, 2018 VARAC Vintage Grand Prix

Click on name.

• Steve Bedford
• Richard  Coburn
• Howard Lipman
• Bill Stoler Photography
• John Walker

Mont Tremblant or Road America?

I had planned on doing both.  But seeing how long it took to get ready for Mosport,  it's best I only participate in one.  Road America this year and Mont Tremblant next year.  To do both I would have only one day for race prep and whatever repairs needed, and then a 900 mile drive.

We have a antique show these weekend then it's back to the car and trailer.

All new brakes and drums for the trailer.

F5000 Drivers Honor Racer Jeff Green With Missing Man Formation

This article was published by Vintage Motorsports

                               Photo: Ray MacAloney

Bowmanville, Ontario, CANADA -- Following a racing accident Saturday during the VARAC Vintage Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park that claimed the life of Jeff Green, 61, of Peoria, Ill., his Formula 5000 race group honored him by driving three laps in a missing man formation on Sunday afternoon. “After the Saturday accident, the Formula 5000 group was devastated and had no desire to continue racing on Sunday,” said Seb Coppola, president of the Formula 5000 Drivers Association. “Jeff was a friend and a wonderful person, always freely offering his assistance and advice. He brought a considerable amount of racing experience to the group after competing in the Pro Mazda Race Series.” “We felt the best way to honor Jeff and the race fans who had come to see the races was to do three laps of the race circuit in a missing man formation -- a tribute that took place at 1 p.m. Sunday,” Coppola said. “It was a very emotional event with track officials, crews and fans saluting the race car formation.” Green started racing with the F5000 group in 2016 after buying the 1972 Lola T300 (ex-Jerry Hansen car) in 2015 and doing a complete rebuild. The car, away from the race scene for a number of years after 19 recorded contests, raced at Road America in 2016 and 2017. On Saturday, Green was competing in an F5000 Revival Series event sanctioned by VARAC when he lost control around corner eight at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and left the track, hitting a tire wall. He was taken to Lakeridge Health Centre in Bowmanville, where he was pronounced dead. Part of a family with deep ties to the auto industry, Green operated Ford and Chevrolet dealerships in Peoria, IL, after moving there in 1997 from Danville, IL, where he had run dealerships for 18 years. He got his start cleaning cars as a teenager in the Peoria-area town of Monmouth where his father, Ray Green, owned a Chevrolet-Cadillac franchise.

Back to the trailer

Decided the trailer brakes needed replacing.  I think the truck was stopping most of the load. 

I needed to get a measurement of the drum, so I pulled off one wheel.

The brake shoe material fell off the shoe, not good.  When I inspected these before the trip, no problems.