Monadnock Race–8/25/12

Here is LB’s update on last Saturday’s night’s race at Monadnock Speedway:

Crew duties for the day...

The day started out a bit rough as practice did not go well. Car was basically un-driveable. The hope was that RR tire was just shot. That is the downside of not being able to buy tires for practice. The upside is that if I had to buy tires for practice each week, I would never be able to afford to race at all.    

A rare moment when the driver is present, everyone is smiling, and there are no wrenches being thrown.  

In the heat race we got collected in an accident and suffered a flat left rear tire. We were able to change the tire, and still qualify for the event (24 cars made the show out of 31 cars). Getting the flat tire in the heat made adjustments for the feature a total crapshoot for us. We bought yet another tire to replace the flat, and had to guess on wedge adjustments, and what the stagger of rear tires would come to with the new tire. 

Book Beeotch and the driver discuss numbers while everyone else takes a break.  

In the feature, the car was not handling well right away, but I thought it would get better as the race went along. In hindsight, I believe the right rear tire may have had a slow leak. The car got tighter and tighter, I finally pitted for an adjustment. Soon after, I pitted again to swap the right side tires. The stagger had closed to 1”. The left rear tire was bigger than expected, and the right rear tire was smaller than it was at the start (it must have lost some air already).  

Jonny, Alan and Bob bleed the brakes before the feature. 

The car was better for a few laps, but then the red flag was thrown for an accident. After sitting for the red flag, the car again got really tight, and then I rolled the right front tire off the rim. I was towed in off the track, Bob, Jonny, and Alan again flew into action and got us back out just as the green flew.  

Brake Bleeding while Book Beeotch oversees the distribution of fluid. 

The car actually started coming in after a few laps, and was finally race-able. Too bad so many issues held us up for so long. Over the last 10 laps I was able to wheel the car a bit, passing several cars, finally passing Max Zachem (who had an injured car, but I still get a soda out of the deal) to finish 13^th.  

Linda and Bob

Upcoming races:  This could change, but money and help is a bit short, so I currently plan to skip the MRS races at both Stafford and Waterford. I hope I can manage to race the next two races with the Sportsman car at Thompson Speedway August 30^th, and then again on Sept. 8^th and 9^th. This will also allow me to keep my commitment to be spotter for Bobby Santos and Todd Ceravolo.    Selling the SK engine could get the MRS car back on the track sooner, but we most likely will choose to run about 2 more MRS races this season.

Alan in the driver's seat.  

Cheers,
Larry