VIR: I swam, I drove, I spun, I survived... a story of an '85 toaster on wheels :-P

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Old 04-24-2008, 06:38 AM
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Default VIR: I swam, I drove, I spun, I survived... a story of an '85 toaster on wheels :-P

So as last weekend proceeded I became more and more bitter as I watched the weather and saw the rain becoming more and more of a promise than a threat. Flashbacks of Watkins Glen '06 went through my head as I imagined once again being rained off the course only to look at the track vs drive it.

Regardless, I lifted my chin and kepted hoping for the best. By 1pm I was on the road w/ the car packed and ready to go! I met up with Dean shortly after and we started the venture off to good 'ol Danville, VA.

It wasn't long into our journey that we encountered the rain.

<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABA5SEPGI/AAAAAAAAABs/TQkv32RTO0c/IMG_2951.jpg?imgmax=576">

We hit some pretty bad rain storms on the way down 58. Some to the point that I almost thought I was going into the ditch. Worn out Azenis on heavily travelled and VERY wet roads are not a good mix! Thankfully, the powers from above were looking kindly upon me and let me make it to the hotel unscathed... up until a mile out where a hubcap met the front of my car :-\ Damage was minimal and only took out my blinker. Thankfully those crazy tech inspectors didn't give me too much grief Hey, the blinker still worked! The lense was just a little worse for wear.

After futzing around the hotel, we made it off to dinner for a rather amusing evening at the Outback! Stories were shared, complaints were let loose (more from Paul about how bouncy/stiff the ride in the back of the 4000 was), and waitresses were hit on... or at least, her flirtatious advances were answered... all in how you want to look at it

As the night drew to a close I went to be eagerly awaiting the morning where I could truely test out this 4000 and my building skills. 530am came quick, but I was up and ready to go... and we were greeted w/ cool and not so happy looking weather. This wasn't looking promising!

We arrived at the track at an early 655am or so. I got right to work doing some last minute work to the 4000... rolling some fenders! Rob has some pix of me in action, but lets say that a nice louiville and a hammer came into play. After a bit 'o beating on the 'ol girl, I had what I believed to be ample clearance for my wheels to tuck if they needed to tuck...

<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABiZSEPQI/AAAAAAAAADA/v52vjTuMRxQ/IMG_2957.jpg?imgmax=576">

unfortunately, while rolling the fronts I ended up messing up the camber in the front causing me to push at least -3* of camber! It made turn in very easy, but was hell on the tires!

this is what they looked like after 5 runs on the track (mind you, they both were equal when driving down to VIR):

<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABhZSEPLI/AAAAAAAAACY/0trRJ3EPLGI/IMG_2970.jpg?imgmax=576">

After a few hours of waiting, the time finally came on monday for the Blue group to hit the track! I was nervous to say the least as I had <i>no clue</i> how this car was going to run, react, handle, etc. I basically went into this event blind. I knew it could handle the occasional on/off ramp and did fine in a straight line, but I had no idea how it was going to handle the flogging and the constant tossing... Needless to say, I had my hands VERY full!

In the first session I had a wake up call... I was no longer driving my A4! With the A4, I thought I was a very smooth driver w/ a smooth application of throttle not to mention smooth turn in. It wasn't until that first session that I realized I wasn't as good as I thought I was!! I was instead welcomed by a very tail happy car! This was due to 2 factors: 1) the really stiff suspension I'm running and 2) Yours truely!

Even during the first two parade laps, I was continuously getting the back end to kick out. I'm lucky my instructor was pretty cool, otherwise I'm pretty sure he would have pulled me and yelled a bit more. Truth be told, I think he had fun . I swung the back end out a few times, but never quite lost it... until the 2nd session (if memory serves me right).

I came in after the first session and was happy to see that the 'o girl survived! I did a bit of tweaking w/ my fuel tables and my timing tables to help lean things out as well as advance the timing a bit to help bring down the EGTs

And this is where she sat after the first run... needless to say I was smiling

<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABA5SEPHI/AAAAAAAAAB0/lFoo8_rz8qQ/IMG_2955.jpg?imgmax=576">

As I pulled in after that session, I found a rather disheartening picture (sorry John, I had to get you at least once :-P):

<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABA5SEPII/AAAAAAAAAB8/Sgmtt4gssCc/IMG_2956.jpg?imgmax=576">

yup, that's right... the 'stang was in the air. Thankfully, it was something easy and after a bit of redneck engineering (brought a tear to my eye), he was back on track w/o issue!

And then the 2nd session hit... and things got a bit more interesting! That's right ladies and gents... dean and drew are no longer alone w/ spins at Oak tree. I not only spun there once... but <b>twice</b>! Both of which were driver error and a car that was not so forgiving. The first one I was leaving oak tree. Hit the apex (possibly a little early or just carrying too much speed) and the back end started to come around. I either hit the gas a little too early or my steering input was a bit too abrupt... pick your poison. As the back end started to slide I turned into the turn to correct, but did a stupid thing... I jammed on the gas in hopes of snapping it straight. What this did instead was throw the car further into the spin. At this point I was 90* to the track, so I put two feet in and slid off the track. No harm was done, just a bruised ego, a lesson learned, and Jim (Jimax) potentially needed a new pair of shorts as I think I spooked him when I spun in front of him :-P. I pitted in, but didn't even get a talking to because the black RX-7 took a spin off into the tire wall down by turn 5-6... so I got away with that one... but not really.

By the 3rd session, I was feeling better with the car, but was still working out my driving so I was smoother. And of course, this is when the 2nd time I spun at oak tree... surprisingly BEFORE oak tree. Basically I came into turn 11 too hot. I played with my gears too late into the braking zone and didn't scrub enough speed and came in off line and too hot. In the A4 I could have lifted and used the tires to scrub speed... in the 4000, not so much! the back end started to kick out on me. As I looked the corner worker in the eye as the back end went to about 60* to the track and I was getting closer and closer to him I knew I wasn't going to save this one. 2 feet in and I came to a stop in the middle of the turn. I quickly drove off the track towards Dean's porta potty to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. Again, lesson learned and another mental note... I got a talking to this time, but these guys were very cool. I slowed down considerably after this time.

After the session was over, I was very upset, aggitated, and a bit heart broken as I felt like I just built a car that can't handle $hit! I didn't know what to do. I figured it was time to start fiddling with tire pressures as it was my only option at this point since I only have springs and no sways on this car. By the 4th session I was AMAZED at what letting 2lbs out of the rear did! Totally transformed the car! It was acting a lot more neutral now and didn't try to whip the tail out as easily as before! I was excited... but then the rain came! And oh did it come! But thanks to the old school quattro I was able to make it around... but not very easily thanks to the old worn out Azenis I came back with a HUGE smile on my face and was looking forward to the next day.

And then came the banquet... beverages were consumed, there was no doubt about that... and giggles was getting fiesty!

<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABi5SEPRI/AAAAAAAAADI/jEr1aEn0Usg/IMG_2960.jpg?imgmax=576">

I think she just gave me the bird!

don't worry, rob will show her:

<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABi5SEPSI/AAAAAAAAADQ/nRi8XU1TIQ4/IMG_2961.jpg?imgmax=576">

but one good turn deserves another!

<img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABjJSEPTI/AAAAAAAAADY/RBz1PP4sfXY/IMG_2962.jpg?imgmax=512">

Ed was starting to feel left out, so Diane decided to give him a lil birthday dance... not sure if he was scared or excited... but it was an amusing dance to say the least :-P

<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABjZSEPUI/AAAAAAAAADg/VXa_hsvrWRk/IMG_2964.jpg?imgmax=576">

And then came raffle time. There was no dancing this year... but Rob and Dimi made their debue for Male fashion modeling, giving their best 'blue steel' look!

<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABj5SEPVI/AAAAAAAAADo/PfXRTQpbuOs/IMG_2966.jpg?imgmax=576">

<img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABhJSEPKI/AAAAAAAAACQ/8P4CXnk-URQ/IMG_2969.jpg?imgmax=512">

unfortunately... this guy was FAR from amused...... maaahhhhhhh

<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABj5SEPWI/AAAAAAAAADw/dRXgkbKBjCY/IMG_2968.jpg?imgmax=576">


maaahhhh.... :-P

during these showings, our own Jim (Fairfax) even offered us some beatbox'in tunes for Diane to strut to w/ her handy dandy bag...

The auctions ended w/ much amusement and Rob's wallet a little lighter as we started to outbid him on the things he wanted :-P Hey, it was for the kids!

On tuesday, things were starting to look a bit more promising! Weather wasn't looking too too bad.. until, yeah, it started raining again :-\ The blue group warmed up the track again, and once again... I had issues. For once, someone spun more times than dean did... and that guy was me :-\ I lost it once again, but this time coming out of hogpen. I had gotten the car a little squirrelly going in to the turn (16a or 17, can't remember... the right hander w/ the dip). Car got a little loose, but I corrected w/ a little steering input and she snapped back in line. The 2nd time around I wasn't so lucky. The back end let go on me and I held the gas a little too long once again and I lost it. 2 feet in became a normal practice for me unfortunately. I got a little more of a stern talking this time from the pit guys as they were starting to recognize me... by my spinning :-\ We parted ways with the promise that I was just going to see them while pulling in and leaving the pits... and I kept true to my promise! had a great time during the last few sessions. Had a bit of a dicey lap due to the coolant spill from the 911, but otherwise all was good! I was sliding so badly around the track that I thought I blew out a front tire! I was the first to pit in and after checking out all the tires I noticed 4 more people did the same thing. It was then that the pit cheif told me there was a spill and the checkered was out... I was VERY gratefull nothing was wrong with the car, though

And that's about all I have. I had an absolute blast this year despite having some issues w/ the car's handling. I have a bit of learning to do w/o a doubt, but was showing a huge improvement by the end of day 2 in how I handled the car. I even was able to save from spinning at turn 1 during one of the last sessions much to my instructor's delight :-P I look forward to the next time I can get this puppy on the track, but have a few things to address... like getting my center diff working so I can lock it. I was breaking my tires loose coming into nascar bend (turn 3) and out of turn 4. Made me fishtail a few times. Also caused me to get a lil squirrelly at times through 5 and 6, which ain't cool in my book!

So the 4000 survived 2 days of straight abuse w/ only a little bit of tire wear to show for it... which I was happy about. Next time will be that much better!

And of course, here are some pix of the 'ol girl on the track (thanks to the two people who shot these btw):

<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABApSEPFI/AAAAAAAAABk/Mj8qF9uZvNE/April%202008%20VIR%20016.JPG?imgmax=640">

<img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABAJSEPEI/AAAAAAAAABc/CucH7qPjjeQ/April%202008%20VIR%20015.JPG?imgmax=640">

<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABiZSEPPI/AAAAAAAAAC4/1E6rN5-yUL0/IMG_6457.JPG?imgmax=640">

And what event wouldn't be complete without a bit of hooliganism... Jim was so proud of his BMW, we just had to screw with him :-P

Giving it a "save the boobies ribbon":

<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABhpSEPMI/AAAAAAAAACg/F1jGAwAizFE/IMG_2977.jpg?imgmax=512">

rebadging:

<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABh5SEPNI/AAAAAAAAACo/zQFecwbiayM/IMG_2978.jpg?imgmax=576">

and finally complete:

<img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jretal/SBABiJSEPOI/AAAAAAAAACw/v31mFK_qneQ/IMG_2981.jpg?imgmax=576">

We were trying to do this without jim noticing... but he caught me in the middle of taping everything... he did get a laugh once we were done, though. TOo bad I didn't have any shoe polish... mental note for next time

Sorry for being so long winded, but figured I'd get it all in on one post. It was once again a great event! Thanks to all that organized it and made it possible. I look forward to next time! And I also look forward to the pix that Adam got while riding around on his 'hog' :-P
Old 04-24-2008, 06:49 AM
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grrr.
Old 04-24-2008, 06:50 AM
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Default <blows kiss>

wee wuve you mama gigs
Old 04-24-2008, 06:53 AM
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Default LOL, that unamused guy I met last year, drives an A8, what a boat on the track

Interesting personality that guy has. He doesnt usually look that grumpy tho.
Old 04-24-2008, 06:57 AM
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Default Maaahhhh.

I was wondering if he would make an appearance in someone's recap. :P

Nice post! And I'm still really impressed that car made it through the entire weekend without an issue. That's just impressive.
Old 04-24-2008, 06:59 AM
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Neat, wish I was there!
Old 04-24-2008, 07:04 AM
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boat you say? everytime I saw him he seem to be planting some new flower beds around the track.. :-O
Old 04-24-2008, 07:06 AM
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Default First session on Day2, he put two wheels off at Oak Tree...

...DURING THE CHECKERED FLAG.
Old 04-24-2008, 07:06 AM
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Default yeah... his tone of voice comes across as very pompous...

seemed like a nice enough guy... just .... eccentric to say the least

He was pretty much falling asleep in that picture. Adam and I were laughing too hard, so I had to take a covert pic :-P
Old 04-24-2008, 07:07 AM
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LOL @ my car. I'm glad to see those posted.


Quick Reply: VIR: I swam, I drove, I spun, I survived... a story of an '85 toaster on wheels :-P



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