[BlackTalon]

Fun weekend, even if it was kinda cold yesterday. White Group is getting faster (except for me ). I was doing my best to 'smoke screen' faster cars into submission, but it didn't work as well as I hoped. Saturday was interesting, as Michael's car developed a cracked cam oil line during the first session. After scrambling around for an hour or two trying to source a replacement, he was able to get everything back together for the third run session. You know, the session where *my* car cracked the same damn oil line! :XX Sad thing is this happened to me at WG last year, and I kept a spare in my track kit. Only I gave the spare to someone else at the DE last Novemeber, and forgot to order a new one during the offseason. Luckily the same guys who scrounged up parts for Michael were able to poach a line for me off another engine they had in their shop.

Sunday was less eventfully (happily!), although a few Dorki-mobiles were sprouting well-earned dirt stripes

Got to ride with Dirk in his 914-6 a couple times Friday -- boy does that car seem fun! They were slow laps though, so I wasn't able to really see what he/ it can do. He extended me an invite to ride along at 'normal' speeds later in the weekend, but my oil line problem kept me busy in between run sessions. Dang thing still seeps at the banjo fitting even after 3 rounds of retightening; may need to replace the washers.

Met several new Dorki members there as well; nice to see you guys! I think I'm going to send in my application for the April Schattenbaum event -- I don't think I can hold out until June for the next Potomac DE (not going to MO)

[Andy Clements]

Originally Posted by }{arlequin

that's 'lupin'/george after his wg incident.... BUT... does that mean you were the one on the front straight in the dirt on the wrong side of the pitwall?

Ummm. Yes. And I'll add two more observations: 1) wet/frozen/shallow gravel traps kinda make your car act like a hockey puck skipping across ice and do absolutely nothing to slow you down. 2) wet/muddy grass is excellent for practicing Brian Boitano double and triple axles.

[}{arlequin]

LOL... sorry to hear that... it's prolly my ignorance but i think there were 2 or 3 'golden' 44's and judging from what i've seen, i just assumed it wasn't you.

saw your car on the trailer and the rear looked 'normal' was it a driver side hit? hope it's an easy fix

[Vicegrip]

Originally Posted by FTS

Sunday towards the last 5-6 laps of the 2nd session, after hard braking into T1, a pronounced vibration started on the steering wheel. Cooled down the car for a lap and came into the pits, then went out again; the vibration was gone. Then, last session while solo, on the 3rd or 4th lap, again under hard braking, the vibration came back; drove at a slower pace for about 2 laps and pulled into the pits and ended the day.

All looks alright from the outside, pads/rotors etc., I am not sure what might be happening. Sure seems to be related to heat though. May be the rotor holes are filled with brake dust and it is heating and cooling non-uniformly. Any ideas?

Could be a couple of things. Rotor warp during heating, uneven pad material deposits on the rotor and in older Porsches the hubs can heat and expand a lot.
Transfer pads can make thick spots on the rotor when they cool while pressed on the rotor. (BTW there can be a chemical change in the rotor that makes for a harder spot on the rotor that will in the long run turn in to a raised area of sorts and cause pulsing. What happens is an area of rotor iron changes into a substance called cementite and cementitie is harder than the unchanged rotor iron. The cementite area does not wear away as fast as the rest of the rotor and you get what most folks call a “warped” rotor. It gets worse with time. It is not warped at all, it has a fat spot that will get more pronounced with use. This is the primary reason you do not want to sit with your foot on the brake pedal with hot rotors or let the brakes come off race track hot and then sit and cool with the pads in one spot, you can ether leave too much transfer material in one spot or change the rotor metal composition, but I digress)

If the pulsing or vibration goes right away as the brakes cool it is likely the rotor is warping a little when real hot. No sweat, clean out the holes, be sure to use pads that are not almost gone and add more air cooling if you can. also check that the wheel lug nuts or bolts are torqued evenly. Uneven torque can make a rotor warp as one area is pinned down harder than another as it expands with added heat. If there are uneven deposits on the rotor from the pad getting too hot or poor break in of a transfer type pad you can drive the car with cold rotors (read, street driving) and the layer will wear off over time, so long as it is not cementite. Some pads when heated past their design temps will leave what looks like messy smeared gray stuff on the rotor. This can cause a busy /buzzy brake pedal too. It often goes away with street driving or you can install a set of abrasive pads. (cheap no name pads are often more abrasive than good track pads)

[Trak Ratt]

Ah yes tyre wall club. Admission is easy, just unpleasant. It made such an "impression" on me I left the tread marks on my door. Just to remind why T-9 is harder than it looks (or Dirk apparently will admit). Still don't see how anyone manages to go off on the inside that close to the apex
Looks like I'm going to need some trans work too. CFO OKed project, now just need to decide what I really want done

[Jazzbass]

Good weekend. Saturday was OK for me, but I started getting sloppy at the end and looped the car in 2. Minor, but pissed me off because it shouldn't have happened - just me not having me head in the right place. I came in after the off, talked to Bruce, and just called it a session.

Sunday, I took the first session to feel out the track (much colder than the day before) and work on mechanics. I drove about 70& and focused on consistency and hand position. I think the entire white group passed me, but it helped and 2nd and 3rd sessions I was back up to my normal pace with 0 "oh shit" moments.

That said, I'm unhappy about all the track to my left on entry to 10 in }{'s pictures

Again congrats to Lucky on the black promo. Definitely well deserved.

Originally Posted by DinFtown

Who is the white car with 85 in the window? I didn't make it out to summit this weekend but drove into frederick in the afternoon and ran into that car on 340... just wondering who it is?

That was me. Its funny, by the time I got to Frederick, there was a green longhood right behind me, which typically renders my car invisible.

[}{arlequin]

Originally Posted by Jazzbass

That was me. Its funny, by the time I got to Frederick, there was a green longhood right behind me, which typically renders my car invisible.

don't worry, she's still pretty.... in a plain-vanilla-but-turns-into-a-freak-behind-closed-doors kinda way

[Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by }{arlequin

don't worry, she's still pretty.... in a plain-vanilla-but-turns-into-a-freak-behind-closed-doors kinda way

I actually like it. I figure it'll come in handy when we pass the local police on our way to the track some day.

[brianr]

I had a great time. Got Promoted to Blue. Now you have someone else to pass! Got little faster as indicated by the further leaning of the car and squealing of tires. Scott's new suspension made it obvious what I have to do next.... Signed up for Schattenbaum Apr 6-7 also.

[Andy Clements]

Originally Posted by }{arlequin

LOL... sorry to hear that... it's prolly my ignorance but i think there were 2 or 3 'golden' 44's and judging from what i've seen, i just assumed it wasn't you.

saw your car on the trailer and the rear looked 'normal' was it a driver side hit? hope it's an easy fix

Well, normally it would not have been me....since it was the first brush with anything "semi-rigid" for me. A bit disappointing, but I plan to make it the last, and I got off easy if it had to happen. I kissed the tires on the front left corner as I skated thru the wet grass stopping just a hair too late. A compressed bumper shock, and dented fender/cracked turn signal but I finished out the weekend just fine. I'll be back! This is the perfect time for those lightweight bumpers I need. I had fun playing with TD until he finally got his mojo back and stopped driving like a whus. Clearly it was the lightweight bumpers he has, so now I have to swap mine to level the advantage!