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K, car is getting better. I think we are narrowing our starting set-up
down. Started Saturday nights warmup withsome turns in a rear tortion
bar, and the right rear spaced more than usual.Since the track was
slimy I added some air to the rear tires.The front of the car was
nuetral. Also added 1 piece of duct tape to the radiator because it
was a little cool and the engine has been running cool.The tape blocks
air from cooling the water in the radiator.No extra fuel as we had
most of what I added for last weeks feature we didnt finish!Our fuel
cell is kinda shaped like Jimmy Durante's schnoze, a flat upper part
and the end hangs down.lol.I usually fill the end of the schnoze to
the flat part, but really didnt know how much that was.last week I
added 2.5 gallons plus oil above that point and caused a terrible push
in the car. From talking to Bruce Leote I learned that the lower part
of the tank holds about 5 gallons, which is enough for a feature, so
that is were I wanted to get it too.Ran the first warm up and of
course had the push, but not as bad because of the bar adjustment and
added air. burned off some fuel too.Engine ran around 100 degrees,
still cool, partially because I run it a little rich with the oil
mix.Darin wanted a wing adjustment for the second warm up, so we
flattened the wing angle. The track was drying a little so I took some
air back out of the tires. I added another strip of tape to the
radiator. Car got a little better. Still pushed which also has the
effect of creating a loose condition through the center and off the
corners. Engine temp barely over 100.For the heat we took some turns
out of the front bars to help the push and I took out 1/2 " of spacing
in the right rear to help the loose condition. Steve Shelly, the
engine builder, suggested a power jet adjustment on the carburator, so
Darin did that. Still left the tape on , but told Darin to keep an eye
on the engine temperature gauge. No sweat, 1 hand on the steering
wheel, 1 hand on the shifter, 1 eye on the temp gauge, 1 eye on the
track!lol.Ran better again but still a push and a little loose and
engine was still running cool.The Methanol burns better when the
engine temp is around 145, and burns wholes in pistons over 155!!
Thats why we try to err on the rich , cool side. We will be working on
leaning the engine slowly.We did the same thing last year when Darin
was driving Bob Autons micro at Greenwood. When we got it right, Darin
won the last 2 races.For the feature we were where we wanted to be
with fuel, but now had to be concerned with burning to much off and
getting loose, so took a little more out of the front bars and I took
a little more air out of the right rear. Ran those changes past Pat
Bealer and he said that should help. Steve suggested another power jet
adjustment. From the stands, and after walking the track with Darin,
Chris Eaton, Formula Ford champ, had some words of wisdom on what he
was doing right and what he could do to manage the track conditions.
The car was better again, still loose, but the track was slick all
night, and seemed to get slicker as the night went on. Darin will fill
in the racing part in his report, but the car handled well and he
drove well.He waspatient because we needed to finish a race. He made
an attempt to pass a car near the end and took a nice ride up the wall
that cost him a spot, but had a great run and finished.k, c ya.
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