A Day at Mission Raceway
We had all turned a little pale after sitting under the canopy for a few hours, avoiding the rain, as the mosquitoes had drained us of 2 quarts of blood each.
The misty rain had soaked the track down much to every ones chagrin.
There was no way Andy was going to risk the Camero out on the slick race course, he had new rotors and pads to brake in to boot and you need grip to do that. At one point it did change to a real rain and looked like the day would be a washout.
Just as we had consumed about 10 cups of coffee and were getting faint from the blood loss, it started to clear and dry up. Time to go to work.
Getting someone all kitted up in a tight Gt-1 car is actually an eye opener and quite a bit of work. After the driver is in, the HANS device is help to go around the neck, then, the helmet put on. The radio gets plugged in, the HANS straps are connected to the helmet. Safety pin pulled out of the fire system, cool suit plugged in. The GoPro camera turned on, window net is put in place. Finally un-plug booster battery. It took myself and Collin to get it all organized and quite timely. Timely being the word as the “Process” is part of a sequence of events to be ready to go instantly to the pre-grid with the engine warmed up and not get it nuclear.
Once Andy is buckled in…the monster is turned on!
It does not start in the conventional sense; it is more like a Mt. St. Helen’s has just gone off in front of you, and it happens INSTANTLY. The crackle of the exhaust is deafening, almost to that level of a Top Fuel dragster. It is a wonderful cacophony of mechanical and exhaust sound. We watch Andy for the signal that the water/oil is getting to temperature. At that signal the whole front end piece has to be attached to the car, beyond absolutely making sure that every DZUS fastener is tight and the mounting clamps are closed and latched properly. We push the car backward and then Andy is able to idle on down to pre-grid…where….a new rule in place does NOT allow engines to be run in pre-grid. So, things are timed that Andy gets there just at the point the cars are to head out.
If you have never heard a GT-1 car on the track, I could not do it justice to describe it, as it is such a visceral sight and sound. These things are missiles with an 800 HP thunder that just gets into your bones.
I had a big smile on my face!
On the last lap flag I run back to the pits to get ready for the reverse of the getting ready procedure, but, now EVERYTHING is nuclear hot. Even the bodywork (which is why it has to come off quickly so the fibreglass does not distort) where I lean into the car, you cannot touch with bare hands.
I deliberately did not wear a belt yesterday, so as to not scratch anything upon leaning into the car. Evermore, glad I did not, as it would have gotten super hot.
Lunch break had Tracey putting out a splendid food table amongst the chaos of a race day. (BOTH Specialty Cars were running, with Tracey driving her Turbo Miata also on Saturday)
The break had Andy also doing a few rotations with the rear coil over’s to raise the rear end of the car a hair.
The final race of the day had both Specialty cars down at pre-grid, which made for a great photo.
After the car cooled down some, the wheels were removed to put a fresh set of tires on. There it was noticed that one of the new brake pads had failed somehow, either a de-lamination from the bonding process, stress from flexing, or….? Brakes were bled, so I got to have a nap sitting in a nice warm bucket seat and fought off ravenous mosquitoes.
Ian was there holding up the 510 world and his car looked very, very good on the track
My day was done, that was a lot of fun, been a few years since I have done that.
As I typed this, I just checked the race results for Sundays race and Andy Placed 1st !
Harry Watson Placed 4th overall in the Specialty Mazda.
Keith Law
June 24/18
A Day at Mission Raceway
- bertvorgon
- Supporter
- Posts: 11998
- Joined: 04 Aug 2003 20:45
- Location: White Rock, B.C. Canada
A Day at Mission Raceway
- Attachments
-
- IMGP3591 (Large).jpeg (458.29 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3589 (Large).jpeg (450.75 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3588 (Large).jpeg (464.49 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3587 (Large).jpeg (466.84 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3578 (Large).jpeg (432.66 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3571 (Large).jpeg (527.66 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3567 (Large).jpeg (354.49 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3566 (Large).jpeg (319.33 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3565 (Large).jpeg (447.13 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
-
- IMGP3562 (Large).jpeg (476.34 KiB) Viewed 4390 times
Last edited by bertvorgon on 24 Jun 2018 17:32, edited 1 time in total.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
- bertvorgon
- Supporter
- Posts: 11998
- Joined: 04 Aug 2003 20:45
- Location: White Rock, B.C. Canada
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
more
- Attachments
-
- IMGP3616 (Large).jpeg (413 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3615 (Large).jpeg (525.47 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3613 (Large).jpeg (518.56 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3612 (Large).jpeg (439.14 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3611 (Large).jpeg (536.49 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3600 (Large).jpeg (385.59 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3595 (Large).jpeg (336.77 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3594 (Large).jpeg (366.4 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3592 (Large).jpeg (349.98 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
- bertvorgon
- Supporter
- Posts: 11998
- Joined: 04 Aug 2003 20:45
- Location: White Rock, B.C. Canada
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
more
- Attachments
-
- IMGP3630 (Large).jpeg (514.81 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3625 (Large).jpeg (358.73 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3622 (Large).jpeg (445.75 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3620 (Large).jpeg (644.21 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3619 (Large).jpeg (632.45 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3618 (Large).jpeg (618.63 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3617 (Large).jpeg (575.28 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3609 (Large).jpeg (349.01 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3608 (Large).jpeg (397.33 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3568 (Large).jpeg (481.79 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
- bertvorgon
- Supporter
- Posts: 11998
- Joined: 04 Aug 2003 20:45
- Location: White Rock, B.C. Canada
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
Some random pictures. Ian's 510 for road racing, Brent's Time Attack 510, which did NOT run due to a vibration issue. The yellow wagon is Colin Jackson's and of course that gorgeous G35 is mine!
- Attachments
-
- IMGP3573 (Large).jpeg (393.34 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3569 (Large).jpeg (398.08 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3564 (Large).jpeg (580.86 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3563 (Large).jpeg (421.09 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3559 (Large).jpeg (296.04 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3556 (Large).jpeg (456.51 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3553 (Large).jpeg (485.29 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3552 (Large).jpeg (366.52 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3550 (Large).jpeg (377.72 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
-
- IMGP3549 (Large).jpeg (537.01 KiB) Viewed 4389 times
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
- bertvorgon
- Supporter
- Posts: 11998
- Joined: 04 Aug 2003 20:45
- Location: White Rock, B.C. Canada
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
Hope you enjoyed the day at Mission!
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
is there a tactical reason for having the gauges clocked ?
two_68_510s wrote:I guess our donkeys are quicker then your sled dogs!
- bertvorgon
- Supporter
- Posts: 11998
- Joined: 04 Aug 2003 20:45
- Location: White Rock, B.C. Canada
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
YES, at optimum, all things being ok the needles will be vertical.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
I like the reinforced supports for the windshield.
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
Great pics Keith.... Looks like it would of been fun
- funwithmonkeys
- Supporter
- Posts: 1336
- Joined: 05 Sep 2013 09:34
- Location: Vancouver, BC
Re: A Day at Mission Raceway
That looks like it was fun. Andy gave me a good look at his car one day when he was working on my car. That is a pretty amazing piece of kit.
If no one from the future comes back to stop you from doing it then how bad of a decision can it really be?