MISSION ROAD RACE AUG.27
Posted: 30 Aug 2022 08:03
Morning World.
Here are some pictures and report from last Saturday's race at Mission. Weather could not have been better. No particular order for the pics today.
Mission Race Day August 27th
It was another wonderful weekend at Mission Raceway on Saturday for me. Successful for the Specialty racers.
Like modern Gladiators, donning their combat gear before entering the Arena, watching the process to get fire suits on, balaclava’s, shoe horn into the car, then Hans device and helmet, requires a few people to help.
Getting radio, cool suit plumbing and air supply had Steve doing that. Collin would then pull the safety pin out for the fire system. Andy would then fire the car, Collin and Steve would grab the massive hood, I would be at the nose to guide it into its hold down channels, and then tighten the dzus fasteners and the hood clamps. We all would push the car back out from the tent and off Andy would go, the crisp crackling thunder of the motor drowning out any conversation.
The same process was going on for Tracey across from us.
Practice session was a bit frustrating for Andy, as there was a herd of Honda’s, where Andy would come upon them with a 70 MPH speed differential at times.
Byron had his first race weekend, car looked good (vintage DRC car built by Specialty originally), needs another 100 HP! Ha! He had to sort a whole litany of issues from the previous owner, so that will be on-going for awhile. Byron, the machinist he is, made a beautiful new throttle piece, to get rid of way too much slack. When this car was built, a bunch of us had a hand in it, creating some clever bits during the height of the Datsun Radial Challenge (DRC) as all the local shops battled each other. Too much fun. So cool it still lives to run again and under Byron’s hands, it will be at its best again.
Mike Gibson ( CARTEL on the Realm) was there with his late style 240. He is an excellent driver and that car is wickedly fast. Mike did time in NASPORT when Collin was running, so tons of experience with the best. Sunday’s race was a barn burner between a Lamborghini, Tracey and Mike. Finishing order was just that.
Don Nimi and his co-driving partner Courtney were there, in their Formula Ford, a very nice and clean ride. They had an engine problem on Sunday, possibly a bent valve or pushrod.
During the break in the morning, after practice, Andy wanted the new tires put on, which is quite the process. The picture shows the leverage required doing the initial torque, then the air tool is used, moving the hub centric nut 3/8” of a measured inch, to arrive at final torque around 600+ Ft/Lbs! Those are BIG tires!
I wish I could have watched Byron, but the Specialty team needed lots of hands on deck to be ready for qualifying and then the race. When Andy comes in it is a reversal of the readying process, hood off as soon as the car stops under the tent. One has to wear gloves, as the fibreglass fender is so hot, it will burn you.
As the qualifying session was ending, I went back to the tent to grab the DZUS tool, which I knew I left on the bench, to be able to quickly get the nose off the car. NO TOOL!!! ARG, what did I do with it. I went into panic mode, as Andy would be in the pits in a blink. I had no change in my pocket to use, could not see a big screw driver. I started to walk to the paddock as at one point it was in my pocket, thinking it maybe fell out. I then thought I would run to Tracey’s tent and see if she had one. Sure enough I grabbed that one and blasted back to Andy’s tent. Steve came along to help get the hood off and it turned out he had grabbed it! At least I was not losing my marbles and I did leave it on the bench.
We took the back off the car to check the cool suit water and cold air intake, as Steve spotted water in the tube to the helmet. Ice had melted and the water level was too high with the extreme G-force. Fuel was also added. I crawled under the rear window canopy and cleaned the haze off the inside of the Lexan, glad I am still flexible in my later years!
At one point I looked over to Don, checking the Ford’s fuel level…he had run on fumes!
Now, a word on the Specialty lunch buffet, I call it a buffet, as some 5 Star rated hotels in Vancouver, cannot rival this spread. The crowd seems to get larger each time I go to an event. The social aspect is huge, such a wonderful gathering of friends. I again see people who go back to my racing days in the 80’s and 90’s, too much fun! Barbecued chicken and baked ham….really!
Reminiscing about the days of the Cannonballs, to the out of town Solo events, is always fun, some of which are legendary.
Andy placed 1st on Saturday’s race and Tracey 3rd.
Tracey placed 1st in DCM class on Sunday, Andy did not run.
I headed out at 4 pm, following a bunch of American hot rods that had been at a car show on the other side of the track. Traffic was light for me on the way back, cruising Zero Avenue again, so quiet and peaceful.
Next Friday is motorcycle day again, weather looks to be reasonable, and that will be good for Andy and the gang again.
Keith Law
August 29, 2022
Here are some pictures and report from last Saturday's race at Mission. Weather could not have been better. No particular order for the pics today.
Mission Race Day August 27th
It was another wonderful weekend at Mission Raceway on Saturday for me. Successful for the Specialty racers.
Like modern Gladiators, donning their combat gear before entering the Arena, watching the process to get fire suits on, balaclava’s, shoe horn into the car, then Hans device and helmet, requires a few people to help.
Getting radio, cool suit plumbing and air supply had Steve doing that. Collin would then pull the safety pin out for the fire system. Andy would then fire the car, Collin and Steve would grab the massive hood, I would be at the nose to guide it into its hold down channels, and then tighten the dzus fasteners and the hood clamps. We all would push the car back out from the tent and off Andy would go, the crisp crackling thunder of the motor drowning out any conversation.
The same process was going on for Tracey across from us.
Practice session was a bit frustrating for Andy, as there was a herd of Honda’s, where Andy would come upon them with a 70 MPH speed differential at times.
Byron had his first race weekend, car looked good (vintage DRC car built by Specialty originally), needs another 100 HP! Ha! He had to sort a whole litany of issues from the previous owner, so that will be on-going for awhile. Byron, the machinist he is, made a beautiful new throttle piece, to get rid of way too much slack. When this car was built, a bunch of us had a hand in it, creating some clever bits during the height of the Datsun Radial Challenge (DRC) as all the local shops battled each other. Too much fun. So cool it still lives to run again and under Byron’s hands, it will be at its best again.
Mike Gibson ( CARTEL on the Realm) was there with his late style 240. He is an excellent driver and that car is wickedly fast. Mike did time in NASPORT when Collin was running, so tons of experience with the best. Sunday’s race was a barn burner between a Lamborghini, Tracey and Mike. Finishing order was just that.
Don Nimi and his co-driving partner Courtney were there, in their Formula Ford, a very nice and clean ride. They had an engine problem on Sunday, possibly a bent valve or pushrod.
During the break in the morning, after practice, Andy wanted the new tires put on, which is quite the process. The picture shows the leverage required doing the initial torque, then the air tool is used, moving the hub centric nut 3/8” of a measured inch, to arrive at final torque around 600+ Ft/Lbs! Those are BIG tires!
I wish I could have watched Byron, but the Specialty team needed lots of hands on deck to be ready for qualifying and then the race. When Andy comes in it is a reversal of the readying process, hood off as soon as the car stops under the tent. One has to wear gloves, as the fibreglass fender is so hot, it will burn you.
As the qualifying session was ending, I went back to the tent to grab the DZUS tool, which I knew I left on the bench, to be able to quickly get the nose off the car. NO TOOL!!! ARG, what did I do with it. I went into panic mode, as Andy would be in the pits in a blink. I had no change in my pocket to use, could not see a big screw driver. I started to walk to the paddock as at one point it was in my pocket, thinking it maybe fell out. I then thought I would run to Tracey’s tent and see if she had one. Sure enough I grabbed that one and blasted back to Andy’s tent. Steve came along to help get the hood off and it turned out he had grabbed it! At least I was not losing my marbles and I did leave it on the bench.
We took the back off the car to check the cool suit water and cold air intake, as Steve spotted water in the tube to the helmet. Ice had melted and the water level was too high with the extreme G-force. Fuel was also added. I crawled under the rear window canopy and cleaned the haze off the inside of the Lexan, glad I am still flexible in my later years!
At one point I looked over to Don, checking the Ford’s fuel level…he had run on fumes!
Now, a word on the Specialty lunch buffet, I call it a buffet, as some 5 Star rated hotels in Vancouver, cannot rival this spread. The crowd seems to get larger each time I go to an event. The social aspect is huge, such a wonderful gathering of friends. I again see people who go back to my racing days in the 80’s and 90’s, too much fun! Barbecued chicken and baked ham….really!
Reminiscing about the days of the Cannonballs, to the out of town Solo events, is always fun, some of which are legendary.
Andy placed 1st on Saturday’s race and Tracey 3rd.
Tracey placed 1st in DCM class on Sunday, Andy did not run.
I headed out at 4 pm, following a bunch of American hot rods that had been at a car show on the other side of the track. Traffic was light for me on the way back, cruising Zero Avenue again, so quiet and peaceful.
Next Friday is motorcycle day again, weather looks to be reasonable, and that will be good for Andy and the gang again.
Keith Law
August 29, 2022