So I ran a vintage race on October 2nd 3rd. Before the event I pulled some weight off the car, about 35lbs and fitted a new set of Hoosiers. This was also another Datsun Porsche challenge weekend. Friday I scrubbed in the tires and put the car up and jack stands just to double check things as I'd gone through the tranny a few weeks before.

Saturday started out very well, in timed practice I went round nose to tail with a Sport Racer Renault (SCCA spec car predecessor to Spec Racer Ford) and we set some good times but not as fast as the February race. I was about a second slower but it was 15 degrees warmer than February.

Timed practice sets the grid for the qualifying race; happily my time landed me 3rd on the grid behind the aforementioned Spec Racer and a Porsche 356. When the grid call came the 356 showed up late so I started on the front row. At the February event I botched the start by leaving a big hole up the middle so for this one I was really on the ball.

When the green flag dropped I got a good start and go into turn 2 got underneath the Sports Racer (in practice I was showing him a different line out of 1 into 2 where he could make up time) he said as soon as he took his previous line he knew I was going to get underneath him. I got a great drive up the hill to turn 4 still in the lead but with a 914, the Sports Racer and a TR4 right behind. I worked on hitting my marks so I'd have good gap at turn 14 which leads onto the long back straight. I got a good drive down the back stretch but it only took about 150ft for reality to set in. Despite being 5 car lengths back the 914 simple powered past like the car jammed into reverse, the TR4 followed suit. Not willing to go quietly I got back by the TR4 and started working on the 914. Running up the hill I was literally 10 car lengths back , he got on the brakes at the 3 board and I went sailing past the 2 before getting on the brakes. I was in so deep that mid corner I barely had the car turned so ended up chucking it sideways, which made a nice block pass. For the next lap I diced with all three cars but was fighting a losing battle. Everything I gained on the twisty bits went out the window down the straights.

On lap 4 it really went out the window; coming down to turn 14 I noticed water on the windshield. Hmm that's odd it only seems to be raining on the passenger side. A quick glance at the temp gauge confirmed what I suspected the temp was climbing fast.

When I pooped the hood it was obvious what the problem was. The alternator was undone, the bolt atttaching it to the head had fallen out. No probably I'll just put one in. When I was topping the radiator up water started magically pouring out of the underside of the hose. Huh? Well lo and behold there's a chunk of metal in it. So when the bracket came loose the alternator flopped against the batter tray and a cooling blade from the alternator sheared off and embedded itself in the hose. OK fix that no problem that's when I noticed the bolt holding the motor mount to the crossmember had vanished as well. So I fix that make sure to loctite all the bolts as I don't remember using loctite on the motor punt bolt which I normally do.

Thankfully I have the Datsun Porsche race on Sunday to check things out. The Datsun/Porsche race is first come first serve for grid spots. I lined up 8th. Got another great start passed one car on the outside of one, grabbed another on the inside of 2 and out braked two more going into 4. Next I started planning where to get the 2 cars just ahead of me. That's when it started raining on the windshield again Grrrrrrrrrrr. Into the pits I go and find the fan belt hanging down.

So my idiot mechanic (I thing the SOB is sleeping with my wife too) failed to check the bolts that bolt the alternator to the block. Both bolts holding the ears are gone. So I fix that and look forward to starting at the back of the grid. Last time I did this I managed to make up 12 spots so hey anything a possible.

For the final myself and the guy pitted next to me lined up dead last (he was in a Sprite). We both got great starts making up a couple spots before the start line. I set out passing cars like mad. By turn 7 I was working on 6 overall for me group (for the final they combined groups I and 2). On lap 2 I'd caught 5th (Porsche 911) going over the hump at 7. Last year I did a really aggressive slide job on him into two, as I got to his back bumper he simply waved me by. I was slowly inching up on 2-4th running nose to tail but by lap 4 I knew there wouldn't be enough time. The track is 3.4 miles around so we only end up getting 6 laps in the time as the races are basically 25 minutes (pace lap 4 minutes, 17-18 minute race, 4 minute cool down). I wanted a top 3 but would be content to take 5th overall. Coming off the last corner to start the last lap that looked like it was about to disappear. I reached down to up shift and the car was solidly stuck in 3rd. The poor car went from bogging off the two hairpins at 3200 rpm so to screaming its guts out on the straights, the motor will rev to 9000 before it floats the valves but it kept it to a mere 8500. Fortunately I'd built up a 27 second gap to the car behind me so despite the last lap being 12 seconds slower I did manage 5th.

My fellow competitors helped me shove the car on the trailer and when I got home my some helped unload. As we pushed the car into the garage my son noticed oil on the leading edge of the hood. Oh look while the ,other was revving it's nuts off the oil cap came off (it was lying on the intake) but wait there's more. While the alternator was still firmly in place the bracket between the pinch bolt and the cylinder head had vanished as well. It's amazing the car got to the end, I'd been under the gun getting th car ready and boy did it ever show.

Despite all of the migrating parts I had fun as usual and still managed a decent finish. My fellow racers were also impressed with the 1200 as well. The usual statements of that thing corners like made and your driving the wheels off it. A friend who makes his living as an instructor driver coach and prepares cars for people had been running his Spec Miata at a a track day a few weeks earlier and said he was I totally impressed with the way I was 4 wheel drifting the car everywhere, he was at the race with one of his customers and said the car looked really good. Another racer in a 510 had an in car video that I was able to watch on his lap top; he commented how the back off the car was doing a slip grip slip grip slide. Watching the video it did look a bit untoward to me (which means it's probably alarming to most people) so it's time to fit a panhard bar.

Post race I pulled the 56 series 4 speed, it appears I may have installed the thrust washer on third incorrectly. There is a cut out on the shaft that centers on a ball on the mainshaft. There is also an oil grove on the underside. I may have line the groove up with the check ball rather than the cutout. The shift collar had over travelled allowing the spring loaded fingers to effectively wedge themselves in place. I had to forcefully push them back into place before the collar would slide back and forth freely.

I have a track day coming up in November and I've installed the 60 series 5 speed to see how that works. I can do most of the car in 3rd or 4th. If the 60 series is remotely viable I will put the 4.62 ring gear in it (currently 4.38). I'm also finally getting an air fuel ratio gauge on the car. I will also try and get the panhard bar on it by then but that may not happen until December.

Finally in a classic case of driver ego, while I was happy to still a mange 5th it still sticks in my craw that I couldn't manage to improve on my best lap time. Gee I wonder if the 15 degree warmer temps and the gusting 30-45mph winds had something to do with it. Also Top Gear is right .........I need more power!!!!!

Dang, Tom! Your mechanic sounds like he's spending too much time sleeping with your wife and not focusing on the priority of prepping the car. I'd fire his silly arse.
At least you didn't get protested for attempting to deliberately sabotage following racers' cars by purposely throwing random hardware on the track.
Next time, either safety wire / Loctite everything, or at least paint everything a bright, unique color so you can more easily locate your stray bits after the race.
Always a good read, and good to see you can smile about it while having the time of your life!

I do understand why he'd want to spend time with her rather than tools.......what can you do with a guy who wants to spend more time with a pretty girl than a race car, utterly, hopeless.

Dana and I discussed this and yes I bought a batch of locknuts. Since making the changes that has the car running up front anything that isn't safety wired, have locknuts or loctite applied comes undone.

Now I just need to fine tune the car some more. I can't possibly drive the thing any harder, I was passing even more aggressive than what you witnessed in February and so trying any harder would end badly. I think we can get it into the top 3 with the changes.

Tom