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 Posted October 1st, 2010 at 12:22PM
So despite either off-courses or coned runs on every try, I was having a blast at the new Fortitech site during the September 19 autocross. Until my fifth run when I broke another axle.
I had replaced both driver’s side and passenger’s side axles on the car in the previous week, to “level 0″ axles from the Drive Shaft Shop. This after the clamp on my “level 2″ loosened and began spitting grease again, and the other side exhibiting perhaps interesting clicks and clunks. So I changed them both, and the driver’s side broke again.
I ran around like a chicken on Monday, inquiring as to the status of my Level 2 (which had been sent back for re-clamping and a check over) and ordering a stock replacement from Keeler in case the Level 2 did not come back to me in time. The Drive Shaft Shop agreed to repair the level 0 given that I had it on the car less than a week, and sent the refurbed level 2 back to me in no time at all.
When I tried to put the OEM replacement axle in, I could not for the life of me get it to snap in. The circlip, grind, and everything else looked identical. It just wouldn’t go in. So I threw the level 2 back in, clicking easily into place.
The car ran without fault at Monticello that Friday, September 24. I had a blast, but two other MINIs were not able to run that day. One went into limp mode on the drive down, while the other discovered a torn CV boot. I offered to give him my spare (I had an extra for both sides that day), but he left early.
I was signed off to solo and enjoy possibly the last two hours I’ll ever have on the Monticello Motor Club full course configuration. I enjoyed myself. This was the first track event hosted by MoHud SCCA in a long time, and by all accounts it was pretty successful.
Oh, I also bought a 2004 WRX. But that’s another story altogether. Come on, snow!
Posted September 3rd, 2010 at 12:20AM
September 24 is when I get to drive Monticello Motor Club again. I’m starting to get the MINI ready, by addressing the clickety-clockety passenger side axle.
I had noticed earlier that there was less than a thumbs-width of clearance from that side’s inner CV joint and an integral part of the engine directly above. I can not see how the “level 2″ axle from DriveShaft Shop could possibly fit, with the beefier joint, despite their assurances that they had sold them and never heard a complaint (excepting mine last year on the driver’s side, that is).
But I discovered that they also had “level 0″ stock replacement axle stubs for $249 total, including the added option of high temp grease on the outside and other measures for ensuring survival under hot conditions. After being told the CV joint would be the same diameter, I ordered one today.
I’m going to change tires and wheels tomorrow to see whether the high pitched noise is wheel bearings or the Kumho XS tires getting louder.
Some fluid changes and it will be ready to go.
I’m actually currently investigating the possibility of purchasing a Subaru Impreza in the near future. It will be an excellent all year daily driver and rallycross vehicle. Can’t wait.
Posted June 17th, 2010 at 1:34PM
I had planned June 14-15 to be my return to Watkins Glen with Patroon BMWCCA. I was going to camp at the state campground in town with my folks and the two dogs, just like last year. Instead, emergency repaving of turn 1 canceled the track event. So, despite a rotty weather forecast, we still decided to go camping – just a little closer to home, Adirondacks region to be specific. With two kayaks and plenty of other gear loaded on the truck, we set out for the Speculator / Indian Lake area, eventually settling into a site between Lewey and Indian Lakes, right on the water. The weather turned out better than expected, showering only Saturday, and I got plenty more time in our ill-used kayaks we picked up used several seasons back. Tuesday, the day before we left, my father and I (with my dog riding along as co-pilot) set off for the Indian Lake islands to plan for future trips. There are maybe half a dozen islands of varying size, and we picked out some prime spots for future visits – although we’ll need to rent a canoe to get all the gear over!
I was able to get my dog, Baja, to ride in front of me in the kayak last year, and he didn’t miss a beat this year. Our other dog was a little more hesitant and didn’t quite catch on this trip, but she ought to be game with a more spacious canoe. I’ve got some photos from camping which will be uploaded to my Flickr account in due time.
So I have a credit with Patroon for a future track event, which I may or may not cash in on their July event up at Calabogie. I need to see if any of these ongoing job application processes pan out, but it’s a track I’ve been wanting to drive ever since working the event last year. We’ll see what happens.
Posted June 1st, 2010 at 1:19PM
As par for the course, this post is coming several weeks after the fact. As hinted to in various other posts and Twitter, I was able to make it down to Monticello recently to drive the fairly new track there. Billed on their website as “a luxury automotive lifestyle resort and track located 90 minutes from Manhattan,” the drive for me was nearly three hours and I had to be out the door by 4:30 in the morning. (Hitting the sack by 9 the preceding night made it bearable.) If there had been any incidents, you would have heard it by now, so rest assured up front that I had a blast and that the MINI performed without fault.
Monticello Motor Club (MMC) was conceived as an exclusive members-only millionaire’s resort, but for the past year or two they’ve allowed the rabble in to drive. This event was with SCDA, my first outing with them. We were able to get a dozen or more MINIs out this particular day, qualifying for a 10% discount – unfortunately there were only two of us in the novice run group. I spent a bit of time beforehand studying videos and course walkthroughs, so I was fairly comfortable with the track before arrival. Machinery was varied, but with slow corners at regular intervals, the MINI was not outgunned and just about the only car I regularly had to point by was the Ford GT. There were the usual suspects – late model BMWs and Porsches – slowing the pace, and I spent more time than not following in trains (you get one guy who won’t point by an overtaking car, and soon you get a bunched up line of aggravated quicker cars – choo choo!). But never was it an infuriatingly slow pace for long, and there are enough passing zones (or even the option of coasting through the pits) so that my blood never boiled. And heck – I’m fully cognizant of the fact that once I’m into the upper level run groups, these guys with twice the horsepower will know how to use it, and I’ll no longer be the one passing. For now, I enjoy my David v. Goliath moments!
With 20 turns planted in the 3.8 mile full course, MMC is technical and demands that you compromise earlier corners to maximize speeds onto the straights. Speeds by the end of the long back straight match or exceed those of the back straight at Watkins Glen; my speedometer was ticking past the 120 mark, but that’s suspect considering another MINI with more experience, better tires, and data logging showing max speeds in the low 120s also. Course maps of the corkscrew at the end of the long straight don’t do it justice – it’s a quick, right – left – right as you blindly crest the hill, bombing over the curbing and keeping your inputs smooth, as warranted by the elevation changes. I had a wheel or two off here once or twice and have to say it’s probably my favorite element! The hairpin before the next short straight is probably my least favorite, mostly since it’s arduously slow, requiring 2nd gear, and I was early here all day long. I also crunched the succeeding 2nd to 3rd shift twice; it happens as you’re WOT, drifting back to the right, and getting it into gear was taking a tenth of a second longer than my brain would allow.
I remember someone over the course of the day describing MMC as if the designers had a list of different elements they wanted to include, and went about incorporating them as the plot of land dictated. This ends up being a track that’s fast, slow, and everything in between, at different spots. This isn’t a negative in my mind, and I can’t wait to go back! Track Time Photos was there, as was another photographer with some photos included in the SCDA recap (first photo is of me, looking far, far – maybe too far – ahead through a corner).
The Kumho XS held up admirably through the day. My butt still has the imprint of absolute grip from my Kumho V710 autocross tires, but the XS give good feedback and feel the same from start to finish. I might be able to find slightly better pressures – been keeping them at 36psi hot, which looks spot-on as far as rollover is concerned. Brakes were similarly rock solid, and I believe my pads will make it through two more days at the Glen, no sweat. Rotors are a little chewed up and I’ll be watching them. I kept an eye on water temps via my Scangauge, and I was surprised to find temperatures barely above those of daily driving! With a 70/30 water / antifreeze mix, and half a bottle of Water Wetter, the car sits in the low 190*s from day to day, and wasn’t much above 200* while on the track! Ambient temps were comfortable and the tiny little stock intercooler was doing its job. This is another indication that autocross is harder on the car in some respects, since water temps were higher at the autocross May 23rd. More to come on that, later.
Posted February 8th, 2010 at 1:52PM
I’ve been actively plugging away with both this site and other projects in the past few days. The employment side of things is also looking rosy, so while posts might come slow over the foreseeable future, rest assured it’s not for lack of time in front of the computer!
I completed the promised site redesign here, switching to the Atahualpa theme but keeping the same color palette from the previous incarnation. Everything is running smoothly for the time being but I need to work on the archive page. I’ve been running a pretty sleek plug-in for displaying archives, but displaying all 700-odd posts on a single page is asking too much so I’m on the hunt for a better solution.
In related news, I’m currently working on an e-commerce site running CRE Loaded. While I don’t know if I’ll ever master that particular package or the concerns and issues of e-commerce security, its great experience to get under the belt. I’m making a small sum and its given me the crazy notion of monetizing more of the various coding and design work I’ve played with for years.
To that end I’ll be retooling surfingonarocket.com to function as a professional portfolio site. Eventually I’ll be able to point potential employers there for proof positive of various skills, from writing and editing AP style to coding and designing, Web 2.0-style. I want to become more productive to that end, finally putting out some original WordPress themes and completing freelance work of any variety. We’ll see how that goes.
I took the census entrance exam the other day and answered 27 out of 28 correctly. I couldn’t for the life of me determine what I got wrong, since I was able to work through the entire test twice in the 30 minutes they gave us and wasn’t uncertain over any answer. But then when I took the practice I filled out the incorrect bubble on one where I knew the right choice, so its anyones guess. Apparently 10 correct will get you a job so I’m not concerned enough to re-take the test, and hopefully missing one won’t preclude me from an office job or anything besides being an ‘enumerator’ (the people responsible for going door to door, and, apparently, getting guns pointed at them on a regular basis – according to a 2000 census veteran). Office job will pay better too.
The final word? Even without the certainty of employment I’m planning my first track outing of 2010 – it’ll be at Monticello Motor Club with SCDA, May 17th. There will be a MINI contingent and associated discount, and I’m officially pumped. My MINI is still tucked away in the garage (now completely enclosed with very nice electric garage doors!) but it’s just a tech check and fluid change away from being ready for the event. Well, not quite, but close enough.
Till later, intrepid readers!
Posted October 11th, 2009 at 12:22PM
So the warranty replacement for my first $130 axle broke at MoHud’s last event of the season, October 4th. (Outer CV broke at the turn before the finish lights on my second run after a spin during my first: I finished 4th in class with a decent time for a second run that morning. Go figure. The MINI likes that ACC lot, but the lot does not like cars – there were other casualties, including two half-shafts on one scoob.)
I AAA’d it back home once again. I was promised a refund for the cheap axle (still waiting), and after a call to The Driveshaft Shop, I learned that they do indeed have plans for R53 MINI axles. They’re still $100 less than OEM and feature beefier CV joints, supposedly rated for 450hp. I ordered one on Monday and got it installed Wednesday.
Seems fine, but there’s a slight vibration I’ve never noticed before under heavy acceleration in 1st and 2nd. It’s not really a CV joint noise though, and I can’t recreate any clicks or clunks under any driving to indicate another bum axle. The car is sitting at 63k miles, and they’ve been hard miles, so it’s time to start watching wear items like wheel bearings and bushings carefully. I’m confident this vibration doesn’t indicate an imminent failure though. I’m just pretty paranoid about any new NVH at this point.
To make sure, I decided to check out an autocross Saturday put on by the car guys at RPI. The night before I was able to get my Kumho XS mounted at their community supported auto shop, so this was a chance to break in the tires too.
Saturday was a fun, friendly atmosphere, but I didn’t get much driving in. After two runs, the car began making a clicking noise. Jacking up the car, I found (stick with me here) the inner CV joint boot’s clamp on the new axle had been catching on a bracket for a wheel sensor mounted on the a-arm. The beefier joints on the new axle have less clearance with this bracket, which I noticed while installing. Under normal driving, it wasn’t an issue. With lateral loads on the car, however, the bracket moved upward enough to snag the clamp. Halfway through my cautious drive home, the clamp was pushed off, but the boot stayed on so no loss. Today I’m going to see about filing that bracket down a bit. I’m going to head to a shop on Monday to see about putting a new clamp on the boot, as I can’t get the old tweaked clamp anywhere near tight enough with ordinary pliers.
I’m definitely glad to have caught this small issue in Troy yesterday as opposed to Lime Rock Park next Saturday. I can’t help but feel anxious whether or not the car will have any issues there, even though everything has been checked and all preparations made in recent weeks.
Most disheartening is the weather forecast for next Saturday. There’s a huge cold front coming from Canada, making its way through practically the whole country, hitting our area this weekend. Day highs in Lakeville, CT are supposed to reach the mid 40s, with a 50% chance of morning precip in the form of rain or, yup, snow. I’m not sure I’ll mind taking it extra gingerly as it’ll be my first visit to the track. Nicer weather would have been appreciated though. 
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