I got lucky! Below is a rather long race report.

Here is part of a write up I did for our regions newsletter about the weekend.


As I was towing to Nashville I was very hopeful that I would have a good weekend. I have been chasing a stumble, fuel, or ignition problem for a couple of months. At the Nashville Time Trial, I just couldn’t find the right combination to make the car run well. Back at home I spent a lot of time methodically going through the fuel system, resetting the valves, ignition, and carbs hoping to cure my “stumble” and loss of top end. On the Saturday before the race I test drove around the block (big neighborhoodJ) and the car pulled to 7k in 3rd so I was hopeful I had cured the issue.

Saturday morning’s rain dampened my hopes and I really didn’t want to go out for qualifying but I needed to find out what the car was going to do. As I motored around the track and the lack of power returned. No power coupled with the slick session did nothing to bolster my confidence.

Back in the garage I pulled out the new carbs that had arrived from ZTherapy the Tuesday before the race and began the process of installation. David Plott, a fellow Z racer, who was helping Randy Shedd (last years 2nd place Z car) came over and was a tremendous help. We got the carbs installed and started trying to get them adjusted. WAAAY rich but at least the car ran. With just a little over 15 minutes left before my next session we finished the install and out I went again on a still damp and rainy track. Times dropped, the car seemed to pull well but it still wasn’t right. I came in early when the rain picked up and my windshield fogged so bad I couldn’t see.

I walked away from the car for a few minutes and when I returned Randy had sent a true Z expert down to try and help me out. Clarke Crawford had come to the track to watch and visit with fellow racers that he knew and offered to help me get me car running right. He took off his jacket and began methodically adjusting the carbs. With his help and guidance we installed a new set of plugs and started re-adjusting the carbs.

Clarke approved of the settings and sent me to the grid for my race. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen on track so I just hoped for the best. I was gridded inside on the last row of 15 cars in my run group. Only Randy in his extremely fast 280Z was behind me. On the out lap it seemed the car was running great and I was cautiously optimistic for a good race.

Green flag dropped when I was looking at my temp gauge and I was late on the go pedal. Randy went high and I dropped to the apron. I passed 4 cars before the start line and started trying to make it to the front. The car was running great and for the next few laps I started picking off the cars in front of me as best as I could. Through the NASCAR banking I was running a very low line most of the race and a couple of times I would have to check up to keep from getting hit when the guys that were running high would come crashing down the banking into turn 1. They simply couldn’t see me as I crept alongside of them on the low line.

I had fun with an RX7 and 944 as I filled their mirrors for a couple of laps. I had a little trouble getting around them and the second place Miata that I had been gaining on pulled away from us. I finally got a good run out of the bus stop and used Susan Clayborn’s ITA Miata as a pick to get by the RX7. Next lap I got the 944. I thought I was in 3rd place then as Bill Denton’s RX7 and Randy’s Z were both out of my sight.

Out comes the checkered and as I came into the pits the workers motioned me to impound. It seems Bill had lost an apex seal on the next to last lap and I had moved to 2nd place. I was ecstatic. In my third ever race I managed to make the podium.

Sunday started with repairing the broken caliper duct that let go during Saturday’s fun. Removed the shroud, tied off the ducting, set tire pressures, fueled the car and I was ready. Only one problem, sitting in the right seat of street cars for the next 2 hours while trying to get the driver on the correct line is tougher than I thought. It really wasn’t that bad but if you have never tried it, 95mph on the front straight while sitting in the right seat is far scarier than in you own car at a much higher speed.

Finished the PDX without incident, well only 1 spin mid track, and it was time to race. I was gridded 9th and Randy was somewhere behind me. Green flag dropped and I was ready this time. Randy came screaming by on the outside, I got by a couple of cars and dropped in behind him at turn 1. I got by 2 more cars and it was Randy, 944, ITR Supra and me as we came around into turn 1 again. I managed to over rev the engine and dropped a cylinder. I assumed I had popped a rocker but didn’t hear any funny noises. I made a decision to motor around anyway knowing I needed more race craft and seat time. Next lap I saw Randy pull off at the bus stop. Turns out he broke a gear box. I continued to motor for the rest of the event trying to stay out of the way of the faster guys since I was only running on 5 of 6 cylinders. I was in 2nd for ITS with a sick car as we entered impound. Turns out the 944 was underweight and I guess I took 1st after he was DQ’d. Not the way I would like it to be, but so it goes.

Post mortem revealed that #3 lost both intake and exhaust rockers but I haven’t pressure tested for bent valves yet. I assume they are.

I have to thank David Plott , Randy Shedd, and Clark Crawford for helping me this past weekend. Without their help, I would have had an expensive tuning trip. Instead, I had my first podium finishes. Thanks guys!

http://www.improvedtouring.com/galle....php?i=185&c=3