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Sunday, 20 March 2011

Ghost Alley

It seems such a long time since we both raced with the 2011 season finally getting underway, yet it was only the beginning February that we had a taste of things to come.  I think we both had high expectations and anticipations but for illogical reasons it all came to naught at the start of it all.  The 140Z was not entered and did not race for a number of reasons.  Upon closer inspection it was soon evident that too many minor things needed attention and replacement and as such required a lot of time and effort to get it race ready.  This also being a difficult 1st quarter of the year was not the most opportune time and the 140Z may still race at a later date this year all things going well.  The Datti on the other hand was left as it was since the February race with only the branch being replaced as the previous one was beyond repair.  As such it was race ready and we had little expectations of any surprises.  Little did we know at the time.

The Datti was taken down to the track on the Thursday night and parked in the track garage over night.  All that needed to be done was a polish, tyre pressures, fuel and some practice time could be undertaken on the Friday.  Little did I still know.  I only went down to the track at about 10H00 on the Friday and duly polished the car, put fuel in and indeed checked the tyre pressures.  Our session was scheduled for 11h50 and I was ready at last to get some saddle time.  On the out lap I noticed a slight vibration and not being certain of its location I proceeded with caution around turn 2.  The kink seemed fine as did turn 3.  On turn 4 I again heard this vibration and decided I was not comfortable with it and headed down the back straight.  About half way down it happened, the left front wheel picked a fine time to leave me.  Thank heavens I was not going fast and slowly brought the car to a halt 100m from parce ferme.  Expecting the worst I was puzzled (and still am as to how it was possible) that all four wheel nuts had miraculously come off and disappeared.  The wheel came to a halt about 20m behind me.  The session was red flagged and I was duly towed back to the pits on a flat bed truck.   While still on the truck I jacked the car up on the left and put the wheel back and secured it with four other wheel nuts.  Damage seemed minimal if anything at this stage and I now awaited the next session scheduled for 14h55.  The temperature was high and well into the high 20's maybe even 30's and times were never going to be of importance but more importantly I need track time.  Everything was again checked and by lap 4 I had reached the decision that 1:32's was not satisfactory and pulled into the pits. Mr 'Datsun' duly requested that the car be jacked  up upon which he immediately saw that the exhaust had been flattened to less than half its size (due to the weight of the car on it when the wheel came off) and was likely a contributing factor to posting slow times.  He placed an order for exhaust tubing to be made up and for it to be delivered to the workshop where after we decided to replace the damaged section of  pipe.  So started my weekend.

The exhaust was removed at the workshop and the new piece was duly measured and cut.  The exhaust was welded up and ready for fitment.  The inevitable had suddenly crossed Mr "Datsuns' mind and he decided to change the Datti's motor with our old one.  He felt that we should rather start the season off well where after we could still experiment with further changes later in the season.  It all made sense as we knew what we had with the A14 but were still in the dark as to what was in the A15.  Now was as good a time as ever.  To cut a very long story short, we finally finished putting the A14 in at about 08h30 that Friday night after making many modifications (different accelerator linkages, clutch forks etc.). A few test runs were done at the 'Montanague Oval' after which it was decided we had now obtained the sweet spot.  Tired and frustrated we drove the Datti to the track headlights, flickers and tail lights all working and proceeded cautiously behind the bakkie.  Mr 'Datsun' opened the garage and I pulled in and parked the Datti for the night.  The only things we needed to do early next morning was to get our transponder, safely secure the accelerator cable on the peddle, fuel her up and again set the tyre pressures for the 08h00 qualifying.  I was chuffed and eagerly awaited the morning.  With no one around it was now too late for our ritual braai and we both popped up for a quick bite at the clubhouse and were home by 22h00.

Saturday morning we were again up at sparrows as per norm and were at the track by 06h30.  We opened up garage 26 to get ready and I duly went down to fetch the Datti in my garage.  I neatly nestled my self in the tight fitting seat, turned on the kill switch, activated the ignition switch, flicked the petrol pump switch and hit the start button.  KLUK.   Try again, KLUK.  Check the kill switch.  Try again. KLUK.  Just by the sound of the KLUK I could tell this was not a battery problem and duly called Mr 'Datsun' to the rescue.  "It can only be something stupid, a loose earth wire or something like that he stated".  After a few more KLUK's he's attitude suddenly changed.  Get me a 13 spanner.  Hastily it was off with the oil pump.  It might be jamming he said.  The oil pump looked OK.  We then turned the motor manually.  It turned 359 degrees and no further where after it was solid.  Turning it the other way and again 359 degrees and it was solid.  Star screwdriver please came the next request.  Off with the tappet cover expecting a rocker or even valve failure of some sort.  Nothing.  Mr 'Datsun' then put his finger into the oil pump hole and said turn the engine VERY SLOWLY.  I proceeded to turn it only a few degrees at a time until the inevitable words were uttered.  The camshaft is stripped.  Two inexplicable occurrences over night.

Dejected we closed up and I withdrew my entry.  By 07h30 we were sitting like 2 lonely haunted farts in turn 3 not saying a word to each other.  I just wasn't meant to race this day and I'll take it as an omen yet to be understood.

This little set back has just made both of us super motivated and as such we'll (sorry, that should be, Mr 'Datsun') repair this motor for the April race.  The Datti has just got on the wrong side of Mr 'Datsun' and will unfortunately have to be taught a lesson.  Do keep an eye out for sudden behavioral changes.

Thanks 'Boet' for all the efforts made.