Oct. 12, 2007 - Oh right, I have a blog
So I realized that I haven't been giving many updates this summer. Therefore here is the latest.
After the good showing on my birthday in July, we had three more solos: one in August, one last month on the ninth, and the last one this past saturday. In August it was wet as many of our events have been, and I did well for myself. But on the way out of the lot and on my way home I noticed an odd noise that sounded like metal bouncing on metal. Less than a minute later it sounds like something lets go and I pull over at the very next driveway. Come to find out the thing that "let go" was the nut holding my AC belt tensioner pulley on. So after a couple of minutes I get it out of the way of my other pulleys before something worse happens. However in my haste to get it free and head home I misdiagnosed the pulley to be my alternator pulley. Thinking that, I drove home with all electrical devices off, only used my wipers when absolutely necessary, and prayed my battery had enough juice to give my engine sufficient spark to make it home. I was relieved when I got home and realized that is was only part of the AC system. Next comes the September event, and we finally have an absolutely beautiful day. I got put in the extra class and got trounced on again, but as usual I had fun. The highlight of the day came when some lucky (and wealthy) guy pulled up in his brand new GT3 to check out what we were doing. Seeing this car in person just proved how little pictures can do it justice...but here you go anyway.
Then, just this past saturday we had our last event of the season back at good 'ol Portage High School. The course was great, and it was fast. My car was very nuetral and I was constantly throttle steering to keep it pointed in the right direction, almost as if it were wet out. And despite a spectacular spin on my second run and cones on nearly ever other run, I did much better than I thought. After looking at my video I was very happy to see that I was finally getting close to the cones again, impressively close. I am still waiting to see the final results but I think I beat my arch nemesis Garold, which would make the last event oh so sweet.
As far as my car goes it is finally starting to show its age and the abuse I put on it. I just changed my wheels and tires today for my winter duty ones and while I was under there I noticed some wetness on the ends of my steering rack. Add that to the slight oil consumption my engine already has, plus a few other small odd noises and rattles my car has. But what can I expect, it has over 140,000 on the odometer, and I beat the piss out of it with a raised rev limit (which is a bad idea), but all in all it still runs well and starts up every time. Honda has a customer for life...I just have to be in the market for a new car first.
That gets me to my last point, I just the past few days have all but purchased a new heart for the Civic...a slightly larger dual overhead cam heart. Add a faster and beefier Integra steering rack to that and you have a practicly brand new (and faster) car. If this all happens all I will need is some minor bodywork (to eliminate the Honda-rot), a fresh paint job, some new sliders for the rear brake calipers, and maybe some racing seats and my car will be better than new. And maybe even at that point I will finally consider the car done. That would be a wonderful feeling. As for now thats all, I should be writing again in about a week or two with with news of exciting new hardware, and if I have some spare time I will make a season compilation video. Until then "drive fast and swerve."
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About Me
A place to show off my futile attempt at autocross and the like. Lets just hope the car holds together.
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