event 11

[yosemitemtb]

What a day, I sure hope the guy who had the medical issue is alright. It was good to see him leaving under his own steam. After 6 seasons of autocross, yesterday was my first mechanical DNR's. I'll see what Hotchkis has to say tomorrow. It would be cool if they replace the broken sway bar, but it has been on the car since 2004. I hear their earliest bars had similar issues, but they would fail early in their life. My epic day wasn't done when I left Castle, though. as I approached my car to leave I saw a little puddle of red oil under my car, started it up and it was dripping very slowly from a power steering hose. The least accessible fitting on the return (low pressure) line was leaking. Well, as I got on 99 and accelerated, I was leaving a cloud of smoke that made me cringe. It seems as the rpm's increased, the leak got worse and sprayed right on my downpipe. I stopped at Pep Boys and bought a gallon of Mercon 3 and proceeded to baby the car home. I stopped to topped off the reservoir in Merced, Planada, Cathey's Valley, Agua Fria and Mariposa, lugging along in 5th gear the whole way to keep the rev's down. It took me about 3 hours today to figure out how to get a wrench on that stupid fitting, had to drop the steering rack, remove skid plates and be a contortionist to get to the fitting that I could see and touch but not get a wrench on. Even a crows foot wrench wouldn't do it. The drifting was cool, but after the same event last year, I burned up a wheel bearing on the way home. Drifters are bad luck for me!

[bgriggs]

Wow, the car gods were not happy with any of us yesterday!

I can't imagine what the engine bay and under the car must look like after leaking that much fluid.

Nice seeing you out there again Jerry :)

[yosemitemtb]

The leak was down low so the engine bay doesn't look to bad but the bottom of my car is well lubed! My boss set his car on fire once from a power steering leak so I was nervous as hell. I had my fire extinguisher with me and was ready to deploy.

[schrotacular]

The leak was down low so the engine bay doesn't look to bad but the bottom of my car is well lubed! My boss set his car on fire once from a power steering leak so I was nervous as hell. I had my fire extinguisher with me and was ready to deploy.

Yikes, someone tell Murphy (and his law), he's not allowed at any more of our events.

[yosemitemtb]

Did all the drifters get to run? It didn't seem like daylight was on their side.

[SmokeyBear]

Did all the drifters get to run? It didn't seem like daylight was on their side.No. Darkness came at the end of the first group and we had to shut it down. The 2nd group did not get to run.

[nm+]

No. Darkness came at the end of the first group and we had to shut it down. The 2nd group did not get to run.
I feel sorry for that second group who paid and worked for nothing.
They really needed to shut down the first group after 1st or second runs.

Despite the issues at 11 and the somewhat low attendance for 12, I had a lot of fun. Thanks to the people who made it possible.
I wish i had some money so i could buy you all some radios :).

[Mikey]

sounds like this event was rough...

my freind who took my impreza said just everything was going haywire with the emt having to come in and getting lost and having cars with mechanical issues like jerry that the second run group didnt start till 1.

anyone get photo's from the event?

[yosemitemtb]

I called Hotchkis today and they are replacing the bar "no questions asked" except for what is your shipping address. Not bad considering the bar had been on since August of 2004, about 80,000 miles! I do have to pay shipping for the new bar, about $10, it will be here Wednesday. I have nothing but praise for that kind of service!

Hi Mikey!

[cap49]

That's why I get my stuff from them if they make it. They're living up to their rep with you like they have with others.

[yosemitemtb]

I received the new bar from Hotchkis yesterday, looks like an improved design!

[bgriggs]

That's why I get my stuff from them if they make it. They're living up to their rep with you like they have with others.

Wouldn't a better reputation be for it not to break in the first place? :p

Seriously though, this isn't the first time I've heard of a Hotchkis bar breaking in that manner.

Glad to hear all is back to normal for you Jerry, can we expect to see you at next year's events?

[yosemitemtb]

I'll probably be out for a couple of races.

I would prefer parts that don't break, but when they do I certainly appreciate companies that stand behind their products. The new bar seems to be improved over the old bar, slightly different bends and a little more "meat" in the area mine broke at. You have to remember my bar had 5 years and over 80k miles on it, at 5 runs per and probably 50 autocrosses plus a couple of track miles, I definitely got my money's worth.

[schrotacular]

Looks like its gonna pay off for em, been meaning to replace my tiny stock sway bars in the scoob, and that sounds like the kind of company that warrants my business.