I sent Robert and invitation to have access to posting the blog. He was, indifferent about blogging initially. However, he's finally be goaded into it, but it's too tough to get him access right now... so I'm just going to post what he started writing on Wednesday night on the road below (and finished tonight), with no further editing:
Robert here,
so as Tim stated earlier, I ran both sessions at Daytona yesterday. It was definitely an exilarating experience going around the high bankings and being pushed into your seat by the g-forces at 100+mph. I can only image what it must feel like at 200mph! The first session was very exciting. I spun trying to figure out how fast I could take turn 7 on my first timed lap, so I had to let the VW TDI that was behind me pass before I could get back onto the track. Once there, I was able to slowly reel in the TDI. Meanwhile, a Corvette went into the tirewall at the "bus stop" causing him and the Porsche behind him to go through the pits and get behind me. The Porsche then caught up with me in the infield and I gave him the pass by on the infield straight. He then caught the TDI and passed him on the high banking. I Finally caught the TDI myself at the exit from the infield on my third lap. He kindly moved up to the top of the bank and gave me the pass by so I ended up passing him on the inside of the high bank. After I passed him, he slide in behind me right on my bumper and drafted me all the way down the straight and into the braking zone for the "bus stop" talk about super exciting!
In the afternoon session I pushed my braking zone for the "bus stop" too far on my second lap and spun right at the entrance to the bus stop, kicking up a ton of dust, some of which got into the car. when the dust cloud cleared, the corner worker waived me back out and I put in a good remaining lap and a half. I was admittadly pretty bummed that I spun both sessions but I was happy to find out I still managed to shave 12 seconds off my lap time from my first session!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
coyote ugly
no, this is not a reference to the movie.
no, this is not a reference to Robert and I taking advantage of scenic "dollar ballets".
this was meant to be a temporary place holder for me to relate what happened to me in the middle of the night in the panhandle of florida, west of pensacola.
The challenge of One Lap is more than just time on the tracks. It is the almost endless highway miles. Dicing it with the general public, which frankly, can't drive. Driving through construction zones in a car with "firm" suspension... *always* fun. Then there are the little love notes the truckers leave us, mostly on the side of the road. However, as happened to Walt & JC in the RX-350, those love notes are left in the middle of the lane.
There is also the challenge of wildlife. Bugs, Birds, Deer, heck Greer and I hit a bat in 2009! This year, I was cruising along in the right lane of I-10 when I saw the next car ahead, half a mile away brake then swerve half way into the left lane. Not that I was sleeping, but I was in 'auto-scan' cruise mode... and their manoeuvre definitely woke me up. Such that I saw something in the road, it looked large and maybe furry. Then I saw something dart into the road over the other object, and it looked up at me with two eyes illuminated by the miata's headlights. It was big, it's head was low... and was of dog-like proportions.
Now, this would most likely scare the excrement out of most people. However, I've spent the better part of this week finding out the limits of the miata. So, the instant I saw the situation I could feel in my fingers exactly how much I had to move the wheel left then right to pop into the left lane. What the feedback in the wheel would feel like, and how the lane change would feel through my backside. I did it on instinct, tapping the brake to set the nose, flicking the wheel. Out of the corner of my eye I saw it flee back to the right side of the road. We all got away clean, in large part to my driving on track and the instincts of whatever it was. It was an experience like I haven't had in a while. One that I've become prepared for, one that is a large part of One Lap... and I wanted to make sure I had a reminder that I should share it with you.
no, this is not a reference to Robert and I taking advantage of scenic "dollar ballets".
this was meant to be a temporary place holder for me to relate what happened to me in the middle of the night in the panhandle of florida, west of pensacola.
The challenge of One Lap is more than just time on the tracks. It is the almost endless highway miles. Dicing it with the general public, which frankly, can't drive. Driving through construction zones in a car with "firm" suspension... *always* fun. Then there are the little love notes the truckers leave us, mostly on the side of the road. However, as happened to Walt & JC in the RX-350, those love notes are left in the middle of the lane.
There is also the challenge of wildlife. Bugs, Birds, Deer, heck Greer and I hit a bat in 2009! This year, I was cruising along in the right lane of I-10 when I saw the next car ahead, half a mile away brake then swerve half way into the left lane. Not that I was sleeping, but I was in 'auto-scan' cruise mode... and their manoeuvre definitely woke me up. Such that I saw something in the road, it looked large and maybe furry. Then I saw something dart into the road over the other object, and it looked up at me with two eyes illuminated by the miata's headlights. It was big, it's head was low... and was of dog-like proportions.
Now, this would most likely scare the excrement out of most people. However, I've spent the better part of this week finding out the limits of the miata. So, the instant I saw the situation I could feel in my fingers exactly how much I had to move the wheel left then right to pop into the left lane. What the feedback in the wheel would feel like, and how the lane change would feel through my backside. I did it on instinct, tapping the brake to set the nose, flicking the wheel. Out of the corner of my eye I saw it flee back to the right side of the road. We all got away clean, in large part to my driving on track and the instincts of whatever it was. It was an experience like I haven't had in a while. One that I've become prepared for, one that is a large part of One Lap... and I wanted to make sure I had a reminder that I should share it with you.
Day: 4
Red Mist.
It's somwthing that happens at the track. Seeing it is often followed by bent metal. We managed a little of that, fortunately it was only a camera lens. :) And it was me that did it... and u wasn't even driving today!
However, Robert did find the limit if his talent twice... spinning 1x time in each session. The first time at the exit to turn 7, the second time at the entrance to the bus stop.
As such we were slowest in both sessions. However, Robert has learned several important lessons, and reminded me of them before we head to some of the more technical track.
Robert redeemed himself at the drags. scoring a 16.284 low et, and getting to the second round of the brackets.
We're now hunting dowm some chick-fil-a, then starting the long haul to Louisiana.
It's somwthing that happens at the track. Seeing it is often followed by bent metal. We managed a little of that, fortunately it was only a camera lens. :) And it was me that did it... and u wasn't even driving today!
However, Robert did find the limit if his talent twice... spinning 1x time in each session. The first time at the exit to turn 7, the second time at the entrance to the bus stop.
As such we were slowest in both sessions. However, Robert has learned several important lessons, and reminded me of them before we head to some of the more technical track.
Robert redeemed himself at the drags. scoring a 16.284 low et, and getting to the second round of the brackets.
We're now hunting dowm some chick-fil-a, then starting the long haul to Louisiana.
Day: 3
Robert and I decided to sleep in today since I knew CMP, and that we wouldn't be off for a while. We got to the track around 8:30, and the first group was just getting off. Unfortunately, later in the runs a porsche blew its whole coolant system across a quarter of the track. So I didn't go off until noon. I had a great time throwing the miata around the track... although I and the tires crested their peak at the start of the third lap. So, i dialed back & calmed myself and finished out the last 3/4 at good pace. Looking at the times I'm pleased... it showed a 22sec improvement over my run of the course two years ago in the Fit!
A lot of attrition increased our points hall even though we were only faster than a couple cars.
The second session started a tad late, and the Autobarn Mazdaspeed2 blowing up slowed things further. My run was good, and a tweak to the tire pressures helped manage them over the run. I couldn't quite get myself to take the kink flat out... since I was having a little trouble judging the turn-in while thinking about keeping it flat. But I did manage just a squeeze off, and the full throttle through it, ending up exiting around 95mph indicated.
Meanwhile, Robert was putting the excellent diagnosis skills he learned at R&R Automotive to assist the 535i... the *turbo* 535i... that was having inspecific engine problems. With his help, they get the car buttoned up in time for the second run of CMP.
We ended up shadowing the 535i half the way to the BMW Performance Center, since their engine happened to die just s they were passing us on the highway. We got there after a couple of roadside stops to let their ignition coil cool off.
Then I got to enjoy the madness that is the session at BMW performance. Because it's a late run, and everyone's itching to get in and out so they can get a head start towards the night's long haul... tempers are often short. I ended up landing myself in the middle of that accidentally by griding up a little bit early, then misunderstanding what group Brock wanted me to go out in. So I had to throw on my helmet and buckle in real quick. Dan and Mark of the timing and scoring team made sure I was safe a settled, despite be flustered. I did ok. The first lap wasn't great, but it was good. The second lap felt better, but there was still time to be had. I can't tell/remember if it's the same course as '09; but I did manage to shave two seconds off. All things considered, I'll take it.
When we got done, the 535i guys had followed Robert's suggestion that they move their coil pack to a cooler location. However, doing that they found one plug wire that was burned through, and another connector whose plugs seemed to have been pushed in. So, after I packed up the car, Justin (who owns the 535) and Robert hopped in to the Miata to take off to an Autozone that had the parts they needed to complete the fix. As such, we didn't end up leaving Greer, SC until 8.30pm. It looked like it was going to be a long night. I navigated Robert through the first couple of interchanges, and then took a two hour nap; during which we got a call from the 535i that they'd got the car running.
At about 10.40pm I took over. Despite a longish gas stop thanks to a closed Wendy's and McDonald's (that advertised late service), and stopping to check on the Optima Batteries Camaro that was pulled off on the side of the road just north of the Florida border (some kind of rear axle problem), we managed to pull in to Daytona at 3.30am. It's now a little after 4, and I've gotta be up at 7.30, so that's it for now.
-T
A lot of attrition increased our points hall even though we were only faster than a couple cars.
The second session started a tad late, and the Autobarn Mazdaspeed2 blowing up slowed things further. My run was good, and a tweak to the tire pressures helped manage them over the run. I couldn't quite get myself to take the kink flat out... since I was having a little trouble judging the turn-in while thinking about keeping it flat. But I did manage just a squeeze off, and the full throttle through it, ending up exiting around 95mph indicated.
Meanwhile, Robert was putting the excellent diagnosis skills he learned at R&R Automotive to assist the 535i... the *turbo* 535i... that was having inspecific engine problems. With his help, they get the car buttoned up in time for the second run of CMP.
We ended up shadowing the 535i half the way to the BMW Performance Center, since their engine happened to die just s they were passing us on the highway. We got there after a couple of roadside stops to let their ignition coil cool off.
Then I got to enjoy the madness that is the session at BMW performance. Because it's a late run, and everyone's itching to get in and out so they can get a head start towards the night's long haul... tempers are often short. I ended up landing myself in the middle of that accidentally by griding up a little bit early, then misunderstanding what group Brock wanted me to go out in. So I had to throw on my helmet and buckle in real quick. Dan and Mark of the timing and scoring team made sure I was safe a settled, despite be flustered. I did ok. The first lap wasn't great, but it was good. The second lap felt better, but there was still time to be had. I can't tell/remember if it's the same course as '09; but I did manage to shave two seconds off. All things considered, I'll take it.
When we got done, the 535i guys had followed Robert's suggestion that they move their coil pack to a cooler location. However, doing that they found one plug wire that was burned through, and another connector whose plugs seemed to have been pushed in. So, after I packed up the car, Justin (who owns the 535) and Robert hopped in to the Miata to take off to an Autozone that had the parts they needed to complete the fix. As such, we didn't end up leaving Greer, SC until 8.30pm. It looked like it was going to be a long night. I navigated Robert through the first couple of interchanges, and then took a two hour nap; during which we got a call from the 535i that they'd got the car running.
At about 10.40pm I took over. Despite a longish gas stop thanks to a closed Wendy's and McDonald's (that advertised late service), and stopping to check on the Optima Batteries Camaro that was pulled off on the side of the road just north of the Florida border (some kind of rear axle problem), we managed to pull in to Daytona at 3.30am. It's now a little after 4, and I've gotta be up at 7.30, so that's it for now.
-T
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Day: 2 (Summit Point)
Our day started when the previous day stopped, when we decided to stop in Winchester instead of heading the extra hour their and back to home. We rolled in about 1:30am, and got to bed about 2am. Then it was up at 6:30, and out to the track around 7:40... after a slight detour.
Robert got a walk around the track, while I unloaded. The fan club slowly trickled in while we emptied the car, checked the lugs, and set the pressures; and some various talking with other teams, and welcoming Sebastien from the Audi S4 who had finally caught up to us after having trouble flying in to South Bend from Denver.
Robert managed to slot himself into the tail end of the 3rd to last group out, and did quite well... or at least quite well for his experience, and our setup of the car. He ended up 65th, which is about where I expected us... since we're down on power compared to most of the other competitors... and also about where Brock expected us... given our car number. The one shred of brightness is that he managed to be faster than the m-roadster... helping us to claw our way back from the bottom of the class ranking. Well... we're still back there... but we might have a shot at not be last in class. Not that anyone will notice the 'non-battle' going on in the tail end of SSGT2SB.
We ate some lunch, and then lent what hand we could give to Sebastien, Rick, and Tony in the S4. He apparently was running a phenomenal warmup lap, and ended up at start and finish with no brakes and no clutch (the S4 apparently uses a common brake/clutch reservoir)... and ended up with smoke pouring out of the front of the car. I'm not sure, but I think he elected not to carry out the run, and came back to the pits to see what was wrong with the car. Adam Hennessey from the Dubler's team, Tim Harper from the Magnus Motorsports car, and our benefactor Rob of R&R Automotive tried to diagnose the problem. The end result is an agreement that the 100kmi clutch is most likely shot.
They decided to pack up and find an Audi dealer to see if they could get it fixed up in time to meet us at Daytona. If not, they're considering renting a car and driving the rest of the event in a Rental.
Robert lined up in 64, and then waited. Unfortunately, we were far enough back that the rain picked up by the time he went out, and the surface got very very slick. Robert didn't think it was quite that slick and tried to keep it flat on the gas through turn 9... which resulted in quite a bit of sideways action, and cross control to keep the car on track. It made for an entertaining in-car video... other than the continuing problem of the fact that the GoPro is exposing the picture for the detail inside of the car, which is causing everything outside the windshield to be overexposed and washed out. We ended up dropping 11sec compared to the morning session, but moving up to 64th due to our friend Jim Roberts blowing his corvette's motor in the morning session and having to tow his car back home. Word is he's going to grab another 'vette to finish the week out in the Exhibition class.
The end result of all this is that we've slipped back to 62nd over all. I'd say this is reasonable, but hopefully we can keep it there... or start gaining ground a little bit... so that if the Special Construction misses an event we don't end up last(?). :). We've also picked up 35points in class, which puts us 15points behind the M-roadster. So we can catch him if we continue to stay ahead of them, which may be a tall order with Daytona on the horizon.
Other than that, we got in to Lancaster, SC early. Unfortunately the blue laws meant we had to find our own source of ravel rousing... which was conveniently provided by the Tracy and crew in the VW TDI. Thanks again Tracy... you've got the spirit of OLoA well in hand!
Robert got a walk around the track, while I unloaded. The fan club slowly trickled in while we emptied the car, checked the lugs, and set the pressures; and some various talking with other teams, and welcoming Sebastien from the Audi S4 who had finally caught up to us after having trouble flying in to South Bend from Denver.
Robert managed to slot himself into the tail end of the 3rd to last group out, and did quite well... or at least quite well for his experience, and our setup of the car. He ended up 65th, which is about where I expected us... since we're down on power compared to most of the other competitors... and also about where Brock expected us... given our car number. The one shred of brightness is that he managed to be faster than the m-roadster... helping us to claw our way back from the bottom of the class ranking. Well... we're still back there... but we might have a shot at not be last in class. Not that anyone will notice the 'non-battle' going on in the tail end of SSGT2SB.
We ate some lunch, and then lent what hand we could give to Sebastien, Rick, and Tony in the S4. He apparently was running a phenomenal warmup lap, and ended up at start and finish with no brakes and no clutch (the S4 apparently uses a common brake/clutch reservoir)... and ended up with smoke pouring out of the front of the car. I'm not sure, but I think he elected not to carry out the run, and came back to the pits to see what was wrong with the car. Adam Hennessey from the Dubler's team, Tim Harper from the Magnus Motorsports car, and our benefactor Rob of R&R Automotive tried to diagnose the problem. The end result is an agreement that the 100kmi clutch is most likely shot.
They decided to pack up and find an Audi dealer to see if they could get it fixed up in time to meet us at Daytona. If not, they're considering renting a car and driving the rest of the event in a Rental.
Robert lined up in 64, and then waited. Unfortunately, we were far enough back that the rain picked up by the time he went out, and the surface got very very slick. Robert didn't think it was quite that slick and tried to keep it flat on the gas through turn 9... which resulted in quite a bit of sideways action, and cross control to keep the car on track. It made for an entertaining in-car video... other than the continuing problem of the fact that the GoPro is exposing the picture for the detail inside of the car, which is causing everything outside the windshield to be overexposed and washed out. We ended up dropping 11sec compared to the morning session, but moving up to 64th due to our friend Jim Roberts blowing his corvette's motor in the morning session and having to tow his car back home. Word is he's going to grab another 'vette to finish the week out in the Exhibition class.
The end result of all this is that we've slipped back to 62nd over all. I'd say this is reasonable, but hopefully we can keep it there... or start gaining ground a little bit... so that if the Special Construction misses an event we don't end up last(?). :). We've also picked up 35points in class, which puts us 15points behind the M-roadster. So we can catch him if we continue to stay ahead of them, which may be a tall order with Daytona on the horizon.
Other than that, we got in to Lancaster, SC early. Unfortunately the blue laws meant we had to find our own source of ravel rousing... which was conveniently provided by the Tracy and crew in the VW TDI. Thanks again Tracy... you've got the spirit of OLoA well in hand!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Day: 1
The day started pretty well for us, although a little early. we got to TireRack a little after 8, and used the time to turn the rear suspension up about. It makes the car look more flat in stance, and has reduced the crashing we feel while going over the bridge expansion joints.
Then i got ready for the wet skid pad. we had a nicely low fuel tank, so i had us push the car through the queue. I had a goal of getting above 0.7, and was getting worried because all the front runners where much slower than before (tire rack repaved their paf in November). I went up and did my best, although i could tell I'd left a little out there when i goosed for the last .25 turn. but, i ended up with a 0.733. the times were posted earlier (but are now down), and they indicated that was good for 39th, and. 004 off from snagging the RX-8 in our class... probably the last time we'll be that close :(. oh wel, afterall that would have just been icing on the cake since i met my goal.
then we hopped in the car and trekked south 2hours for an autocross. we got there a little late, and Robert only got a quick jog around the course, while i took care of the car: unload, lug check, & set tire pressures. Robert's first run was a 64.742s, while the supercharged miata was @ 57s. The course was big and flowing, which favored the big powered cars. We tweaked pressures, yanked the hardtop off, and by the third run Robert had gotten down to a 59.463s. I was quite happy with him knocking off 5sec. We'll see where we end up, once the scores are posted.
Now we're cruising through ohio on our way back east. after a stop at walmart for snacks and a second headset... the intercom is now working! unfortunately the line-in signal isn't amplified... so music from Robert's phone is inaudible. oh well... small victories. :) maybe we'll have the whole setup working in time to drive back home ;).
Then i got ready for the wet skid pad. we had a nicely low fuel tank, so i had us push the car through the queue. I had a goal of getting above 0.7, and was getting worried because all the front runners where much slower than before (tire rack repaved their paf in November). I went up and did my best, although i could tell I'd left a little out there when i goosed for the last .25 turn. but, i ended up with a 0.733. the times were posted earlier (but are now down), and they indicated that was good for 39th, and. 004 off from snagging the RX-8 in our class... probably the last time we'll be that close :(. oh wel, afterall that would have just been icing on the cake since i met my goal.
then we hopped in the car and trekked south 2hours for an autocross. we got there a little late, and Robert only got a quick jog around the course, while i took care of the car: unload, lug check, & set tire pressures. Robert's first run was a 64.742s, while the supercharged miata was @ 57s. The course was big and flowing, which favored the big powered cars. We tweaked pressures, yanked the hardtop off, and by the third run Robert had gotten down to a 59.463s. I was quite happy with him knocking off 5sec. We'll see where we end up, once the scores are posted.
Now we're cruising through ohio on our way back east. after a stop at walmart for snacks and a second headset... the intercom is now working! unfortunately the line-in signal isn't amplified... so music from Robert's phone is inaudible. oh well... small victories. :) maybe we'll have the whole setup working in time to drive back home ;).
Friday, April 29, 2011
Day: 0
Today was tech inspection. We started the day after a 4 hour rest at 7am this morning, and hit the TireRack just before 9, ending up as a part of a convoy of 2 with Jim Roberts as the first cars there. :). I will admit to being a little over eager.
The tech inspection really has less to do with checking every nook, cranny, and nut and bolt. It's really your responsibility to make sure your car is setup and ready for this event. Instead it is more about managing the stickiness of stickers, and the predisposition of the (ever present) wind to make placing those stickers as difficult as possible. Hopefully you'll agree that we managed to triumph over the efforts of the wind with some success.
We ended up taking up most of the time, as we needed to put the last few R&R Automotive website address graphics to the car; and all the individual letters required some patience to complete correctly. As we were finishing that up, the Dunlop Brand Manager and two assistants walked up with two goody bags of swag and four stickers to put on the car! Heck ya! I'm glad that I followed the advice about these tires in comparison to the Kuhmos that Stephen Burke and Tim Harper from the Rochester DSM / Magnus Motorsports crew posted last year before their second One Lap!
It's been a lot of fun catching up with everyone that I met in 2009, around the paddock and during the driver's meeting. Some people are surprised to see me back, since I expected my run in 2009 to be a one-time deal. What can I say? Maybe, I'm a smoother talker and better salesman than I give myself credit for. Regardless, I know that I found *very* wonderful wife, who isn't a 'fixed in stone' type; a woman who knows me and makes me happy. Hopefully the same can be said of me.
None-the-less, all my OneLap friends seem to miss the Fit... ALOT. Brock even asked where his Fit was! They apparently, would have preferred that I brought it instead of the Miata. I'm not so sure it would have stuck out as much among the cast of Econo cars assembled this year... other than being soo slow ;).
Unfortunately not everything is "happy go lucky", "friends and stickers" for us. We've got some extended-family issues that we're keeping an ear to the ground about. Nothing any of you, dear readers, need to worry about. But, we'd appreciate it if you kept us in your hearts and prayers.
On a more lighted note, Robert is currently hacking up our recently acquired intercom and other recently acquired radio shack headphone jacks in order to get it to work. He seems to be in his element... although I'm sure he'd prefer to be relaxing in other ways.
That's about it for now. I'll try to update y'all about our doings tomorrow.
(edited to add a link to the RochesterDSM/Magnus Motorsports blog. Check them out, Tim and Steve are first class guys!)
The tech inspection really has less to do with checking every nook, cranny, and nut and bolt. It's really your responsibility to make sure your car is setup and ready for this event. Instead it is more about managing the stickiness of stickers, and the predisposition of the (ever present) wind to make placing those stickers as difficult as possible. Hopefully you'll agree that we managed to triumph over the efforts of the wind with some success.
We ended up taking up most of the time, as we needed to put the last few R&R Automotive website address graphics to the car; and all the individual letters required some patience to complete correctly. As we were finishing that up, the Dunlop Brand Manager and two assistants walked up with two goody bags of swag and four stickers to put on the car! Heck ya! I'm glad that I followed the advice about these tires in comparison to the Kuhmos that Stephen Burke and Tim Harper from the Rochester DSM / Magnus Motorsports crew posted last year before their second One Lap!
It's been a lot of fun catching up with everyone that I met in 2009, around the paddock and during the driver's meeting. Some people are surprised to see me back, since I expected my run in 2009 to be a one-time deal. What can I say? Maybe, I'm a smoother talker and better salesman than I give myself credit for. Regardless, I know that I found *very* wonderful wife, who isn't a 'fixed in stone' type; a woman who knows me and makes me happy. Hopefully the same can be said of me.
None-the-less, all my OneLap friends seem to miss the Fit... ALOT. Brock even asked where his Fit was! They apparently, would have preferred that I brought it instead of the Miata.
Unfortunately not everything is "happy go lucky", "friends and stickers" for us. We've got some extended-family issues that we're keeping an ear to the ground about. Nothing any of you, dear readers, need to worry about. But, we'd appreciate it if you kept us in your hearts and prayers.
On a more lighted note, Robert is currently hacking up our recently acquired intercom and other recently acquired radio shack headphone jacks in order to get it to work. He seems to be in his element... although I'm sure he'd prefer to be relaxing in other ways.
That's about it for now. I'll try to update y'all about our doings tomorrow.
(edited to add a link to the RochesterDSM/Magnus Motorsports blog. Check them out, Tim and Steve are first class guys!)
Day: Start -1
It's been a long couple of days since we got back from VIR Saturday night. R&R has been wrapping up some things on the car. Swapping the One Lap rubber from the Tire Rack onto the Enkei's. It's a bit odd to see the Kuhmo's from OLoA 2009 finally go, although Robert thought they still had a good bit of life in them... it's better to start off with fresh rubber, and no concern about wearing through the tires during the event. Plus, I'm not sure they'd be allowed back.
R&R also worked through our overheating problem, and then some additional items that cropped up while fixing the first problem. They tracked the problem down to a radiator cap that wasn't holding pressure. Then, while draining the fluid, they found that the AL radiator had an AL drain plug, which had completely stripped out the radiator's threads. So they retapped those, dropped in a helicoil, and then safety wired the plug shut.
R&R also swapped in our new rotors, a fresh set of Hawk HP+ pads (bringing the hardly used ones as spares), and tracked down our cruise control woes to a broken brake sensor switch. Finally they managed to get the R&R decals on the trunk, rear bumper and front hood. Unfortunately, getting all of this done wasn't completed until 5pm today. Which, fortunately gave Robert and I enough time to work through what we had enough time to take, and pack it all into the trunk of the miata. It's a tight fit, but we can make some space by bringing a few choice items up to the package shelf behind the seats and under the hardtop... a space made bigger, and more useful by the lack of soft top.
So, we finally got on the road about an hour and half later than I wanted to. But that's how it goes sometimes, and it's not like this is going to be an especially different drive from the rest of the ones we're going to be pulling the rest of the week. And I'd rather be an hour and a half late, with more peace of mind, than leave ontime or early and have a few things still outstanding... or at least that's what I have to tell my impatient side of myself while the clock ticks past my original schedule. Hopefully, I wasn't hovering too obnoxiously ;).
In conclusion, we're off! We currently in the bumps, slows, and construction of PA wending our way towards Wauseon, OH for the night... so that we're a short hop from South Bend in the morning. Assuming we manage to successfully navigate our way through the conspicuously absent of speed limit signs roadway that is the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I'll try to send another update after we get through tech inspection tomorrow.
R&R also worked through our overheating problem, and then some additional items that cropped up while fixing the first problem. They tracked the problem down to a radiator cap that wasn't holding pressure. Then, while draining the fluid, they found that the AL radiator had an AL drain plug, which had completely stripped out the radiator's threads. So they retapped those, dropped in a helicoil, and then safety wired the plug shut.
R&R also swapped in our new rotors, a fresh set of Hawk HP+ pads (bringing the hardly used ones as spares), and tracked down our cruise control woes to a broken brake sensor switch. Finally they managed to get the R&R decals on the trunk, rear bumper and front hood. Unfortunately, getting all of this done wasn't completed until 5pm today. Which, fortunately gave Robert and I enough time to work through what we had enough time to take, and pack it all into the trunk of the miata. It's a tight fit, but we can make some space by bringing a few choice items up to the package shelf behind the seats and under the hardtop... a space made bigger, and more useful by the lack of soft top.
So, we finally got on the road about an hour and half later than I wanted to. But that's how it goes sometimes, and it's not like this is going to be an especially different drive from the rest of the ones we're going to be pulling the rest of the week. And I'd rather be an hour and a half late, with more peace of mind, than leave ontime or early and have a few things still outstanding... or at least that's what I have to tell my impatient side of myself while the clock ticks past my original schedule. Hopefully, I wasn't hovering too obnoxiously ;).
In conclusion, we're off! We currently in the bumps, slows, and construction of PA wending our way towards Wauseon, OH for the night... so that we're a short hop from South Bend in the morning. Assuming we manage to successfully navigate our way through the conspicuously absent of speed limit signs roadway that is the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I'll try to send another update after we get through tech inspection tomorrow.