Setbacks

It should really come as no surprise since this hobby of mine is pretty tough on equipment, but every now and then, things are going to break. This past weekend I got to experience my first ever engine failure. Maybe that isn't such a bad record over 7+ years of doing this.

Tarheel Sports Car Club and the Triangle Z Club had their finale at Carolina Motorsports Park. It was also the final Time Trial event of the THSCC season. I hadn't been to the October event at CMP in years, and most of the events I do at CMP are during the summer, so I usually associate CMP with weather in the 90's and extreme humidity. Instead were were welcomed with lows in the 40's, highs in the 70's, and not a cloud in the sky all weekend. It was, without question, the best track event weather in recent memory.

I only drove two sessions during Saturday's school sessions. The brakes were spongy enough that they didn't give me much confidence, and I had quite bit of rust to knock off, so I was not driving very well. Fortunately, both of my students were doing great which always makes for a rewarding event.

I "qualified" 5th for the Time Trial with a time about equal to my fastest lap during the June event. Since I knew I had been driving poorly and staying conservative, I felt confident that I could knock some more time off during the Time Trial. The green flag dropped and I immediately started driving sloppy again. I just couldn't put together a decent lap. After a few useless laps sliding around, I took a deep breath and slowed my mind down. I told myself that all I needed to do was exactly what I tell my students...be smooth with my inputs and consistently put the car where it needs to be. Next thing I know, I'm closing in on the 4th place car. A perfect example of having to slow down to go faster. I was on the second of two great laps when it all went away.

I went through turn 8, a fast, on camber right hander, as normal. I shifted to 4th and gently went through turn 9, a flat out bend which isn't much of a corner. Somewhere between turn and 10, I heard a pop. Not a loud bang, but a noise that was very obviously not good. The engine started running rough right away. I thought maybe a vacuum hose had popped off or that the throttle position sensor had worked itself loose. I decided to try to limp it into the pits in hopes of a quick fix and another lap or two during the Time Trial. As I rounded turn 13 the engine died. I pulled in behind the corner worker station and parked the car. I had to sit in the car until the Time Trial session finished. It was quite painful sitting there in a dead car watching my competition go by over and over, knowing there was nothing I could do. Eventually, after the second Time Trial session was completed and the track was cold, I was towed back to the pits. Sunday morning I drove the car one more time...for about 15 feet from the paddock onto my trailer. Weekend over. Insult added to injury: I finished second in the Time Trial, meaning I'd finished second in the yearly points championship as well. Wonderful.

After a couple days of mourning, I decided to look more into the problem. Everything pointed to something in the valve train so I went there first. So far I have discovered what is likely a broken valve retainer for the rear intake valve in cylinder 4. I will have to remove the cylinder head to make the repairs, and doing so will allow me to look for any more damage. My fingers are crossed that the damage is limited to the top end. I've also never ventured down the road of internal engine repairs, so I'm hoping I can pull off these repairs successfully.

This is not how I wanted my 2010 track season to end, but this sport can be cruel sometimes. I still love it, however. That's why I'm looking forward to this winter's repairs and upgrades. We've got to pay to play, right?