This weekend’s VARA Big Bore Bash race at Willow Springs Raceway required a full wardrobe to be brought along. Friday’s Test day was warm and sunny, Saturday’s Qualifying was overcast and rainy, and Sunday’s Races were cold and windy. Over 140 racers braved the desert weather for the season’s finale, with several Class Championships still on the line. But American V8s were on the main stage this weekend with great competition in the Big Bore Challenge and Big Bore Pursuit races.
Thankfully I’ve finally solved most of the issues with my Datsun 710 B-Sedan race car. The rear axle leak that was soaking my rear brakes since I bought the car ended up not being in the seal or bearing area at all. The leak was actually a small crack in a bracket weld on the axle tube, and the gear oil was being sucked out of it and into the drum brakes through the cooling holes in the backing plate! A temporary patch with some Dirko sealing compound kept my rear brakes dry the rest of the weekend. Thanks to my racing buddy Phil Eglin of German Auto Service for helping me solve the mystery. Before the race weekend started, a little dyno time at Seven’s Only Racing allowed me to get a cam and carb combo dialed in, and some chassis set-up help from IEM Racing improved the handling. It was great to actually get in several rounds of trouble-free hard driving to start dialing in the brake balance, tire pressures, etc. The car ran near the front of the pack for most of the weekend, leaving me with improved hopes for 2015 ;-)
Dual Webers…
From my friend Craig’s point of view (looks like he had more fun than me),
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