YOU'RE IN! Vodden the Hell Are We Doing, Devilishly Presented by Yokohama

#24HoursofLemons     #BecauseRoadkill

Hi, Muddy: 

Half-Life Racing (Seize-Z-ium and Ra-D-ium) has been officially ACCEPTED for Vodden the Hell Are We Doing, Devilishly Presented by Yokohama at Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows CA on May 19 - May 20. (Multiple entries? Log in to see what got in and what didn't.)

If you're racing, you must read this email completely!

1) FINISH YOUR INFO: Your team's current status is Not Ready to Race. If you're not showing "ready to race," log on here and fix what's missing. (In case you need it, here's a step-by-step guide to the reg process.) 
 

2) PRINT A TECH SHEET and inspect your car against every line. Bring your signed, filled-out Tech Sheet to Tech at the track, and remember--not every rule is reflected on the Tech Sheet. You still need to study the full Lemons Rulebook.
 

3) READ THESE NOTICES:

FIRST TIME WITH LEMONS? There's a mandatory Rookie Meeting after tech closes on Friday. Unless a Lemons official tells you otherwise, show up at the tech area 15 minutes past closing. 

DON'T HURT THE FACILITY: If you destroy their Armco, break their tow rig, dissolve their pavement with gas spills, etc, the track may charge you. So, don't do that.

EVENT SCHEDULE, CAMPING, DIRECTIONS, ETC: Look for these on this race's Event Page--when we learn something new, we'll update it there.

DRIVER-SAFETY GEAR: To see helmets, suits, head-and-neck units, and all the other required crap at sponsor-subsidized rates, visit Lemons' online store.

RACE #s: If the number you want isn't available on your Team Home Page's pulldown menu, somebody else already has it. Pick another one.

RULES: The Lemons Rulebook has been updated! Read the complete Rulebook (http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/prices-rules) now and re-check it often, refreshing your browser each time. Remember, it's your job to know this stuff!

DROPOUTS: There are no refunds or fee transfers! When you enter a race, you're buying the right to compete--not a guarantee that you'll get your own act together. If you drop out, can't finish your car, blow up, go broke, catch swine flu, step on your own wiener, or otherwise fail to avail yourself of your grid spot, you forfeit your entry fees. That's why they're called "entry" fees, not "I got to drive the whole race" fees.
 

4) COUGH UP YOUR ENTRY FEE: Your entry fees are due now--your spot is not guaranteed until your team fees are paid. All fees must be paid in full by 04/07/2018. Miss that deadline, and your spot may be given to a team on the waitlist. (Need to beg an extension? Drop Nick an email before the due date.) To check your current balance or pay online, see your Team Home Page at https://registration.24hoursoflemons.com/members/races/registration/signup_id/21924.

TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD, use the "Pay Now" button on your Team Home Page at https://registration.24hoursoflemons.com/members/races/registration/signup_id/21924.

TO PAY BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER, make payable to "24 Hours of Lemons" and mail to Lemons Dept. of Up-Coughing, 5675-C Horton St, Emeryville CA 94608.

5) ALL SET? CLICK THIS LINK TO CONFIRM YOUR ACCEPTANCE:
https://registration.24hoursoflemons.com/login/acknowledge/sid/21924/hash/75bc04225995beac8b8de2df4ae81805

Got questions? Hit www.24HoursofLemons.com or:
Nick Pon, Associate Perpetrator
5675-C Horton Street, Emeryville CA 94608
nick@24HoursofLemons.com

No Rest for the Team

I check today and we are unofficially in for the "Vodden the Hell are We Doing?" race in May 19-20.  When I get the formal invitation ( likely tomorrow) I will send it on.

As for work, we have scheduled a postmortem for this weekend.  The cars did get through Sears Pointless, but took a bit of a pounding.  Both cars have some work to be done to get them ready for the race that I think will put the most amount of stress on them.  Forget what the drivers do.  Going into this, we will have not only to replace the consumables (gas, brakes, tires, motor oil, and gear oil) but also review each car's suspension, electrical systems, look at the Z's differential, optimize the new systems on the Z, and fix cosmetic stuff, like the fender, tow hitch, and bumper damage.

2 more checkers!!!!!

Finished with two checkers. Both cars passing on the last couple laps to pick up some final spots. 32nd for the z and 54th for the D. Nice runs all

Last driver change done

The D continues to run in circles. Queen came in unhappy as she never dailed this run in as well as the last one in the Z, but happy to bring the car back. Torch went in to finish the day.

Tow came in and said the car has a rumble down under.  General consensus is the new engine is putting too much torque through the diff and we are wearing it out. Not much we can do at this point, so we sent Lugnut out to finish the day. 

Hoping to complete the next hour and a half cleanly and have two more checked flags on the weekend!

Cars are running 39th for the Z and 65th for the D and Lugnut just turned the fast lap for us this weekend so thinking the diff isn’t slowing him down any for now. 

On to paddock cleanup.  

Another driver change complete

Muddy hit the track full of vim and vigor to improve on his times yesterday. Lots of success, as he shaved 15 seconds off his time. Things were looking good until the radio crackled and he fessed up to a spin in the carosel. Opps. So, that black flag #2 for the car today.  After the stop and go however his times stayed good (although not quite the same pace) and he had a very long run moving the car forward through the standings.

In the mean time, we switched Lugnut to Picasso and Picasso to Queen in the D. No drama there as the little D keeps runnning in circles. 

Drivers changes done

Tow came in first, and with 4 gal of fuel our went the D with Lugnut at the wheel. 

Queen came in with a little damage to the car.  Debreifing afterwards there were a ‘few’ bumps and one black flag. Nothing some zip ties couldn’t fix. Quick turn around, gas, and Muddy is on the track. 

D in for repair

The idiot light on the dash went off and Tow came in to the pits. Car was overheating. Turns out the accessory belt snapped so after a quick repair, he is out again. 

Queen is running well in the Z. Driver order for the day is here, so after a few more laps we’ll bring tow in again and swap Lugnut into the car. 

Green flags and 2 cars running

We started early today and at the end of the first parade lap, they threw the green and we were racing. We had time for a great breakfast this morning, quick discussion on drivers order and off we go!

2 checker flags today

We wrapped up in 39th and and 50th with both cars running. When they get to the pits we’ll figure out what work is needed but very happy to have run all day with both cars. 

Lugnut’s turn

Tow came in with a clean run. And the two cars are one lap apart. So we wished Lugnut sent him out to really stretch out the car so we can compare notes with the other two drivers to see what else we should work on.

Zoom zoom

Driver change for the D. Torch is in, had a clean run but he reports brakes lock right front first so care is needed going into turns. Queen is getting in and then off to the races. 

Z Tire Smoke

Lugnut came back with these photos to share from Muddy's run.  Overrunning the chicane, and giving the corner workers some excitement.

Z driver change

Muddy is in and Tow is heading out. Tow has been away for a bit, and practiced in the D yesterday so hopefully all goes well. 

Muddy says everything is inconsistent and he struggled to put down any repeatable laps. Engine, suspension, steering, tires all added up to a hard to manage car. At least it was only one black flag. 

First driver change

First driver change is done. Picasso had a clean run and came in early on a full course yellow. Apparently there are electrical problems with the track communications that I’m happy not to be solving!  So a clean run and Torch is now on the track. Muddy has kept himself out of trouble and he and the car are running well.

Green flag and 2 cars

Forecast is that the rain will stay away until tonight!  We had a lot of water to clean up from the rain last night and have wrapped one of the seats in plastic.  We are optimistic the electrical problems are solved, but the z didn’t make one lap before it was towed in yesterday so I’ll be happiest when it goes past one lap.

Setup went smooth this morning, and looks like a drying track. Here is the driving order for the day.  

We have Muddy and Picasso in their respective cars. And now on the track. 

Both cars have made the track and the Z certainly sounds better than it did yesterday. It at least has made it up and over the hill it didnt make yesterday. 8 hours to eventually debug to a blown coil and 2 swapped connectors. 

With the green flag now waving, fingers crossed. 

One lap in and Muddy is still on the track. Whew. 

As I was trying to type this, Muddy got a black flag spinning in the carousel 😠. At least it was because he was putting down too much power on the wet.  Calling the car good for now and watching them race. 

The Z is alive (We think)

After three hours of the gang of seven working on the trouble, we think we have fixed it.  There appears to have been three problems.  The first was two of the coils were not working.   Queen and Zchef delivered those and they quickly went in.  

The next trouble was the engine at 3000ish rpm would cut out.  Several cause for that was looked into.   The one that did it was the coil pugs were swap on cylinder four and six.  Normal that can’t happen and easy to see but in this case we think the supplier test the motor and then when putting it back crossed them.  In the end tgat solved the cutting out trouble. 

The fail was another issue tgat had been trubling use.  With all the added load with the new toys, a relay fuse would blow.  It would not be the same fuse, but this last event pointed to the fuse under size for the added load.  The quick answer is a large fuse and we will need to research later if tge wire size is correct.  

For now we think we have it and hopes are high going into tomorrows race.  

Troubles with the Z continues

Queen did a great job and was able to get us the coil packs.  She got on a rolll and pulled all six, so we had plan to choice from.  Once Zchef and Queen got on site the parts were thankfully taken and installation.

Upon testing we are know faced with engine cut out at 3000 rpm.   Some gerry riging now has insued and at this point we are still working to figure this out.  We have our top Green jackets at it.  

Practice Starts..?

Noon rolled in and we rolled out onto the track to shake down the Z.  This was the maid voyage and so what could go wrong.   

Well, I gentle work the car up the hill, but imedeately had a problem.  The car did not want to accelerate.   I then got to 3 and went up the next hill and at the top the car said no.  So, I pulled it over and need await a tow.  

Once we got in the pits we changed cars, set Torch out in the D, and trouble shooting begins.   Lugnut and I work on it and by the time Torch returned we had the trouble down to the coil packs and the spark plugs on two cylinder not sparking. 

We then turned the D around with Picaso taking laps.   Then calls went out to Zchef and Queen.  Turns out Zchef and Queen had not left, so we walked Queen through pulling the Coil Packs.  They are in route know and we plan to exchange them and the try again.  

Menu for the Weekend

This is good I have enough time to get this out.  Also, looking at the weather we might have caught a break, and it looks good for now.

As for the menu, Z-Chef has made her choices.  On Friday night we're going to Peru and southwest favors.  On Sunday it to the West for a Barbecue.   Here is the rest of the fun:

	Friday		Saturday	Sunday
Breakfast		◦ Banana Bread	◦   Croissant breakfast sandwiches with ham and cheese ◦   Fresh fruit	◦   Sausage and Egg Muffins ◦   Fresh fruit
Lunch		◦   Deli Sandwiches ◦   Chips	◦   Pulled Pork Sandwiches ◦   Coleslaw	◦   Lamb Pita Sandwiches ◦   Greek Salad
Starters		◦   Artichoke Jalapeno dip ◦   Crudités ◦   Pita Chips	◦   Appetizers al Rose
Dinner		Grill Fest ◦   Peruvian Chicken and green sauce ◦   Green Rice ◦   Black bean salad ◦   Grilled Zucchini	Western BBQ ◦   Tri-Tip ◦   Garlic Bread  ◦   Green Salad ◦   Grilled Broccolini
Dessert		◦   Flan	◦    Birthday Cake
Beverages		◦   Craft Beer ◦   Wine ◦   Muddy Special Beers
Snack		◦   Chocolate chip cookies ◦   Chocolate crackle cookies ◦   Peanut butter cookies (Note: Driver cookies are only for non black flag runs!)

Friday at Sonoma

We did launch to the track on time.  When we got to the Benica bridge the Sun was still trying to riase. I did get this shot:

We then did find a nice spot. It is about the same spot as the last race. 

It is now about 9:00 and we are mostly setup.  Next think Tech at 11:00.   So, life is good.

Driver Schedule For Sears Pointless 2018

Proposed scehdule for Sears Pointless

Friday, March 23 - Team Schedule

6:30 AM	Leave Dublin for the track
8:00 AM	Arrive on track and setup paddock
10:30 AM	Register for practice
11:00 AM	Tech and BS Inspection
11:30 AM	Lunch
12:00 PM	Practice starts
4:00 PM	Practice ends and start prepping for race
5:00 PM	Dinner

Drivers schedule

Practice

D

Z

Start

Finish

Pilot

Notes

Start

Finish

Pilot

Notes

12:00 AM

12:42 AM

Driver

1

Estimated     12 laps

12:00 PM

1:00 PM

Driver

1

Estimated    14 laps

12:54 AM

1:22 AM

Driver

2

Estimated       12 laps

1:15 PM

1:45 PM

Driver

2

Estimated       14 laps

1:34 AM

2:01 AM

Driver

3

Estimated     12 laps

2:00 PM

2:30 PM

Driver

3

Estimated    14 laps

2:13 AM

2:41 AM

Driver

4

Estimated       12 laps

2:45 PM

3:15 PM

Driver

4

Estimated       14 laps

2:53 AM

3:20 AM

Driver

5

Estimated     12 laps

3:30 PM

4:00 PM

Driver

5

Estimated    14 laps

3:32 AM

4:00 AM

Driver

6

Estimated       12 laps

Day 2

Race Session I

D

Z

Start

Finish

Pilot

Notes

Start

Finish

Pilot

Notes

9:30 AM

10:42 AM

Driver

1

Estimated   46 laps

9:30 AM

11:06 AM

Driver

1

Estimated   42 laps

10:54 AM

12:38 PM

Driver

2

Estimated  25 laps

11:18 AM

12:54 PM

Driver

2

Estimated   42 laps

12:50 PM

2:34 PM

Driver

3

Estimated   46 laps

1:06 PM

2:42 PM

Driver

3

Estimated   42 laps

2:46 PM

4:30 PM

Driver

4

Estimated  46 laps

2:54 PM

4:30 PM

Driver

4

Estimated   42 laps

Day 3       Race Session II

D

Z

Start

Finish

Pilot

Notes

Start

Finish

Pilot

Notes

9:00 AM

9:42 AM

Driver

1

Estimated   25 laps

9:00 AM

10:44 AM

1

Estimated   49 laps

9:54 AM

11:24 AM

Driver

2

Estimated   40 laps

10:56 AM

12:40 PM

2

Estimated   49 laps

11:36 AM

1:06 PM

Driver

3

Estimated   40 laps

12:52 PM

2:36 PM

3

Estimated   49 laps

1:18 PM

2:48 PM

Driver

4

Estimated   40 laps

2:48 PM

4:32 PM

4

Estimated   49 laps

3:00 PM

4:30 PM

Driver

5

Estimated   40 laps