Oil Analytical Results from Buttonwillow

We have received back the results of the oil testing of both the D and the Z.  I think the results speaks for themselves so here they are:

Results for the D

Results for the Z

Buttonwillow Moments

 No Bad Days

 Jetzt sind die Bremsen eingefahren

Hot Pursuit

Last driver change

The cars are running well and the drivers are staying out of trouble (knocking wood). Both cars were positioned in the teens when they came in.  Gases them up, put in Lugnut and torch and sent them out.  Both should be able to run to the checker.

Checker flag

We finished up 15th and 23rd. Lugnut managed the fast lap in the Z on the last lap of the race. Nicely done!

And that's how the program goes off the rails

The cars where one lap apart when these drivers went into the cars. However...

Lugnut came in first after helping another car go faster by giving it a shove. The front of the Miata is a little shorter now but nothing critical was damaged. Lugnut said it was down in power and it seems that problem was a cracked intake that we patched.  Once done we sent him how to check things and if working finish his session. 

While Lugnut was in the pits, muddy called in on his way to the penalty box. He got a slap on the wrist for an off track excursion. I'm sure it's a good story and we'll hear it in a bit :-)

Anyways, both cars are back out and turning circles. 

Lunch time

We have now been through 3 drivers changes. Only one black flag to report on the Z and the two cars are within a lap of each other in 19th and 20th place. 

Race day 2

Yesterday we had no black flags and finished up 18th and 22nd. Everyone is feeling pretty happy about that. There were some dents to remove by the end of the day.  Nothing Muddy's new hammer couldn't solve. 

So last night we changed the brake pads, replaced the oil, replaced the tires and hammer some fenders and are now ready to go. 

Since the race order seemed to work yesterday, we are doing the same order today minus some time since the day ends at 3:30 not 5:00. 

Zoom zoom. 

Celebration time

Tonight we are celebrating Z-Mom's retirement.  We had a bacon and sausage creation as an appetizer. Coenishish game hens for dinner and champagne to celebrate!

Last driver change

The cars are running well and the drivers are staying out of trouble (knocking wood). Both cars were positioned in the teens when they came in.  Gases them up, put in Lugnut and torch and sent them out.  Both should be able to run to the checker.

Race update

The first two drivers had clean runs and now we are on the third stint for each car.  The D is currently 2 laps up on the Z and was in 15th at the last pit stop. Pit stops are a little slow for us, so each car drops 6 laps or so at a pit stop and then we climb up the rankings again. 

The weather is much better today and we are all hoping it continues. 

Lunch was lamb and pita's.  Yum

Race day 1

We are a short crew today, so we'll get long stints in both cars. 

We got everything out together last night.  We are getting the cars on track. With Muddy in the D and Queen in the Z.

The oil leak in the D was an o-ring for the oil cooler. In a horrible place to get to.  Torch and Lugnut got it eventually and we think the car is all sealed up again and ready to go.

Zoom zoom

And the keg is tapped

'Nuff said

Practice done

Both cars ran well all day. The drivers took some time figuring out where the track goes, but we seem to have that sorted now without any problems caused by the learning. 

We are not taking care of oil, tansponders and fixing some odds and ends. 

The miaDa rear shocks have leaked out their oil so torch is sorting that out. The miaDa had some sort of oil leak that we are looking for too. 

The Z we are checking front bushings, but that is preventative. 

Today was supposed to be the hottest day. At least we had both shade and some wind.

Tonight is Octoberfest at the track. I think sausage, beer and pretzels for dinner. Good times. 

Tech complete

Got both cars through tech quickly with zero laps. Both in class A but that is always the case with a Miata, the Z's having a much sketchier reputation means it doesn't always get A, although we usually do. Time to hit the track again. 

Next up

Things were 'exciting' for muddy until the car warmed up. Then he got into the groove and found his line on the track. Car is running well, but it is getting warm here so we'll watch the temps. 

Lugnut out for his practice laps. 

Camp set up, now on to practice laps

After a 4:30 start today we have made our way to button willow and set up camp. Both the drive and setup were uneventful.  We did get a radio installed in Daws, so Lugnut had music to listen to the whole way down. 

Now that we have our little corner staked out, we are prepping the cars to get some practice laps in. 

Muddy is out first in the Z to give it a shakedown and then we'll get serious about learning where the track goes again. 

The night before Button Turrible

After a long day and help from the team, we are packed, load, and starting to take that all so brief siesta before our 4:00 am call to get to the track.  

Everything went smoothly as we were finishing the final touched, except we did find our first trouble.  As the cars were being staged to get load, a oil puddle under the D was identified. After some investigation, it is determined the rear strut is now leaking.  This is a new leak, but not surprising to only find it now as the cars spend a lot of time on jack stands. As for the resolution, we will run it tomorrow in practice and see how it goes. Queen and Torch before getting out of town will swing by the parts store where some rear struts are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.  This will delay them so only four of us will be on track to start the practice. 

Well that is for tomorrow.

  

Drivers Schedule For Button Turrible

Here is the predicted driver schedule for this race:

Practice
D						Z
Start	Finish	Pilot		Notes		Start	Finish	Pilot		Notes
9:00 AM	9:28 AM	Driver	1	Estimated     12 laps		1:00 PM	1:28 PM	Driver	1	Estimated     12 laps
9:53 AM	10:21 AM	Driver	2	Estimated       12 laps		1:53 PM	2:21 PM	Driver	2	Estimated       12 laps
10:46 AM	11:14 AM	Driver	3	Estimated     12 laps		2:46 PM	3:14 PM	Driver	3	Estimated     12 laps
11:39 AM	12:07 PM	Driver	4	Estimated       12 laps		3:39 PM	4:07 PM	Driver	4	Estimated       12 laps
12:32 PM	1:00 PM	Driver	5	Estimated     12 laps		4:32 PM	5:00 PM	Driver	5	Estimated     12 laps
1:00 AM	1:24 AM	Driver	6	Estimated       12 laps
1:49 AM	2:13 AM	Driver	7	Estimated     12 laps
2:38 AM	3:02 AM	Driver	8	Estimated       12 laps
3:27 AM	3:51 AM	Driver	9	Estimated     12 laps
4:16 AM	4:40 AM	Driver	10	Estimated       12 laps
Day 2	Race Session I
D						Z
Start	Finish	Pilot		Notes		Start	Finish	Pilot		Notes
9:00 AM	10:33 AM	Driver	1	Estimated   34 laps		9:00 AM	10:27 AM	Driver	1	Estimated   38 laps
10:45 AM	12:10 PM	Driver	2	Estimated  34 laps		10:38 AM	12:05 PM	Driver	2	Estimated   38 laps
12:22 PM	1:47 PM	Driver	3	Estimated   34 laps		12:16 PM	1:43 PM	Driver	3	Estimated   38 laps
1:59 PM	3:24 PM	Driver	4	Estimated  34 laps		1:54 PM	3:21 PM	Driver	4	Estimated   38 laps
3:36 PM	5:01 PM	Driver	5	Estimated   34 laps		3:32 PM	4:59 PM	Driver	5	Estimated   38 laps
Day 3 Race Session II
D						Z
Start	Finish	Pilot		Notes		Start	Finish	Pilot		Notes
9:00 AM	10:15 AM	Driver	1	Estimated   28 laps		9:00 AM	10:09 AM	Driver	1	Estimated   30 laps
10:27 AM	11:34 AM	Driver	2	Estimated   28 laps		10:21 AM	11:30 AM	Driver	2	Estimated  30 laps
11:46 AM	12:53 PM	Driver	3	Estimated   28 laps		11:42 AM	12:51 PM	Driver	3	Estimated   30 laps
1:05 PM	2:12 PM	Driver	4	Estimated   28 laps		1:03 PM	2:12 PM	Driver	4	Estimated  30 laps
2:24 PM	3:31 PM	Driver	5	Estimated   28 laps		2:24 PM	3:33 PM	Driver	5	Estimated   30 laps