10 days to go.

This weekend will be a big work weekend. I plan on going at it for both days, so if anyone is around this weekend come on by. Also, for you drivers the seat will be moving down. To compensate we are looking to place wedges under the seat to bring you up some.

As for work, here is the punch list:

2011 Sears Pointless
Electrical Systems
		Items	Status	Comments
	1	ECU replacement	Done
	2	Reinstall Tack	Done
	3	Reinstall Traqmate	Done
	4	Fix the Nissan Consult so we can plug in a laptop		Possible rewire
	5	Look for error messages
	6	ECU Tune
	7	Run car with computer connected to consult monitoring systems
	8	Camera Height Review	Done
	9	Test Oxygen Sensor
	10	New Start Switch	Done
Engine and Driver Train
		Items	Status	Comments
	1	Engine compress test	Done	1- 190, 2 -180, 3- 190, 4-175, 5-200, 6-180
	2	Vacuum test	Done	900 rpm 51 inHg
	3	Test water temperature sensor	Done
	4	Test fuel level sensor	Done
		Replace Transmission	Done
	5	Install exhaust system	Done
	6	Change motor oil	Done
	7	Install Rear Differential	Done
	8	Change Extension Oil Seal	Done
	9	Replace drive line	Done
	10	Reattach Half Shafts	Done
	11	Add Gear oil to Transmission	Done	Have Oil
	12	Added Gear oil to Differential	Done	Have Oil
	13	Check water level	Done
	14	Check water pump	Done
	15	Test clutch	Done
	16	Pull Goldies Rear Differential	Done
Suspension
		Items	Status	Comments
	1	Added adjustable camber to rear wheels	Done
	2	Install front strut tower support	Done	Have parts
	3	Check strut and tighten
	4	Check Wheel bearings	Done
	5	Replace swaybar bushing	Done
	6	Front alignment	Done
	7	Steering Wheel Quick Release
Brakes System
		Items	Status	Comments
	1	Inspect brakes	Done
	2	Brake Bias options/balance	Done
	3	Removal Rear brake Covers	Done
	4	Bleed Brakes	Done
	5	Replace Brake Pads		Have Hawk 9012 and will replace after First day run
Pit and Logistics Systems
		Items	Status	Comments
	1	Hotel room confirmation and number of rooms confirmed	Done	6 Room at Travelodge (two rooms taken)
	2	Reserve tow truck	Done	Daws
	3	Reserve trailer	Done	US Rental flat bed
	4	RV rental	Done	RV pending rental
	5	T-shirt printing	Done
	6	Team Hat	Done
	7	Menu
	8	Residual value memo to Jay		Sent to him
	9	Radio Head Set	Done
	10	Ear Buds for radio	Done	5 ordered
	11	5x5-gallon carboy	Done
	12	Pack for the track
	13	Replace team logo on Hood	Done
	14	Refresh paint	Done
	15	Patch flat tire	Done
	16	Test drive	Done
	17	Binder
Safety
		Items	Status	Comments
	1	Install Doors	Done
	2	Roll Bar reinforcement	Done
	3	Box Driver side Support	Done
	4	Add new Knee Bar	Done
	5	Paint Welds	Done
	6	Roll Bar Padding	Done
	7	Driver Seat	Done
	8	Driver Harness	Done
	9	Reinstall Driver Seat Back Brace	Done
	10	Driver Fit Test	Done
	11	Rules Review	Done

Muddy

We're In "Goin for Broken"

We are in Goin' for Broken. This will be in Fernley, NV and will be a true 24-hour. Before is the message from Jay

Hi, Douglas Van Lare:

Good news--I think. Clunker Refuge Racing has officially been ACCEPTED for Goin' for Broken at Reno-Fernley Raceway, Fernley NV, May 14 - May 15. Here's what you need to do now:

A: Read this email completely.

B: Fill out the rest of your team info. Your current team status is Complete: Log on here: [team link] and start finishing your details.

Got all that? Good--'cause there's more:

1) DOWNLOAD THE SAFETY-INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Download the Safety-Inspection Checklist now, fill it out as you build your car, and bring the completed Checklist with you to the track!Remember, not every rule is reflected on the Checklist: You still need to study the full LeMons Rulebook.

2) READ THESE MORE-OR-LESS USEFUL NOTICES

EVENT SCHEDULE

Enter Agenda for race days here

MOTELS, CAMPING, DIRECTIONS, ETC: Check out the race page and keep coming back often--when we learn something new, we'll update it here.

PARTICIPANT-DISCOUNT SAFETY GEAR: Thanks to event-sponsor Pyrotect, everything an individual needs to pass driver tech (full-face SA2005 helmet plus SFI-rated driving suit, undies, gloves, and shoes) can be bought in one box at a LeMons-only discount: $475 for the bundle. All the gear has been pre-approved--just put it on and go.

Pyrotect also offers discounted LeMons rates on neck braces (at least one is required per team--this isn't part of the bundle); SFI five-point belts; and stand-alone SA2005 helmets. Remember, to get the subsidized LeMons rates, you've got to order online via the LeMons-rate ordering page.

RACE #s: Now that your team has been accepted, a pulldown menu of car #s is visible on the Edit Car Info page of your online registration. If the number you want isn't shown, somebody else already has it. Pick another one. Numbers should be displayed on both sides of the car plus the hood or roof.

COMP LICENSES: Every driver needs a LeMons competition membership. Memberships cost $50 and are good for one year from date of purchase. We are no longer recognizing other series' comp licenses, due to unbelievably excessive whining. Blame the BMW CCA and PCA Club member in the pit space next door. No, seriously, kick his butt. He just cost you 50 bucks.

ROSTER CHANGES: For now, it's still okay to make updates and changes to your online registration. If the changes affect your entry fees, the total will update itself automatically. About a week before the race we'll lock down the database, after which no more additions or changes are possible. We'll give you a few days' warning before that happens, but once it's gone, it's gone.

RULES: THE LeMONS RULEBOOK HAS BEEN UPDATED! Read the complete Rulebook at http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/pricesandrules.aspx/ now and re-check it often, refreshing your browser each time. Pay special attention to the strikeout copies linked at the top of the page: It's your responsibility to know the latest version of all posted rules going into the race.

DROPOUTS: When you enter a race, you're buying the right to compete--not a guarantee from us 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.

3) PAY UP BY SATURDAY, 03/19/2011

Speaking of entry fees, they're due now. All entry fees must be paid in full by 03/19/2011. Miss that deadline, and your spot may be given to the next team on the waitlist. Need to beg an extension? Please drop us an email before the due date.

Your total fees are shown on your registration Home page--assuming you filled out the driver, crew, camping, license, and transponder info correctly. If there's a big red INCOMPLETE at the top of your Home page, you've screwed something up, and that might affect your fee total. So...um...fix it.

To pay online by credit card, use the "Pay Now" button shown on your Team Home Page, athttps://registration.24hoursoflemons.com/members/races/registration/signup_id/102.

To cough up by check or money order, make payable to "24 Hours of LeMons" and mail to "24 Hours of LeMons, 5675-C Horton Street, Emeryville CA 94608."

4) READY? JUST CLICK BELOW TO CONFIRM, AND 'YER IN

https://registration.24hoursoflemons.com/login/acknowledge/sid/102/hash/118b975d2e36e594471ba841a7a0eb5a

Welcome aboard, hope we'll be seeing you there! Best &c--JL

Jay Lamm, Chief Perpetrator
24 HOURS OF LeMONS
5675 Horton Street, Suite C
Emeryville CA 94608
510.655.5980 x23 (Jay direct)
jay@24HoursofLeMons.com

Sears Point T-Shirt Options

I just received the proofs for the t-shirts. For the back of the shirts we came up with two options for the back and could use your help to choose which one to go with. So, please post in the comments your preference.

1) Tire Circle with white text

2) Classic Circle with western text

Muddy

PS yes the shirts will be lime green.

Sears Pointless Prep Work

Rod and I worked on the Z this weekend. The primary effort was to work on the roll bar to comply with the new regulations. There is a lot of concern that our roll cage will not pass the new regulations. Most of the prep work for Sears Pointless will be to do various patches to get the roll cage up to Lemons requirements. We might still have additional work on track, but are trying to get it as close as we understand it.

So, Saturday Rod spent a lot of time on the spreader plates. These are the six points where the bars are connected to the car. The new regulations require the spreader plates to be 24 sqin. All where originally 12 sqin. Rod got some 3/8" steel strip, cut up and we slipped them under the current plates. Additional bolts where added and we are now about half way done with tightening it all down. On Sunday we where able to finish tighten all the bolts down.

The second major issue we worked on is the exchanging of the transmission. We are not sure of the cause, but we think the syncros for 4th gear are having trouble. So, we are swopping the transmission with "new" (came with the current motor's) transmission. Right now we have the transmission out and the "new" ready to do in. On Sunday we where able to get the new transmission mounted and oil exchanged.

With the transmission and roll bar done as much as we could we moved to look into the rear differential. Rod was able to pull the housing out and get it ready of the new parts.

To complete this project some new half shaft oil seals are needed. So moving forward we still have the following needed task:

• Differential assembly and installation
• Complete roll bars patches
• Reinstall drive line

We look like Next weekend, February 26 will most likely be a work weekend.

Muddy

Karting Practice

Rod just e-mailed the schedule. There is an introductory Karting class offered on Friday, March 4 to practice at Infineon. Here is the web-site.

http://www.jimrussellusa.com/registrations?course_id=9

Anyone have interest?

Training Program

When I heard that Claus had run the last track in GT4 for countless hours, my first thoughts were those of one of my driving school instructors warning that "some people learn the line and get a head start, while others learn that crashing doesn't hurt".  Then Claus proceeded to have lap times 10 seconds a lap faster than me in the forward direction and about the same speed when they ran the track backwards.  10 seconds a lap!!!  Guess I need a new training routine for the next race.

So for considerably more than $500, I have a new TV, and with it a PS3 (as blu-ray player or course) and a copy of GT4.  I picked GT4 since it has both a Z31 and Sears point which seemed to cover both our car and the next race nicely. 

This weekend I got everything all set up.  At this point I wanted to report my best laptimes and start a friendly competition to see who could get the best times online and then compare those times to the actual track times in March.  Unfortunately GT4 doesn't work on the PS3, only the PS2 so that plan didn't work so well.  Feel free to post times anyways.

Anybody have a cheap PS2 for sale?

January Update

As January has quietly slipped away, physical work on the car has been postponed as another one of my passions enter the final stage of their season. However, this does not mean work has stop. Planning is in full swing for Sears Pointless (March 26-27). From the list of work, I estimate two days of transmission work, a day of seat change and roll bar work, and day work for brakes.

Some work has already begun. An early post indicated the results of some mechanical testing indicates that the engine is no worse for wear with further tests are coming. Sparky is actively working to decipher the ECU in Bletchley Park and I expect some Ultra ECU communication by the end of February. His code braking will allow us to get deeper into the working of the engine and hopefully see if the ECU is finding any trouble.

As we await the results of Sparky’s effort I have moved on to ask what we can do to improve our finishing position. One of the problems I would like to address is the car’s balance in the corner. Driving the car hard into the corner an oversteer conditions occurs. If this is not corrected the Z can get unpredictable with violent oscillations or if not caught out right snaps around. So, the question to you readers, is how can we get the car setup to drift better (place comments below)?