The 2013 Tire Rack One Lap of America officially kicked off today at Tire Rack Headquarters with a skid pad challenge made only slightly more difficult by running under the sprinklers. The Wet Skip Pad has never been one of our best events and we went into this years running with more than a little bit of concern. The Vintage American class is 6-deep this year and a mid-step on the skid pad would be costly and if there was going to be any event where our front tires were going to hurt us... this was it.
Fortunately when the flag dropped and the water settled we had a decent run... Good for second in class (to perennial favourite Damon Josz) and squeaking in 0.003 G's over Carl Casanova in the Honor Flight Camaro. This put us in good shape heading for the autocross a mere 80 miles down the road.
The transit to Grissom AFB in Peru, IN was pretty straight forward (and thankfully dry) but time was limited so Mary immediately went on a track walk while I prepped the car. The weather held off and everyone got three clean runs (or at least opportunities to make runs) in. Mary did spectacularly with a first in class and 15th overall. We we left Peru we held a slight lead in Vintage and sat in 13th overall - our highest ever overall standing.
The transit stage for the test of the day was tough... The rain started not far from Louisville, Kentucky and stuck around for about 400 miles, finally stopping somewhere in Tennessee... which, unfortunately, is about where our trouble started for the day. Not long after passing Big Jim's Boobie Bungalo (Bunker Hill, TN) our alternator warning light started coming on. And shutting off... And coming on. At this point we've narrowed it down to two or three (in order of complexity) possible sources. The good news... The most likely source seems to be a ground short in the heater controls - not a critical component and one which can be bypassed. The bad news... it in the 40s and heat would be nice. We'll have to wait and see...
Not fifty miles later Jimi Day and the Centerforce AMX is on the shoulder with a fuel issue. A quick examination shows that the fuel line came off (!) but no damage came from it. Fortunately Carl had a replacement (improvement) and we were back on the road in no time.
Which eventually brought us to the exotic Super 8 motel in Talladega, Alabama. $200 bucks a night with peak demand due to the NASCAR race being this weekend as well but a good spot none the less.
700 miles down...
Tomorrow is Talladega Gran Prix Raceway followed by the Alabama Dragway... Another long day with a long transit to New Orleans. Hopefully the weather is better...
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