Ice Race Report
Ice Race Report
Jan 24th
& 25th, 2004
(Story and photography - Scott Miller)
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Saturday: I am fielding 2
cars this year; last years Ovlov (read Volvo) 245 wagon
and a new car an Ovlov 740 sedan. The wagon has a welded
diff and the sedan an open diff. I decided to have both
rear end options available after last years experiences
so I could choose depending on track conditions.
Theoretically a welded diff does really well if there is
better traction and an open diff does better on really
slippery conditions although Mike Evans would shoot holes
in my theory in Saturday's races by beating me on very
slippery conditions while driving the welded diff wagon.
I had decided to stick to the 740 sedan open diff for the
weekend as temps started out at -38.5C at 8 AM Saturday.
Terry Dalton appeared to be set to run well when he started having overheating issues that started when a heater hose blew early in Saturday's racing. I had just asked him what had happened when in the very next race I noticed that there was cold air blowing from the heater and looked at the temp gauge in disbelief to see it buried in the red. I was running well at about the half way point of the race with no challengers to my position so I backed off a bit and it was so cold out side that the temp gauge dropped to 3/4 and I was able to finish the race. I got back to my pit and sure enough my heater hose had split right up underneath the intake manifiold where it goes into the head. I had about 20 minutes to affect repairs and did so with Mike's help and did not miss any race. But as I rolled up to the mock grid the temp gauge shot to H again and cold air blew in through the heater. I lifted the hood and started squeezing the top rad hose which was stone cold. I pumped it and the new heater hose vigorously and then released the rad reservoir cap to let out a sudden belch of built up pressure. I got back in the car and the temp gauge had returned to normal and no further over heating problems. Weird eh? Must have been an air lock. Last race on Saturday saw 3 of us trying to make the quanset hut turn at the same time resulting in my rear passenger door window getting a mirror stuffed through it. I didn't know it at the time but soon heard this clattering sound every time I turned into a corner and started to feel really cold air circulating around my neck. I glanced back and saw no window there. But ya know what, I kind of liked it! You work up quite a bit of sweat with winter gear on and the defrost blasting on the windshield that a nice "cool" breeze in the back of the car is actually welcomed. I have yet to place a piece of lexan over it I just ran balance of Sat. and all Sun. with no window.. Overall, I never spun and I never beached the new car and I feel I am well on my way to sorting it out. Just have to get better starts.
Sunday: Had to tow start the cars again this time only the new 740 sedan would go. The wagon would not fire and the starter was frozen. I had no time nor inclination to deal with it and thought Mike could work on it while I had to get to my first race for the day. He chose not to until late in the day Sunday when he discovered hot wiring the coil started it. I already have a switched hot wire to the coil with an inline fuse. Opening the fuse case showed a blown fuse. Replacing this fixed the start problem and Mike just barely got to race the last race Sunday starting from the pits. He paid $90 for his one race. I moved weights to the other side of the car as race direction is reversed to the previous day. Car handled noticably better. Other news: Saturday nite saw a large
contingent of DAC and SAC people in the Rockcliffe where
the usual sheenanigans took place. One more time Mike
Evans (SAC#16) and Waldi Wildner (SAC#15) had a meeting
up (you may remember 2 years ago Waldi gave Mike a big
bear hug with the resulting snapping sound loud enough to
be heard in the Cliff and Mike ending up in the
hospital). This time Waldi was trying to negotiate a turn
around the pool table corner when he collided with (read:
"fell over on") a chair there. He toppled over
onto the chair and in the process broke the top off the
back of the chair leaving the back spindles exposed which
poked into his ribs breaking 3 of them. How did Mike
Evans get hurt? he also was in the pathway of the falling
Waldi who sqaushed both Mike and the chair beneath him.
Waldi is about 6 ft 3 inches and at least 250lbs all
heart. I heard about this the next day as I had left the
Cliffe earlier Saturday nite. Apparently Waldi was taken
to the hospital and then released and taken back home. I
have no further report on his condition at present but
would welcome an update.
Results: Class one I was late
registering so started back of grid (11th) for quali but Class 11 I was late
registering and also did not make the grid for Quali so
started back of grid (8th) for first race and finished
3rd. Track Conditions/ Weather: Racing: Saturday: Sunday: Highlite(s): Much improved in Sundays
Class one results with two 2nd place finishes in each
race. I believe improvement was partially because of a
better personal attitude (more relaxed - late nite at the
Cliff) and to finally "sorting out" the new
cars' character, weight distribution and placement. Larry Kovaks aced all 4 races in Class 1. Congrates Larry, although I was getting closer to you in the last race Sunday! More Pics:
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