First Test Day, February 26, 2000
- submitted by Jim
Julie turns in, Tracy's at speed and Jim breaks in the new motor during our first test session.
The unseasonably mild weather allowed us a surprise test day at both our test track and Circleville Raceway Park. The kart wasn't quite ready but a late night Friday got everything together.
The plan was to do the careful engine break-in at our "test track" moving on to CRP about 11:30. The day started going bad almost right off the trailer as a fuel delivery problem made itself apparent right away. The intermittent (those are the worst) problem seemed to be too much fuel and then too little.
Nevertheless, we packed up for CRP thinking we could tap into some Briggs experience there. We were right as Bob Strawser, Tom Hickey (whom we know from Ohio Valley Region, SCCA) and Don(?) Cook were all happy to offer suggestions. The turning point seemed to be replacement of the fuel pump diaphram for the second time that day.
I was able to get out for about 20 laps total. Even though those were fairly easy laps - we didn't even put a stopwatch on me - every part of my body was beginning to get sore. (To anybody out there that still thinks race drivers aren't athletes, call me for a list of what aches the day after those 20 laps.) The session was a success in that the engine was taken through a couple of its all-important break-in phases, I didn't get in anyone's way, no spins and I even managed to pass an 11 year-old girl that was practicing. (Boy, we showed her.)
Tracy eyeing her apex and picking up speed
On the way back to base, we stopped off at the private test track again where Tracy and Julie were able to get some seat time and I was able to continue the break-in procedure. Both girls - for their first time in a racing kart - did well, respecting the fact that it was not a "putt-putt" kart you pay $4 for 10 laps in but a real racing machine. Both drove cleanly with Tracy getting a little more comfortable sooner and picking up her speed. In the final session, when Tracy was going back out to lap a little faster, our fuel problem crept up again. Daylight was quickly fading so we packed up and headed back home.
Work during private testing.
Race back to
2000