Watkins Glen wrap up

[TomM]

Just to add, if you are going off the stock temp gauge, it only moves from the middle position when the car reaches a certain temp, right? I don't know if you have a different model gauge, but it was just something I thought of when you said it suddenly was pegged in the red.

Tom

[czm3]

I did have the stock temp gauge. As far as I understand, it stays at "12 o clock" when everything is normal. There is a little leeway so person A doesnt notice that his car is running 10 degrees hotter than person B's car. However, when a problem does arise, it will move slowly to the red.

It was my first track event, and the car wasnt perfectly prepped so I wasnt measuring lap times. The 3.73 is going to be too short, and you will top out on the back straight. I ran a 3.38 and almost topped out. I am switching to a 3.64 (which will also top out) to get more acceleration at lower speeds. I'm guessing the shorter diff to be a real advantage at Lime Rock and NHIS.

The Glen is my favorite track around here, have you ever drivin it Sunir?

[sunir]

yeah I've been to the Glen like 3 weekends last year...with the stock diff (3.23 w/ 25% lockup) I was running 2:12-2:14's ....with the new gearing and wider tires (225 GAC vs. 245 R3s04) I am shooting for 2:09-2:10. I think gearing will be key as the Glen is a horsepower track...very fast, no room for errors with no runoff, but very satisfying to run...one of my favorites!

[czm3]

A 3.64 or a 3.73 will be "faster" than the 3.38. You wont get the top speed, but you'll make all that time up on other sections of the track. I left the car in 4th through the bus stop all the way to the "toe" of the boot. I think the 3.64 would have put my engine deeper into its powerband. With the times you posted, you should be pretty close to 10 10ths. What class are you running?

On another note, I talked to the garage again and its a blown head gasket. The head is off to the machine shop to see if it was warped beyond repair. However, they seemed pretty confident that the head would be okay. Regardless, they know that I want to be at NHIS on the 24th, and claim that the car will be ready in time.

[sunir]

I'll be testing the 3.73 and 3.64 in July...I do 2-3 DE/track weekends (instructing for Car Guys, DelVal BMW CCA, and if I have time the PCA school at the end of the month)...I'll likely do 2 weekends each with a different rear end and see which one is more suited for WG.

The car is in H-Prepared....Just had my first race at VIR like 2 weeks ago...now getting ready for Mid Ohio at the end of this month. I'm planning on doing races at WG, Summit Point, and Beaverun also this season...now if the funds and the car holds up

[CYBER PETE]

Dam! That's one hell of an outing. Good to see that you still had a good time regardless of the mishaps. I'm going to try and get down to Watkins Glen at the end of the summer.