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New paint, new safety harnesses, tuned, inspected, etc.
Now... if the SCCA licensing medical review board would just PLEASE let me know my status? First race is in a little over 3 weeks! It's Hell to get old.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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Nice! Almost a shame to risk denting it at a race track. Didn't that car start out very rough when you 1st got it?
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Thanks! Yes - the car had been raced 5 seasons when I bought it in 2005, and it was in less than showroom condition. :-)
Actually, the digital pictures are somewhat flattering; up close in real life, the car is still just a race car, with many little dings and flaws. But it is certainly improved, if I do say so myself.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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A racer's 50-50 paint job Gary? Best viewed from 50 feet or 50 mph. Mine, murals done with brushes and many, many little cans of rustoleum left over from my Uncles paint store is more like an 80-80. Best of luck on your shake-down and race season. -- Dave
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50-50... yup, that's the idea. :-) I just hope the paint (single stage acrylic enamel) is stuck well enough to be somewhat chip resistant. It is simply unbelievable how quickly the front end and lower side panels of a road racer get beat up. But unlike the paint that was on it previously (a MAACO off-the-shelf Medium Blue according to the P.O), I can now walk in to any AutoZone and pick up a can of spray touch up that is a decent match. I shot it with '98-01 Dodge Intense Blue Pearlcoat.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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Got 'er lookin' MIGHTY NICE!!!
Drop me an e-mail to let me know when you'll run.
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George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!
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Unless you hear otherwise, I'll be doing some shakedown runs this Saturday at Hallett. I'm not entering the COMMA races on Sunday, just Saturday practice sessions - making sure everything is ready to go for the first SCCA races on April 4th/5th.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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Dude, the "before" pics look great. But it's the "after" I'm concerned about.
--
1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb but electronic ignition and M46 trans in Brampton, Ont.
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LOL... But actually, I've only dented this car once in 4 seasons of racing, and that was the direct result of two other cars colliding in front of me. I'm a moderately aggressive driver, but Mrs. Learned raised no fools. :-)
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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I dented my car once also:)
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If I had to guess, I'd say by doing something like this, but in heavier traffic...
:-)
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-Matt I ♥ my ♂
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"If I had to guess, I'd say by doing something like this, but in heavier traffic..."
Naaah... if he were doing something like that, the "dent" would have been in the rear. :-)
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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Na the over steer was not the problem, by the point I got in the acident that was long gone. Looks cool though.
Long story short me and my friend in his 242 where within about a .10sec of each other. Sure he had a cheater cam but we where racing and it was loads of fun. Well in a long right hand sweeper he went under a VW Rabbit with me following. When I see the Rabbit start to spin the right rear corner of his car is next to the left front of mine. So in a matter of milliseconds I need to try to figure out if he is going to keep going to the right or snap back to the left. Well he did neither he stopped right in front of me with me taking out his hole left front of his car.
I have played it over in my head over and over trying to think if I could have avoided it. I don't think I could have. I talked to the turn workers afterward and they said I had no place to go and they would be the ones that would know. So I walk away from it as a life experience and try to learn from it.
My car was not really that bad when I got off all the sheet metal. Had to cut out the core support and weld in a new one and the rest of the stuff should bolt on. I'll post a picture when its done for all to see.
Marc
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Glad to hear it was essentially a sheet metal sort of deal. I take it there was no suspension crossmember damage then?
You're right, you just have to learn from it and go on. The ding I mentioned above was a similar sort of deal. The spinning Miata simply didn't do what it needed to do in order for me to get away clean. I was lucky at that, just a deep strafe type crease to the left side from just behind the door to the rear bumper. Didn't even knock down the LR tire, I finished the race with no issues.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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Beautiful car!!...Say.... what are those wheels?
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Thanks!
The wheels are from the early Volvo 760... they're called "Nova" or "Sirius", depending on who you talk to. In any case, they are purportedly the lightest standard equipment 15x6" wheels Volvo ever sold. They are in fact about 2 lbs lighter than the very popular 15x6 "Virgo" 5-spoke that was standard on 240 Turbo's.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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I'd love to add your 142 to my collection of photographed race Volvos. If your red tape issues aren't solved and you want to get on track soon how about bringing it up to Summit Point in April. We at Eastern Motor Racing Association will be running a 2 day (2 trials) Time Trial on the Shenandoah Circuit. No physical necessary for a time trial license ($20). ITB cars run in our ST-5 class (season championship won by my 144 in '06 & '07 and by a 244 in '08). Go to- www.emraracing.org -for more info. --- yours in good health, Dave
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Dave - I'll keep EMRA in mind, but I do have non-SCCA options at this end, at least at Hallett. I'm vaguely familiar with EMRA, as I hang out in the improvedtouring.com forums a bit - there are apparently many SCCA IT racers that run EMRA events back East and the organization gets mentioned frequently.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
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Dave:
I used to run with EMRA when I ived in New York. Is Mary-Faith Healey (Westervelt) still involved?
I'm an SCCA steward now, and wonder if the initial poster has received a novice permit yet. Once medial clearance is obtained, it's a really simple matter for the folks in Topeka to deal with.
Nice-looking race car, BTW!
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"I'm an SCCA steward now, and wonder if the initial poster has received a novice permit yet. Once medial clearance is obtained, it's a really simple matter for the folks in Topeka to deal with."
This isn't an initial licensing issue, I've held a license for years. The problem is a comprehensive medical review, driven by the fact I had a stent implant (heart problem) last summer. This means the good doctors at SCCA are looking at my post-implant stress test results, etc. The irony here of course, is that with the stent now in place (and regular exercise for the first time in 40 years or so!), I'm actually in far better shape to drive a race car than I was previously. But....
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
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Dee Jay, Mary Faith hasn't been actively involved in quite a few years. In 1997 when I thought I'd try developing (pun intended) my vintage racing photography hobby into something more I spent the summer/fall out at Bridgehampton Race Circuit, got on track a few times, and called Mary Faith to see if it was ok to do the photos on a "professional" basis. She told me to come on and have some fun. I've been with EMRA ever since--and also SCCA,PCA and others. Her name comes up in conversation at times so I know there are folks who stay in touch. You probably knew Bud Kruger--he passed away last year. I see you are in FL--do you know Harry Schneider FV#20-blue? I stay at his place when we race at Pocono.
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I appreciate the news about Bud Kruger..didn't know that. Time passes...We've had Harry Schneider at several events at Sebring and Daytona, though I don't know him personally. Mary-Faith and I worked together at Brookhaven National Lab, and she introduced me to EMRA. She wa a fabulous ambassador for EMRA and road racing in general, a wonderful person.
EMRA was (is?) a great group..more 'relaxed' than SCCA...lol. I used to live about 7 miles from Bridgehampton, and drove my race car ('87 VW ITB Golf) to the track on back roads. It was tragic to see such a storied facility turned into a golf course. I raced the last event there in '97; it's closing made it easier to leave the area.
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Dee Jay, I was there doing photos at the last EMRA race--Sept. '97--and drove in the Time Trial. What color is (was) your car? number? I was also there for the very last club event-a PCA DE--the NJ contingent decided not to come because it was raining in Jersey--but it was beautiful out on the Island. With a small group there it was decided to go ahead and run with only a few stations manned (I moved around the track and carried a radio) and everyone promised to behave themselves--they did. Another name you probably know is Dennis Machio--Hot Shoe Racing--manager of BRC--he is now the Bertil Roos school at Pocono. I've been to FL a couple of times when my dad was still living--did photos at an SCCA regional at Sebring and was treated very well by the workers.
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Small world...I knew Dennis Machio well, but was unaware that he was with Bertil Roos at Pocono...I was an instructor with the Roos school when they were at Moroso in Palm Beach County, Fl...2003-'03.
I was at the Sept '97 EMRA event. My Golf was dark blue (Midnight) #50...I just passed it on to my son and his friend this year. They've repainted it Red, and installed a twin cam motor...against my advice as it's uncompetitive in ITA...but they deserve the chance to make mistakes...as I did.
I'm glad the folks in Central Florida treated you well when you visited; they embraced me like family as well, but I've found that to be the case pretty much everywhere. 'Raced a lot in England '04-06, and found it the same there..we now have Brits who Winter with us in order to race or work at events...great fraternity.
I hope you'll get in touch when you get back down here. Indy car St. Pete Grand Prix in 3 weeks...and I'm in charge of race control..I can arrange for you to Black Flag Danica if you like ;-)
Denniis
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OMG !!! That is a beautiful 142E you have Gary. That model looks especially good when lowered and the wheels give it a great look as well.
I am always amazed at your ability to get so much from D-Jet.
Good luck with the red tape.
Joel
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Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102
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"I am always amazed at your ability to get so much from D-Jet."
Actually, I've done nothing beyond keeping the system maintained - the ECU and all sensors are bone stock, although I do run higher fuel pressure, at 38-40 psi. The fuel pressure, an allowed half point compression bump to 11.0, and a good BHP equal length racing header are the only three things that are not stock on the #50 B20E.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
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Looking fantastic (as always), Gary
Good luck this season!
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-Matt I ♥ my ♂
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Hey Gary
Do I understand correctly that you're using D-Jet? If so how do you solve the problem of accelerator switches being NLA? Can these be repaired by electroplating or applying gold leaf somehow?
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Relative to your repair questions, I have no idea. The only one I've ever actually repaired involved soldering some leads that had broken loose (on one of the older style units). But I've also never had a problem finding good used pieces. Admittedly, sometimes you have to buy more than you really want... the last one I bought was actually an intake manifold with the throttle switch still attached. Needless to say, I didn't really need the intake manifold, but the guy wanted 10 bucks, so.... :-)
Having said all that, if I'm not mistaken, the one on the car right now has been doing fine for at least 3 race seasons. IMO though, street use on a car that is driven regularly would be much harder on the switch than I am, at least from a pure cyclic wear standpoint.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos
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Gary:
How long has your comp license renewal been under medical review?
Have you called the licensing folks in Topeka for an update?
I'll help if I can.
Dennis
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Thanks, but hopefully it's all under control... I think I mailed the renewal form and associated medical paperwork on the 24th of February. Hard to say though, how long it sat on someone's desk before it was forwarded to Dr. Butler, which is it's current location AFAIK. I stay in touch with Topeka on the matter fairly regularly, talked to them last on Thursday. I will be doing another follow-up call in a day or so.
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Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
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