Broke my car at Road Atlanta yesterday...

#1

I was doing the BMWCCA DE at Road Atlanta this weekend in my 98% completed SpecE30 car. For some reason, when I was downshifting at turn 5, every once in a while it wasn’t smoothly slipping into 3rd. I mentioned it to a few people and they merely joked about how it’s impossible to mess up a 4-3 downshift. Unfortunately, it happened one more time yesterday afternoon, but this time it really wouldn’t go into 3rd, so I had slowed down enough to grab 2nd and when I let out the clutch it acted as though it was in neutral.

It acts the same way regardless of what gear I put it in. There were no noises, no grinding, no nothing. It just acts like it’s in neutral.

I have heard everything from a broken transmission, blown clutch or blown diff. I am scheduled to do my final DE at CMP this coming weekend before the comp school next month, so I am really, really hoping it’s the clutch or diff.

Interestingly, turn 5 is the only turn where I brake/downshift when the car is not straight. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that the troubles only happened in that turn.

#2

Wow, the timing really sucks. I hope for your sake that it’s something simple like shift linkage.

#3

cozog wrote:

I know. The timing could not have been any worse (accept maybe my first run at CMP next weekend :frowning: ).

#4

In the time it takes to type that story, the guys at Harrison could have removed the transmission. Tell Vince and Gee to get busy. I’m hoping it is just your clutch.

See you at CMP.

Regards, Robert

PS, you may want to install a transponder and run with the time trials group to give you data on how you compare against the hot laps of the racers. On small step at a time…

#5

Patton wrote:

[quote]In the time it takes to type that story, the guys at Harrison could have removed the transmission. Tell Vince and Gee to get busy. I’m hoping it is just your clutch.

See you at CMP.

Regards, Robert

PS, you may want to install a transponder and run with the time trials group to give you data on how you compare against the hot laps of the racers. On small step at a time…[/quote]

Hmmm…maybe racing is not for me. I just found out that my trailer was stolen last night. At least we took the car off…

:frowning: :frowning: :frowning: :frowning:

#6

Bill, that whole thread SUCKS!!! Good luck on getting it all straight before the weekend.

Your trailer too? Wow, sounds like you had anything but a 7-7-07 "good luck" weekend!

Get it fixed, I was looking forward to seeing how your Comp School goes.

#7

My partner had the exact same kind of failure at Nelson Ledges a few weeks ago.

We narrowed down that it was not the ring and pinion, half shafts, nor anything in the drive line between the tranny and the diff. We are also hoping it was the clutch but are waiting on our mechanic to find some time to get the tranny out.

Too bad about the trailer.

Don

#8

donstevens wrote:

[quote]My partner had the exact same kind of failure at Nelson Ledges a few weeks ago.

We narrowed down that it was not the ring and pinion, half shafts, nor anything in the drive line between the tranny and the diff. We are also hoping it was the clutch but are waiting on our mechanic to find some time to get the tranny out.

Too bad about the trailer.

Don[/quote]

I hope for his sake it is the clutch, too.

I just found out they have my trailer thieves on video. I doubt I’ll ever see the trailer again, however.

#9

I’m really sorry to hear about the car issues and the trailer being stolen. I’m curious as my trailer sits in the wide open to be stolen, did you have any locks or theft deterents for it? I have a coupling lock, pin lock, and two wheel locks on mine. Someone is really going to have to work to get it. Hopefully your trailer will turn up.

#10

screwynewy wrote:

I had a coupling lock and a pin lock. I have a wheel lock, but it was not installed yet. Stupid me.

I haven’t watched the video yet, but from what I hear, it took them no time at all to get through the two locks I did have…and it was still daylight.

#11

Wow :S Sorry to hear about the bad luck. I was looking forward to meeting you at CMP. I hope you’ll get everything worked out and get back out there soon.

#12

Anybody need some good insurance???

#13

Bill, that’s really rotten about your trailer. Happens way too often. Hope you somehow get it back. I know Rusty had a good time running with you this weekend.

#14

Good insurance…YES. Jeff, please bring the applications this weekend to CMP. Thanks in advance, Robert Patton

#15

Update: The car issue was only the clutch. There is nothing left other than a pile of ground asbestos.

I just left the police department. They are going to get back to me after they view the security tape. They are doubtful I will ever see it again, as I expected. However, they made an interesting point about security. They said that wheel locks are just as easy to defeat as the locks I had, so it simply comes down to having as many different devices as possible to make it a time issue.

As for insurance, I am covered minus my $250 deductible. I guess I’ll file my claim tonight so I can get some money for a new trailer.

David Harrison of Harrison Motorsports is going to let me borrow his trailer for CMP. He is an awesome guy!

#16

Some good news there! I have my "stuff" (trailer and car inside it) all stored at a nice new mini warehouse operation that is off the beaten path and is nicely fenced, cameras and 24 hr key pad acess. The cost is $50 per month and I still lock it up with locks on the doors and a tongue lock.

Hope that does the trick!

#17

jhall1957 wrote:

[quote]Some good news there! I have my "stuff" (trailer and car inside it) all stored at a nice new mini warehouse operation that is off the beaten path and is nicely fenced, cameras and 24 hr key pad acess. The cost is $50 per month and I still lock it up with locks on the doors and a tongue lock.

Hope that does the trick![/quote]

Yeah, there really isn’t any place around here like that for under $150/month or so.

#18

wow, crazy thread. Glad you got the car back together and finding a way to CMP!

#19

Glad to hear things are coming back together. That was the only B session I went out in and I was worried about what happened to you. Hope to see you at CMP this weekend. (and I 2nd the suggestion to get the transponder)

#20

mskeen wrote:

I saw you line up in the B group and I was looking forward to following you around a bit…too bad my car had other plans.

Hopefully I will have the car at Kershaw.