Pocono South

April 20-21 2002

First event of 2002. There have not been any significant changes to the car since last year. The only modifications include a Momo Competition steering wheel. The tires are Hoosier R3S03 with 1 day on them. Wheels are CCW.

The trip out was uneventful. I had some concerns about the RV brakes. The unit sat all winter. Last week I changed the battery, pulled the RV out and took it for a drive. It ran OK, but the brakes felt strange, sort of mushy. It stopped OK, but I remember the pedal feeling firmer. On Friday, when I pulled trailer out and connected it to the RV, the RV brakes felt very bad, the pedal was very soft, and I thought I saw brake fluid on the inside of the right rear wheel. That is bad. The brakes on Motorhomes are marginal at best, and when you are towing a 3000 lb car on a 1500 lb trailer, good working brakes are important. I decided to go anyway, with the idea that I would give a few hard stops near home, and if I was not confident in my ability to stop, I would go home. So, I picked up my crewman (my nephew Brett, age 14) and we headed out of town. Normally, I would wash the car, amour-all the track tires, and make it look all pretty. Then I usually end up driving through rain, and the car ends up looking like crap when I arrive at the track. This time I was a little smarter. The weather forecast was for rain, (it started raining even before I loaded the car on the trailer), so I was glad I decided not to bother cleaning the car. We arrived at the track around 11:30 and went to sleep.

Early saturday morning we drove into the track, found a nice place to park, and unloaded the car. We were driving the south course, which means I could park the RV where we had a great view of the track. Brett could sit in the RV and record lap times, etc. We got the car all ready, checked in, said hello to people and ate breakfast.

Later, the instructor, or Red run group was up. On the track I took it easy for the first few laps. I was behind Augie Lacorraza in his Boxster S. In the driver’s meeting, we were told the course would include the hairpin turn. Earlier, I was told we were not running the hairpin on Saturday, but would run it on Sunday. So, I follow Augie around the bowl, brake, downshift and turn off the bowl into the infield. Augie positions his car at the extreme right side of the track, and prepares to towards the left to head towards the hairpin. However, there was a row of cones blocking off the hairpin, so I guess we weren’t running that configuration! No problem, just go straight. After a lap or two I decided that the car was very well balanced. Plenty of grip. I may be a little down on  power – boost only seems to be 1.6-1.7, definitely less than 1.8.  Lap times in the 41-42 range, best of 41.13. I am in traffic most of the time.

Second run, longer course. Lap times in the 52 second range. Best time was 51.8. Car is excellent. Again, power may be a little down, but handling and brakes are wonderful. I was able to pass just about everyone, and no one passed me.

Right before my next run it started to rain. The rain was light, but it was enough to make the track wet. I was on Hoosiers, with no tread. Hmmm, should I do the run, stay in, or put on the rain tires? Well, it wasn’t that bad, I’ll try it with the Hoosiers, and if it’s slippery, I will come in. There were only three cars running. The track was pretty good. I was gentle on the controls, and I wasn’t sliding anywhere.Lap times went up to the 56 range, but that was fine. After about 10 laps I got bored and came in.I was surprised at how grippy the Hoosiers were, even on a damp track. When I came in I smelled gear oil, but I had to run off and instruct. Later, I checked the car and found the transaxle was leaking.

Since it was raining, and the entire underside of the car was wet, I couldn’t tell how bad the oil leak was.  I decided to wipe it down and do another run. It started raining harder, so off with the dry tires, time for the rain tires to go on. Brett and I unloaded the rain tires, opened the awning on the RV, pulled the car under the awning (and up on some blocks of wood) and changed the tires. One of the many nice things about having an RV at the track is that I can use an electric impact wrench to make changing wheels easier. Start up the generator, plug in the impact wrench and quickly spin the lug nuts off. Brett takes the wheels off, I put them on and spin the lug nuts on with an electric drill (don’t want to use too much torque when putting them on, later, we use a torque wrench to make sure the lugs are all tight).

Out on the track it is really raining. I have the wipers on low, and the track is wet. Still, grip is excellent, much better than at Lime Rock. The track surface is in good condition and it is very easy to drive the car. Again, only three cars are out there, so I run for a while, then decide to come in. Lap times are in the 58 second range.

When I came in I pulled the car up on the trailer, so it would be easier to see the transaxle. After wiping a lot of gear oil off, I was able to see that the leak was where the transaxle oil cooler attaches to the case. The fitting was very loose, I could move the cooler line in and out about ¼ inch. Something must have happened, but I don’t know what is supposed to hold it in. I checked the gear oil level, and it was a little low, but not too bad. What to do? I decide to clean the area and run one more session. The rain has stopped so I should be able to see how bad the leak it. Out on the track I drove a few hard laps then came in. Up on the trailer I could see that entire rear of the transaxle was leaking. This is too big a leak to continue. I spoke to a bunch of people on the garage area and the consensus was to try to use some silicon sealer / Permatex stuff to stop or at least slow the leak down.

The track was closed, so off we go to the local auto parts place for brake clean, degreaser, permatex and gear oil. When we got back to the track, it was closed and locked. Oh well, I guess we’ll try it tomorrow. Back into town for some dinner, then to find a place to park the RV, shower, relax, and sleep.

Sunday

The sun coming up at Pocono

We got to the track early and I started on the car. It was cold, around 35 degrees, and windy. Not fun to be laying under the car spraying degreaser and brake clean on the transaxle. After cleaning the trans cooler and putting permatex on it, I let it sit while everything dried. I added about 8 oz. of gear oil. After an hour, Brett and I put the Hoosiers went back on. I was a little late getting out for the first session because we were still checking the car, fueling it, and strapping in. On the track I took it easy for two laps, then went for it. The car handled great. The tires felt a little low on air, probably because of the cold weather, but the car still handled very well. The power seemed better too.

Brett, my ace crewman. He times cars, he checks fluids, he can take tire pressures, and he works for free!

Back in the paddock I pulled up on the trailer (I'm getting good at that) to check the gear oil. It was still leaking, but not nearly as bad as before. I could continue to drive!

While we were warming up in the RV, my friend Savvas arrived at the track. Savvas used to drive at Bridgehampton, but hasn't been to any events since 97 or so. He brought his friend Tom with him, who had just bought a black 996 911. The car is beautiful, and Savvas wanted Tom to see what fun you can have with Porsches. So, after fitting Tom in the passenger seat, we went out for some laps. Pocono is not a good track to take passengers, the G forces in the bowl can be quite intense. After a few laps Tom started feeling dizzy, so I came in. Savvas climbed in and off we went. The car was working wonderfully. Great power, tremendous grip from the tires. The brakes are fantastic. I was drivingly quickly, but totally in control, never even sliding the car. I was at full throttle from the time I tracked out of the last corner until I had to slow for the right turn out of the bowl. Savvas was very impressed with the performance.  After 6 or so laps, I went to shift from 3^rd to 4^th and I was unable to engage 4^th (or any) gear. I coasted around and was able to engage first gear, so I drove off the track. There is something wrong with the clutch. This was not something I would be able to fix at the track, so we loaded the car on the trailer, and packed up. I instructed mty student one more time, then hit the road at 2:30-3:00 PM and I was home at 6:30.

This is what the car looks like after two days at the track, rain, and a trans axle leak.

Not pretty, but she cleans up well.

At home I unloaded the car and put it in the garage. The next evening my wife pressed the clutch pedal while I watched the clutch release lever move in the inspection hole in the bellhousing. I was hoping that the lever would not move. This would mean the problem was in the hydraulics, and it would relatively easy to fix. Unfortunately, the clutch release lever moved fine. This means the problem is something internal to the clutch. So, I have to take it all apart to find the problem, something I am not looking forward to.

This means that I won't make the NHIS event, but I will be ready for the Glen.