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tech up-date - spridget 50th [and the day]
another stinkin' hot day in tropical Wisconsin. temerature right now (8:43pm 93 feels like 103). today was track day at Road America. after breakfast we had a lovely tour of the original road america track with police escort ending at the track. after a slightly longer wait (other formula cars using the track) we were allowed to take 5 or 6 laps of the track. Much fun ensued. Even Ms Triss kicked up here heels a bit! Then our pictures taken in the winners circle and lunch in the control tower. very cool! (literally, the air conditioning was awesome!) After lunch some of us went back to the hotel for a swim and a snooze while others did the autocross. I was in the swim and snooze crowd but got back in time to watch some autocrossing - much fun was had by all. the autocross track is a go-cart track and perfectly suited to Spridgets. No major catastrophies (though in true bugs bunny road runner fashion a member of this board took off so fast he left a tail light on the road and his horn push on his lap - let's see if he identifies himself.
) then supper at the track (burgers anbd brats) and then home. a good day was had by all!
What I really wanted to talk about though was two people here, Peter Caldwell (Worldwide Auto Parts) and Jeff Schlemmer (Advanced Distributers) Both have been here all week and both are truly fine individuals. Both have spent a significant amount of time troubleshooting, repairing, advising and just generally helping out. Yesterday jeff did a tech talk on distributers complete with freebies. Now I have to confess that most of it went stright over my head but, he was candid and helpful. BTW we learned that Pertronix Ignitions don't like generators because they want contsant voltage - so, if you have one replace the voltage regulator with a digital one (I think I have that right.) he also said the best coil for our cars is a Bosch Blue 3 ohm (Internal resistor)
More to my situation, I was describing my rough running which he thought was vacuum, so, got up this morning and sure enough, vacuum line was disconnected. As well, the part that bolts onto the distributer with the vacuum bell thingie was loose with one screw missing. Of course Jeff had the screw. That being fixed I then followed his other advice which was that as a 1500 owner I should disconnect the vacuum. On our cars because of the emission stuff, the vacuum is vacuum RETARD not vacuum advance. therefore it is actually slowing the engine and, making it run hotter. So, we disconnected the Vacuum, Jeff then drove me (and a couple other spridgeteers) in his very neat MG Magnette to the NAPA store in the next town to buy the plug I needed to cap off the vacuum on the carb. At the track while waiting he helped troubleshoot at least three cars. Wonderful!
Which brings me to Peter. Peter is one of the organizers and has been (with the other organizers) working tirelessly to make a terrific week. He also is helping troubleshoot, so, today when I explained that my front end felt a little light as I drove, he took the time to check it out. Turns out my front right shock seems soft and I possibly (probably) have a bearing issue. So, tomorrow morning I am part of the tech session. In fact an open invitation was extended to those with car issues to come for help AND his wife is bringing a load of parts.
It has been my experience that almost all the people I have encountered in the hobby are good people (and often some aren't bad just eccentric) but I have been the recipient of help today and tomorrow that literally could make the difference between home safe and aound and the kind of adventure I just don't want.
So, good week so far, tomorrow is the last full day then Friday a number of us get back to the ferry to wend our way home.
cheers from Cheese country!
another stinkin' hot day in tropical Wisconsin. temerature right now (8:43pm 93 feels like 103). today was track day at Road America. after breakfast we had a lovely tour of the original road america track with police escort ending at the track. after a slightly longer wait (other formula cars using the track) we were allowed to take 5 or 6 laps of the track. Much fun ensued. Even Ms Triss kicked up here heels a bit! Then our pictures taken in the winners circle and lunch in the control tower. very cool! (literally, the air conditioning was awesome!) After lunch some of us went back to the hotel for a swim and a snooze while others did the autocross. I was in the swim and snooze crowd but got back in time to watch some autocrossing - much fun was had by all. the autocross track is a go-cart track and perfectly suited to Spridgets. No major catastrophies (though in true bugs bunny road runner fashion a member of this board took off so fast he left a tail light on the road and his horn push on his lap - let's see if he identifies himself.
) then supper at the track (burgers anbd brats) and then home. a good day was had by all!What I really wanted to talk about though was two people here, Peter Caldwell (Worldwide Auto Parts) and Jeff Schlemmer (Advanced Distributers) Both have been here all week and both are truly fine individuals. Both have spent a significant amount of time troubleshooting, repairing, advising and just generally helping out. Yesterday jeff did a tech talk on distributers complete with freebies. Now I have to confess that most of it went stright over my head but, he was candid and helpful. BTW we learned that Pertronix Ignitions don't like generators because they want contsant voltage - so, if you have one replace the voltage regulator with a digital one (I think I have that right.) he also said the best coil for our cars is a Bosch Blue 3 ohm (Internal resistor)
More to my situation, I was describing my rough running which he thought was vacuum, so, got up this morning and sure enough, vacuum line was disconnected. As well, the part that bolts onto the distributer with the vacuum bell thingie was loose with one screw missing. Of course Jeff had the screw. That being fixed I then followed his other advice which was that as a 1500 owner I should disconnect the vacuum. On our cars because of the emission stuff, the vacuum is vacuum RETARD not vacuum advance. therefore it is actually slowing the engine and, making it run hotter. So, we disconnected the Vacuum, Jeff then drove me (and a couple other spridgeteers) in his very neat MG Magnette to the NAPA store in the next town to buy the plug I needed to cap off the vacuum on the carb. At the track while waiting he helped troubleshoot at least three cars. Wonderful!
Which brings me to Peter. Peter is one of the organizers and has been (with the other organizers) working tirelessly to make a terrific week. He also is helping troubleshoot, so, today when I explained that my front end felt a little light as I drove, he took the time to check it out. Turns out my front right shock seems soft and I possibly (probably) have a bearing issue. So, tomorrow morning I am part of the tech session. In fact an open invitation was extended to those with car issues to come for help AND his wife is bringing a load of parts.
It has been my experience that almost all the people I have encountered in the hobby are good people (and often some aren't bad just eccentric) but I have been the recipient of help today and tomorrow that literally could make the difference between home safe and aound and the kind of adventure I just don't want.
So, good week so far, tomorrow is the last full day then Friday a number of us get back to the ferry to wend our way home.
cheers from Cheese country!
