August 2011 Hotlanta Challenge

My first NASA race back with the new engine also coincided with the event 5 years after taking the comp school. It was nice having a reasonable amount of power again. On Saturday I qualified solidly mid pack and after a shaky start I ended up getting mixed up with a Spec Miata for my first car to car contact in 5 years of racing. Unfortunately my camera was not on, but essentially the driver hit me behind the passenger side door exiting turn 7.

Sunday's race was as crazy as it gets for a four way fight for 5th through 9th place.


Spec E30 #168 from Kelly Childress on Vimeo.

Sebring w/ BMW Club Racing

My debut race for the new engine was with BMW Club Racing hosted by PCA at Sebring International Raceway. My first time at the track and it was in a swarm of Vipers, Porshes, and a much faster BMWs. I was by far the least powerful car on track and it it wasn't for some wet track both Saturday and Sunday I would have finished DFL almost every session. Mylaps only tracked the BMW Club Racing results:

On Saturday, I qualified seventh out of eight (dry). It was a WET race, finishing sixth.



On Sunday, I qualified seventh out of eight cars on a damp track. finishing last on dry track.

Sunday's Race #2:





Overall I enjoyed learning the track. My best lap was a 2:44.455, not bad considering my first trip to the track.

Mike, Lydia, and Tanya came out on Sunday to watch the race.

Engine Install

Engine build and installation. Cleaned block, freshened head, new rings, bearings, etc.

M20 Engine Build

Time to rebuild the original engine. Low key rebuild with bearings, rings, etc.  

BMW CCA September Club Race

Saturday
Missed qualifying and had a water pump failure early in the day. Fixed with a new water pump with Jim and Chuck's help. Repaired for the race which started on a damp track and dried out. Worked my way up to behind Chuck and then started falling back as the transmission began to pop out of 3rd gear

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Sunday
Put new(used) brakes on, but missed practice and qualifying again. Ended up battling with Jim Levie for much of the race but had to deal with a long brake pedal and a ride through the grass outside of one. Most entertaining part was watching the corner marshals progressively get more and more aggressive with the passing flag as Jim and I battled side by side with traffic coming up from behind to lap us.

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Engine #3 Leakdown Test

Leakdown Test
1- 74% loss
2- 55% loss
3- 44% loss
4- 26% loss
5- 38% loss
6- 26% loss


Not good... time to build the spare engine in the garage.

Engine #3: Compression Test

After the poor outing at Road Atlanta, I decided to do some engine diagnostic work and see whether this one is worth saving or scrapping:

Compression Test
1- 129 psi
2- 122 psi
3- 133 psi
4- 160 psi
5- 150 psi
6- 170 psi