The budget took one on the chin this week. We learned that new rules for 2008 will be in affect for our endeavor. Additional personal safety gear and a beefier roll cage will be required. While safety is a great concept, outsiders might stop and consider if people who would put their lives at risk in a $500 piece of crap with dozens of other like-minded idiots are really people we should be preserving in the gene pool? But, we’re the fools that can’t wait to climb in this tin can and tear off at the speed of light, so personal sacrifices must be made! Those kids don’t really need to go to college, do they? A good trade school will be fine. Those of us without kids to rob may have to sacrifice some gold fillings. You’d be surprised how much you can cut out of the household budget by switching to an all-ramen diet. Besides, how much food does a cat need, really?
But the week wasn’t all doom and gloom. We have a nibble on a sponsor. Can’t mention who it is, yet. We need to see a check before they get any publicity. Negotiations are under way, … how much is a soul worth these days?
On a brighter side, we were able to get together Thursday night for another work session. Work on the fuel pump, oil and plug changes, and a little fabrication were the topics of the evening. Mechanically, we made progress in each area. We even tinkered with the carbs a little and it seemed to do more good than harm. Big Daddy brought some fabrications from home including the skeleton of a front air dam and cold air induction system made from left-over sheet metal, silicone and duct tape. Who needs to spend money on one of them ‘pretty’ units?
COUNTDOWN TO KERSHAW – 168 DAYS & COUNTING!!!!
Before - The floor pans were riddled with rust. Lot's of teams struggle with the question of whether or not to remove the sound deadening material on the floors and if so, how to do it. We had no such delima since most of the sound deadening fell out as the floors disintegrated through the years. One problem solved, but the gaping holes in the floor presented more than one issue, most of them safety. Surgery was the only option for our patient. Air chisel, cut-off wheel, and sawzall were the instruments of healing.
After - A few sheetmetal grafts later and the patient is a good as new. The procedure also gave us the opportunity to do some major reinforcement under the the driver's seat area. The racing seat has been installed and things are really taking shape. The rollcage is the next major project.
