We had problems on Saturday at Road America. Scott went out to run in the first Qualifying session, which would set the order for the next session. The second session set the seeding order for running for the rest of the event. During the 3rd lap the power steering pulley disintegrated and in doing so also took out the power steering pump reservoir and the serpentine belt that runs the water pump and alternator as well. Because of this failure the temperature went up quickly and Scott to shut down and abort the run. As a result we ended up with a DNF for that event which stands for "Did not finish". With a DNF you receive no point for the event and we dropped from 14 th place overall to 39 th place.
The good new is that when I went looking for help and could not find anyone who had a pulley. I stopped at another competitor's car and was waiting to ask him about a pulley until he was finished working on a problem part. While standing ther I heard the fellow say something next to me that gave me the idea he was a local mechanic. I started to tell him of our problem and he told me he works for a local Corvette performance shop but was off today to come to the track for the One Lap event Joel was absoloutely great and went above and beyond in helping us get the car back together in time to get in the last group for qualifying.
The good new is that when I went looking for help and could not find anyone who had a pulley. I stopped at another competitor's car and was waiting to ask him about a pulley until he was finished working on a problem part. While standing ther I heard the fellow say something next to me that gave me the idea he was a local mechanic. I started to tell him of our problem and he told me he works for a local Corvette performance shop but was off today to come to the track for the One Lap event Joel was absoloutely great and went above and beyond in helping us get the car back together in time to get in the last group for qualifying.
Of course nobody local had the pulley or reservoir in stock. The fix Joel helped to come up with was a pulley from his C4 which fit but didn't have the grooves on it like the orginal. We got the pulley on and glued the reservior in time for qualifying, but then discovered it was still leaking and dripping on the serpentine belt. Joel suggested using the C4 Corvette reservoir but it was too large. After everyone else had left for western Iowa Joel guided us to the local Fleet and Farm store where we bought hoses and fitting and mounted the reservior remotely back by the master cylinder so we could still close the hood. A few cable ties to hold everything out of harms way and we were leaving for Iowa. Another big THANK YOU to Joel. It is nice to know how much some one you never met before was willing to be so giving and helpful to get us back in the game. When we get home we will have to mail Joel his borrowed parts and tools back to him.
Of course we didn't get to Pacific Junction, Iowa until 2 am and got some much needed sleep. One Lap of America is certainly an endurance contest of both man and machine.
Of course we didn't get to Pacific Junction, Iowa until 2 am and got some much needed sleep. One Lap of America is certainly an endurance contest of both man and machine.
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