2009 ASN FIA Canadian Solosprint Championships

[Scott McIntyre]

This past weekend I competed in the Canadian National SoloSprint Championship (a.k.a. Solo1 / Time Attack / Time Trial). It was a 3-day event (one practice day followed by two competition days). During the Friday practice I encountered some issues with my Wilwoods. A brake line slipped through its center support and made contact with the rotor, and eventually wore through enough to start pissing brake fluid out. While I was on track I noticed my brakes had begun acting strangely so I came into the pits to find my wheel coated in brake fluid as well as the side of the car. Ugh!

Here’s a pic of the brake line, and here’s a pic of the center support that the line slips through. I’m guessing that as the lines age, the exterior rubber coating shrinks and allows some slippage.

Unfortunately, I had no way of getting a replacement line before the next day’s event, so I had to resort to putting the stock brakes back on for Saturday & Sunday’s competition. Luckily I only live 45 minutes from the track and I had a set of Porterfield R4-E pads to go with the stock brakes.

So Saturday I competed without any drama. I actually got a new personal best lap time by a full second! Then on Sunday I began experiencing some problems:

• I began hearing a clicking sound coming from the rear passenger side on a tight left-hand turn... The same noise I had heard at the previous AutoSlalom which I had thought I fixed. I now suspect it’s a rear CV joint going south, but am not sure how to diagnose it.
• The engine began sputtering under prolonged WOT. Sounds to me like an ignition problem (plugs / wires / coil packs), but I’ve yet to determine. I didn’t bother pulling the plugs or wires as I didn’t have any spares anyway.
• I had been jacking up the car between each session and checking the wheels & suspension for play. After my 2nd session on Sunday, I discovered a sizable amount of play in the inboard front lower lateral control arm bushing, so I retired from competition for the day. Here’s a pic of the bushing in question. Note the gap between the metal insert & polyurethane. The odd thing is that this bushing (Prothane) has only been in the car for a few seasons. Guess it’s a sign that it’s time to go with spherical bearings in the front lower lateral control arms, DG-style.

Despite all the nagging problems, it was an enjoyable weekend. I got a new personal best lap time of 1:18.144, plus won the National Championship for my class (I just won’t mention that I was the only competitor in my class :wink: ).

So now I have a set of new brake lines coming from TCE, and a new poly bushing coming from a fellow DSMer to get me though the rest of the season. Next event is an AutoSlalom in 2.5 weeks time.

Here are some photos of the Talon at the event:

Lots more photos can be viewed at the photographers' sites:

• http://www.pbase.com/ryans_photography/2009_asn_canada_fia_canadian_solosprint_championships
• http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/v/Motorsports/Other/SSNats2009
• http://users.hfx.eastlink.ca/~hmmerk/SlideShow/index.htm
• http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=106699&am...&id=524599645
• http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/The_lost_neon/SSNATS/

 

[housegsx]

Love that 2nd pic!

 

[turbosax2]

^ Agreed. Congrats on the win

 

[Scott McIntyre]

Thanks! It was tough. I had to complete one lap over two days to secure the national title.

Here's an article about the event from a local newspaper: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Wheels/1143013.html

 

[Poloturbo]

Very nice. Congrats on great driving and another 2G push to the limit.

Any cooling issues?

 

[Scott McIntyre]

Thanks Paul.

I had lots of cooling issues last year, but none at all this year. Although I did a few things to try to solve it (i.e. aluminum rad, 170º t-stat, air-to-oil cooler, 100% water + water wetter) I believe that sealing the gap between the FMIC & rad is what did the trick. That and modifying my bumper support to act as a vertical scoop. You can see some pics here: http://s498.photobucket.com/albums/rr347/scmcint/FMIC Install/

Do you run autoslalom as well? I'm predicting the national autoslalom and / or solosprint championships will be held in Quebec next year. If so, I'm gonna try to make the trip.