Buick!

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=85 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Caintmakit! Racing</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>     </B></FONT><B>|     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Caintmakit! 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Although rain forced the cancelation of the feature event, the car</div> <div> progressed as the night went on. During practice, things were less than</div> <div> spectacular, getting lapped in just a few short laps. However, some</div> <div> modifications to tire pressures, camber, and air cleaner (removal of...),</div> <div> the car picked up the pace in the heat race. A misinformed driver caused</div> <div> the car to have to start in last place (17th or 19th, not sure). However,</div> <div> this was only a minor set back for the Caintmakit Team, as the car rocketed</div> <div> to a 7th place finish in only 12 short laps. Given more time, a top 5 was</div> <div> well within reach! No major damage was incurred and the car is ready to</div> <div> race again this Sunday. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Race #2:</B></div> <bR> <div> Buick's second outing in the 4 cylinder pure stocks was again a success </div> <div> (success being that it was able to be put on the trailer in one piece!) . After </div> <div> a lucky draw, we started on the pole position in the 4th heat race. A defective </div> <div> tire, or at least a heavily abused tire caused the car to slide back through the</div> <div> pack to a 6th place finish. The feature was quite interesting, as the track</div> <div> decided to start all 54 cars that showed up! We started 3 wide and there were</div> <div> cars as for in front of and behind as I could see. After 30 laps and many dents</div> <div> and scrapes, the Buick came home with a 25th place position. Many things were</div> <div> learned during the weekend that will help push the team to a fine finish in the</div> <div> races to come. (Turbos and DOHC's are in the near future!!!) </div> <bR> <bR> <div> -Darren</div> <bR> <div> <B>Race #3:</B></div> <bR> <div> In preparation for the Somerset's third weekend at the track and second full night of racing, the crew awoke early on Saturday. Fueled by the homecooking of Mrs. Bohne, mother of famed racer Darren Bohne, work began with the removal of both front struts, an oil change, and additional weight saving initiatives. In the process of removing the wheelhouse liners to "save weight" and better access the useless mass formerly known as the AC compressor, the true beauty/function of the liners was discovered. It seems that the engine's front seal is not much of a seal after all. The right side of the engine bay was completely covered in oil and sludge. A quick team deliberation resulted in the replacement of the right side liner to avoid a black flag for oil spray.</div> <bR> <div> After completing the oil change, compressor removal, and strut installation the car was fired to check for (additional) leaks. That's when the team noticed much chatter from the valvetrain and number one and two cylinders. A inspection through the oil fill confirmed that the valves were starved for oil. Checking the full DIGITAL instrumentation revealed no oil pressure, at which time Darren decided to share had originally started during last week's feature race. On a brighter note, the engine was not leaking any oil since it was doing little more than sloshing on the sump.</div> <bR> <div> With no luck at the local NAPA and a false alarm with the other parts warehouse, the team was left to pull the oil pan without the aid of a new gasket set for replacement. Much banging, prying, and yanking yielded the pan's complete removal and uninhibited access to the pickup tube. That was when the team had it's first hint of the Somerset's ailing condition.</div> <bR> <div> Cleansing of the oil pickup revealed several large chunks of cast block iron blocking the passage of any oil through the tube. With the pan were metal filings and pieces of a previous RTV sealing attempt. With less than two hours before the team was due to be at the track, the pickup and pan were cleaned and reinstalled. With the its full capacity of oil the Somerset displayed full pressure upon ignition.</div> <bR> <div> In an ironic twist to the day's demeanor, Darren drew the pole for his heat. Coincidentally, the track had decided to race the points leaders in their own heat race, leaving Darren to fend off more evenly mated opponents.</div> <bR> <div> The Caintmakit Buick Somerset held its own for several laps of the heat, losing a few positions to the more agile Japanese competitors. Then Darren had a brush with a 4 cylinder Mustang. In an attempt to gain position, the Stang used Darren as a mobile guardrail through the corners to take fourth. Darren rallied in true Munkee fashion and dove to the bottom of turn 3 at full steam without a thought of lifting. His smartly plotted course put Darren dead on course for the targeted Stang and the Somerset creamed into the Stang's rear quarter nearly sending him around. Darren was forced to check up and gather the car, loosing 2 spots before crossing the line in sixth place.</div> <bR> <div> The feature was set to be the finale of the night with 47 cars lined up 3 wide for the start. Darren ended up fourth in line on the inside lineup after the heats and figure eight races had claimed their casualties. The site of 47 Hornets bombing around the track was comical to say the least. Less than one lap in the first caution was thrown for a spinout. The next 20 laps were filled with many more mishaps and near misses, but Darren was able to avoid the action (with the exception of nearly rear-ending the pack on the back straight under a caution). The Buick had slipped back a few spots but seemed to be stabilizing in the order when members of the pit stands began commenting to the crew about the sound of Darren's car. After much denial, it became obvious that the attempts to regain oil pressure were in vain.</div> <bR> <div> Upon the dropping to the green on lap 10, Darren rounded turn 1-2 and the Somerset breathed its last breathes. The motor grenaded in front of the pit stands and Darren nearly looped it in his own oil as he swung down to the infield. Under it own power Darren limped his beaten racer to the center of the infield where he cut the engine which would never refire again.</div> <bR> <div> A preliminary autopsy performed the next morning revealed the number two cylinder had broke loose from the crank and pushed its bottom end through the side of the block. After 3 heat races and two feature the Somerset was, indeed, dead. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>will she live again?  Stay tuned!</B></I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>