----- Original Message -----
From: <BillDentin@aol.com>
To: <johnpcull@eaton.com>; <vscda@iserv.net>; <Billd13@aol.com>;
<Fitzsmns@mwci.net>; <vo93frei@ticon.net>; <lotus81@interaccess.com>;
<george@roadamerica.com>; <NeotoyRick@aol.com>; <JBHLOTUS@aol.com>;
<mlh@execpc.com>; <jliess@fmr-systems.com>; <TornadoRegistrar@aol.com>;
<Cmaranto@midlink.com>; <mmastoon@mediaone.net>; <esiert@staritemail.com>;
Wm. Severin Thompson <wsthompson@thicko.com>
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2000 9:45 AM
Subject: OLE BLUE
> Amici:
>
> After nearly forty-five years as a race car, OLE BLUE may have suffered a
> terminal injury at BLACKHAWK FARMS on Saturday.
>
> While still fast on the straights, the car has never turned properly since
> its double roll over at Grattan in the early 1990s. We suspected frame
> twists or cracks, but could not isolate them. The symptoms got
progressively
> worse. To describe the car as spongy, is being kind. This season in
> particular, the car had a disconcerting shimmy under hard breaking. The
> brakes worked fine, but there was this chatter shimmy and mild shaking.
>
> In the second session last Saturday morning, screaming into Turn ONE (and
> trying to out brake M. L., I might add), there was a tremendous thud, and
the
> right front collapsed. Fortunately I had not reached the turn yet, I was
> going in a straight line and while there was no opportunity for steering
> (gone), the collapsed right dragged the car to the right and into the
grass.
> Somebody up there likes me, as I scrubbed off speed naturally, with the
car
> actually negotiating the corner on it own, to a safe stop just past Turn
One.
>
> Bodywise, the car suffered minor damage to the front apron (lower).
>
> As for the suspension, initial examination indicated I had sheared the
> Vertical Link at the bottom, just above the threaded stud. This was a
part
> we had on the shelf, so we made plans to get it to the track, and we were
> expecting to be back in business for the race on Sunday.
>
> During the installation process, we were experiencing an extraordinary
amount
> of effort in lining things up. It was then we noticed three or four
(maybe
> even five or six) MAJOR cracks in the frame.
>
> We finally got the replacement vertical link installed so we could roll
the
> car. The Good News is we have never been successful in getting camber
into
> the front wheels. Hard to do in a TR3. We now have camber. The Bad News
is
> that it is Positive Camber...about 21%.
>
> While our enthusiasm for racing has not been diminished, and I will be
back
> in the Thunder Bolt next season, I have not decided what to do about Old
> Blue. The two obvious options are a cosmetic repair and retirement, or a
> total frame off restoration.
>
> More later.
>
> Bill Dentinger
>
> PS
>
> Thank God I had not reached Turn One, or I would have bought a violent
roll
> that might have collected poor M. L. as well. Had that happened, I would
not
> have my current dilemma. To solve my dilemma, I need to find a suitable
> frame to start with. OLE BLUE deserves to race again.
>
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