Just got back from the Vintage Grand Prix at Grattan Raceway in Michigan.
Running a "Works Midget" with a near stock 1275 and decked out in Abingdon
livery (red body, white hardtop, white meatball on the door), I usually have
a pretty good time playing Sebring racer at these sorts of events,
paddocking with Team Thicko, and engaging in much-needed barley therapy.
Although the street engine keeps me far behind the racer bugeyes,
mini-Coopers, and other prepared buzzbombs on the track, I usually am dead
reliable, low-budget, nostalgic, and stress-free cuz nothin breaks. Not so
this weekend. Pumped up for three-days of racing including a 1-hour enduro,
I no sooner got out on my first practice when I noticed my oil pressure was
on the low side. The warmer the oil got...and the more I took to the track,
the lower it got until my cold pressure was about 45 # and hot at 6,000 RPM
was about 15#. At hot idle I showed an impressive 2#. (Impressive in that
the engine was not coming apart!). By Saturday afternoon, I could only run
about three laps before coming in with great trepidation showing all of
about 5# at 4500RPM. Guess it's tear down the engine time (again), having
just gone through everything one race weekend ago! And to add salt to the
wound, the runs I did get in were 4 seconds slower than my times last
year...I think because I degreed my 286 cam!! WHY DO I KEEP WORKING ON MY
OWN CAR???? Damn that We-Tight Club!
--John (not Sprinzel)
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