Sorry, it's a bit of a read.
I do pit crew work for a buddy and his race team at the local track, and wow...just have to share how this last weekend went. Just to give you a little background, we have 4 cars with the team, 1x 1989 CRX Si, 2x 1990 CRX Si's, and a 1993 Integra GS-R. Yeah, I know they're little hondas, but this keeps it cheap and they're the most competitive cars in their class, so we'll leave it at that.
Anyways, the PREVIOUS race weekend (about a month and a half ago) the Integra spun a bearing, so it's engine was slowly and painfully rebuilt over 3 weeks after fighting to try and find parts for it (super rare engine...B17). While this was going on, my buddy's dad decided to rebuild his own engine at the same time out of the 1990 CRX Si seeing as it's got 220,000km on it and he's been racing on it for 2 1/2 seasons. Being an IP (improved production) class race, he's not allowed to mess around with high compression pistons etc, only allowable limits for shaving etc off oem spec. So he built the motor right on the knife edge of legal IP spec to get as much out of it as possible.
We get to the track Saturday morning and the CRX is smoking like a banshee. He thinks it's just the rings seating because it got very little in terms of break in time, so we just keep the oil topped up and keep driving it. The Integra isn't getting any VTEC though, which is a problem because it pretty much takes any advantage that that engine gives you away, so you just end up with a heavier car.
Come time for the first qualifying session (and after retorquing head bolts on the CRX and replacing the VTEC solenoid in the Integra), the Integra makes it 4 laps before destroying the clutch (which WAS fine, checked it on the rebuild) and the CRX STILL smokes like a banshee. So we take the cars home that night and do a headgasket on the CRX because literally EVERYTHING was checked over by my buddy's dad, and he's been building these engines for over 35 years, as well as a clutch on the Integra.
Get to the track the next morning and find the CRX still smoking, but not as much. So we run with it and keep the oil topped up. Both cars make it through the first 20 minute race fine. Later in the afternoon we get ready for the longer 50 minute race though and that's where things start going horribly wrong again. My buddy goes to back out the Integra and head to the grid, and the car just stalls. After lifting the car quickly and taking a look underneath, the only explanation that we can come up with is something in the tranny is jammed. Time for a tranny rebuild on that car...
Anyways, the CRX goes and races, and my buddy and his dad decided to just switch drivers during the required 1 minute pit. I top up the car with a litre of oil (always interesting to do while there's pressure in the crank case and everything's burning hot). Fast forward to 2 laps before the end of the race. The car stops smoking....completely. Half a lap later, I see the car smoking a TON, and yeah....you can guess what happend from there. Car limps in to the pits, and he kills the engine. We pop the hood to find coolant and oil sprayed all over the inside of the engine bay, but it's not leaving a trail, so no exit rod stage left hole in block. Needless to say though, the car doesn't start.
Worst part of it, the car was winning up until that point. The Integra should have had no contest in that race either (a faster class than the CRX). We gave up to first place standings and probably can't get a podium finish for the championship now.
Expensive weekend...all I can say is I'm glad I don't have to pay the bills. This is also why I don't race
I do pit crew work for a buddy and his race team at the local track, and wow...just have to share how this last weekend went. Just to give you a little background, we have 4 cars with the team, 1x 1989 CRX Si, 2x 1990 CRX Si's, and a 1993 Integra GS-R. Yeah, I know they're little hondas, but this keeps it cheap and they're the most competitive cars in their class, so we'll leave it at that.
Anyways, the PREVIOUS race weekend (about a month and a half ago) the Integra spun a bearing, so it's engine was slowly and painfully rebuilt over 3 weeks after fighting to try and find parts for it (super rare engine...B17). While this was going on, my buddy's dad decided to rebuild his own engine at the same time out of the 1990 CRX Si seeing as it's got 220,000km on it and he's been racing on it for 2 1/2 seasons. Being an IP (improved production) class race, he's not allowed to mess around with high compression pistons etc, only allowable limits for shaving etc off oem spec. So he built the motor right on the knife edge of legal IP spec to get as much out of it as possible.
We get to the track Saturday morning and the CRX is smoking like a banshee. He thinks it's just the rings seating because it got very little in terms of break in time, so we just keep the oil topped up and keep driving it. The Integra isn't getting any VTEC though, which is a problem because it pretty much takes any advantage that that engine gives you away, so you just end up with a heavier car.
Come time for the first qualifying session (and after retorquing head bolts on the CRX and replacing the VTEC solenoid in the Integra), the Integra makes it 4 laps before destroying the clutch (which WAS fine, checked it on the rebuild) and the CRX STILL smokes like a banshee. So we take the cars home that night and do a headgasket on the CRX because literally EVERYTHING was checked over by my buddy's dad, and he's been building these engines for over 35 years, as well as a clutch on the Integra.
Get to the track the next morning and find the CRX still smoking, but not as much. So we run with it and keep the oil topped up. Both cars make it through the first 20 minute race fine. Later in the afternoon we get ready for the longer 50 minute race though and that's where things start going horribly wrong again. My buddy goes to back out the Integra and head to the grid, and the car just stalls. After lifting the car quickly and taking a look underneath, the only explanation that we can come up with is something in the tranny is jammed. Time for a tranny rebuild on that car...
Anyways, the CRX goes and races, and my buddy and his dad decided to just switch drivers during the required 1 minute pit. I top up the car with a litre of oil (always interesting to do while there's pressure in the crank case and everything's burning hot). Fast forward to 2 laps before the end of the race. The car stops smoking....completely. Half a lap later, I see the car smoking a TON, and yeah....you can guess what happend from there. Car limps in to the pits, and he kills the engine. We pop the hood to find coolant and oil sprayed all over the inside of the engine bay, but it's not leaving a trail, so no exit rod stage left hole in block. Needless to say though, the car doesn't start.
Worst part of it, the car was winning up until that point. The Integra should have had no contest in that race either (a faster class than the CRX). We gave up to first place standings and probably can't get a podium finish for the championship now.
Expensive weekend...all I can say is I'm glad I don't have to pay the bills. This is also why I don't race
