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Oct. 7, 2008 9:08 a.m. Spinout007 New Reader

I know it taught me a few things about myself and my situation. Mainly How great my wife is, our anniversary was thursday b4 the challenge, and she had no complaints what so ever about me spending most of the afternoon and ALL night working on a friends car. Much less not even seeing me the next day till about 6 pm. Second I can go alot longer without sleep, than I thought possible, WAY longer. Third the Challengers themselves are an AWESOME group of people. This is my second year being involved in a challenge build, last year I kind of kept to myself and just watched what was going on, this year I actually got out and talked with people, and decided next year I will have to bring a car, if not two, to the challenge. One of coarse just for fun and to see the shocked reations from everyone.

Thought I would share my thoughts.
Oct. 7, 2008 9:41 a.m. 924guy HalfDork

I learned a ton, if id gone last year, id of known better and actually competed this year. But just going as a spectator this year has really opened my eyes to allot of things I hadn't considered. I really expected half or more of the cars to be prepped only for performance, but I found that in every case, the work was done cleanly, parts cleaned and painted, little if any shoddy work and if there was, it was well disguised. The quality of the cars blew me away...

I came back and looked at my car with a whole new point of view, and its going to take allot of elbow grease to get it into shape. compared to most cars, its already cleaner than any daily driver more than a few years old, but it cant hold a candle to even the lowest scoring challenge car...

I also learned im going to need a few more ponies, on top of the planned cam change, i need to seriously think about how im going to add the old turbo on the shelf in my garage to the package. At least i have a year now, and im already making progress with the mechanicals. plenty of time for sanding, painting and dialing in , but i know ive got to spend at least a few hours a week until done, and recruit some more people for the clean up work ...
Oct. 7, 2008 9:42 a.m. bluej HalfDork

no syrup.

it's better to go to bed and get rest, and then attempt wiring.

get it running, then worry about tech.

the surest way to get a group of challengers mobilized is to give them a problem to chew on, like getting a megasquirted car running when you realize the IAT sensor you have won't work and you forgot your coolant sensor at home.

i'm not alone in my craziness :
Oct. 7, 2008 9:52 a.m. 16vCorey Dork

Don't stay up until 6am drinking straight whiskey if you want to get up in the morning.
Oct. 7, 2008 9:54 a.m. DirtyBird222 HalfDork

to bribe the judges, get my own hotel room so I can sleep quietly without my dads snoring, boost til you almost blow, have a tranny that doesn't pop out of gear that costs you a couple seconds on every autox run (we built the car, we run it, no ringers wanted here). To bring some sort of transport vehicle like a trike, Honda Hobbit, etc. Bring more of my posse to help with things so my dad can sleep off his hangover, bring a pop-up tent for shade, wear sun-screen more often (i have an akward lump on neck above a mole, kinda scary actually). I had pulled two all nighters during the week for school the week leading up and there was no way I could possibly do one more during the weekend...mental note to self - School goes on backburner on week of challenge.
Oct. 7, 2008 9:55 a.m. John Brown UltimaDork

Bring one of these:

From BugUgly
Oct. 7, 2008 9:55 a.m. DirtyBird222 HalfDork

16vCorey wrote:

Don't stay up until 6am drinking straight whiskey if you want to get up in the morning.

Solution: Don't go to bed.
Oct. 7, 2008 10:21 a.m. SpeedTheory New Reader

A. I'm an awful lot slower in other people's cars than I am in my own.

B. The Challenge guys, both staff and competitors, are an awesome group of guys.

C. Take more tires to sell! My two sets that Paul had claimed were being oogled by damned near everyone in the back of the hotel. If you guys had known how cheap he was getting them for, you would have picked some up too ;).

D. Come with my own car next year. FB RX-7 w/a Ford 302 is in practice.
Oct. 7, 2008 10:32 a.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

I learned Challenge competitors are not human. They look like they are, but they're not. No mere mortal can drink that much beer, have that little sleep, and still wrench that well.
Oct. 7, 2008 10:40 a.m. GVX19 New Reader

Dont sleep in the front seat of a car that is half a big as you are tall. I lost the fealing in 3 of the toes on my left foot. Thursday I hope it does not last too long.

The level of build level of the cars is so high,that I may have to find a new car maker.

My car gets 29mpg towing 800lbs with out over drive or A/C. I wish I had over drive.
Oct. 7, 2008 10:46 a.m. clownkiller New Reader
DirtyBird222 wrote:

16vCorey wrote:

Don't stay up until 6am drinking straight whiskey if you want to get up in the morning.

Solution: Don't go to bed.
- 1
DON'T SLEEP.......
Oct. 7, 2008 11:56 a.m. SVreX UltraDork

SpeedTheory wrote:

C. Take more tires to sell! My two sets that Paul had claimed were being oogled by damned near everyone in the back of the hotel. If you guys had known how cheap he was getting them for, you would have picked some up too ;).

Hate to say I told you so, but...

that's not true...I TOLD YOU SO.
Oct. 7, 2008 2:29 p.m. poopshovel Dork

I learned, or was at least reminded, that the Westside guys, along with Les Burchett, Matt Lee and the guys that came down with them (don't remember their names) are berkeleying insane; in a really really really good way.

I learned that if we go ahead and let the Canexican go "Pink Indian" the first night (floating the keg essentially by himself,) he'll be relatively quiet and reserved on the following nights.

I learned that my wife does not consider consuming a total of 2 litres of whiskey, half a litre of vodka, and countless beers until 4:30-6:30AM three nights in a row, an "accomplishment" (the "detox" rules are in effect for the next 7 days in the poop-house.)

I learned that what I thought was the filthiest, most disturbing joke ever told, may as well be a children's bedtime story compared to what shall now be know as "the joke." (thanks Mental.)

Lastly, I learned that the "Law of Diminishing Returns" does NOT apply to the Challenge. This was, hands down, the best Challenge experience we've had, and it doesn't have a DAMNED thing to do with trophies. The reason we (me & Wayne) "close it out" every night is because neither one of us want to miss any of the cool E36 M3 that happens, or miss the chance to spend another 5 minutes with any of you folks who make coming down there SO much fun.

Can't wait to see you guys and gals next year.
Oct. 7, 2008 3:42 p.m. Cotton Reader

poopshovel wrote:

I learned, or was at least reminded, that the Westside guys, along with Les Burchett, Matt Lee and the guys that came down with them (don't remember their names) are berkeleying insane; in a really really really good way.

I learned that if we go ahead and let the Canexican go "Pink Indian" the first night (floating the keg essentially by himself,) he'll be relatively quiet and reserved on the following nights.

I learned that my wife does not consider consuming a total of 2 litres of whiskey, half a litre of vodka, and countless beers until 4:30-6:30AM three nights in a row, an "accomplishment" (the "detox" rules are in effect for the next 7 days in the poop-house.)

I learned that what I thought was the filthiest, most disturbing joke ever told, may as well be a children's bedtime story compared to what shall now be know as "the joke." (thanks Mental.)

Lastly, I learned that the "Law of Diminishing Returns" does NOT apply to the Challenge. This was, hands down, the best Challenge experience we've had, and it doesn't have a DAMNED thing to do with trophies. The reason we (me & Wayne) "close it out" every night is because neither one of us want to miss any of the cool E36 M3 that happens, or miss the chance to spend another 5 minutes with any of you folks who make coming down there SO much fun.

Can't wait to see you guys and gals next year.

We need to hear that joke!
Oct. 7, 2008 3:48 p.m. bluej HalfDork

Cotton wrote:

We need to hear that joke!

seriously. that's like saying you had a date with (insert hot model here) and not admitting if you got any.
Oct. 7, 2008 3:55 p.m. aussiesmg HalfDork

Count the bolts you removed prior to doing the final tune and timing, then you shouldn't forget one which then found its way into the intake manifold.......d'oh, the good news is the piston survived.

I won't be so stressed next year, most of the work is done, now I can spend a year working on little tricks, or just build another one.
Oct. 7, 2008 7:01 p.m. exST165 New Reader

I learned that the people at the Challenge are even better than I could have imagined. We'll be back next year!
Oct. 7, 2008 9:42 p.m. AngryCorvair Dork

poopshovel wrote:

The reason we (me & Wayne) "close it out" every night is because neither one of us want to miss any of the cool E36 M3 that happens, or miss the chance to spend another 5 minutes with any of you folks who make coming down there SO much fun.

Can't wait to see you guys and gals next year.

in 2007, without a horse in the race other than kinda sorta helping the s00p3rturd guys a little bit, i "closed it out" every night -- 4am was typical. this year, with a mildly lame horse in the race, i chose not to "close it out" each night. i definitely missed a lot, as my roommate inadequately relayed the previous night's activities to me over a breakfast viewed with bloodshot eyes.

so in 2009, with a more powerful engine, a fresh clutch, a different paint scheme, and a year of tuning, the V8 944 will be back. and i'll "close it out" each and every night.
Oct. 8, 2008 6:42 a.m. GUNDY New Reader

AngryCorvair wrote:

so in 2009, with a more powerful engine, a fresh clutch, a different paint scheme, and a year of tuning, the V8 944 will be back. and i'll "close it out" each and every night.

More power, new clutch and different paint!! You really get your money's worth out of that extra $1 in the budget.
Oct. 8, 2008 8:06 a.m. spin_out New Reader

Some of you may have noticed that I added a Flux Capacitor to the Fiero in an attempt to finish Before I started. :)

Turns out you have to hit 88mph to get it to work, and I only hit 87 in the drags.
And with the price of Plutonium getting nearly as high as a gallon of gas...... yada yada yada
Oct. 8, 2008 9:35 a.m. AngryCorvair Dork

GUNDY wrote:

AngryCorvair wrote:

so in 2009, with a more powerful engine, a fresh clutch, a different paint scheme, and a year of tuning, the V8 944 will be back. and i'll "close it out" each and every night.

More power, new clutch and different paint!! You really get your money's worth out of that extra $1 in the budget.

yeah, something like that. budget wasn't railed for '08 (still had almost $40 available), and the replacement engine i bought a few months ago was $175 less than the one that's in the car now. i decided to follow the Wheels777 example of "buy it now and sit on it. i'll use it eventually."

the existing clutch disc is a separate line item at $100 because it's a "custom SBC V8 - to - 944" disc (not). by removing it (and the associated $100) from the budget and replacing it with the generic NAPA small-block MoPar disc (correct spline, correct diameters and offset) for $60, i've got a new clutch disc and an additional $40 back into the budget. FWIW, existing disc was damaged by incorrect installation by PO.

clutch disc interchange info comes from www.porschehybrids.com

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