So, true to form our luck has continued in the same vein as previous days.
We turned up on the salt very early in the morning with the plans to go out and do as many runs as possible to perfect our tuning map.
So we made it to the line of course 2, our first opportunity on the long course (5 mile run with 3 mile slow down). First run the car felt like it was running on five cylinders so Ian pulled off after about half a mile. Next run the car sounded a hell of a lot better but once we were in top gear it would not pull over 4000 rpm.
A very slow run of only 124mph.
At this point the organisers mentioned that they were shutting course 2, with yet another tune we now lined up on course 1 (the big boys course, this track had seen speeds approaching 490mph this week.) Yet again we set up off full of vim and vigour but alas the tune was hardly any better and we pretty much equalled the previous speed.
Whilst we were re-tuning the engine we noticed some oil had begun to leak from the gearbox and we were a little concerned as to the amount of oil still left within it. On inspection we found the root of the problems as the gearbox casing had broken and caused the gearbox to shift putting latitudinal pressure on the shaft and damaging the oil seal.
After Harry came up with a fantastic repair to the gearbox we loaded up with yet another engine tune all ready to head off to the start line. This time we were ready, we would crack the 150 mark if not the 160. Certainly the car was capable all we needed was things to run well up for us.
We waited in line and worked our way to the front of the cue. All was well as we proceeded with our pre-run checks. At this point we noticed no clutch at all!
The flexible hose that had given us the problems the day before had now broken and sprung a leak.
Bugger!
