After a mixed round 1 of the S.A. State Championships we have been busy in the workshop.
After qualifying in 4th spot and finishing 5th in race 1 we were less than satisfied with the effort. A few adjustments to the car and we were out for race 2. This went to plan and Daniel managed a faultless drive to finish in 1st place and set the fastest lap in the race. This was the first win for the Calibre One Jacer. There was some great close racing with several lead changes. Daniel stole the lead with an outside pass on Rhett Payne into the 2nd last turn and held him out to go on and take the win.
From hero to zero in race 3 starting off pole Daniel was to only make it around the first 2 corners before the entire field drove by and he headed for the infield. "I lost all drive on the exit from turn 2 and found I had no gears" reported Daniel on his return to the pits. "This is my first mechanical DNF in 3 seasons and I was devastated" explains Daniel. He thought he had destroyed the gear box.
Back in the workshop and the trouble has been found. It was a minor failure of a spacer that keeps the side gear engaged with the spider gears. No debris had made it's way into the box so with all seals still intact in the box, it was a straight forward repair and refit. All is back into the car now, so a bit of a polish and we are ready to have another go. With some further developments in progress perhaps a trip to the dyno may be required.
Over all a mixed round with some high's and of course ending on a low but the Jacer is making progress as we come to terms with it's characteristics.
Please tune in to Channel 31 in S.A. a new motorsport program is being launched and Daniel was interviewed for the show at Mallala that weekend. The show is called "Heaps Fast" and is due to air near the end of March 2010. See website www.puremotorsport.tv