When I first went out on a drive the car immediately threw a code. My plan to break everything in slowly was a good move because it gave me time to sort issues out that I knew would crop up. I slapped a "spare" tag on the car and did 5 miles at a time around the local roads just to heat cycle all the new parts. After some odds and end leaks and the codes all gone, it was time to set up a track day for some heavier use.
Two weeks ago, April 7th, I had the luck of getting invited to instruct with a local Mercedes Benz club ( wonderful club BTW ) at my home track, Summit Point. A perfect chance for me to teach, get out on the new pavement before the National race this year, and just get in the seat. It's been almost 7 months since Pocono, no seat time period. The thoughts have been in my head about how I would feel back in the seat after the accident. Unloaded the car, grabbed a student and proceeded on the first session at not much more than street speeds anyway, cold wet track with slicks was actually good for me to ease into things. The car felt great, but I didn't. No lie, I was a bit nervous. That lasted 3 minutes when the car slid tail out and the big grin came back. At that moment I knew one accident wasn't going to stop me!!
Second session out after working with my student I turned up the heat on old number 86, to about 70 percent. The car was working well and all my worries of it not working well began to fade. Third session would be my last, between street and track I had already accumulated about 120 miles and this last session would tell me everything I needed to know. It would also let me focus the last portion of the day with my students. It was in this session that I hit a snag. I was at about 85%, on old tires so my laps were likely in the 1:21-1:22 range, not bad, but still hard enough to find an issue. After about 15 minutes I picked up a strange vibration in the right rear. As I pulled into the hot pits I heard a metallic grinding sound. To me, it sounded like metal dragging. When I looked under the right rear, I noticed axle grease everywhere. Seems as though my new axle (replaced because that was the side of the impact) had already given up the ghost. Oh well, if that was the only problem, that would be easy. It wasn't. When I got home I found out why my axle failed and the grinding noise was not what I thought it was. I pull the wheel off to find my hard brake line wrapped around the axle like a twizzler!!!
What tha??? After some forensics I came to a conclusion that I NEED everyone to
heed. Do NOT use axles that do not have OEM boots on them. The axle I
purchased was not an OEM part, it was an auto parts store part. Until put side
by side with my left side still OEM axle the difference was not apparent, but
there is a difference. The boots on the OEM axle are very rigid, like a
cardboard accordian. The boots on the non OEM axle, more like a rubber glove
folded up. Very soft, very pliable. What happened was 2 fold. Both boots,
while not being rigid, ballooned up under the spinning force and failed. My
outer boot actually ballooned up enough that it ripped itself open because it
was rubbing the lower shock mount. It rubbed the paint completely off. Grease
everywhere. The inner boot ballooned so much it rubbed the paint off of the
frame directly above it while grabbing the hard brake line and DRAGGING it over
and around the axle. Amazingly enough the hard line held, but it is a mangled
mess. All this carnage due to crappy soft boots. Under normal use this axle
may have been great on a daily driver forever, but please, if you track your car
DO NOT use an axle unless it is OEM, and has the stiff boot on it. I'm waiting on the new axle, that was easy. The brake line was a lot harder until Pfadt Race Engineering (thanks Josh) came to the rescue and found one in less than a day. When the parts get here it should be an easy fix. With those two things fixed and some minor leaks to sort out the car should be ready for the New Hampshire National in less than 3 weeks.
#86 is going to look a little different this year, I've finished the design and am getting the car labeled and sorted out as I type. It's not a huge change, but something I think the Corvette community and all that have helped me out after the accident will appreciate. It's a tribute to the car and all of you for helping me race.
As soon as the car is ready and has the facelift, pictures will be posted. With the first race around the corner I am excited and nervous at the same time. Feels like I am starting over again!! More to come!
Joe