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Race Coverage
Mint 400 race day report
March 28, 2009
Our team went to Las Vegas this past weekend with one mission to finish The Mint 400 race. Ron Brant was scheduled to drive the first 200 miles while Shawn Barbetta was going to iron man the entire 400 miles. Our car started 2nd out of 14 in our class. Ron took the green flag and drove into the dusty Nevada desert. Around race mile 20 a rock shot up and got stuck in the power steering pulley which derailed the belt. Shawn quickly got out and replaced the belt, as it would make for an even tougher day for Ron to continue driving with no power steering. In the process of changing the belt we had been passed by seven cars in our class. So we were now running 9th physically. Ron completed the first 100 mile lap with no other problems. He had picked up two spots in the process. He comes into main pit for gas and a quick visual inspection; everything looks good and he is off for another lap. Mean while the weatherman channel is saying people are getting stuck in deep silt beds and cars are rolling over left and right due to cars being stuck. We knew this race was going to be tough but definitely not like this. Ron completes his second lap with no issues and brings in the car in 4th place. I was to complete the rest of the 200 miles. As I am about to get strapped into the car, I hear the motor has a different tone. I quickly radio into our outlying pits which was located at race mile 43.8 that I will be coming in for fresh outerwear air cleaners. The car was covered in silt. Shawn quickly tells me the car is great and the course is nasty with cars littered everywhere as result of the rough terrain. I quickly switch to just finish mode as a top 3 is great for our first race in 2009 especially on such a tough course. I get to race mile one and quickly notice this course looks nothing like it did during our pre-run on Thursday. I quickly ask Shawn to guide me through these 2 foot silt beds. Were picking our way through the silt in 1st gear while trying not to get stuck. I really feel the motor is struggling and I am having to use the clutch to keep up the rpm's. Shawn tells me the silt actually 3 feet deep in some sections of the course. Were about to get to race mile 5 when the motor has lost all power. We quickly get out and look as oil has come out of the oil breather. We look at the air cleaners and they are caked with silt and dirt. We take them off to remove some the silt. Try to start the motor with no air cleaners to see if that does the trick and nothing. We remove the spark plugs and surprisingly see that between the electrodes the sand has turned into glass due to the heat. We put new spark plugs in and still the motor will not fire up. Unfortunately we have to call it a day.
March 28, 2009
Our team went to Las Vegas this past weekend with one mission to finish The Mint 400 race. Ron Brant was scheduled to drive the first 200 miles while Shawn Barbetta was going to iron man the entire 400 miles. Our car started 2nd out of 14 in our class. Ron took the green flag and drove into the dusty Nevada desert. Around race mile 20 a rock shot up and got stuck in the power steering pulley which derailed the belt. Shawn quickly got out and replaced the belt, as it would make for an even tougher day for Ron to continue driving with no power steering. In the process of changing the belt we had been passed by seven cars in our class. So we were now running 9th physically. Ron completed the first 100 mile lap with no other problems. He had picked up two spots in the process. He comes into main pit for gas and a quick visual inspection; everything looks good and he is off for another lap. Mean while the weatherman channel is saying people are getting stuck in deep silt beds and cars are rolling over left and right due to cars being stuck. We knew this race was going to be tough but definitely not like this. Ron completes his second lap with no issues and brings in the car in 4th place. I was to complete the rest of the 200 miles. As I am about to get strapped into the car, I hear the motor has a different tone. I quickly radio into our outlying pits which was located at race mile 43.8 that I will be coming in for fresh outerwear air cleaners. The car was covered in silt. Shawn quickly tells me the car is great and the course is nasty with cars littered everywhere as result of the rough terrain. I quickly switch to just finish mode as a top 3 is great for our first race in 2009 especially on such a tough course. I get to race mile one and quickly notice this course looks nothing like it did during our pre-run on Thursday. I quickly ask Shawn to guide me through these 2 foot silt beds. Were picking our way through the silt in 1st gear while trying not to get stuck. I really feel the motor is struggling and I am having to use the clutch to keep up the rpm's. Shawn tells me the silt actually 3 feet deep in some sections of the course. Were about to get to race mile 5 when the motor has lost all power. We quickly get out and look as oil has come out of the oil breather. We look at the air cleaners and they are caked with silt and dirt. We take them off to remove some the silt. Try to start the motor with no air cleaners to see if that does the trick and nothing. We remove the spark plugs and surprisingly see that between the electrodes the sand has turned into glass due to the heat. We put new spark plugs in and still the motor will not fire up. Unfortunately we have to call it a day.
Our team learned a great deal this past weekend and will use these lessons to improve our race program. The air cleaner system will be completely changed to a different unit so we never have this happen again. Other than that costly issue the car ran great. Big THANK YOU to our sponsors who made this possible for us. Their products are the best in the industry. Thank you to the entire team who made the trip to Las Vegas.
