Another Weeks Progress

Most of last week's progress was made on Saturday.

• More roll cage progress.
  
• Removed the alarm system's engine kill and got the car started again.
• Got the intake removed.
  
• Cut away front fenders.
• Removed more plastic.
• Started moving the battery to the frunk (front trunk).

In my mind if the car runs and passes tech, we are in the race and are going to have a blast. Anything else we can do to improve the car is gravy. So it was a relief to hear the engine running again. When we bought the car the exhaust was disconnected and we couldn't really hear the engine. Now it sounds nice and smooth. Sunday was rainy and this morning there was a blanket of fresh snow to shovel off the car. Weather looks spotty this weed so hopefully we get to get more done between storms.

Porsche Cayman

The Cayman is a mid-engined 2-seat sports car produced by Porsche AG of Germany. First launched in the 2006 model year, the Cayman is the coupé version of the second generation Porsche Boxster convertible. Like the Boxster, the Cayman is assembled in Finland by Valmet Automotive.

Progress

We did much this weekend:

• Hosed down the car for the first time.
  
• Glass, plastic, trim removed.
• Exhaust is in.
• Got two sponsors.
• Roll cage main hoop and mount braces built.
  
• Bought a racing seat.
• Made a huge mess in my driveway and yard.

New problems:

• We yanked the remains a factory and an after market alarm system. Evidently one of them had a kill system an now the car won't start.
  
• Loose bearings leaking fluid out of the transmission (? I'm not sure of the parts on a mid engine car).
• Wire to O2 sensor is severed and we don't know where it goes.
• Seat mounting problems since I'm such a tall goon.

Our Money Where Our Mouth Is

I submitted payment for the May/Altamont race fees yesterday. Tracking all of our expenses I see things add up quickly and realize the car is the cheapest part of this activity. Hell, a good helmet and fire suit cost more than our car did. Really though, this a the most inexpensive way to race on a track. For the fun I had last October, it was the best 900 bucks I've ever spent.

We're back up to a full team roster. Welcome to Jerry, an Audi tuner and fellow computer geek.

Bits

• We got race number '04' for Volatile RAM, which is in sequence after the Snowspeeder's '03'.
• Some of us are participating on the forums at www.mr2.com and finding much useful tech help.
• Paul and Andy are like the roll-cage gnomes who come work on the car when ever I'm not paying attention. The pile of parts, tubing, and refuse in my driveway grows mysteriously.
• I have booked rooms at the Livermore Motel 6 for the Altamont May race.

The Bad News First

Bryan and Jordan had to drop out of the team for other priorities. Understandable since the cost per teammate is already over $800 with just the car, entrance fees, personal safety gear, and lodging roughly calculated. I'll try to lure them back when we do a practice day. Also, the June/Nevada race got bagged. Our other teammate Jared was planning to participate in that race only, and he's busy enough that I expect when I finally hear from him he'll pull out of the team.

The good news: Paul's brother Andy has joined the team. He's another mechanic and they have been making good progress getting the cage in (as well as fixing my roommate's muffler).

So we're only three for Altamont at this point. From a drive time perspective that's pretty cool, but financially it's not great. We'll keep an ear to the ground for another teammate.

So now that I'm home from vacation I need to get serious about setting priorities and making time line of tasks. Joe recommended we pass our own mock-tech inspection well in advance of the race.