Going to Warped Tour tomorrow. Hoping to catch:
Band
3OH!3
A Rocket To The Moon
Anti-Flag
Bad Religion
Big D and the Kids Table
Flogging Molly
Gallows
Less Than Jake
NOFX
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Senses Fail
Streetlight Manifesto
The A.K.A.s
The Maine
Westbound Train
So I went to Columbus for an autocross. Took 2nd, I think, in my class. . . out of 2. On the way back, I stopped for a burger in BFE. Came out to the car, did not start. Checked all the fuses, checked all the relays, everything seemed to be fine. Panic sets in. I am on the side of the road for 2 hours trying to diagnose the issue.
Some very nice gentlemen in a MG midget stopped to help. They opined that the voltage regulator or the alternator went. The 911 not having electrics by Lucas - the prince of darkness - I dismiss their suggestion.
Another nice couple in a SUV stopped. They had a 356 and a 911 restored by a shop in Columbus. I make arrangements to drop the car off there.
I dither around for a while about that, as how I get home from Columbus raises it's head.
In the end, I tow the car back to Cleveland - 100 miles.
Now that I have a voltmeter, I can test the alternator, the voltage regulator and the battery. Nothing is wrong with any of these.
Turns out I forgot to tighten the positive terminal on the battery. Problem solved. Egg all over my face.
Lessons learned:
0) DON"T PANIC
1) Run in a pack of cars on the way home
2) Take your tools with you
3) It might just be something stupid
4) Listen to the nice guys in the MG, they may know a thing or two
I found this on the MOR site. It is a single calendar listing all of the events in Ohio.
http://www.morpca.org/page2/page22/files/autox2009schedule_rev030509.pdf
I found this schedule on the Ohio Valley PCA website.
May 31 - NOR, Lakeland Community College
June 28 - MOR, OSU Buckeye Lots
July 12 - OVR, Live Oaks
July 19 - EBR,Hartville Marketplace/Hartville OH
August 9 - MVR, Owens College
August 23 - MOR, OSU Buckeye Lots
September 27 - NOR, Lakeland College
This is a very interesting photo set - http://jalopnik.com/5208299/vintage-porsche-959-factory-tour-78+photo-ber+gallery?skyline=true&s=i
Over the winter, with the coming of the sprog, I thought I should sell the car. Winter is not the best time to try and sell a classic car. I did not get many calls, and no one came to look at it. I had one person nearly ready to come look at it, but the temperature that day was well below the flow point of 20W50 Swepco, so I cancelled that appointment.
In the end, I decided to sell the car to the most deserving person, myself. I liquidated some assets and paid off the loan on the car. This achieves the end of increasing my monthly available cash, while reducing overall wealth.
Over the winter I noticed a minor oil leak. I expect that this is due to the oil return tubes, as Eric warned me I should replace them last spring. Given sprog, I will be doing this project myself, along with some other items. I'll be giving the car a tune up by replacing the spark plugs, wires, distributor and rotor. I will also be bleeding the brakes and replacing the brake fluid. I am hoping to track down issues with the various fans, specifically the fresh air blower and the heater blower. I've ordered the parts and I will post photos of the various jobs when I do them.
I'd like to be ready for the Autocross school on April 26th, but that will depend on how soon the parts get here and how quickly I can do the work. I'd like to sign up for the Mid Ohio DE in May, but I am not sure the car will be ready.
