News
Road America Club Race
928 Official Best Lap Times at Road America (Not Counting Enduro)
Mark Anderson: 2:20:30 (..Sunday, last qualifying run)
Joseph Fan: 2:33:19 (..Sunday, during race in Ron's GT)
Jean-Louis: 2:34:77 (..Sunday, last qualifying run)
Mark Kibort: 2:34:85 (..Sunday, during race)
All in all, it was a GREAT weekend discounting the mechanical problems of Joseph and Jean-Louis.
Joseph initially had clutch/flywheel problems which was fixed in time for the 2nd session Saturday morning. Later that day, the transmission went out; with the engine running and clutch let out, the trans was making a bang!-bang!-bang!-bang! noise. A tranny swap was contemplated, but it was decided not to do it... ...Which leads up to new car-owner/team-manager Ron (..another great guy), who's new driver is Joseph! The stage is now set for the battle of the Mouse motors with Joseph in Ron's GT, Mark Kibort in the Holbert car, and Jean-Louis in the mini-Mouse 4.7L Euro.
Now for Jean-Louis' problems, who battled high engine oil temps (..260+ degrees) the entire weekend. The problem started immediately when he unloaded the car from the trailer and noticed the radiator leaking. A can of Stop-Leak later, all was 'fixed' and the radiator remained dry. However, it appears the Stop-Leak lowered the efficiency of the radiator as the engine coolant now ran 20-30 degrees higher, and evidently was not able to remove enough heat from the engine oil (..stock oil cooler inside radiator; no external oil cooler), and was hitting 260+ degrees. Normally, the engine oil runs rock-solid at 200-210 degrees, and is why an external oil cooler was not fitted.
During the last Qualifying run, both JL and Joseph ran away from MK (..trailed by the entire front-straight at the end after all three started together), JL could short-shift and keep the temps from exceeding 260 degrees (..after 260, the gauge only flashes 'Hi' so one does not know how high is 'Hi'), and keep up with Joseph. However, during the race, Joseph exerted too much pressure on JL, and as a result, could not short-shift and keep Joseph at arm's length at the same time. This was the beginning of the end for JL's race as oil temps went over 260 degrees; shortly thereafter, the engine had no power above 5000 RPM and was passed on the front straight by both Joseph and then MK. JL was toast and came off the track for a DNF for a disappointing end to an otherwise terrific weekend of driving the 4.7L Euro.
The race itself was exciting as Mark Anderson diced it out with the hot '911's' and prevailed with a 4th overall finish, 31.51 seconds behind the leader. His best time was 2:21:62, well off his last year's scorching 2:18.xx race time.
Overall placing (..67 cars), best lap time, time behind leader:
1st Brule: 2:17:69, 0
2nd Brescia: 2:20:44, 18.86s
3rd Martini: 2:21:69, 28.21s
4th Mark Anderson: 2:21:62, 31.51s
(..So Mark was well within the hunt with his 15 year old 928 versus the
latest and greatest from Porsche!)
..
40th Joe Fan: 2:33.19 (..5.0L GT, 1 lap and 10.99s behind leader)
43rd Mark Kibort: 2:34:85 (..24.02s seconds behind Joseph)
DNF Jean-Louis: 2:38:71
Mark Kibort saved his best for last during the race with a 2:34:85, a little shy of his prediction of 2:30.xx. However, he made no excuses, and took the ribbing like the man he is and earned respect both on and off the track. No doubt he'll do better next time as he now has a weekend under his belt and can contemplate his experience from the cockpit of the 'ol Holbert car (..still knocking on wood!).
It was a treat for us Wisconsin guys that the '928 West Coast Racers' showed up to race and talk shop/shit; what a great bunch of guys!
Hopefully next year we'll have Don Hanson as well as the 'East Coast Racers' show up too for a big 'ol battle on the track of 928 proportions.
Paul
Murf 928
513 rwhp
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