NAXJA team finishes 7th in King of the Hammers race

Goatman said:
Yep, I stand corrected. :)

No problems jsut have to make sure the local guys get their props (as if they need more :D ) How did yout times for the fast sections work out?

For the airlines either running braided lines of run a small diameter starlite or similar hose over the air line. Aeroquip makes the starlite stuff.

Is a rear spare going to give you enough weight in the rear end?
 
Richard, I'd sincerely hope that you, Paul, and the rest of your crew get an invite for next year. Pretty darned impressive for a privateer effort.

Personally, I have no doubt that your finesse driving style really helped out.
 
Weasel said:
No problems jsut have to make sure the local guys get their props (as if they need more :D ) How did yout times for the fast sections work out?

For the airlines either running braided lines of run a small diameter starlite or similar hose over the air line. Aeroquip makes the starlite stuff.

Is a rear spare going to give you enough weight in the rear end?

We were not real fast to ck 1, part of that is lack of power in the sand sections and half of the big lake bed, and it was REALLY rough in the beginning. To ck 2, which was flat lake bed and the old SCORE road, we did it in 14 min, top teams were 11 to 15 min. On the return, we really put the hammer down since we knew we had a good position, from ck 12 to the finish we did it in 24 min, top teams were 19 to 30+ min.

Yeah, lot's of options on the air lines. We talked about replacing them with steel lines, then flex line at the suspension joints. But, really, some rerouting and running the air line through some inulated line is probably enough. I do think the muffler needs a heat shield, since other things are there also, like the air compressor.

We added a rack in the rear, and I filled my tool bag with everything I could squeeze in there, which helped. A spare should do the trick, as my tire/wheel combination is over 150 lbs, plus it would hang out behind the axle, where now everything is in front of the alxe. However, that would also mean experimenting with spring rates again after adding a tire for the race.
 
Huge Congrats to Richard and Paul, awesome job guys

Many thanks for letting me be a small part of your adventure. I had a blast.

Thanks to Porch Puppy for the couch space and hot food, much appreciated. Thanks David Taylor for the ride to the driveshaft repair, that alone was worth the long drive. Tony, thanks for the ride between pits, anytime you need a co-pilot on those Baja deals, just let me know.

I have worked in most major forms of racing, pro and amateur. A hot pit stop as right rear tire changer at the Indy 500 is as exciting as it gets, but changing a driveshaft on the trail, with vehicles spitting rocks at you, and climbing over your rear tires, is just flat our freakin' awesome.

For a vehicle that has seen such limited testing, we really only had one small problem (airline) that lead to the driveshaft failing. If the radio comms were better we could have saved a little time, as David and I initially headed to the wrong Jack. And if the spare parts bag was under Pauls seat, not back on the lakebed, we would have saved a few minutes (and Cal's lungs, as he ran up the trail to throw u-bolts to us)

Great job by all the crew. Everyone worked together as a team, and each person did the job they were allocated. That is exactly why we rocked as a pit crew.

I can lay my hands on a dry break pressurized fueling system for next year to save a few minutes, and the radio suggestions are spot on. I do believe the bar will be set much higher next year. Please allow me to join you again.

Miles driven - 2200
Gallons diesel used - 172
Beer consumed - yes
Fun had - immense
Experience - priceless

humbling admitting that the WCGIC, do actually "get it"
 
Exactly! I was the one that was running up the trail huffing and puffing with a payload of airline and repair couplers.

Scrappy was the one who threw his handful of u-bolts onto the trail for us to dig for. ;)
 
Grant said:
I have worked in most major forms of racing, pro and amateur. A hot pit stop as right rear tire changer at the Indy 500 is as exciting as it gets, but changing a driveshaft on the trail, with vehicles spitting rocks at you, and climbing over your rear tires, is just flat our freakin' awesome.

Great job by all the crew. Everyone worked together as a team, and each person did the job they were allocated. That is exactly why we rocked as a pit crew.

I can lay my hands on a dry break pressurized fueling system for next year to save a few minutes, and the radio suggestions are spot on. I do believe the bar will be set much higher next year. Please allow me to join you again.

Miles driven - 2200
Gallons diesel used - 172
Beer consumed - yes
Fun had - immense
Experience - priceless

humbling admitting that the WCGIC, do actually "get it"

Yes, this pit crew rocked. Grant, thanks for driving out to be a part of it. You are definitely welcome to join us again next year. Hopefully, we get another invite, I would assume a top 10 finish would garantee that, but who knows.

I want to get some more pics of us hanging on the winch fixing the driveshaft with all those other rigs passing by.

We can be better prepared next year, but so will most other teams. The competiton next year will be fierce.


And yes, the WCGIC does really "get it"! :D
 
Wow, nice way to represent! Congrats on finishing in the top 10. I enjoyed reading your recap....it made me wish I was there. Kick some @ss next year! :D
 
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