Messages

If there is still room for 2 more shotgun rentals; Lena and I would like to attend; please let me know.  Should we bring the 9mm handgun and 22 rifle, or is this just for shotguns?

Where is a good place to get a driving suit?  What brands are recommended that won't exactly break the bank...

Here are a few links for you that I compiled for you from a bunch of emails I exchanged with people when I was looking for an inexpensive suit (these start at $99):

http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-gf105-one-piece-racing-suit.html?productid=915
http://www.upr.com/G-Force-105-Racing-Suit-p320.html
http://www.upr.com/Lico-Steel-Racing-Suit-p739.html
http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/race-suits.html

Here are some of my notes:  Wesco Performance does not stock anything (Internet orders only); it is all drop-shipped from the manufacturer.  The lady I spoke to was asking about fire ratings and SFI specifics and I told her "anything will work as long as it is a race suit" and she recommended Pyrotect and Crow (Proban material in both cases; not Nomex; probably due to cost even though we hadn't spoke about pricing at all) as they are local manufacturers (the latter being in Orange County) so suits would arrive timely (even though I didn't tell her there were time constraints).

I bought a Pyrotect Proban Sportsman Deluxe 2-piece for myself and one for my wife, Lena.  I ordered multiple sizes, not knowing what would fit, and I was glad I did as I had to mix-and-match to get a jacket and pants that fit properly.  They allowed me to return everything I didn't keep for a full refund (and they had no problems with me mixing jacket and pants between sized-sets).  We've only used them once (Spring Mountain), and they worked fine for the weekend (we didn't catch on fire).

Ken Alker     ^12

Thanks for the updates everyone!  I'm in the "other" Motel 6 (the Red Roof Inn is also a Motel 6 but it was sold out).  Turns out that despite the Red Roof Inn being the "host hotel" the other one is $10 less (but no breakfast vouchers).

Dinner Saturday sounds great!  Let me know if I can bring anything.

Catch can is next on the list.  Can't afford the brakes yet, so this gives me a new car project while saving ;-)  Now I just need to find an "illustrated upgrades" for the Gen 2 (Gen 3 and Gen 4 are out there, but can't find Gen2).

Ken

It appears the oil is dripping from the duck bill spouts on the bottom of the air box.  It appears to be coming from what I assume is the PCV that dumps into the airbox.  I think I'd just never noticed the residual effects before since I have always driven the car back from the track, whereas this time it went right into the trailer and dripped onto the floor.  I believe I'm good to go.  I signed up for Saturday but Sunday is full; I'm really hoping someone bails on Sunday, although I'm 20th on the waiting list so I may be sitting Sunday out.  I think I'll head up Friday in hopes that I can use the skid pad to heat cycle my new Kumho's before the track closes, although I'm told there is a private event going on so perhaps I'll be running them shaved but with no heat cycle.

What hotel is everyone staying in?

Ken

I've been down with a back injury since Spring Mountain in October (haven't even been able to remove the car from the trailer!), but I think I can climb back in again.  However, I just noticed oil on the floor of the trailer under the front left side so I've got to check that out and if it isn't something broken, I'll be signing up!

Ken

http://xkcd.com/81/

Anyone driving back Monday?  I haven't seen much posted regarding the return trip.  Should we start another thread for that?

Also, Lena needs to fly back Sunday night or Monday morning.  Anyone else (or your significant other) flying?  If so, what airline and flight are you on?

Lena and I would like to meet up with everyone in Victorville or Barstow (or anywhere along there).  We are coming in from Santa Barbara via Santa Clarita then Pearblossom.  I'm hoping we can get going early enough to catch up with you.  I'll probably just call someone when we get to Victorville and see where you all are and where you might be stopping next.  In any event, count us in the caravan!

Ken and Lena Alker registered!  Will be CaraVipering with everyone on Wednesday and leaving with the Monday group.  I reserved a room at the Cannery on the way in and Little America while there.  Has anyone reserved a hotel for the way back yet for Monday night (where)?

NOTE: The room Ben got is probably the "Standard Courtyard" which is not shown in the VOI registration information and the salespeople don't seem to offer it.  Cate (Cateryna) told me the Standard Courtyard rooms are unavailable for under $99 at this time, end of story, forget it, so I got the $109 "Deluxe Garden" as advertised.  I then called back and Julene answered (manager) who gladly switched me to the Standard Courtyard room for $79 (no questions asked, no fuss); don't ask me, but it worked.  They told me the only difference between the two is that the Standard is 350sqft while the Deluxe is 450sqft and the Deluxe opens into a hallway whereas the Standard opens to the outside.

Congrats!  I predict another Viper purchase in 16 years!   >w

Tire Rack or Partsrack has a close out on some 335 Kumho's for $199. Older production date but they said they were stored in optimal conditions so they are still good. I picked up a couple.

There are 305/30/18's for sale at http://www.tires-easy.com/start.html for $196.74 each (normally $207.10) for memorial day.  Exact URL is: http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl.  I asked how old they were and the CSR told me "our tires are never more than three years old", for what that is worth.

Tire Rack or Partsrack has a close out on some 335 Kumho's for $199. Older production date but they said they were stored in optimal conditions so they are still good. I picked up a couple.

Ben.  Thanx!  How'd you find out about the sale?

They are from 2007.  Is it OK to run those with new 305's on the front (IOW, is it bad to have 3 year older tires on the back, even if all are "new")?

Did you have Tire Rack shave them or heat treat them?

Ken

I can barely hear the radio inside my Viper.  Not sure walkie talkies would do me any good, although I like the idea of being able to communicate on a caravan.  Perhaps we should just get those 8' whip antennas with the big chrome threaded ball at the bottom like we used to have in the 70's on our Blazer's and Jeeps!?  We could attach them to the tow hook, or something, then dismount when we get to the track.  If I could Photoshop (has that become a verb yet?), I'd come up with a cool picture as a demo   >w

Yep, Dan, you nailed it (no pun intended).  That's just what I did.  The trick was in getting that darned fascia off.  It took hours.  Of course now I can do it in minutes (<30!).

I used a Permatex 09100 Plastic Tank Repair kit.  I later found out that they also make a radiator repair kit that the tech claims has higher temp resistance and is more stable (09104).  From the instructions, the ingredients are identical, so maybe its just marketing to take up more shelf space (although, I suppose proportions could be different).  It is supposed to cure in 8 minutes and be ready to go in 30, but it was still tacky after 2 hours.... hmmm....

In any event, I got the car all back together again just in time to still make the trip, but I'd given up my space and Dave at Speed Ventures wasn't able to get me another spot.  I suppose I should have had a little more confidence in my ability to do yet another late-night Viper fix-it adventure.

I attached a picture showing the patch.  If you look very carefully, you can also see that I cut off the top 1/2" of the offending screw.

[UPDATE 4/23/2010: Hank at Permatex told me that this patch "will hold for some period of time and then spall off; coefficient of thermal expansion of epoxies and plastic differ and different rates of expansion will cause it to pop off; it may work on another type of plastic but by and large will not work long term on polyethylene and polypropylene".  He advised that I send him the receipt for a full refund.  I bought a new tank based on this information and will be replacing the old one that is patched.  (The new one has "HDPE" stamped on it, so it is polyethylene; I assume the old is too).  As a side note, Bolt on the Viper Club of America site used the same patch kit I did and it has held up for three years.]

The weather in Santa Barbara was incredible today (63 degrees and sunny); it felt wonderful.  I hope it holds for you in Buttonwillow all weekend!

Ken

Picture #2 attached.