[alfa] GRM 2004 Challenge

[Eric Storhok <alfa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ok, now that the official results are posted... I'll give you all the 
update on what happened in Gainesville last weekend...

As a quick reminder- in 2001/02, we built a '78 Spider to compete in the 
GRM $2002 Challenge, this car was an interesting project, and we added a 
turbo to the engine to boost the power.  3 years later, this was the last 
competition for the Turbolare Spider.  The GRM Challenge is a competition 
where you can spend $200x on the entire car, compete in a drag race, 
autocross, and concours.  Highest points wins....

It was an interesting weekend.

We targeted a third consecutive top 10 finish in the GRM 2004 Challenge
with the turbo Spider, and thought we could do it pretty confidently.
Swapped a cam, different rear end, polishing, and some metal welded in
should help us in all 3 events- drag race, concours, and autocross.
Things started well, Ed, Ines and I prepared the car for tech and the
concours, while Jim installed the data acquisition unit that we were
experimenting with for Bonneville. Short note- that worked great, we
are good for the salt.
Did the concours first- the judges really liked the car, so we hoped for
another decent score. Not sure about top score, as the bar has been
clearly raised over the years. It turned out that event with the
improvements, our score dropped from '03. That is how nice the top cars
look now.
Took a run on the strip- burn the old rubber off the tires. 14.94-
slow, and Ed reported the car felt flat. I figured it was running way
too rich, but that was since all previous data acquisition had failed to
record the actual a/f. Second run, data acq system up and running-
15... seconds. Running REALLY rich, and recorded about 10:1 a/f. We
backed that off a lot for the 3rd run, best estimate for 12-12.5:1. Got
it spot on as it turned out, and it really didn't matter.... As Ed
shifted into second, the car didn't go, from my perspective, I thought
he missed 2nd gear- no big deal- 17 seconds, and something like 95-95
mph trap speed. The engine was running well, apparently. So I go off
in search of a drill bit to modify a homemade boost adjustment tool.
Ed makes it back to the pits, and reports that we do not have 1st or 2nd
gear. Not good. We figure the bolt on the shift fork sheared, which is
somewhat common, and decide to put it in second and leave it there for
the autocross. To do that, we need the drain plug off, and a long
screwdriver... But as the oil finished draining, Ed reports "uh, there
are gear parts here." So our hearts sink even lower. Jim crawls under
the car to discover the 1-2 syncro has basically exploded- a "I've never
seen that happen" failure. Now we are forced to swap the transmission.
Thankfully, I keep bringing a spare to all the challenges- mostly to
hope we don't need it.
It's 3pm, we were supposed to do a photo shoot at 4pm with other
"Classic Motorsports" type cars, and we need to be off the parking lot
at 5:30 since there is another event that night. As we start, things
progress really quickly, to the point where we don't go to the shoot,
and keep working. 5pm, we are done!!! When we get back to the hotel,
Jim buttens up few other details. Holy cow, I can't believe we are back
in the race!
The side story- this "spare" was the original trans in the car, which
actually has parts deep in the box- the bolt holding the shit tower fell
into the box, which is why we swapped the box in back in Jan- so the
"new" box had all of 5-6 miles on it when it blew up, and the spare had
parts floating around. Gotta run anyway...
The autocross was a blast of a course, big sweeping turns, and one
slalom. Looked like a 100% power course, but it was more about balance
an stick as it turned out. First run- 91 reported seconds- uh-
something is wrong. Re-run #1. High 55 seconds- but the car is badly
bouncing off the re-limiter in second gear coming out of the big
sweeper. Run 2- barely faster- shifting to 3rd didn't help much... Run
3- 7600 rpm limit helped some, low 55's. Go for broke- what the heck-
8000 rpm limit. I'll remind you that this is totally stock internals-
bearings, rods, valves and springs- just lighter pistons with the lower
compression, and almost 14psi boost.
Run 4- couple of bobbles, but I get red flagged since a car spun.
Re-run 4- as I'm sitting at the start line, I see a red/black Talon get
a 54.5. Didn't faze me much, as I thought low 54's/ high 53's would be
FTD. On the run, the car is really hot (220+ F), and it hic-ups 3
times. 54.442 seconds- not bad, and some ovations from the spectators.
Let the car cool, and go for the last run- got a really good one going,
but I messed up the last corner just a hair for a 54.9. I park the car,
and figure someone will beat that for sure.
For the afternoon, I didn't watch much, as a friend of mine asked me to
run his mid-engined V8 Corvair. That was a blast to drive, let me tell
you! 327 small block, and it was darn nicely balanced. Managed a 57.4
clean, but hit 2 cones on a 56.5 run- needs some brakes. Fun, fun, fun.
Another friend offers to let me drive his big block Mustang, but by the
time I get back, he's got one run left after letting one of the pro
drivers take a few runs- since he's got a good time, I persuade him to
take the last run.
By this time, Ines catches up with me- she is looking really nervous.
It's 3pm, and still nobody has been faster than my 54 second run. You
are kidding, right? There is one car I expect to beat us, the Silver
Bullet Omni GLHS that is very fast, and is driven by a guy who has run
the car for 4 years now. But I hear they are struggling with the big
sweeper- too much power... Ines tells me their third run was a 54.8,
which made her very nervous. So we watch their last run- small braking
bobble coming out of the big sweeper, some hesitancy coming through the
last corner- 55 seconds... I think we did it! FTD in a turbo Alfa
AFTER a transmission swap!!!
We were not sure until the banquet, but yes, we got FTD.
Still figured no way for top 10, but amazingly, we did finish an
unofficial 10th!! Final results will be posted today.
The Spider will be officially retired after our drivers school on the
18th. Thanks a bunch to Jim, Ed, and Ines for this year, and Matt
Gerhart, Jeff Koncsol, Nathan Fogg, and Charles Hailey for helping build
the car!


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