GRM 2003 Challenge

[Eric Storhok <alfa@domain.elided>]

I forget that I have a duty to keep you all informed with the Challenge!

Well, we are on track to participate in 3 weeks!  Very few changes to the 
car for '03- which means that I didn't have to mooch any parts from you, my 
friends.  Anyway, here's the rundown:

Chassis- all we did was to remove the rear sway bar, the car handles like 
its on rails.  Not quite as good as my GT, but darn close, and its easy to 
drive (lots of team members have driven the car).  We should be reasonably 
competitive in the autocross portion.

Engine- We beat on the car pretty hard last summer, thankfully with no 
major failures.  But on the drag strip, we found a nasty misfire at 7psi of 
boost.  Well, being well connected, one of the guys who worked at Trail 
Auto (the local Alfa shop) had a Electromotive Tec II that he got off of a 
FSAE car he worked on.  So that's getting installed, as well as a $100 
bonus to the program, as it was cheaper.  The installation is being wrapped 
up now.

Looks- since I wrote an article about the prorgam, one of our local members 
thought that this was really cool.  So he helped us fix the biggest problem 
in looks- under the hood.  New paint, and some new details should keep us 
in the top 10, I hope.  No major changes in outer looks, we liked it- not 
outrageous, but a copy of a GTA Jr that Hugh Thompson runs.

If we manage to make it into the magazine, I'll tell you.  But this sure is 
fun!  And there is another Spider that is scheduled to be at the 
event.  Too bad the 3rd Alfa, by fellow Digesters Kelly and Ian will not 
make it...

Eric Storhok
Ann Arbor, MI


AROC Detroit Homepage:  http://www-personal.umich.edu/~alfa/index.htm
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