Almost.
Had a great time in Omaha at the track, with the car working correctly for the first time in ages. Well, until the familiar "something's really wrong" noises started to reappear Sunday afternoon, but I've got a month to chase them down. Track time was immensely gratifying! Lots of it, and the car simply did as it's supposed to do.
Had a passenger nearly full-time both days. A gal who's a friend of a BMW club member out there who is interested in taking her Mustang on the track and wanted to see what it's all about. First run, at about a 60% pace, had her pretty freaked out but she said she was okay and ready for an 80% pace. Accommodated her on the next session and found I repeatedly was slowing down and saying "breathe" into the helmet mic and "I'm not getting back on the pace until I hear you talking or breathing." She was noticeably ashen when we came back in, but assured me she could handle a 100% pace on the next run.
By the end of the weekend, she was doing fantastic and could tell me even subtle mistakes I made. She drove my car on parade laps at lunch and drove the line perfectly although I had to admonish her a few times to slow the heck down since we weren't wearing helmets.
Was funny to be chasing someone down and if I hit the brakes 50 feet too early and slowed down too much (I still haven't found the limits on this Baer setup, but it's "OUT THERE"), resulting in perhaps a 10-foot loss in the gains I was making on my target, she'd say "Damn! You probably would've had him in turn 7" and things like that.
However, on the way home, the tread cap on the truck's right front tire completely came off. Was rather interesting. Probably especially so for the little car I was passing at the time. I hear the noise, felt the handling go away, hit the flashers and started easing into the right lane, and the guy in the little car graciously backed way off so I could take the lane.
Pulled over and the tire carcass was still holding air, although it was riding on the belts. The guy who was next to me stopped to make sure I was alright and I made sure none of the tire hit him.
Really tore up the truck. The right front fender, running board, and inner fender skirt are toast. I'll make a prediction that the cost to repair it will be $1000, since that happens to be the amount of deductible I carry on my cars.
I drove 4 miles on the shoulder to the exit for Corning, pulled to the top of the ramp, and set out my triangles while talking to AAA. We were unable to find a mobile tire repair service and though my coverage includes 100 miles of free towing per incident (which would've gotten me home, where I have a set of 6 good winter tires), they informed me the coverage didn't include the trailer. They'd tow only the truck, without the trailer on it. Since I didn't want to be towed home, wait until today to go back there to get the trailer and find it likely missing or empty, I declined.
I pack very minimal tools for the Mustang. Enough to change tires and that's it. Fortunately the jack was strong enough to lift the truck, and very surprisingly, the truck and Mustang use the same size lugnuts.
Only one problem, though.
Despite my having the right size socket, torque wrench, and extension, it wasn't enough to reach the lug nuts for the rear wheels. The idea was to remove one of the rear tires, put it on the front, then drive it home with only 3 wheels in back.
Exactly 2 people came up that ramp in the hour I was there. 100% of them *stopped* to offer whatever assistance they could. One of them was an older couple in a beautiful Audi A6 and he gave me the name of a place in Rock Port (last sizable town I'd passed) that does mobile tire repair (no luck -- closed on Sunday -- guess the truckers don't get flats on Sundays) and the second was a good ol' boy on his way to take his daughter horse-riding.
He had a tire iron that did the trick and helped me do the deed. When I left, the truck looked hilarious with only one rear tire on the right side, but it was rolling and rolling pretty well aside from a tendency to sway more than usual.
I stopped in St. Joe to check on the tire situation and the singled rear was really hot. Decided to get a room and stay the night. Replaced all 6 tires this morning. At 57k miles on the set, they didn't owe me anything anymore.
Oh, and the guy who helped me (otherwise, no telling how much longer I would've been there!) runs an operation called H&A Pallet. He makes specialty steel crates and pallets. If anyone ever is in the market for something like that (or wants to thank him for facilitating my safe arrival back home), their number is 660-683-5488.
Did I just spam? <g> No matter. This guy was VERY generous with his time and energy helping me get rolling, and wouldn't accept payment ("Your money's no good here.") |
