THill Update -- Ecstacy and Agony of tracking a Porsche, Just shoot me now.... Options

[nine14cats]

Im here at the PCA-GGR Time Trial at Thunderhill. Although windy in the morning, the track was awesome today...VERY FAST!....We are running the 2 day event in the normal "counterclockwise" direction.

My personal best is a 2:07 going this direction over the top with turns 5 and 5A. During the 1st session on cold as shit tires I burn off a 2:07. Hey...what's going on here? Could I be having one of those magical days. Session 2 I turn a 2:06.5. Now I'm thinking can I get into the 5's? I go out in session 3 and burn a 2:05.4!

So now I'm pumped..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) I psych up for the last session and crank out a 2:04.3!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) It was sooooo much fun!

Have you ever been in that zone where the car and you feel just right? My car never felt out of sorts, never out of control. Braking was perfect, the traction was perfect. And I could see the whole track in my mind turn for turn. I would approach sections of track and feel like it was slow motion. This is what you live for.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

And from a great day comes the kind of stuff that makes you want to eat a gun.....

During the next few laps after I turn the 2:04, I'm hauling ass full throttle down the main strait and my motor let's go! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) I didn't have an over rev, the car's temps were fine and as attested by my laptimes, I wasn't having power issues.

I was full throttle and suddenly lost power. No metal to metal sounds, chunking, clinking. No oil dropping....motor is still bone dry. But it sounds like and feels like I lost compression in one or more cylinders. It sounds like air is rushing by something in the motor. I checked the motor oil and it is clear and clean, no bits. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what happenned? I'm thinking top end somewhere, rings or valve related, but again there is not metal to metal sounds, only the sound of air rushing somewhere in the motor.

This is a cruel sport. Today was perhaps the best time I've ever had driving and it ends so terribly. Time to bring Fritz home and start the diagnosis. And I was leading the series in points. A DNF will most likely cost me my class win. I'm pretty bummed right now.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Bill P.