2023 Silver State Classic Challenge
09-20-2023 | 03:40 AM
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2023 Silver State Classic Challenge
I just got back from the 2023 Silver State Classic Challenge. Bill and I got the car ready over the last couple months, new brake rotors and pads, replaced the fuel pressure regulator, and worked through a few LH and EZK maps in the Sharktuner. I signed up to run the 170 MPH class with an Unlimited tech hoping to break my personal best top speed of 219 MPH.
In front of the house, loaded and ready to go on Thursday morning.
At the dyno on Sept 1st we got our highest HP yet, though it was not consistant between runs as we tried different LH and EZK map settings.
The trip to Ely was uneventful. I planned the trip with only one fuel stop (550 miles) towing the 928 with the Cayenne (avg 11 mpg). I figured if I didn't make it all the way, I had 20 gallons of race gas in the back.
At the Jack in the Box in Fallon, Nevada (gas stop and food break)
I made it to Ely, but found out I have a 24 gallon tank instead of the 22 gallons that I calculated for when I filled up in Ely.
Friday we did some tuning runs at altitude. We had the WOT map pretty much dialed in, but the cruise map was still a question mark. In the May event running 160 average I spent a lot of time in cruise and was running 14.4-14.7 AFR, which is not optimum when going 150-160 mph in a forced induction car. I was hoping to correct that by running 170 mph class and richening the crusie map in the high rpm/load region.
At tech before the car show on Saturday.
Race day was Sunday. The Unlimited and Super Sport cars were told to be on the Starting grid by 7:30 AM and be ready to run a 7:45 AM. Bill and I left the motel at 5:45 AM hoping to beat the caravan of cars leaving at 6 AM from Ely to Lund. I know from passed experience that the back up would cost us 20-30 minutes reaching the staging area. We arrived at the staging area at 6:30 and an hour to get the car ready to race. After checking the lug nuts, tire pressure, adding fuel, cleaning the windows, and arming the fire suppression systems I suited up. I put on the racing suit and boots, put the gloves on the dash board, and put the helmet and fire proof "head sock" on the passenger seat. Bill pointed to something on the ground behind the car and asked "What's that?" I looked and it was a helmet clip attachment for the head and neck restraint device (Necksgen), which had apparently fallen off. We looked and could not find the missing bolt and nut that held it in place on the helmet.
After searching through the "junk tray" in the tool box I found a 6 mm bolt and nut that I thought would work. The first attempt to mount the attachment failed because the bolt was too large to fit through the chin stap secure tab in the helmut. I drilled the hole to 1/4 inch, which solved that problem. One of the grid workers can over and said 1 minute to start time. I rushed to get in the car and finish "suiting" up. Bill was helping to strap me in and start one of the cameras. When he tried to secure the Necksgen, the clip did not fit into the slot on the helmet attach point. The hex bolt that I found had a head that was 2 millimeters too tall and blocked the clip. My race was over....
I drove up to the Start Line but instead of lining up in my starting position (3rd), I pulled to the side of the road and told the grid worker that I was out of the race. I got out of the car and walked over to the Race Director and explained the probem. He agreed that I could not run without properly working safety equipment. After watching the first couple cars start, I asked if I could run in a slower class. He asked which class, so I suggested 130 or 135 classes. He said ok and told the grid coordinator to place me at the end of the 135 and beginning of the 130 class cars. I was going to go to run in the 135 mph class. Of course I didn't prepare for that class, no notes, no navigator, not even the target time (and no stop watch anyway). Just my speedometer and Garmin Nuvi GPS, which could calculate average speed to within 1 mph (ie .5 mph from indicated average). The winners in this class usually get within .1 second of the target time (i.e. .05 mph). I had no change of placing, but I figured I'd find out how our cruise map changes worked out.
More to come....
__________________
George
90 S4 Grand Prix White (Murf #5 - 219.0 mph top speed)
94 GTS 5-Speed Midnight Blue
06 Cayenne S Havanna/Sand Beige (PASM)
https://928.jorj7.com
In front of the house, loaded and ready to go on Thursday morning.
At the dyno on Sept 1st we got our highest HP yet, though it was not consistant between runs as we tried different LH and EZK map settings.
The trip to Ely was uneventful. I planned the trip with only one fuel stop (550 miles) towing the 928 with the Cayenne (avg 11 mpg). I figured if I didn't make it all the way, I had 20 gallons of race gas in the back.
At the Jack in the Box in Fallon, Nevada (gas stop and food break)
I made it to Ely, but found out I have a 24 gallon tank instead of the 22 gallons that I calculated for when I filled up in Ely.
Friday we did some tuning runs at altitude. We had the WOT map pretty much dialed in, but the cruise map was still a question mark. In the May event running 160 average I spent a lot of time in cruise and was running 14.4-14.7 AFR, which is not optimum when going 150-160 mph in a forced induction car. I was hoping to correct that by running 170 mph class and richening the crusie map in the high rpm/load region.
At tech before the car show on Saturday.
Race day was Sunday. The Unlimited and Super Sport cars were told to be on the Starting grid by 7:30 AM and be ready to run a 7:45 AM. Bill and I left the motel at 5:45 AM hoping to beat the caravan of cars leaving at 6 AM from Ely to Lund. I know from passed experience that the back up would cost us 20-30 minutes reaching the staging area. We arrived at the staging area at 6:30 and an hour to get the car ready to race. After checking the lug nuts, tire pressure, adding fuel, cleaning the windows, and arming the fire suppression systems I suited up. I put on the racing suit and boots, put the gloves on the dash board, and put the helmet and fire proof "head sock" on the passenger seat. Bill pointed to something on the ground behind the car and asked "What's that?" I looked and it was a helmet clip attachment for the head and neck restraint device (Necksgen), which had apparently fallen off. We looked and could not find the missing bolt and nut that held it in place on the helmet.
After searching through the "junk tray" in the tool box I found a 6 mm bolt and nut that I thought would work. The first attempt to mount the attachment failed because the bolt was too large to fit through the chin stap secure tab in the helmut. I drilled the hole to 1/4 inch, which solved that problem. One of the grid workers can over and said 1 minute to start time. I rushed to get in the car and finish "suiting" up. Bill was helping to strap me in and start one of the cameras. When he tried to secure the Necksgen, the clip did not fit into the slot on the helmet attach point. The hex bolt that I found had a head that was 2 millimeters too tall and blocked the clip. My race was over....
I drove up to the Start Line but instead of lining up in my starting position (3rd), I pulled to the side of the road and told the grid worker that I was out of the race. I got out of the car and walked over to the Race Director and explained the probem. He agreed that I could not run without properly working safety equipment. After watching the first couple cars start, I asked if I could run in a slower class. He asked which class, so I suggested 130 or 135 classes. He said ok and told the grid coordinator to place me at the end of the 135 and beginning of the 130 class cars. I was going to go to run in the 135 mph class. Of course I didn't prepare for that class, no notes, no navigator, not even the target time (and no stop watch anyway). Just my speedometer and Garmin Nuvi GPS, which could calculate average speed to within 1 mph (ie .5 mph from indicated average). The winners in this class usually get within .1 second of the target time (i.e. .05 mph). I had no change of placing, but I figured I'd find out how our cruise map changes worked out.
More to come....
__________________
George
90 S4 Grand Prix White (Murf #5 - 219.0 mph top speed)
94 GTS 5-Speed Midnight Blue
06 Cayenne S Havanna/Sand Beige (PASM)
https://928.jorj7.com
09-20-2023 | 11:15 AM
#3
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 418
Likes: 154
From: Omaha
While disappointing, very smart and safe to not try to sneek in and tempt fate at those speeds. At least you live for another day to attempt an all out run vs crossing your fingers that nothing will happen.
09-23-2023 | 07:37 AM
#6
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,280
Likes: 5,778
From: Back 0 Beyond
Ouch! 2mm
Perhaps there is a silver lining in this, but it sure is hard to see it right now. I know that I have enjoyed your exploits for many years and have great respect for those that actually drive 928's at the limit. My days of racing in a 928 appear to be over.
Looking forward to next year or following any other events you enter...
Enjoy!
Perhaps there is a silver lining in this, but it sure is hard to see it right now. I know that I have enjoyed your exploits for many years and have great respect for those that actually drive 928's at the limit. My days of racing in a 928 appear to be over.
Looking forward to next year or following any other events you enter...
Enjoy!