We’ll be running largely logo-less for the SNORE 250.
Loaded the toy hauler last night. Crusty got the TrailGlow light panels installed and we’ll wire them up sometime between now and the World Diabetes Congress in Montreal. Car goes in the toyhauler tonight and we all head off to Terrible’s Resort and Casino early Friday morning for the SNORE 250 (the race starts out behind the casino). Also, it has a cool roller coaster.
Updates from the road.
For once we have a piece of equipment that performs too well.
Our ignition problems were caused by an electronic fuel pump with an over-developed sense of self. The team installed a fuel pressure regulator and will dial it in this week.
Crusty has started welding 3/8s inch rod into the rims. This should reduce the number of dented rims and flats we’ve endured in previous races. Crusty has done most of the wiring for the TrailGlow lighted number panels.We’ll run those at the SNORE 250 at Primm, bring the car back, touch up the paint, add all the decals and ship it to Montreal for the World Diabetes Congress.
Driver/Co-driver plans for the SNORE 250 are Richard and Crusty and Scott and Carrie. Roxanne and I will staff a checkpoint or road crossing for the bonus 25 team points.
Fresh from the makeshift paint booth, we start prepping 1107 for the SNORE 250 and beyond.
Today we narrowed down our rough running engine problems to an over exuberant electric fuel pump. It was putting too much fuel into the carburetor, resulting in rough running. Apparently some $40 fuel pressure regulator will fix this. Otherwise, the car is in good shape and we’re tweaking around the edges in preparation for the SNORE 250. While they did that, I filled out paperwork for the Baja 1000.
Creech can’t make the 250 but has generously offered to let us use his truck and toy hauler to t0w 1107 to Primm for the race. Richard, Crusty, Scott ‘n Carrie will go down in the truck, Roxanne and I will head down separately.
We’ll only be running the new TrailGlow numbers on the car for the 250. Right after the car returns, Shawn and I (mostly Shawn) will touch up the paint, add the rest of the sponsor logos and prep the car for the trip to the World Diabetes Congress in Montreal.
I also got ohhhs and ahhhhs from the team when I demo’d the TrailGlow pit sign, that, because I didn’t tape the bare wires, nearly set the car on fire on the drive over, according to Shawn. Fine. I’ll solder and insulate them.
Here’s a few shots from today’s work.
And here’s a 12 second video, via 12seconds.tv, of the engine not running very well, shot with my birthday present from Roxanne, a custom-designed Flip HD camera:
Rough running engine on 12seconds.tv
You should see the outtakes and bloopers reel.
As previously mentioned, BF Goodrich’s Nation of Go team stopped by Sunday afternoon while most of us were standing around watching body-and-paint man Shawn Kovach-Long paint 1107.
Roxanne made a nice chili, because, as everyone knows, a race team marches on its stomach.
We talked about their project, we talked about racing, we talked about our working with the International Diabetes Federation and raising awareness about the risks posed by diabetes. It was a great time and they’re doing a great thing. We wish them the best of luck.
Click on this cool shot of Shawn to go to Nation of Go’s Flickr set of their visit.
Have you got what it takes to ride with us in Baja? (Answer: If you have a Twitter account, then yes, you do.)
Updated: Added a few new names.
We’re doing a thing this year to support using #WDD09 as the “Official Hash Tag of World Diabetes Day”. Anyone who uses #WDD09 and #DesertDingo in a tweet between now and November 21 will have their name carried in the car with us during the Baja 1000. Heck, we might even pick one lucky tweeter to get a random souvenier that we pick up in Ensenada.
So tell your friends, retweet it or use the “via” tag if that’s how you roll. We expect to be live blogging and twittering during the race and we’ll mention everyone then, too. Here’s who’s with us so far:
@pepperdey, @craig3010, @Kyrans, @Ceekay74, @becbeat555, @nscrwriter, @WeCreateBuzz, @DirtForge, @eauxneaux, @4x4club, @JaimeH, @elgringoinspain, @ATV_Rider_Mag, @klafountain, @LuvShaker, @JeffDomingues, @TormentedOne, @amazydbygrace, @AC_Cyclebetes, @khexter, @polakueche, @MandMSynthetics, @CureT1Diabetes, @danamlewis, @ChurchGr8Oval, @Snafam, @rex_emerson, @Diabeterific, @poxaV, @MelTangel, v6shell, zymurgy, CeeDeeAych and Sylverrose,
(If you tweeted it and you don’t see your name on this list, I blame Twitter. Shoot a tweet to @DesertDingo and I’ll be sure to add you.)
Thanks!
P.S. We’ll be at the World Diabetes Congress in Montreal next month. Be sure to find us. We’ll be the only ones displaying a ’69 VW Beetle.