Well since the first comp has come and gone apparently I have been slacking on the updates. Let’s see if I can get everybody back up to speed here.
New rear axle, new gears, new shifter for the atlas,new brake lines, new rear winch, spare tires and wheels mounted and balanced, paint all touched up………………..I know I left a lot of stuff out but this list doesn’t sound too bad when you say it fast. Not to mention we were all done with a good 36 hours to spare before the first comp.
So the first comp was at Rausch Creek (www.rauschcreekoffroadpark.org) , if you have never been put it on your to wheel list.
The first day there were 6 rigs in out class and we started last that day. It’s kind of nice that you can see what line everybody else takes. But it can also kind of suck, like on the second course when you see 2 out of 3 drivers roll over and your team is next.
I watched Spottle (his real name is Aaron Selway and he is a rock tossing, line picking, hand signal when the radio ain’t workin spotting machine but we call him spottle) get her lined up and the front gate. He takes off and Kelly follows 4 wheels moving right up and over the first gate. Spottle tells her to take the front out of gear……….and Kelly breaks the shifter handle off. FANTASTIC. Actually they still made it look easy and finished that course with 2 minutes to spare. Great Job.
I’m not going to go into each course, I don’t like typing that much. Plus she can put up her own breakdown.
Day two saw some carnage. First thing was a power steering line got sheered by the fan. We had to get pulled off the course to go repair it. Stopping sucks anytime but this one really hurt. It was a really hard course and they were doing great. So after that we were in fifth place going into the shootout.
Then it got really funky. We needed 23 points to make it to 4th place and bonus land is the only place that would happen.
Right after the very first climb there was a loud snap sound and the passenger front tire decided it was done turning. We didn’t know if it was the inner or outer shaft or the joint. In all honesty it didn’t matter what it was because she was going to keep going, and did……………for a few feet. Closer to the top and trying to get over to go down the other side FLOP, right on the driver’s side. She tried to drive out of it but it wasn’t going to happen. We were done for this comp. We had to get the Jeep lifted down off the rocks and load up to come home.
So were back home with a ton of work to do. Here is the first list:
- Install wheel well lights
- Blow the oil out of the engine
- Fix front axle shaft
- Replace spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor
- Get new grille – install it
- Install new radiator
- Replace cut steering line
- Go over bolts and check fluids
- Replace other power steering line/ pulley

All in all it was a good trip. Got to see some old friends and make some new ones (Hi Kelly from www.Infamous4×4.com). Didn’t break nothing that can’t be fixed. Sold a lot of t-shirts and sweat shirts under our booth. Here is a link for some of the pictures of Pinky.
Next comp is Dayton, TN on June 25th and 26th. It’s a night time comp and always a great time. Hope to see you there.
J
Pictures http://www.4wd.com/team311/rc2010/index.html