As I mentioned last week, I was navigating an Escort Cossie the weekend just gone on the New Brighton Prom Stages.
Well, after a full day on Friday of rushing around getting all last minute bits and bobs sorted out, passing scrutineering and signing on, come Saturday morning we were ready to rock.
Our start time of 9.07 approaching, waiting in the queue to start, feeling a lot less nervous than expected - i think the travel sickness pills helped a lot!!
Then Green, GO!! Time really slowed down inside the car and I was able to call the notes in good time for each corner, chicanes at the end of lap one VERY tight in this wide car but we make it through, onto lap 2. Wow we're catching the car in front - me and the driver now really pumped up and whooping away between corners. Getting closer each corner to the car which started 30 seconds ahead of us then suddenly...
..the left side of the screen suddenly covered in water, spraying out of the left bonnet vent, Neil still keeps his foot in, the water turns to steam, dashboard lights up, steam start coming through the air vents inside the car then the oil light comes on!!! Better slow done now before it seizes! Coast over the line in a time of 4 mins 30 secs.
Get back to service by now a large pool of oil is emerging beneath the left side. Looks as though the head gasket has gone in a big way. We could hear the oil being pumped out! Got through about 6 litres of Mobil 1 Motorsport in less than 5 minutes
So its game over for us.
In our little "team" we had two cossies and a 1973 Mini. Both Cossies retired due to engine faults but you'll all be gald to hear that the little mini ended up 4th in class and won the John Price Entertainers award!!!
It was a great laugh while it lasted and once the head is rebuilt we'll be back for more.
I suppose thats Motorsport as they say. Very expensive and can ruin a weekend, but at the end of the day, we were all in one piece, it wasn't driver (or navigator) error and we can make the engine that much stronger now.
Sorry for going on but nobody at work is interested!!
Well, after a full day on Friday of rushing around getting all last minute bits and bobs sorted out, passing scrutineering and signing on, come Saturday morning we were ready to rock.
Our start time of 9.07 approaching, waiting in the queue to start, feeling a lot less nervous than expected - i think the travel sickness pills helped a lot!!
Then Green, GO!! Time really slowed down inside the car and I was able to call the notes in good time for each corner, chicanes at the end of lap one VERY tight in this wide car but we make it through, onto lap 2. Wow we're catching the car in front - me and the driver now really pumped up and whooping away between corners. Getting closer each corner to the car which started 30 seconds ahead of us then suddenly...
..the left side of the screen suddenly covered in water, spraying out of the left bonnet vent, Neil still keeps his foot in, the water turns to steam, dashboard lights up, steam start coming through the air vents inside the car then the oil light comes on!!! Better slow done now before it seizes! Coast over the line in a time of 4 mins 30 secs.
Get back to service by now a large pool of oil is emerging beneath the left side. Looks as though the head gasket has gone in a big way. We could hear the oil being pumped out! Got through about 6 litres of Mobil 1 Motorsport in less than 5 minutes
So its game over for us.
In our little "team" we had two cossies and a 1973 Mini. Both Cossies retired due to engine faults but you'll all be gald to hear that the little mini ended up 4th in class and won the John Price Entertainers award!!!
It was a great laugh while it lasted and once the head is rebuilt we'll be back for more.
I suppose thats Motorsport as they say. Very expensive and can ruin a weekend, but at the end of the day, we were all in one piece, it wasn't driver (or navigator) error and we can make the engine that much stronger now.
Sorry for going on but nobody at work is interested!!
Goodluck for the next one, keep us posted and fix a video camera in the car will you so we can watch.
