» Castrol 24 Hour Oil Slick

Credit: http://velocitymotorsportsnews.com/

At the drivers meeting it was announced that the race would end at 12 and that there wouldn't be a formation lap (pace lap). The starting position would be a free for all - first one to the corner. It raises a few eyebrows to the concept of car -carnage, but we're racers- there's no whining right?

You know racers. Bunch of bitchy little girls... - Burn Notice

24-Hour-Oil-Slick-Chumpcar-438-vmn — Credit: http://velocitymotorsportsnews.com/

The flag drops and it was a race to the first corner.

We steer clear of the dangers at the first corner and come out unscathed from the pandemonium effect created. We are top three as we come around to corner 2.

As the chumptech settles in we're able to maintain a steady pace floating inbetwen the top three positions. This is an endurance race after all and we have to balance pushing the car to the limit and conserving for the long haul.

At the seven hour mark we are in the lead with about one and a half lap advantage over the second place chumper. We are setting the pace. The pit stops have have been routine without any issues. It has been a relatively clean race.

Though we constantly get confused by the Chump Canada officials as they play fast and loose with their interpretations of the rules. Not that we would whine.

We are still comfortably leading the pack and setting fast lap times until around 7:30 PM, we get a call on the radio - ' shifting is getting a little notchy'. The signs of things to come...

IMG_20150801_204113m — Castrol Raceway is rough on the inside of any tire

At the scheduled pit stop we jack the car up and inspect the car. During this time we take advantage of the car being on jacks and change tires. The transmission and linkage looked good. We don't see any damage or any fluid leaks. Our five minutes is up and so we send the chumper back out to do battle.

One lap out and we get a call right away - 'pop'ing out of gear; I think I can limp it back to the pits'. This is bad.

Chumptech comes back to the pits on it's own power and we have an even more serious look underneath the car. This time we find movement in between the spider gear cross shaft and the axle (look at picture below).

Normally this would be a dire concern, but there's no fluid leak and the car will go into gear as we test for engagement on jack stands.

We send the chumper back out as we couldn't diagnose the issue. This time Chumptech didn't make it very far... Corner 9.

IMG_20150801_215328m — That part looks important...

IMG_20150802_125604m — I don't think JB Weld will fix this..

This would be the final gear thrust bearing that has been sheared off. This is a first for us. We've never seen these bearing fail. As far as I know they are bullet proof in the Honda world.

So what happens now? Do we pack it in?

Team BSD doesn't give up.

We go on a hunt for an Integra RS transmission. We don't have an active spare. The initial thought is to go and grab BSS - the other ChumpCar, but it's 2 hours away for travel. At the garage we have two Integra RS transmissions that are on the bench in need of parts.

An hour goes by and we end up getting a bit lucky. We bump into Sean Fin; we race together often and he so happens to have a spare RS transmission at his shop - thirty minutes away. Thanks Sean!

In less than thirty minutes we are back on the track, but after losing approximately three hours the damage is done. It will be a monumental up hill battle to climb back up to the top position. Lap after lap we start to set fast pace times and climb back up the ranks.

The sun rises and Chumptech cross's the finish line. We completed the 24 @ Castrol.

We do wish to thank all the volunteers from the Alberta Worker Association, Nothern Alberta Sports Car Club (NASCC), and Canadian Motorsports Response Team (CMRT).