I seem to procrastinate on updating this page.

Recap 2019

We raced AM74-5 most of the year at local races, Colorado and New Mexico.  In August we took AM73-79 to High Plains Raceway in Colorado.  When the Petronox unit failed in 74-5 we rolled out AM73-79 for its first away race.  The car did reasonably well. The handling of 74-5 is more unforgiving.  It seemed that the shocks maybe setup wrong or the bump steer is off.  The car was skittish under bumps.  Also corner exit understeer was more than I was expecting.  This was the first real test of the car and over the winter will research shocks packages and recheck the bump steer.

Big news!  The   Hewland gearbox that was lost in late 2018 resurfaced in November 2019.  It landed in Laredo Texas in a warehouse handling shipments into Mexico.  It had been switched with another pallet and sat there unclaimed for 9 months.  An employee in Mexico sent an e-mail to me and the warehouse stating the error and to arrange to contact me.  Over a few weeks I verified the freight was correct and had negotiate a storage rate less than the $5/day for a total of nearly $1500.  Eventually they agreed to a reduced rate and I shipped it back to me.  So now I have the original gearbox for AM74-5 back in the shop.  It still needs rebuild but that will wait.

Winter of 2019 we began the normal winter checks of the chassis, engines and gearboxes. AM74-5 was found to have a small crack in a rear bulkhead. I have raced this car for 6 years and even when I bought it I didn’t crack check it.  So I have decide to go down to the frame and refresh completely.

Last summer I had the frame of AM73-74 sandblasted a and bonded a new floor.  I am nearing completion of the restoration of this chassis.  I moved the new engine from AM74-5 to -74 and installed a fresh rebuilt gearbox.  AM73-74 was a MK10C originally and have decided to convert to a MK10B, front radiator with full engine covers and long tail.  Goal is to finish this chassis by June 2020 for testing possible race near the end of the year.

Activities for 2020 include races in New Mexico, and Colorado.  I have penciled in SVRA Indy and Mid-Ohio but need to ensure Am73-79 is handling better.