As some of you know, this Wednesday there was a NASA Mid-Week Madness track event Thunderhill raceway park in Willows, California. Everything was going great, stayed over Tuesday night at the local hotel, had frozen dinners watched TV. Woke up at the normal time, left for the track, I was getting more excited as the minutes passed, it was my first time in Group 3.

When we arrived at the track, we got a spot under the roof (no sun!). At 8 o'clock we went to the morning drivers meeting got our sticker, and back to our cars to wait for 20 minutes until group 3's turn to go out. Finally, our turn to go out. I am third in line in pit lane behind my dad. The first lap was under yellow so all seemed good, 2nd lap going down the straight at about 115mph or a little more, brake to late come into turn one to hot, to much understeer. No problem I will adjust for the next lap. Coming down the back straight I pass my dad, coming into turn 14 I slam on the brakes, what brake fade already? its only been 1 lap. Exit turn 15 onto the straight, reach 120ish mph brake harder for turn one, nail it, no understeer. Go through the long sweeper of turn 2 pretty good, just a little tire squeal. Go wide for turn three, everything was going good, WTF was that! my steering it getting stuck, PSSSH white smoke everywhere, in the cabin, coming out the back everywhere. I couldn’t have blown my motor could I? No way it was still running fine, uhmm I bet it was power steering. I pull over on the exit of turn 4, they red flag the session.

As I'm sitting in my car, waiting for the tow truck to come, I'm thinking jesus that was freaky, it had to be power steering that's why my steering got all funky on the turn in. Ok, the smoke is going away, everything should be fine. Tow truck drives up, we starts hooking up the tow straps. Meanwhile more spoke starts to come into the car, out of the hood. "dude is your car on fire?" " I don't think it is, the smoke stopped" "pop your hood" "oh **** your car is on fire!" He runs to the truck, gets the extinguisher and starts to put it out. "this mother ****er won't go out!" We finally get it to go out. Ok, before we tow away, lets sit here for a little bit to see if it is actually out. After about what seemed like 30 minutes, we start pulling the car in. " Now try not to run over the rope while steering your car, or else your front will get ripped off" I'm thinking to myself, oh great, small fire and now I might need a new front.

We get it back, my dad asked the usual questions and we call a tow truck. It came within 30 minutes which was great, we have him follow us to LIC Motorsports about 150 miles away. When we get there Kevin, Adam and myself, start looking around for the cause of the smoke and fire. Actually I just sat there untill they found the problem, then I checked it out. Sure enough it was the power steering. The wsgt on the turbo was up against a PS line, and it melted a small hole in it. With the added pressure of track driving, it burst spewing PS fluid all over, including on the hot frying pan of a turbo, thus starting the fire. So what’s the damage? It burnt the throttle wiring harness, completely melted, burnt the grommet and some wires going in to the firewall, into the car. Estimates, 1100 in parts, and who knows how much in labor. At least I know it's with good people at LIC Motorsports. That was my May 10th track day experience.

- Sean blurr

 

wow!

I'm glad you're ok though bro. Some scary **** though.

 

good thing a fire extinguisher was close by.

sorry to hear

 

damn that sucks dude

 

Yeah, I hope I'm not called a ricer from now on when I start carrying an extinguisher in the car with me.

 

What turbo does your car have?

 

that's crazy....

 

I am currently running a vf34 with TiAL 38mm wastegate.

 

ahh sorry to hear man

 

I was wondering why you werent in gps today, Ms Gray missed you. that sucks
________
DODGE ZEO HISTORY

 

I was there today Conner, It was you that was asleep.

 

oh nvm then, nobody woke me up when the bell rang. i was late to english
________
Silver Surfer Vaporizer

 

Could have been worse but that still sucks.

Btw, going wide is not optimal through turn 3 with a AWD car.

 

Yes I know, you want to hug the inner edge and then turn in late for 4. I'm glad it happened where it did though, instead of on the street somewhere.

 

exactly

glad to hear your alright bro, like everyone mentioned it couldve been worse.

-Ave