Pistonhead Slight Return 2012, 15-16 September
Its always some kind of sad feeling going to the last race of the year,
knowing its the last time for a long time you will be doing that trip to the track.
Since the series were settled two weeks earlier we went to the track as winners.
This last race, Slight return, is independent from the series so it was more of a test
before going to Tierp Arena two weeks later.
Before leaving the garage the launchcontrole were tested.
Now it was time for the launch to start doing what we are telling it to.
We also made a very clever solution to automaticly get different launch settings
depending werther its burnout och staging launch.
Well prepared it still got dark as in a sack until the car went thrue the race inspection.
The Swedish autumn can offer a wide varity of weathers, and considering this being the rainiest in history,
we were more or less astonned by the blue sky we woke up to on saturday morning.
It was quite cold but strapped into he car with full fireproof clothing it was quite cosy.
Great burnout in first run!
In one of the pics the boost gauge gets visible, and it is like jammed at 3bar.
After such a burnout everyone were expecting a superb run.
I left the line first, like I shoud...
...but we had set the launch rpm too low causing the car to almost bog.
Atleast we didnt get the speed in first gear to match second, the Corolla from Denmark passed
and I had no chance to pass him before finnish line.
Nothing broke, it just didnt go fast.
Second run, a milder burnout.
Now we had increased the launch rpm.
It went alot better than in the first run, but we still fealt a big lack of power and traction.
A couple of years ago we would have ben happy with a 1,47 in 60ft and 9,8-247kmh,
but under theese circumstances that was a total failure.
The weather stayed in excellent racing condition all day and we got four Q runs.
Towards the end of the day my launch button at the steering wheel started to live a life of its own.
The solution was to strap two bare cables on the wheel and for me to push them together for launch.
That was not a good solution and it didnt work out that very well actually...
Without running even one descent run the day ended,
and we made it to 10th place in the toughest Q list ever seen in this class.
Since this was a standalone race the price ceremony for the series took place right after the last Q runs.
All top 3 teams in each class were invited for dinner and drink.
Right after the ceremony we went back to the pit to clean and readjust the clutch.
Making the car race ready for Sundays eliminations, toast in champaign and have a laugh.
When we were finnished with the car there were live band in the barn so we went back there
to continue celebrating our class victry.
The weather on sunday morning were quite the opposit from what we had experienced on saturday.
Now it was greyish, cold and really poor. The track were ice cold.
The only upsite was that the weather was the same for all competitors.
Warming up the engine and drivetrain have never ben as interesting as now.
Our class were first out and I had probably dreamt all night that the launch button was no problem.
I noticed in the burnout it didnt really work as it should,
so the natural thing would have ben to push the bare cables together in the staging process,
but for some reason I did not, and by that I lost the first run like being a little kid getting his candy stolen.
Really sad.
After being kicked out of the ladder a TT-class were open to all loosers.
We did a new try in test n tune, now not even touching the button.
Only pushing the cables together.
Nalle sits in the shooting line from my exhaust and last years winner, Patrik Larsson stands behind him.
With the cable trick it went alot better but still no traction in first gear
and no power at all in second...
We fealt it didnt matter what we did. The car just went slower and slower no matter what we did.
We were offered more TT runs, but with the gearbox being hard to shift,
and with so little power in the engine we fealt there was just no idea.
When we took the wheels off to load the car to the truck,
we found out why there were just no traction. The tyres were so worn out
the cords were vissible on some parts of them.
First thing monday evening was a leakdown test that showed all exhaust valves were leaking. Alot.
The engine have had a rough summer, no doubt about that, so we ripped the head of and regrinded the valves.
A new set of slicks were borrowed from a friend just to run at Tierp twoo weeks later...
Andreas Sjödin were at the track to try some settings on his betiful Chevelle -65.
Unfortunally it ended up with a valve breaking in the cumbustion chamber...
Mikael Edstrand also had a slice of Mr. murphys rage.
He broke what it apeared like a piston in his newly put together V6 Saab.
Heres one that had good flow this weekend.
Tobias Johansson won the Slight Return in his Volvo 142,
and got all race fees payed by the organizers next year.
Congratulations.
Mr Andersson and my mother taking a closer look at a quick beetle...
Andreas Åhlman ran as many TT-runs as he were alowed to.
Almost like a street car. At the end of the day one can say it is a race prooven 7sec car all day.
When race ended it was fine weather just like the weathers doing a prank on us.
One thing that we really decided after this weekend is that we will not use the Volvo gearboxes next year.
This being the last race at Kjula Dragway this year, we would like to thank Pelle Hallström
with his crew for making it possible to race at Kjula Dragway, and making it such a great place for race!
Photo: Malin "Mallan" Ulfves, Tommy Neucler, JPLPHOTO.SE och eget.
