Jack & list,
We had two mechanical failures at the Turkey Bowl this weekend, very
fortunate that neither resulted in much damage. TR Spitfire broke rear axle
& lost wheel -- stayed upright & skidded off course, no further damage.
Driver told me he had no idea when last magged. Also had a Porsche 356
crack a wheel, about 20 - 30 % of circumference I would guess, original
Porsche steel wheel. Driver felt skirmy behavior, backed off & slowly drove
into pits. This is just FYI -- is Ely Fishkin listening?
Regards,
Mark Palmer
>From: JWoesvra@aol.com
>Reply-To: JWoesvra@aol.com
>To: N197TR4@cs.com, vintage-race@autox.team.net (Vintage list)
>CC: sbracing@execpc.com, vinttr4@geneseo.net, Jim_Hill@chsra.wisc.edu,
>KHoward313@aol.com, emanteno@attglobal.net, chusmann@execpc.com,
>TR4RACER@cs.com, malexander@igsb.uiowa.edu
>Subject: Re: Mechanical Failures
>Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 10:08:04 EST
>
>In a message dated 11/25/00 6:57:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,
>N197TR4@cs.com
>writes:
>
><< Jack Woehrle...I like your attititude on originality vs failures in a
>modern world.
>
> After Jack Drews' car made history at Road America (with his son at the
>wheel) I am spending some money that I would not spend otherwise.
>
> Our car is substantially made up of TR4 stock parts, including the aged
>TR-666 Isky cam (per legendary Mike Belfer).
>
> After all of the TR axle failures, I am changing the rear axles to
>something
>more substantial. It wont make the car go faster, but IT DOESNT MATTER to
>me.
>I am not so important, but I'd hate to see my sons on the track with the
>current set up.
>
> Hope to see you in the spring.
>
> Joe Alexander
>
> >>
>
>
>Thanks, Joe.
>
>I don't have unusual insight or profound abilities in metallurgy, but I do
>feel strongly that Vintage Racing in the United States is no longer a place
>to display museum pieces. Not that we shouldn't welcome them. The core of
>our
>sport is now made up of enthusiasts that are more racer than
>preservationist.
>You can argue forever the merits of this situation. The cold fact is that
>it
>is true.
>
>I believe we can mantain the character, appearance, and peculiararities of
>each make and model without significantly enhancing performance relative to
>the other makes. At the same time, I think we should explore every
>opportunity to make them safer and more reliable, within a range of common
>sense any fair play. Stronger materials and better designs can open the
>door
>to this goal. Cooperation between responsible racing organizations to allow
>and encourage such things is a vital part of this concept. Only the racers
>themselves can successfully bring the message to the organizers. There will
>always be those who think this is heresy. Those folks have their own events
>and venues.
>
>This year we have seen enough mechanical failures in vital components to
>make
>us worry what we can expect down the road. Old parts that were often
>questionable when new are reaching the absolute limit of their design
>expectations. We have to allow intelligent solutions to these problems in
>order to slow the destruction of fine race cars and possibly save a
>driver's
>life.
>
>Jack Woehrle
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