Overnight stay at the clinic

[maddog2020]

The Dog Mobile is having her first overnight stay at the hospital (Steve’s Auto Clinic).  I knew I was getting tired at the end of the day today, but didn’t want to leave early because I would have had to have dealt with the traffic on the 405S to get home, so ran one last run.  On my last lap I took what has to be possibly the worst line ever into the chicane at the end of the back straight (fortunately not flat out, only at 80 or so) and dumped both my left wheels over the berm into the dirt (it’s a big drop on that side), then bounced out of that and dumped both my right wheels over the berm and into the dirt on the other side.  This little escapade caused 2 fairly loud bangs, as you might expect, but I thought I’d got away with it.  Decided to pack it in anyway, as much as anything, the message that I was tired had got through.  Anyway, driving away from the track I realized that all was not well, there was some mild vibration, but the disturbing thing was the fairly wild shimmy left on mild acceleration, and as I discovered later her tendency to try to “help” me make left turns.  This second discovery was rather interesting as it was made at about 70 on the 14 freeway.

Bottom line is that I was very fortunate to be able to get to Steve’s just after 6pm and leave the Dog Mobile there overnight.  Steve was kind enough to drive me to an airport flyer bus terminal so I’m sitting on a bus as I write this.  Having, I should add, been forced to put up with much amusement from Brad H on the phone just know.  Something about the idea of the MadDog leveraging public transport seemed to tickle him.  For $3.50 to get home it’s a heck of a deal.

Also, check out my other thread (when I write it) about my broken wheel.  A rather lucky escape.  I need to get the wheel back to the manufacturer to have them tell me why it failed.  I’m a little concerned about the rest of them now.

Dog

[jkagan]

Dog,

Sorry to hear about the way your last run went.  I figured the stars were all lined up in your favor after the wheel incident!

As a fellow member of the last-run-in-the-dirt-club, I hope that your Mobile wasn't too badly damaged, and that it didn't ruin what I thought was an otherwise awsome day.

[maddog2020]

I'm sure it'll be fine.  I was a bit disappointed to not manage a spectacular color change manuever like yours.  I'd never seen an Indie Brown Mini before......

[rory]

Geezo.

Two words;

Think Autocross!

[maddog2020]

It turns out that there was no visible suspension damage, but I had bent one of my rear wheels (tough day for my centerline RPMs).  Oh well, I need to figure out what I'm doing wheel and spring wise anyway.

I have a horrible feeling some coilovers might be in my near future, although I'm struggling to find some that don't lower the car too much at their max ride height setting, but are also soft enough for good  street behaviour.

On second thoughts maybe I should buy another one with a tow hitch, fully trick out the Dog Mobile for performance and buy a trailer.....:-)

[jkagan]

Great news (especially cause I'm pretty sure you're getting a new set of wheels anyway on Centerline).