Alfa track day approaches, lots to do, much terror

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori) 05/22/2018 at 12:54 • Filed to: The Alfa Doesn't Have A Tag Yet

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Hallett Motor Racing

As the Alfa club track day swiftly approaches, the TODO list on the Alfa is getting pleasantly shorter. That said, rain is in the forecast so things might get weird.

The track is Hallett Motor Racing in Jennings, Oklahoma. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard good things. We have the track rented for the day, courtesy of a late member’s estate, and novices (like me) will be receiving instruction and coaching.

Forecast (at the moment) calls for some rain, which should be... interesting. It has also moved “fixing my dangerously slow wipers” onto the “must do” list.

What has been done

New front end (shocks, springs, ball joints, tie rods, bushings, steering idler, etc)

New shocks, springs, and thrust washers in the rear (heyo)

New driveshaft center carrier and bearing

New driveshaft flexible coupling

Alignment

“New” Alfa Romeo wheels (old ones were Hayashi)

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Still to do

Replace exhaust (in the shop today)

New main fuel line

Clean and re-terminate 2 main grounds (hopefully will fix the wipers running slow)

Install sound deadening

Oil change

Air up tires

Install striker plate guides

General trunk and cabin clean up

Optional to do

Install new sun visors (should be easy?)

Check wheel torque (should be OK, but safety third!)

Install new plate lights (old ones are inop)

Install new rear brake line flex hose (It looks fine, but is old)

Wash!

OH NOES

I am nervous, excited, and still skeptical the Alfa will be ready in time. Short of the fuel like, which is a legitimate safety hazard, it could go out as-is, but the TODOs will certainly make it a better experience all around.

Wish me luck!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 05/22/2018 at 13:03

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You might consider taking the torque wrench with you to the track in addition to re-torquing them before hand. Most road racers re-torque lug nuts after each track session.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 05/22/2018 at 14:13

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“We have the track rented for the day, courtesy of a late member’s estate” - wow, that’s really cool...

It’s such a great track - enjoy! Keep in mind that, if it rains, the sketchiest time is when it starts drying out. Your confidence will start going up, but there are still spots draining on the track so you’ll need to take it easy until it’s all dry.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/22/2018 at 14:20

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Yeah, she was a club member for a long time and died unexpectedly in a car accident. She set up her estate/ will such that some portion of it goes to the Alfa club for events like this, which is both very cool and seems like a great way to honor her memory.

Good advice on the rain, thanks! In a way I’m looking forward to it raining a little. Seems like a wet track is the perfect place to learn how to deal with a car when it gets out of shape. Low speed, low grip.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 05/22/2018 at 14:24

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Very sad, but what a great legacy.

Yeah, a wet track is great as long as you treat the situation with a lot of respect.