As some of your know, Jake is pushing new developement when it comes to racing and my 914 in SCCA F Production. We campaigned the car this year in quest of the championship for the Southeast Division of SCCA(8 states). We fell short in points due our documented demise at Barber in Birmingham.
But, we still wanted to beat the 6 year running F Prod champion at the championship race this past weekend, even though we could not win in points.
With JE Pistons not getting our pistons to us in time, it looked bleak.
Jake felt my pain and suggested that he had enough junk yard parts to come up with some type of engine to at least get me around the track, maybe!
With one week until the race, Jake and Brent worked day and night to come up with enough parts to get it together. They even found some piston rings in the garbage can . All bearings and bushings were used as was a very used and abused crank.The case was even in need of a align bore. My carbs and heads were bolted onto the junk yard dog and still hot from the dyno put in the crate for shippment.
I installed it the next night and headed to the championships at Savannah.
Jake blessed the engine and said it would smoke alot and lose power thourghout the race but would stay together.
Saturday, belching smoke and fingers crossed,I went out to qualify. Knowing the lack of power later on, I held on for dear life for the first 3 laps and qualified 4th out of 38 cars. Of course, everyone came and told me I was smoking for most of the run. Normally, a smoking race car has very limited life span.
The junk yard dog came through and I finished first in class and 1400 feet in front of the past champion.
Way to go Jake and Brent. Thanks for all your support and encourgement to try and go for the win with a trash can parts engine. Only Aircooled Tech could pull off such a victory.
And Yes, Jake, I owe you big time. Mark
