Catching up to do

OK, so a lot's happened since my last update:

1) The shop is almost ready; chris is going to finish one of the walls today while I put together shelving and get things ready. I'll do a shop story soon.

2) Chris and I took the MR2 to the Evolution school in Salina. The car did well, but the beginnings of minor problems began to appear. I also blew out the rear shocks on the Suburban. At the end of the Phase I school, Chris beat me in the MR2 by focusing on driving clean and consistently. I on the other hand, threw away my runs by chasing the clock and hitting too many cones...

3) I replaced the shocks on the Suburban with some nice Bilsteins and a fresh set of Goodyear E-rated truck tires. She's a towing machine! The suburban makes an excellent headquarters to work out of on race day. I was even able to recharge my impact gun batteries using the truck's 12VDC and a small inverter!

4) The following weekend, I took the MR2 to the Evolution Dial-In session in Lincoln. One of the front end-links is buggered, the front anti-sway bar may have some bind, and the thrust angle may be off. Also, the alignment isn't what I thought it was. I did succeed in destroying my arthritic shoulder by doing 60+ runs at the slalom while dialing in my shocks. Driving the MR2 on a 42 degree day on wet pavement on cold slicks was an education in itself. Until the tires warmed up, the car would terrifyingly transition between tedious understeer and frightening oversteer.

5) Yesterday, Chris and I managed to get the SRT-4 back together. We set the ride heights (a truly tedious task), and dropped it off at Olstons for fresh control arm bushings and an alignment. We will have a rallycross car again! And what a car it'll be :)

6) There's something leaking from the MR2 onto my shop floor. Since the whole suspension needs a going over, I'm certain I'll figure out what it is soon enough.

7) Last, but not least, I talked to my cage builder and the cage is in the rally Neon, but it still needs some "putting back together". He says two weeks, but he said that 2 months ago. At least it's progressing...