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So James Earl AKA my "car slang" assistant is busy doing that work thing so I'll make an attempt and he can clarify later.
Let me preface this with, "THE CAR IS NOT BROKEN AND I AM NOT FIXING IT." I am simply modifying it to better accommodate a different primary driver. I maintain that it would have been PERFECT for him, but if I want to make him proud, I have to be able to adequately sit in and drive it.
On Friday, we realized that part of my trouble with driving the car is that I am short. We had made me a seat insert long ago before I had JJ and it doesn't fit me now. JD fashioned me a stack of Styrofoam for the Turkey Shootout in November and Allies v Axis in December. That "worked" but I was still pulling up on the steering wheel a good bit. For the event this weekend, we used a thick firm pillow. With the styrofoam booster seat in place, the submarine belt isn't long enough, so we had to adjust that. It is still an inch or two low so I'll be looking for new seat belts. Other non-HamDip-friendly aspects include the shoulder straps both coming through the same center hole in the back of the seat. Unlike my dear dear male parental unit, I have BOOBS! The shoulder belts are too close together and don't sit correctly across my chest so I'm slicing my neck or restricting arm movement as I try to adjust their positioning. A new layout for the belt path is a must.
On to the handling. The car was PLANTED. For the 1st time, I felt like the back end was absolutely glued to the track and wasn't going to slide around on me. I was not concerned with spinning it at all. The BODY ROLL, however, was...extensive. With each sharp turn left or right I rocked back and forth and was fighting the body roll through slaloms. Jamie added compression to the springs in the front for my 3rd run on Saturday, but it was just a touch too much and I managed to lock up the wheels 2 or 3 times on course (still improving my time though). For Sunday, he backed off that compression a click and it did better. All in all, that wing did the trick. I was launching in 2nd and on the rev limiter in the fastest spots on course. While my times still left LOTS to be desired, everyone agreed that the times laid down were respectable and should be commended. I think I was finally neck and neck with some of the ESP cars and mid pack for raw times.
I still have a BUNCH to work out with my own ability to drive and control the car. Once we make some adjustments to how I sit in the car, I'm hoping that will improve my ability to handle it as well. I did slam, bash, pummel, beat, and crush my ulnar nerve (the one that runs from your pinky up your arm) at the elbow to the point that I am concerned I did true damage. I can't set my elbow down on the desk when I type, etc. Saturday, it really hurt by the 2nd runs. Sunday, after the 1st run, I was in extreme pain. By the end of 3rd runs, I was crying. Jamie suggests we cut the roll bar off the drivers side where my arm goes and make a space for my left arm and shoulder. I'm sure this is a result of different driving styles/hand positions between JD and I but I've never banged up that arm so violently before.
The trailer lights aren't working for some reason. James says it is in the trailer itself and not at the junction point. Ugh. Before we take it out again, which may be a while (COVID-19), we'll have to work on that.
I'll try to keep everyone updated with pics and info as we make changes and acquire new stuff.
In other news, I still have plenty of stickers if folks haven't gotten any or still want more.
~HamDip
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