Like I don't have enough to do to get the car ready for this weekend. When jacking the rear end up by the axle, something got jammed under the front roller of the jack, so it didn't roll forward, and the car slid off. This put the jack plate under the muffler. (I know it's a racecar, but I still had an exhaust on it because I drive it to/from events) Muffler turns into pancake. The impact of the car sliding off shakes the floor enough to jar my tire rack into breaking and dumping 2 sets of wheels and tires onto the front right fender putting 2 nice dents into the seam along the top edge. Great.
Hell, at least the 3rd consecutive junkyard didn't have a replacement taillight, and the 4th wasn't open when I made the trip out there (~25 miles).
After a trip to the hardware store to get a hacksaw to cut the exhaust off now that it doesn't flow through the flattened muffler, I manage to scrape enough skin off my knuckles cutting off the tailpipe that I bet I get tetanus. That would be great.
At least I blew my last run at the RevItUp and still managed 8th overall.

Upsides: Rear drums are warped. The car is very, very loud now.
-Chris, who does this for fun. really.

 

ouch

 

All you're doing is racing.
As soon as you get rich enough to pay someone else to go through all of this you can avoid it. But thats the only way.

Karl spent yesterday trying to figure out why a left front half shaft wouldn't fit in his car (it should, but it didn't). Two weekends ago my exhaust fell off at CMP... Twice... In the same day. The second time was after Renee and I spent 2 hours busting knuckles and burning fingertips pounding out dents and reattaching it with coat hangers and borrowed misc parts. It lasted until I hit the first curb. The first time it fell off... I dunno. Kharma? Gremlins?

BTW - Your right foot gets really hot when your exhaust falls off in a Civic during a race. REALLY hot.

I do this for fun too.
And it is fun. Lots and lots of fun.

Scott, who doesn't really know what he'd do for fun if he quit this silly hobby.

 

Sorry to hear that... I guess you can add to that mechanical mishaps thread now...

Andy - who's driving a friend's truck right now even though he has TWO cars...

 

Why doesn't Karl's left front axle fit????

 

?????
I'd say you need to ask Karl but when I last talked to him he didn't know either.

It was actually a pretty funny conversation...

K - "It won't fit"
S - "But it just slides right it"
K - "I know, but it doesn't"
S - "Is it the correct part?"
K - "Yes"
S - "Well, uhhhh... Its just supposed to... uhhh... fit. There's no trick to it."
K - "I know, but it doesn't"
S - "What does the FSM say?"
K - "Slide it right in."

This is what its like to be friends with Karl. Never a lack a thought provoking entertainment.

 

I wish I was nearby I would show up at his house and see if I could help.....

It does take some persuading sometimes to get those damn things in

 

For that driveshaft, it sounds like the lock ring (or whatever it's called) is a little loose and binding on the way in. Put a bit of grease around where that ring is so that it doesn't move around and it should go in. If the grease doesn't quite hold it, put a bit of grease in the freezer for half an hour or so (not possible at the track, obviously) and then use the cold grease as it will be a bit thicker and hold the ring better.

 

Chris, I feel your pain. I was spot welding on the car yesterday, crouched down like a catcher. Sparks flew everywhere and one landed in my lap, catching my groin on fire. Yes, on fire.

 

Thats a bad day...... But a bad day of racing is still better than a good day at work..