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SNORE 250 Pre-run fun

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:40 am
by madmitch
This past weekend I found the time to attend the SNORE 250 in Beatty, NV and get in some fun. I had the new motor in the 577 baja for some time and it needed some test and tune time. I figured this to be a good opportunity for that. I loaded up the car Thursday , packed a few supplies and hit the road for Death Valley towing near Ridgecrest thru the the town of Trona then up and over into Death Valley stopping at Stovepipe wells for dinner. Up and over another set of mountains was Beatty. I found the parking lot for tech and stayed there for the night. The next morning Denny's was across 97 and a good breakfast then towed out to start/finish for the 110 mile fun run. I signed the release, gave my $20, then got my sticker. I was ready! We staged and went off at 1 minute intervals with a 35 mph speed limit and no passing. I think that is for reference only as there were several sxs in front of me and they were caught quickly and moved over. The course was fast at first and the motor was doing pretty well. The lead car was transmitting mile markers so anyone with a radio could hear where they were which was helpful. About 75 miles into the run I was 20 miles back. The course was getting rougher with cross grain then a steep rocky narrow downhill circling around the west side of town with a 25 mph speed limit. I can't see anybody being able to go that fast. I was maybe going 10-15. I had been following a mini truck for 20 miles or more when it suddenly stopped within site of the finish. With me almost on his rear bumper he then backed into me. In my haste to grab reverse I got the trans out of sinc and in two gears at the same time unable to move. I layed on the horn. The mini truck went forward then backed into me a second time. I thought mirrors were allowed in off road racing. Fiddling with the shifter I got it out of reverse but the trans was in first. The shifter was back towards second or maybe reverse and would not move. I was thinking it was a good thing this didn't happen earlier. It would have been a very long day. I cruised on into main pit and parked it.
Summing up the testing day I would say the motor tune is close. I will try some timing changes and jet changes to fine tine the power band a little more. Shock adjustments are required well. I need to pull the seats, tighten them up and snug the belts Daron. I recall getting tossed around too much when hitting unexpected holes.
The race went off the next day as planned. I'd saw SNORE did a great job putting it on. They also donated all the pre-run money to local charities. I thought that was admirable. It was the best $20 I'd spent in a long time.
Heading back home that afternoon past Death Valley I passed an old couple in a red Speedster top down. Cool! Then I went by the ghost town of Ballerat.
When are we going back there Skidmark and Leatherneck? Good times with STF memories.
Back in the barn the motor is almost out so I can pull the trans and figure out why it stuck and hopefully prevent that from happening again.

Re: SNORE 250 Pre-run fun

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:43 am
by madmitch
It may be too early to say this but I'll go out on a limb and say that I would like to race Rage at the River In December.

Re: SNORE 250 Pre-run fun

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 9:22 pm
by dustymojave
That's an old problem in worn out Type 1 gearboxes. Stick a good size screwdriver in the oil fill hole and move the shifter slider ring back and forth to fix the issue. But you have a bus box, right?

Re: SNORE 250 Pre-run fun

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:59 am
by madmitch
Yes Richard I’ve used that trick on my son’s tired 64 stock bug. I’ve got a T-2 in my Baja. I got it out yesterday and pulled the nosecone to inspect. The hockey stick was on top of the 1-2 shift rod. Further investigating I found I could shift 3-4 with 1-2 at the same tim. I think there is a shuttle pin missing. More disassembly required.

Re: SNORE 250 Pre-run fun

Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 8:00 am
by madmitch
Well I got it apart yesterday and found the shuttle pin that goes thru the reverse shift rod missing. I’ll have to go see Jeff Fields today.

Re: SNORE 250 Pre-run fun

Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:46 am
by no1clyde
I grew up in Beatty, some grammar school and all of my high school there. I learned to ride dirt bikes there and we use to ride all over the desert around there. That is a awesome desert for sure :D

Ed