It was a wild weekend for the EBR team. Midweek Eric bought a new engine. The price was set, he had the money, the deal was done. But, thanks to Grandpa Blumer for pitching in for some of the cost!
So, we had a new engine. We had an old engine that was good, but had a crack above the valve covers, above the headers. It was welded and patched when the car was purchased last year. We knew it when we got it. Of late, the weld and patch were not holding like it had. Eric was at a crossroads. First on getting a new engine at all. Luckily we found what we think is a good one in Menasha. Then, does he put it in and take a chance on missing something in the swap (he has removed/replaced the engine due to crashes last year) or do we take a motor we otherwise like to BDR and the Pepsi Nationals and try to make it through? We went with the latter.
In an odd way we can say, “Luckily”, at BDR the car started spewing oil in the heat. After some debate, we decided to head for home rather than start and park for the feature. This gave us a two hour head start. At the Maynard Drive Facility the engine was out in less than an hour after it was rolled off the trailer. Eric, Justin, Brady and Ryan all did their part.
By 1 a.m. with one trip back to BDR to meet Warren Ropp for a one-off tool and several phone calls to Warren and Brian Peterson, the engine was in place and a lot was attached, but it wasn’t done.
We were up by 8 on Sunday. Cody was the first one to the shop, Justin wasn’t far behind. In the first fire-off, there was a big clutch issue. After some bickering and conjecture, Bill finally called Warren. He was spot-on with his diagnosis. The car ran as it should, as far as we could tell.
The boys were at the track by about 1 p.m. Thanks to Kevin Weisensel and Cody for saving the spot next to them so we could share Justin’s services!
There wasn’t much to do, but chat with all of our local supporters who came by. Eric may have had more fans in the stands than any other driver on the night. Between his sponsors, many of which were on the track themselves, to hockey contacts, to the SP Pack 243 Cub Scouts, there was a lot of self-imposed pressure.
His heat was just a test. He ran well, the car seemed fast. He didn’t win it.
In the feature he stared 8th or so. He stayed in the middle of the pack. Gained some spots running a very low line to get by some guys. Warren Ropp was running away with it. A late yellow saw Eric start about 4th. Shortly after the green he took to the high groove. He got passed by a few, then passed low by a few more and ended up a disappointing 8th. He screwed up and he knew it. Had he stayed low he very well could have finished 2nd. Lesson learned, we’ll move on.
The good part of the weekend was how hard we worked and how everything stayed together.
Justin and Eric have found some leaks in the new motor, but it was just stuff that didn’t get tightened.
We’re looking forward to Friday at the Lafayette County Fair race and then the next night at Beaver Dam Raceway.
Thanks so much for all of the encouragement especially Saturday night into Sunday during the engine change. And thanks to everyone for your support through the year.
Thanks to Casey Bollig for the photo!