Steamboat - Report I (long)

[QSHIPQ@aol.com]

As the reality of my real job makes steamboat a fleeting memory of last
weekends fun, I wanted to share some of the highlights....

Listers:
Alex Chermushin
Chad Clark
Ben Howell
Dave Lawson
Stott Hare
Chris Semple
Mike Spiers (Ann)
Kevin Linville (Michele)
Steve Eiche
Will Metcalf
 
Notables:
Scott Davis  -  20v Urq
Ned and Marnie Ritchie  - 86 4kq
John Beckius, Es-q.

Thursday evening Chris Semple and Stott Hare showed up at the apt, on the way
to the 'boat from the NE territories.  It seems I wasn't the only one to get
a late start for CO.  They left about 9:00pm, me to follow about 1 hour or so
behind.  Nice to see the posted speed limits at 75 in the Plains (boring)
States as I stealthed thru IA and NE.  After some serious consideration to
lack of reconstruction time, decided the new Urq would save it's curvacious
fenders for next year, and took Carole's 5ktqRS2.  Pearl White was the
stealth color when dirty, tho the brushed 16in OZ's grabbed attention when
the car was given a bath in Omaha.  Still, no tickets, and fairly "warm"
weather this year was a welcome change to last years -30 standing temps.
 Even Steamboat was on the near to high side of freezing over the weekend.
 My own oil change too... :0)

One of my old "net" friends, Mike Spiers, whom till this date was without a
face, and his fair lady, Ann Fiess were most gracious and understanding hosts
while in Boulder.  We made the unanimous vote to drink Fat Tire Ales and
tackle the Passes Sat morning.  The beer most welcome and sleep much needed.

Mike, Ann and I convoyed up to SB kinda late Sat, precluding skiing in the
afternoon.  Instead, we went directly to the track and immediately found
"students" dancing thru the school in various ford products.  After the
class, we got some chow, then back to the track to watch the SCCA Solo II
event that evening.  Only about 15 or so cars showed up and some neat wheel
to wheel racing between instructors the highlight of that nite.  Some serious
nerding with listers at the local pub till the wee hours of the morning
followed.  

Finally, Sunday morning, ready to set the track times on fire.....   Wrong!
 As is the norm for me, Herr Murphy et. al., Lawyers, decided to let my car
get to the track, but not start once there.  A big thanks to John B for his
quick help diagnosing the fault to the fuel head (and yes, I had an
extra)....  Spent an hour yanking the old one out, putting in the new, then
found Murphy had aced me again.  It seems that the 87 5kt new FH was not
interchangeable with mine becuz the FI fittings were smaller.  Luckily, John
showed up again, and we pulled the fuel return needle valve, and found a
piece of crud had lodged it open, sending fuel back to the tank instead of
the FH.  Swapped the old FH back and started the car, just in time for the
open track runs that afternoon.  Salvation.

Last year I was the heretic at SB with my P210's at the Blizzax track, this
year, the Nordfrosts in 205/55 on 16X7.5 OZ 5 spokes were the weapon of
choice, if nothing else, a great vanity argument.  Early in the day the
course was run CCW, which made the 270 degree turn 8 a great blast of tail
waggin rally driving.  Not to last too long, the decision was made to run CW
by early afternoon.  The weather was warm on SAT, then getting cold then warm
(34) SUN, but cooling way down by afternoon.  Advantage was looking towards
the Blizzax, the icey track making the braking sections wild to say the
least.   Tire comparo will follow this report.

Lots of spins and some minor pieces parts scattered the track, presents from
Stott and Ben, but no major incidents to report.  This driver decided to put
snow back on the track, esp in the braking sections, to the chagrin of the
Blizzax boys....  Unfortunately for me, a new, and yet untested computer
didn't cooperate with my right foot desires, so I was limited to 1.8 bar, and
the cutoff was rather abrupt.  Last year PDQSHIP was able to get 80 on the
front straight and 60+ on the back, this year a rather disappointing 75/45
respectively hampered my effortws to overtake the blizzax traction advantage.
 The Nordfrosts performed well, but I will prolly go back to the 210's next
year.  The NF's are louder than the 210's and they tend to squirm some on
their tread and didn't hook up as well under boost.

Scotty Davis 20v Urq proved to be the formidible force again this year,
definitely taking the home track advantage once again.  PDQII proved worthy,
well matched to the well driven Eagle Talon with blizzax.  Managed to give
rides to those with the desire, though missing the coil overs and the 3in exh
of the ex....  The banks proved NOT to be soft and rather unforgiving of my
usual bank bouncing antics, but the post mortum car wash revealed no
permanent scars.  Mssrs Hare and Semple showed us all how to mark the
entrance to the corners by leaving body parts at most of the harder ones.
 Ben Howell had some spectacular banksmanship as well with his 4kq, tho just
a coupl of turn signal lenses being the tithe.  Dave Lawson arrived with his
beautifully restored Urq, which looks much better in person that the QQ puts
in Black and White.  Some kidding ensued as we learned of the "tool box
incident" (ding) on an otherwise flawless car.  Chad Clark showed up with his
5ktq looking way too clean, and sans snows, he didn't get a chance to show us
the infamous bank parking II of 96....  Ned reminded one of "damn the
torpedoes..." as he hunched over the wheel extracting every ounce of power
from the 4kq, bouncing his way around the track with a flair that is only Ned
as presented.

Sunday night I convinced Chris and Stott to close down the pub one more time,
then skiing on Monday for me as they headed to see Beckius' shop then back to
the east, a few body parts collected and stored neatly in the trunk.  

My adventure hardly over as I headed back to Boulder Mon nite.  As soon as I
got in, I returned a call from Mr. Lawson, inviting me to give the new toy a
cksum.  Yeeha... Twist my arm...  Within 5 minutes of arrival, I found myself
behind the wheel with instructions to evaluate the car.  A correction of
fuel, some other suggestions, then a request for suspension eval.  Need
turns.  Got em....  The gas Bilsteins definitely change the characteristics
of the eibach equipped urq's for the better.   A finer execution of a classic
would be hard to find, nice work Dave.

Tuesday was spent at Santa Fe Auto Salvage, like a kid in a candy store, lots
of pieces parts left with me, and some good tweek ideas did too....  Cool
place...  Wednesday was to be the test day for "the Beast".  Those blurred
pix of Mr Carl Jerritt's ABT 5ktq hardly do the mods justice, just looking at
the thing makes you think speed....  Got a good hour behind the wheel in some
REALLY twisty stuff, the coil overs and the HUGE Nascar brakes raising this
car to 993 performance levels...  One word:  Wow.  Here I was supposed to
"fix" the lift wheel problem on the car, and after careful (really wailing)
diagnosis of the car, suggested the owner go to a school, the car was just
fine.  This car in 10v trim, even with the reduced shrapnelknobben, could
give Ned's car a run in a straight line, and donut it in the curves.   Did I
say I had fun?  Left at 2:00pm for a 9:00am chicago meeting, making the mark
with a minute to spare....  The reality of the office chair my welcome home.
 There is always next year....  

End of Report

Scott Justusson
QSHIPQ@aol.com