Late Steamboat report (long)

[QSHIPQ@aol.com]

As spring approaches, I find that the quattro service lull I was expecting
during late winter, hasn't happened.  That puts the coupe and the csqw
upgrades on hold for a while.  However, still managed to squeak out a couple
of fun trips very quattro related.

First, the annual vagabond to Steamboat.  As usual, a great time this year,
fellow lister (5ktq w/LT1 - it's coming along) Bob Dupree as co/driver, is now
thoroughly sold on the mistress we call Urq...  Some last minute scrambling to
get tqc engine running right, and some nice recaro buckets installed for the
trip, and off we went.  After 2 years of rebuilding the totally whacked
suspension in this car, we enjoyed a comfortable and low stress maiden voyage
of my "red tamater".  We left Thursday night, got to Boulder early afternoon,
and promptly visited Modern Specialists for some diff lock fixes for the
'boat.  Managed to zip tie the center diff on (cable rusted), and got the rear
to actually work correctly.  

Saturday morning, we headed up the passes to Steamboat, car running flawlessly
thru the hills (185k miles on this baby) and up the passes.  Bob brought a
digital camera, which not only gave great quattro shots, but some fantastic
scenic shots as we headed north as well.  We arrived just as the morning
school was finishing up, hooking up with the old gang (Chad, Sherry, Dave,
Alex, Ben, Bob and Deb...) and some newbies to the experience as well.  The
track has changed some, but the skills required to make the car go-round the
track without going round and round just, just as necessary.  The coupe on the
track was fun, as mainly a 44 driver, it's a delight to have a shorter car,
especially when rear skimming banks.  

Decided that afternoon to run the SCCA rallyecross event Saturday night.  The
coupe was running well, and I thought that the defending champion was required
to enter.  Dave L also put his coupe into competition after some arm twisting.
Some interesting changes this year became my enemies.  First was the primiere
addition of CONES.  What?  You mean my snowbank braking zones are no longer
allowed?  Uh, oh, I'm not ice prepared...  Second was the totally prepped,
boost controlled MC motor of one Mr Chad.  Third, and the kicker, was this
quiet little 323GTX with rallye lights.  Some serious rule abuse took hold
early, since the cones were a School addition (not an SCCA one), there were no
scca penalties for whacking them, so many did.  As I was preparing to take out
all the cones in the braking zones, the race was stopped, and reruns issued to
the violators of the cone crushing.  

2 laps, 3 runs total time for 2 laps.  My first run got into the 2:40's, Chad
whacked 1:33 right off the bat.  Youch!  I watched in dismay as he was
whacking 3rd gear on the straights where my coupe (2 bar mod, 2.5 straight
exhaust, motor stock) wheezed to get to the top of second.  Trying two more
times put me into the low 2:40's, where Dave Lawsons MC Urq managed to flirt
as well.  Chad's time held until that spritely 323 whacked a 2:28.  A couple
of mumblings in the crowd about the 323 dragging cones around the track.  So,
he reran.  To add insult to injury, we all watched incredulously as he loaded
4 adults into the hatchback and puttered up to the start line.  2:26.  Ok, we
all were properly humbled.  A great time was had by all, but the quattro heads
took a pass on the afterevents, and headed straight for the pub with the Fat
Tire Ales.

Sunday, more fun and runs.  Got lots of seat time in a variety of cars, the
surprising fast one, a stock A6 autobox.  Did really well.  The 3 or so S cars
were new to the event, none of them really able to tame the car/hp/track.  One
of the S cars ran full on into a snowbank and exploded his bumper cover.  Bob
and I shared rides in my coupe, with only one overheat late in the day (after
2 long subsequent runs).  The best ride of the day:  Took Chad's sister for a
ride in the coupe, with chad trying to give us a pass.  He came close once,
but got so excited at the prospect, he spun, Sherry laughing and enjoying the
boys at play.  Bob got some good shots of both cars sideways at turn one 25
feet apart.  All in all a blast.  A quick exit from the 5pm close to the pub
to watch Denver finish the "job".

Bob and I manage to convince Dave to stay the night and have a private track
session Monday morning.  3in of fresh powder awaited us Monday, so prorally
driving style was in order for the morning session.  We all swapped cars
around (only one on the track at a time), and both Dave and Bob did well with
some rally techniques.  The kink in the back of the carousel created some
interesting airborne effects on my coupe, as all four wheels left the ground
full throttle to the bottom of the hill.  Daves' no bank rule for his pristine
coupe didn't discourage this driver from some scandinavian attitude that had
Dave grabbing the door, but laughing too.  What a great finish to the boat.

The head out the pass turned really nasty, Dave leading the way with no heat
and no wipers (nice those 83 electrics).  A couple times with us only 2 car
lengths back we couldn't see his car at all.  Enough of that, we stopped at
Hot Springs to soak our toxins out, and we were well adjusted to re-enter
reality of the big city.  A stop for a quick toe out adjustment (special
eyeball guage) on the way down, and all was fine.

Hooked up with Frank Amoroso and Carl Jerritts for dinner, then back to
Chicago.  13hours straight thru on Tues, with the only event being an Iowa
trooper following Bob for 25 miles 8feet off the bumper.  A rude awakening to
that audi tornado red for the lad.  (You'll get used to it Bob - you'll have
to!:).  

A great adventure, bummed we didn't see more of the lister crew there, still
one of the best ways to explore the limits of quattro you'll ever experience
next to a ride in a full rally car....  That report will follow.

Special thanks to:  Bob and Deb (Hosts - 'Boat), Carl and Christine (Hosts -
Boulder), Frank (for the beers), Dave L, Modern Specialists (for the hoist
time)

Scott Justusson
'87 5ktqwRS2
'84 Urq
'87 4Runner turbo